luvflorida
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2003
- Messages
- 6,976
First, let me start off by saying that I had a colonoscopy yesterday and I now have in my hand a photo of a very healthy colon.
The reason for my posting a PSA about colonoscopies is because it was a long road to finally getting one done and if I can help put to ease even just one person's fear, apprehension, anxiety or whatever it is that may be holding anyone back from having one done, then this post will be worth it.
I've never actually feared the colonoscopy. Like most people, it has always been the dreaded prep that has hindered me.
Nine years ago, at the age of 50, I dutifully followed my doctor's orders and scheduled my first colonoscopy. The night of the prep, I drank one glass and promptly threw it up. I tried again with the same results. I could not get the horrible tasting stuff to stay down. It made me gag and made me sick to my stomach. I called and cancelled the following morning's appointment.
I let it go for a couple of years and tried again, only to have the same thing happen. After that, I just put it off and didn't bother trying again. We had a lot of life changes (kids going off to college, a move across country, grandkids coming into our lives, and so and so on) and I kept shoving the thought of another try at a colonoscopy to the back of my mind.
Well, last September, after moving and finding new doctors, I told myself I really need to get this done. Okay, it was actually the new doctor that made me promise to get a colonoscopy.
The gastroentrologist he referred me to, suggested I give the pills a try instead of drinking all that nasty prep stuff. Now, I don't want to sound like a whiner, but I HATE taking pills of any kind. Always have! I've always had trouble swallowing pills, but I figured since I couldn't do the liquid prep, I'd try the pills.
After getting home and thinking about it some more, and reading horror stories on the internet about the pill prep, I ended up (once again) cancelling my colonoscopy appointment. That made three for three attempts. Last month, I told myself this was getting ridiculous, and I was so mad and disappointed in myself, and knowing that I was quickly closing in on 60 years of age, I HAD to get this done. So, as a 59th birthday present to myself, I made another appointment with the same gastroentrologist. I told him I was willing to try the liquid prep again. He insisted the new preps are nothing like they used to be ten years ago, so I scheduled an appointment for a colonoscopy.
I told myself this is it. I had to get the prep down and get this over with. This prep consisted of 4 Duculax pills and a mixture of Gatorade and Miralax. Again, not to be a whiner, but I HATE Gatorade and I have an incredibly sensitive stomach. My doctor said I could put the Miralax in any liquid, as long it wasn't red or purple in color. So I chose to mix it with lemonade. He also insisted I would not taste or smell the Miralax and it would not change the consistency of the drink. I didn't fully believe him, of course!
Well, he was right!
The night of the prep I took the pills (one challenge down) and drank the mixture. I couldn't taste or smell the Miralax, and I'd have to say the only thing it did to the taste of the lemonade was to make it a little less lemony. I got the prep down! I took longer pauses in between each glassful and several times, I stopped for 45 minutes or so between glasses. Now, for full disclosure here, I didn't drink the last 8oz glass. I could tell, it wasn't necessary, if you know what I mean.
To make an already long story short, my husband drove me to my appointment yesterday morning, I had the colonoscopy and I can't tell you how happy I am that I did it!
My anxiety over the prep was a thousand times worse than the actual procedure! For anyone dreading it like I was, please don't! The preps available nowadays are really MUCH, MUCH better than the ones ten years ago! And, the colonoscopy itself was a breeze! The worst part was waiting for them to come get me from my little cubicle. I was all prepped with the IV and knew I was next. I could hear doctors talking to others who had just had the procedure and they were telling the patients they could now go enjoy breakfast, and I just wanted that to be me already! Once they took me to the room where they did the colonoscopy, all I remember was them telling me they were giving me some oxygen and the next thing I remember, I was waking up and being offered a small glass of water. I did not remember anything from the procedure and never felt a thing!
The doctor came in and discussed my results with me and my husband, I was told I could get dressed and go enjoy breakfast, and we were out of there! He also told me my prep was EXCELLENT! I didn't tell him I never finished the last glass! He had also stopped by to see me briefly while I was waiting in my cubicle before the procedure. He said he was happy to see that I actually was there. He wasn't convinced I would show up!
So, it took four attempts and nine years, but if I can do this, I feel anyone can! A few tips that got me through the prep:
The biggest one is to eat lightly at least three days before the colonoscopy. It made the prep so much easier to work. Try sucking on a lemon or lime right before and right after drinking a glass of the mixture, and suck on hard candies in between glassfuls. Ice cubes on the tongue help, too. Do something to take your mind off the prep. I spent the evening working on a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle while watching The Golden Girls. Worked for me!
Anyway, I hope I've helped lessen someone's anxiety over a colonoscopy and the prep involved! Thanks for following along with my long post!
The reason for my posting a PSA about colonoscopies is because it was a long road to finally getting one done and if I can help put to ease even just one person's fear, apprehension, anxiety or whatever it is that may be holding anyone back from having one done, then this post will be worth it.
I've never actually feared the colonoscopy. Like most people, it has always been the dreaded prep that has hindered me.
Nine years ago, at the age of 50, I dutifully followed my doctor's orders and scheduled my first colonoscopy. The night of the prep, I drank one glass and promptly threw it up. I tried again with the same results. I could not get the horrible tasting stuff to stay down. It made me gag and made me sick to my stomach. I called and cancelled the following morning's appointment.I let it go for a couple of years and tried again, only to have the same thing happen. After that, I just put it off and didn't bother trying again. We had a lot of life changes (kids going off to college, a move across country, grandkids coming into our lives, and so and so on) and I kept shoving the thought of another try at a colonoscopy to the back of my mind.
Well, last September, after moving and finding new doctors, I told myself I really need to get this done. Okay, it was actually the new doctor that made me promise to get a colonoscopy.
The gastroentrologist he referred me to, suggested I give the pills a try instead of drinking all that nasty prep stuff. Now, I don't want to sound like a whiner, but I HATE taking pills of any kind. Always have! I've always had trouble swallowing pills, but I figured since I couldn't do the liquid prep, I'd try the pills.After getting home and thinking about it some more, and reading horror stories on the internet about the pill prep, I ended up (once again) cancelling my colonoscopy appointment. That made three for three attempts. Last month, I told myself this was getting ridiculous, and I was so mad and disappointed in myself, and knowing that I was quickly closing in on 60 years of age, I HAD to get this done. So, as a 59th birthday present to myself, I made another appointment with the same gastroentrologist. I told him I was willing to try the liquid prep again. He insisted the new preps are nothing like they used to be ten years ago, so I scheduled an appointment for a colonoscopy.
I told myself this is it. I had to get the prep down and get this over with. This prep consisted of 4 Duculax pills and a mixture of Gatorade and Miralax. Again, not to be a whiner, but I HATE Gatorade and I have an incredibly sensitive stomach. My doctor said I could put the Miralax in any liquid, as long it wasn't red or purple in color. So I chose to mix it with lemonade. He also insisted I would not taste or smell the Miralax and it would not change the consistency of the drink. I didn't fully believe him, of course!
Well, he was right!
The night of the prep I took the pills (one challenge down) and drank the mixture. I couldn't taste or smell the Miralax, and I'd have to say the only thing it did to the taste of the lemonade was to make it a little less lemony. I got the prep down! I took longer pauses in between each glassful and several times, I stopped for 45 minutes or so between glasses. Now, for full disclosure here, I didn't drink the last 8oz glass. I could tell, it wasn't necessary, if you know what I mean.To make an already long story short, my husband drove me to my appointment yesterday morning, I had the colonoscopy and I can't tell you how happy I am that I did it!
My anxiety over the prep was a thousand times worse than the actual procedure! For anyone dreading it like I was, please don't! The preps available nowadays are really MUCH, MUCH better than the ones ten years ago! And, the colonoscopy itself was a breeze! The worst part was waiting for them to come get me from my little cubicle. I was all prepped with the IV and knew I was next. I could hear doctors talking to others who had just had the procedure and they were telling the patients they could now go enjoy breakfast, and I just wanted that to be me already! Once they took me to the room where they did the colonoscopy, all I remember was them telling me they were giving me some oxygen and the next thing I remember, I was waking up and being offered a small glass of water.
I did not remember anything from the procedure and never felt a thing!The doctor came in and discussed my results with me and my husband, I was told I could get dressed and go enjoy breakfast, and we were out of there! He also told me my prep was EXCELLENT! I didn't tell him I never finished the last glass! He had also stopped by to see me briefly while I was waiting in my cubicle before the procedure. He said he was happy to see that I actually was there. He wasn't convinced I would show up!
So, it took four attempts and nine years, but if I can do this, I feel anyone can! A few tips that got me through the prep:
The biggest one is to eat lightly at least three days before the colonoscopy. It made the prep so much easier to work. Try sucking on a lemon or lime right before and right after drinking a glass of the mixture, and suck on hard candies in between glassfuls. Ice cubes on the tongue help, too. Do something to take your mind off the prep. I spent the evening working on a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle while watching The Golden Girls. Worked for me!
Anyway, I hope I've helped lessen someone's anxiety over a colonoscopy and the prep involved! Thanks for following along with my long post!
On top of that, I hate swallowing pills. My prep consisted of taking four Duculax pills, which to my relief, were teeny tiny. Originally, I only took three, because I was so afraid of the effect they might have on me. Then, the more I thought about it, I was afraid the prep wouldn't work, so half an hour later, I took the remaining pill. A few hours after that, I started on the 8, 8oz glasses of liquids. I mixed the Miralax with lemonade in a big jug, and poured out 8oz into a cup with a lid and a straw. I added ice to the cup after the 8oz were poured in. I can honestly say, it did not change the consistency of the lemonade, and there was no smell. The Miralax made the lemonade taste less lemony, but I sucked on a lemon before and after each gulp. After awhile it was more the volume of liquids that almost did me in, not the mixture itself. However, I took more time between glassfuls than the 10-15 minutes suggested.
