Colonoscopy PSA

[Poohforyou]

I guess everyone is different. I had to have an urgent colonoscopy a few years ago with the miralax prep and I though it was awful. I could barely get it down and actually threw some of it up plus it gave me the worst cramping. I'm going to go with a different doctor next time that uses just pills.

 

[NewRVLady]

My doctor told me the pills were taken off the market?????

This was the ONLY wayI could do it

Last time I did the concentrated prep and threw it up...don't know if I will ever do again

 

[design_mom]

My doctor told me the pills were taken off the market?????

This was the ONLY wayI could do it

Last time I did the concentrated prep and threw it up...don't know if I will ever do again

Mine told me the same thing!

I had my 3rd colonoscopy in April. I had the pills/miralax/Gatorade for the first one. It wasn't fun, but it was manageable. I had the huge container of gross liquid for the second. I threw up several glasses worth. I asked for the pills for my most recent one and was told that that prep method was no longer available. There's apparently a new liquid (MoviPrep?) where you don't have to drink *as much* but it's apparently not covered by most insurance. So I went with the cheaper liquid, and cursed my frugality all evening! I threw up about a third of the most recent batch, but it was apparently still "good enough." I hope the pill prep is back... I have to get another colonoscopy in 2 years and I don't know that I can face that big jug of disgustingness again.

 

[chirurgeon]

My doctor told me the pills were taken off the market?????

This was the ONLY wayI could do it

Last time I did the concentrated prep and threw it up...don't know if I will ever do again

I used the pills in January. I used Osmoprep. I just Googled the name and nothing came up about being taken off the market. I have heard they can leave a bit of residual in the colon and that's why my doc had me on a liquid diet for two days.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the encouragement op. Mine is later this month. I've done the prep twice before for other procedures but its been over fifteen years. I'm nervous and reports like tired help.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Good for you OP and thank you for the PSA and sharing your experience! My mother was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 37. Fortunately she is a 28 year survivor but she does have to live with a colostomy bag. She'd take the colonoscopy prep over that any day!

I've had 3 colonoscopies due to the family history and had the pills for the first 2 but had to do the Miralax for the last one 5 years ago. I also was told the pills were taken off the market. I much preferred the pills! I am due again this year and it would be great if they were available again! Either way I will do it!

MY MIL was just diagnosed and is going through treatment for colon cancer. She is 64. She never got a colonoscopy because she was so scared of all the prep horror stories. When she developed severe anemia the doctors forced her hand and found 2 large tumors. She was in the hospital for 3 weeks recovering from surgery to remove them and will be starting chemo soon. She sure wishes she could go back in time and do the the preventative colonoscopies at age 50 and 60! The doctor said this all could have been avoided! Much, much worse than any prep ever would have been!

 

[DVC Kathy]

I had a colonoscopy on Monday. My prep was 4 ducolax pills and a bottle of Miralax mixed with 64 ounces of Gatorade. Next time, I'll use 32 ounces of Gatorade and 32 ounces of water. I thought it was just too sweet. I didn't keep it all down, but I blame that on 10 days of nausea, etc. earlier in the month due to a bad reaction to meds. I don't normally drink Gatorade, so I'm sure that was also part of the reason.

This was my sixth prep ( maybe 7th), and I thought it was the easiest one yet (other than that little hiccup.) I had to drink a lot of liquid, but it wasn't disgusting liquid.

Best of all, I got a clean bill of health, and don't need another for 10 years. Pretty good after having them every year or two for a while.

I agree with OP. Get your colonoscopy. To me, the hardest part is not popping any food in your mouth during the prep day.

Kathy

 

[windycitymom]

I had my third colonoscopy a few months ago. My prep was all pills at my request. I swallowed 4 pills with 8 ounces of water every 15 minutes for 1 1/2 hours. Then the next morning a few hours before the procedure I had to swallow 4 more pills with water. No problems at all!

Denise

I had the same pill prep and it was great. I drank flavored water (Propel) which made it so much easier to drink. The hard party was being hungry. Eating light a day or two before the prep helps too.

 

[mmouse37]

Not sure if this was mentioned yet (didn't read whole thread) but I found this prep much better than the other prep. It was only 2 5 oz. liquid mixed with the prep mix (2 packets in box) spread 4 hours apart. You also had to drink any clear liquid, broth, tea, throughout the day etc. It so was easy I was able to convince my hubby who wanted no part of the colonoscopy test at all. He did it after he saw how easy my prep was. Here is a pic of the prep stuff we used.

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MJ

 

[NewRVLady]

Momouse thanks- never heard of this one!!!

 

[FergieTCat]

Thank you for the pep talk!! Please come with me!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I just want to thank you for posting this OP. I'm doing my prep tonight for the procedure tomorrow morning. I also have a very low tolerance for certain tastes. Because of your thread, I called and asked if I could mix some crystal lite lemonade with the liquid and they said it was fine. I'm absolutely amazed at how much better this is than I expected. Of course, the next phase will be bad, but getting this down was what worried me the most.

 

[North of Mouse]

DH & I had ours a week apart. The preps were the worst for us - we were 'out' for the procedure. We were weak as kittens during and after the preps. Glad they are over though.

 

[mom2rtk]

DH & I had ours a week apart. The preps were the worst for us - we were 'out' for the procedure. We were weak as kittens during and after the preps. Glad they are over though.

I've definitely hit the "weak as a kitten" phase here. I'm living for lunch tomorrow.

 

[Jennasis]

The Miralax prep was fine. My problem was that I was ravenous during it. So hungry and the clear liquid thing just wasn't cutting it. Also, they had me drink some crud...magnesium citrate I think? The morning of. HOLY HAND GRENADE, that was rough. It was the wicked salty, sour, face puckering, eye watering horrible bubbly concoction that I had to gag down in teeny sips washed down with water to try to cut the taste.

 

[mom2rtk]

The Miralax prep was fine. My problem was that I was ravenous during it. So hungry and the clear liquid thing just wasn't cutting it. Also, they had me drink some crud...magnesium citrate I think? The morning of. HOLY HAND GRENADE, that was rough. It was the wicked salty, sour, face puckering, eye watering horrible bubbly concoction that I had to gag down in teeny sips washed down with water to try to cut the taste.

I think that's what I had when I did this 15 years ago. That was truly heinous. I'm still shocked I kept it down.

I'm pretty ravenous right now. I just sent my husband to the store for crackers I can eat in the car when we're done tomorrow.

 

[Jennasis]

I think that's what I had when I did this 15 years ago. That was truly heinous. I'm still shocked I kept it down.

I'm pretty ravenous right now. I just sent my husband to the store for crackers I can eat in the car when we're done tomorrow.

No lie...after the procedure, on the way home, I made DH stop at McDonald's. Time to ruin the clean house!

 

[mom2rtk]

No lie...after the procedure, on the way home, I made DH stop at McDonald's. Time to ruin the clean house!

Stop it! You're making me choke on my Colyte!

I do remember when I did this before feeling like I wanted to be uber careful about what I was going to put in the "clean house". That lasted about a minute and a half.

 

[luvflorida]

I just want to thank you for posting this OP. I'm doing my prep tonight for the procedure tomorrow morning. I also have a very low tolerance for certain tastes. Because of your thread, I called and asked if I could mix some crystal lite lemonade with the liquid and they said it was fine. I'm absolutely amazed at how much better this is than I expected. Of course, the next phase will be bad, but getting this down was what worried me the most.

You are welcome! This is exactly why I posted the thread! I remember how I could not tolerate ANY of the other preps a few years back, and kept putting off having a colonoscopy. I still can't believe how well I did with the Miralax prep! It was SO much better than I thought it would be.

I had zero issues taking the prep and keeping it down. The colonoscopy itself was a breeze! Like you, and others, have said, it's being hungry that's the worst! Also like you, I brought along a bag of saltines for the ride home. For lunch, I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup. It was the best lunch ever! I never felt at all sick or weak from the colonoscopy. Later that evening, my husband and I went out to Red Robin for dinner.

Sending good thoughts to you! It'll all be over before you know it and you'll be eating food again!

 

[mom2rtk]

You are welcome! This is exactly why I posted the thread! I remember how I could not tolerate ANY of the other preps a few years back, and kept putting off having a colonoscopy. I still can't believe how well I did with the Miralax prep! It was SO much better than I thought it would be.

I had zero issues taking the prep and keeping it down. The colonoscopy itself was a breeze! Like you, and others, have said, it's being hungry that's the worst! Also like you, I brought along a bag of saltines for the ride home. For lunch, I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup. It was the best lunch ever! I never felt at all sick or weak from the colonoscopy. Later that evening, my husband and I went out to Red Robin for dinner.

Sending good thoughts to you! It'll all be over before you know it and you'll be eating food again!

Thank you. Reading your thread was like finding a lifeline when I needed it. I couldn't believe when I drank that first dose...... it really did just taste like lemonade. Now granted, I had no interest in drinking 16 glasses of lemonade........ but it sure beats the alternative.

Looking forward to my own "best dinner ever" tomorrow night.