New/Different Colonoscopy Prep

[disneychrista]

I am schedule for a diagnostic colonoscopy next Friday. The prep is different & longer than it was 3 years ago when I had my first routine colonoscopy. 3 years ago the instruction was to take 4 Dulcolax at 2pm and then the Peg 3350 at 5pm & 2am (5 hours before procedure). This time I am to start the prep 3 days before the procedure by taking MiraLax & Colace twice daily and then following the same for the Peg 3350.

Is this the new way they are doing things? Taking the MiraLax and Colace for 3 days is going to make me house bound for those 3 days. I am not happy.

What was your colonoscopy prep the last time you had one? Any tips for help with the raw bum from all the wiping? What do you find the best way to stay hydrated in the days before your procedure? What do you eat during the low residue diet and then the clear liquids?

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Every place is different.
Did you have a conversation in which they asked you some questions like are you currently constipated or tend to be constipated?
If so that's likely why.
My mom swings back and forth from constipation to diarrhea and she happened to say she was currently slightly constipated so they had her on a liquid diet 2 days prior and was told to take mag citrate that day and then the regular prep the day before like usual.
It was completely unnecessary so next time she made sure to say she was not currently constipated.
She's had to have several in the past 2 years which was very much overkill and now she doesn't need one for 3 years.

 

[Christine]

This is the protocol if you tend to have a more slow moving colon. I was given instructions like that, I do not have trouble with my bowels in that regard, told them so, and indicated I would also be house band. They chuckled and told me to skip it then.

I think they run across many people who aren't properly cleaned and this is changing the way they do things. If you've historically been good with the traditional prep, stick to it.

 

[KPeterso]

3 days before kind of seems like overkill.

I had my first colonoscopy last year. I was given foods to stop 1-7 days before the procedure. I think it was after 12 or 1 the day before I had to stop solid food and go to liquid diet only. And then since my procedure was not until the afternoon, I was given a prep to start morning of. I think i started about 5 AM and my whole prep was done with miralax. I know I was mixing a strong miralax mixture and had to drink so much within 30 minutes before it was time for the next round of more miralax. I think I used about a bottle and a half of miralax. My biggest problem was getting dehydration and they had a lot of problems getting an IV in me (I had to go to sleep due to bad anxiety) - I think it took like 5 different people and trying both arms and hands.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think they run across many people who aren't properly cleaned and this is changing the way they do things.

Yes. I believe this is the main reason.

 

[disneychrista]

Every place is different.
Did you have a conversation in which they asked you some questions like are you currently constipated or tend to be constipated?
If so that's likely why.

My issues is quite the opposite, which is why they want to do the diagnostic colonoscopy, most likely with biopsy. I will likely be on the toilet the better part of the 3 days. The Dulcolax pretty much cleaned me out before I even started the Peg last time. It is going to be a long 3 days that is for sure.

 

[Christine]

My issues is quite the opposite, which is why they want to do the diagnostic colonoscopy, most likely with biopsy. I will likely be on the toilet the better part of the 3 days. The Dulcolax pretty much cleaned me out before I even started the Peg last time. It is going to be a long 3 days that is for sure.

That's me. I wouldn't have been able to go to work/leave the house.

 

[disneychrista]

That's me. I wouldn't have been able to go to work/leave the house.

I was already scheduled to be off on Wednesday but had to cancel the plans I had. I then took Thursday & Friday off. I already decided I won't take the first does of the MiraLAX and Colace until I get home from work on Tuesday evening. I jokingly said I was going to set up a folding table for my laptop in the bathroom, since that is where I will be for 3 days.