Colonoscopies

[Nancy]

I had my fourth colonoscopy today (everything was AOK) and this time I did something that really helped. So I wanted to pass on my tip of the day.

You know how terribly bloated and uncomfortable you feel when you first start the prep? Well, I used to sit and watch TV while prepping, and always felt awful. So I thought the thing through, and decided that it would probably be much better to keep standing and moving around to give the darned stuff a proper direction to go in--downward--rather than just sitting on your stomach, sloshing around.

So I hopped on the treadmill, put it on a slow pace, got some crossword puzzles and other things to occupy my time. I did this through the 2 hour prep, just taking time out to go to the potty , and to drink the prep.

I wasn't uncomfortable at all, and finished it easily and on time.

I am sure you could accomplish the same thing by just walking around the house doing small things.

Anyway, I was impressed at how much difference it made. I also mentioned it to the doctor. He thought it was a great idea.

 

[Eva]

Thanks for the tip, Nancy. I am going to save this info until I am ready to go for one.

 

[Ross]

What did you take for prep?

 

[Bina]

I hear that Cooker's PJ works wonders......

 

[Nancy]

3 PM day before colonoscopy. 2 Dulcolax tablets 1 hour before prep, prep of 255g or 238g Miralax mixed with 64 oz Gatorade or clear liquid of your choice except red colors, drink 8 oz. every 10 or 15 minutes, and when finished, take 2 Dulcolax tablets 1 hour after.

Clear liquid diet the day before colonoscopy (prep day)

There are other special diet and medication instructions starting 2 weeks before and 1 week before.

This is so much better than the old GoLytley or NuLytley (spelling?) prep which I believe was drinking a gallon of liquid. That was way too much and very irritating to the skin coming out.

Miralax was nice and gentle.

 

[Bina]

Oh my.....still with the Dulcolax? That's what I took when I had a colonoscopy about 18 years ago.
It did the trick though.

 

[Ross]

3 PM day before colonoscopy. 2 Dulcolax tablets 1 hour before prep, prep of 255g or 238g Miralax mixed with 64 oz Gatorade or clear liquid of your choice except red colors, drink 8 oz. every 10 or 15 minutes, and when finished, take 2 Dulcolax tablets 1 hour after.

Clear liquid diet the day before colonoscopy (prep day)

There are other special diet and medication instructions starting 2 weeks before and 1 week before.

This is so much better than the old GoLytley or NuLytley (spelling?) prep which I believe was drinking a gallon of liquid. That was way too much and very irritating to the skin coming out.

Miralax was nice and gentle.

Just wanted to make sure they didn't make you drink that nasty GoLYTELY® crap!

The miralax/gatorade flush is the best.

 

[njean]

Oh my.....still with the Dulcolax? That's what I took when I had a colonoscopy about 18 years ago.
It did the trick though.

Yipes!!! After reading this Bina, I don't feel too guilty that I haven't had one since 1997!

 

[Ross]

Just downing 2 bottles of gatorade as fast as they want is almost too much!

Gotta say though, within 30 minutes, the bathroom was mine for hours.

 

[Bina]

Yipes!!! After reading this Bina, I don't feel too guilty that I haven't had one since 1997!

Well Norma, I was VERY young when I had it because of some intestinal issues at the time.

 

[Nancy]

It can't be just Dulcolax--there has to be much more than that, such as Miralax + Gatorade. There is about 30 feet of intestines that have to become perfectly cleaned out. That's quite a lot.

 

[Bina]

I don't remember which liquid I had to drink....it was a totally terrible experience.

 

[njean]

Well Norma, I was VERY young when I had it because of some intestinal issues at the time.

Did I forget to mention that I was in a test tube at the time???

 

[Kathy McCain]

I am due for another one! (yuck) I should have had it done several months ago, but put if off due to the heart surgery. My mother died from colon cancer years ago. She was my age. (57) The Dr. found a couple of polups several years ago,(benign) which they removed. My last one was normal. Due to my family history, the Dr.recommends every 5yrs. I have one question. Do I need antibiotics, before or during the procedure?

 

[njean]

I need to get one done too but the doctors here will NOT do it unless I come off coumadin for 4 days & I refuse to do that!!!

So I guess until I run into a dr that agrees not to get me off coumadin, I just won't do it, period!!!

 

[Ross]

I am due for another one! (yuck) I should have had it done several months ago, but put if off due to the heart surgery. My mother died from colon cancer years ago. She was my age. (57) The Dr. found a couple of polups several years ago,(benign) which they removed. My last one was normal. Due to my family history, the Dr.recommends every 5yrs. I have one question. Do I need antibiotics, before or during the procedure?

Yeap, sure do.

 

[Taysgrama]

The last time I had one, and I have had 4 since my grandma died from Colon Cancer and they are always finding cancerous polyps in my mom's colon, they gave me that little bottle of crap (no pun intended) that you mix with a little bit of clear liquid. Half a bottle at a time. The stuff is really salty and by the time I have to take the second dose, I about gag on it. The first time aint too bad but the second one is horrible. I am not looking forward to having one again. I missed it last year due to my OHS and I know they will be pushing me for it soon. Glad yours came out OK Nancy!!!

 

[Glenda]

Nancy I'm so glad everything is okay. My oncologist gave me a little package of stool cards that I'm supposed to collect samples and send back, just haven't done that yet. I sure need to with all the cancer I seem to get. I did have a colonoscopy about five years ago. I mentioned this to him and he said they usually do them every five to seven years. So I guess I have another couple of years to go.

 

[terryj]

Diana,next time get the crap in the bottle really cold and suck it up real fast through a straw. It worked for me and my husband when he had his.

Yes,my husband had his on the coumadin. He had one small polyp and they clipped it with no problem. I am not on coumadin and had 6 polyps removed and one was pre-cancerous. They doc said hubby could wait 7 years for another one and three years for me.

 

[Nancy]

I think the horrible salty tasting stuff you are referring to is one of the old time Fleet preps which have been recalled by the FDA because they have the potential of causing kidney damage.

I remember that stuff--it was HUGELY horrible. I don't think doctors use that anymore.

Here's the link:

http://www.usrecallnews.com/2009/04/fleet-recall-recalled-fleet-phospho-soda-info.html