New/Different Colonoscopy Prep

[GAN]

It is crazy to me at how may different prep procedures there are.

I am not sure what the deal is with 3 days of prep before the big prep. Seems like overkill to me. But if this is what they need me to do it is what I will do.

I think every doctor has their own way of doing things. Typically, mine consists of 3-days of bland diet(basically chicken and potato) then the afternoon before take the dulcolax and a few hours after that drink the miralax -then off to the doctors the next morning.

 

[disneychrista]

I think it ranges. When I had mine last year at this time, I received a packet of info from my doctor that mentioned four or five different preps, and mine was very different from anything I'd heard before. I started two nights before the procedure with a double dose of Milk of Magnesia followed by a double dose of Dulcolax. Then on the day before the procedure, starting at noon (? I think?), same regimen every four hours, each time followed by at least 16 oz of water. I found it to be tolerable. I think the last dose was around 8pm the night before and then I had a regular dose of just one of them (I can't remember which) at 6am the morning of the procedure. I didn't get nauseated, which had been my fear, and I didn't have any cramping. The MoM taste is less than desirable, but overall, it wasn't too bad.

For the rawness, I used unscented baby wipes, and to be honest, Boudreaux's Butt Paste. For hydration, I purchased tons of options, and honestly drank mostly just water, with some tea and some sparkling water. I tried one serving of broth and didn't like it. I had coconut water, Gatorade powder to mix in, ginger ale on hand but never touched it. Mine was a diagnostic colonoscopy, too, (it was six months before I qualified for a screening.) I didn't have GI issues but I was super sick and didn't have much of an appetite to begin with, so water was pretty much all I wanted. I did struggle with the low residue diet as I don't typically eat like that, but again, little appetite meant not much of a struggle. I was eating a lot of eggs at the time, anyway, as that was one of the more tolerable foods then, and just had them on their own without the veggies I usually added. And toast. I don't know if this was allowed or not, but I had sourdough. I don't like white bread so I felt like it was better than having the multigrain I would've gotten. For clear liquids, just the water, tea, and seltzer.

From what I can tell Sourdough should be allowed, as long as it wasn't made with whole grain flour. I actually plan to make a loaf of sourdough sandwich bread this weekend to go with the big pot of chicken rice soup.

I do plan to buy the flushable wipes (that won't get flushed because why would you be able to flush something that says flushable? ). And then A&D ointment, since they specifically say not to use diaper rash cream.


Has anyone trip Preparation H wipes? The instructions say "soothing wipes" and when I searched that is what came up. I had a really bad sore bum last time, despite everything I did. So if this are better than standard wipes, I will try them.

 

[bluecruiser]

I do plan to buy the flushable wipes (that won't get flushed because why would you be able to flush something that says flushable? ). And then A&D ointment, since they specifically say not to use diaper rash cream.


Has anyone trip Preparation H wipes? The instructions say "soothing wipes" and when I searched that is what came up. I had a really bad sore bum last time, despite everything I did. So if this are better than standard wipes, I will try them.

Stay away from Prep H wipes, per my doctor you don't need the extra chemicals/ingredients in them. The best wipes I've found for dealing with colonoscopy prep are baby wipes, such as Huggies. Since you're not planning to flush them, they are better than the flushable wipes - thicker and softer. The ones that work best for me are Huggies Natural Care, unscented or cucumber/Aloe/vitamin E.

Adding: I also second the use of A&D ointment.

 

[tvguy]

I think every doctor has their own way of doing things. Typically, mine consists of 3-days of bland diet(basically chicken and potato) then the afternoon before take the dulcolax and a few hours after that drink the miralax -then off to the doctors the next morning.

Wow, three days? 12 hours or so is bad enough. That prep does its job in hours.

 

[kathyk2]

I had a colonoscopy in July. I had nothing to eat or drink the day before the procedure. I had to drink a gallon of prep starting the afternoon before. The doctor told me to avoid fiber before the procedure. I was very sleepy afterwards so have someone drive you home.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

A&D ointment is greasier and more expensive than Vaseline, and has a funny smell (due to cod liver oil).

Vaseline will do the job just as well.

 

[rndmr2]

I was very sleepy afterwards so have someone drive you home.

They wouldn't even do mine unless I had someone to drive me home. And she had to agree to stay there the whole time.

I have had 2 of them both times it was the Miralax and Gatorade mix. The first one I had to take a dose of Milk of Mag 2 days before and then the day of the prep I had to take Dulcolax pills in the morning. The 2nd one it was just the Dulcolax the day before.

My Husband had pills. He took the 1st bottle of pills the day before and the 2nd bottle in the morning the day of the test (His was scheduled for the afternoon). He had NO RESULTS from the first round at all. Luckily the 2nd round did the job.

 

[RangerPooh]

I’ve had two colonoscopies in the last year. Fun, I know. I had to stop food at lunchtime the day before. Then around dinner time begin the liquid drinks they provided. Clear, cranberry flavored nastiness. Around 11pm I began bottle two and had to finish by 3am. That was it.

 

[disneychrista]

Wow, three days? 12 hours or so is bad enough. That prep does its job in hours.

All the prep I have seen says to follow a low-residual diet for the 3 days before the procedure.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I had a colonoscopy on Tuesday. I had to stop all nuts and seeds plus high fiber raw fruit and vegetables 3 days before. 24 hours before liquid diet and jello. No red, blue or purple food coloring. The day before at 4pm I had to take 2 dulcolax, then at 6pm and 1 am miralax.

I was told what they tell you take for prep varies by age and health. My mom had type 1 diabetes and has a very different prep than me.

 

[disneychrista]

I had a colonoscopy on Tuesday. I had to stop all nuts and seeds plus high fiber raw fruit and vegetables 3 days before. 24 hours before liquid diet and jello. No red, blue or purple food coloring. The day before at 4pm I had to take 2 dulcolax, then at 6pm and 1 am miralax.

I was told what they tell you take for prep varies by age and health. My mom had type 1 diabetes and has a very different prep than me.

That makes sense.


I just bought Orange Jello not thinking about that it would have red food dye to make the orange until I got home. Guess I'll have to stick to the Pineapple instead. I doubt I will need a second box anyway.