The dreaded colonoscopy prep is up on me.

[mom2rtk]

I just survived the second dose by throwing a butterscotch in my mouth for a few seconds and repeating drinking, placing candy back in my mouth. When the next five years come around, I am going to see what prep the doctors use or if there are other options even if I have to switch doctor. This really s.....ed.
Thank you Anniemae for being there for me lol.

After I had mine done a couple years ago, I decided I would shop doctors next time based on the prep they used. I mean, it's not like I even get to see the doctor, except for a brief introduction the day of the procedure.

Hang in there. You'll be so glad when it's over tomorrow!

 

[goofyernmost]

I never got any of that stuff and each time I have watched the procedure on the monitor from beginning to end. (pun intended) I've watched them cut off polyps and, as I said all the rest of the procedure. It fascinates me to watch it. Strange perhaps, but, it's just the inside of my body. For the most part it is much more attractive then the outside and I look at that all the time.

 

[anniemae]

I just survived the second dose by throwing a butterscotch in my mouth for a few seconds and repeating drinking, placing candy back in my mouth. When the next five years come around, I am going to see what prep the doctors use or if there are other options even if I have to switch doctor. This really s.....ed.
Thank you Anniemae for being there for me lol.

Glad you got it down, now you must be prepared for a long night LOL! I was up most of the night, but the glorious drugs they will give you tomorrow will send you into a blissful slumber, then it will all be done! And you can eat something good!

For the future, most are using Miralax prep. It is over the counter and you mix it with gatorade. Miralax is odorless, colorless and tasteless, so it's just like drinking a lot of gatorade. My doc switched to this, they said the insurance companies won't pay for the prescription preps anymore, so they will probably all switch over to this prep.

Good luck tomorrow! You are almost done!

 

[MinnieMouse84]

I never got any of that stuff and each time I have watched the procedure on the monitor from beginning to end. (pun intended) I've watched them cut off polyps and, as I said all the rest of the procedure. It fascinates me to watch it. Strange perhaps, but, it's just the inside of my body. For the most part it is much more attractive then the outside and I look at that all the time.

Wow, I could never do that. I tell the doctor every time that she's not allowed to start until I'm completely unconscious. Propofol is a beautiful thing.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I just survived the second dose by throwing a butterscotch in my mouth for a few seconds and repeating drinking, placing candy back in my mouth. When the next five years come around, I am going to see what prep the doctors use or if there are other options even if I have to switch doctor. This really s.....ed.
Thank you Anniemae for being there for me lol.

If it makes you feel better, I thought that prep was great compared to the gallon of colyte.

 

[AnnaS]

If it makes you feel better, I thought that prep was great compared to the gallon of colyte.

Yes I have heard some are worse. I think whatever Dulcolax prep I used 7 years ago was better.

 

[AnnaS]

Okay - I am back. Glad it's over.

He did remove a small (2mm) polyp. He said should be fine but of course they send it out and no news is good news. I asked how long before I can stop waiting for any news. He said by the end of next week. Will probably call the office anyway - always worry they overlook papers, miss a paper, forget to call,etc.etc.

I did tell/ask the doctor there must be other preps that are better and that this was nasty. I told him I almost did not make it to the second dose. He said, but it works great and maybe in 5 years something new will be introduced. I told him I just wanted to give him feedback on it. He is very nice. He also told me to come back in 5 years instead of 10 because of the polyp. (I started/had my first before age 50/stomach issues).

Anyway - this got me thinking and I was thinking out loud and told the nurse. What if I had gone two years ago. There would not have been a polyp (possibly) or starting one. Dr. would have said come back in 10 years. Then this poly starts after that colonoscopy and it would have been 10 years before the next one. How much would it have grown.............The nurse said, don't think what if, etc.......just a thought that popped up in my head. Who know/will never know...

Thank you everyone and AmazingGrace for starting this thread.

 

[anniemae]

Glad it's done!

 

[Micca]

The whole prep thing is so off-putting to people. There are things in the medical field that are practically miracles, and yet...this is the best they can do to clear a path for a scope? Seriously? I'm not much for conspiracies, but this seems like something that insurance companies and big pharm have deemed a low priority.

That said, I've done a couple of different preps and while they were bad, it was by far not the worst thing I'd gone through. Glad it's over & out of the way for years to come

 

[manning]

I never got any of that stuff and each time I have watched the procedure on the monitor from beginning to end. (pun intended) I've watched them cut off polyps and, as I said all the rest of the procedure. It fascinates me to watch it. Strange perhaps, but, it's just the inside of my body. For the most part it is much more attractive then the outside and I look at that all the time.

You're lucky. The last time When I was sedated I came out of it fast. The pain did it. Didn't find anything. Have a hunch it was do to the resection years ago. All procedures are not the same.

 

[manning]

Okay - I am back. Glad it's over.

He did remove a small (2mm) polyp. He said should be fine but of course they send it out and no news is good news. I asked how long before I can stop waiting for any news. He said by the end of next week. Will probably call the office anyway - always worry they overlook papers, miss a paper, forget to call,etc.etc.

I did tell/ask the doctor there must be other preps that are better and that this was nasty. I told him I almost did not make it to the second dose. He said, but it works great and maybe in 5 years something new will be introduced. I told him I just wanted to give him feedback on it. He is very nice. He also told me to come back in 5 years instead of 10 because of the polyp. (I started/had my first before age 50/stomach issues).

Anyway - this got me thinking and I was thinking out loud and told the nurse. What if I had gone two years ago. There would not have been a polyp (possibly) or starting one. Dr. would have said come back in 10 years. Then this poly starts after that colonoscopy and it would have been 10 years before the next one. How much would it have grown.............The nurse said, don't think what if, etc.......just a thought that popped up in my head. Who know/will never know...

Thank you everyone and AmazingGrace for starting this thread.

It takes about ten years for a polyp to become cancerous. If you had a precancerous one the protocol may be:

If your doctor finds one or two polyps less than 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) in diameter, a repeat colonoscopy in five to 10 years may be adequate, depending on your other risk factors for colon cancer. If you have larger polyps, more polyps or polyps with certain cell characteristics, your doctor may recommend another colonoscopy in three to five years — again, depending on your other risk factors.

 

[AnnaS]

It takes about ten years for a polyp to become cancerous. If you had a precancerous one the protocol may be:

That;s good it takes a long time to become cancerous - hopefully and wish everyone would catch it on time but sadly we know that is not so
Thank you

 

[goofyernmost]

It takes about ten years for a polyp to become cancerous. If you had a precancerous one the protocol may be:

If your doctor finds one or two polyps less than 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) in diameter, a repeat colonoscopy in five to 10 years may be adequate, depending on your other risk factors for colon cancer. If you have larger polyps, more polyps or polyps with certain cell characteristics, your doctor may recommend another colonoscopy in three to five years — again, depending on your other risk factors.

Yup, I had 10 on my last one. If I remember correctly, one was classified as "pre" but because of the numbers I have to go every 3 years, at least for now.