topic Re: It's Prep day in Wellness

It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 15:54:44 GMT

So, today is prep day for my colonoscopy tomorrow. This will be my 2nd colonoscopy and the prep is a lot different than 10 years ago. This doctor uses a combination of Dulcolax laxative and Miralax. You still have to mix it into 64 oz of liquid and drink lots of liquids before/after which already is a stretch for me.

It's actually a 2-day prep. The day before the real prep they tell you to eat only soft foods. No meat or raw veggies, fish and seafood is ok. And, to try and eat less than you normally would. At 8:00 pm you take your first does of Dulcolax. I had not taken a true laxative since college and had forgotten how awful it was. The cramping, the nausea. This is not gentle overnight relief. More like Roto Rooter 2 hours later. Still felt the effects this morning 12 hours later.

I'm beginning to get a little hungry, so I guess it's time for some non-red Jello.

Re: It's Prep day

Lucky Charm — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:00:26 GMT

Oh, hard to say, but just bear with it!

I have never had the cramping. Just a LOT of sitting. I took magazines in the bathroom!

Will soon be over--it's not for forever. !!!

Re: It's Prep day

hayseed00 — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:00:38 GMT

@Icegoddess My husband just did the same prep last week, he said it wasn't so bad except he got really hungry.

Re: It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:11:33 GMT

I guess this sorta says it all:

Re: It's Prep day

StylishLady — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:12:58 GMT

So you did not have to consume a gallon of that horrible "Go Lightly" that DH took for his colonoscopies.? Lucky you.

Re: It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:28:43 GMT

@StylishLady , not this time. I did last time, and I agree; it's horrible. I couldn't get it all down, but I figured if my poo was nothing but clear liquid I should be cleaned out enough. However with that method there was no cramping. But, if you felt the need to go you better already be in the bathroom because there is no holding it.

There are different methods. I was joking with the checkout cashier at the grocery store about it and she mentioned she had some sort of reaction to what they gave her and they weren't able to do hers. It was something that involved drinking two small bottles of liquid the day before and again before the procedure. I'm thinking maybe it was Sureprep. Of course you still have to drink what I consider massive quantities of liquids regardless of the method. And, if I drink too much liquid, that'll also make me nauseous, so I can't win there.

Re: It's Prep day

PinkyPetunia — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:31:20 GMT

I used the dulcolax/miralax prep 2 weeks ago. I like buying it at any drugstore. The prescription prep was very expensive and I refused it.

I have to have a colonoscopy every 5 years due to a family history of colon disease. Be glad you had to wait 10 years.

Best thing I can say is I am glad mine is over. Yes it is unpleasant but it is necessary.

Re: It's Prep day

hckynut — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:49:44 GMT

@Icegoddess

Your nik have anything to do with ice skating? Will be going to the rink in an hour for a 2 hour skate.

Glad to see you are taking this seriously. I know all to well about prep, I have joined the 20 gallon club with my last Colonoscopy. Yep! 15 of them and 5 Double Balloon Enteroscopies.

Hope everything goes well for you today and tomorrow.

hckynut

Re: It's Prep day

patbz — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:50:55 GMT

I was due for my third colonoscopy (since I was 55) and I asked my Doctor why couldn't I do the ship your stuff by FedEx kit (DH had just done it). My Doctor said "no reason it there were no prevailing symptoms" . He said these kits are very accurate and if there are any indications of a problem then you have a colonoscopy. I chose this option and it was easy peasy BUT they didn't get a usable sample, so I will have to redo this week (hope I don't ultimately have to do the prep, etc).

Re: It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 17:06:43 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

@Icegoddess

Your nik have anything to do with ice skating? Will be going to the rink in an hour for a 2 hour skate.

Glad to see you are taking this seriously. I know all to well about prep, I have joined the 20 gallon club with my last Colonoscopy. Yep! 15 of them and 5 Double Balloon Enteroscopies.

Hope everything goes well for you today and tomorrow.

hckynut

Yes, I'm an adult figure skater. Picked it up in my mid-30's. Only skate about once a week now. I can do many of the single jumps, but my favorite is spinning. We have spoken before, I think it may have been on my post about my MIA neighbors.

Re: It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 17:10:17 GMT

@patbz wrote:
I was due for my third colonoscopy (since I was 55) and I asked my Doctor why couldn't I do the ship your stuff by FedEx kit (DH had just done it). My Doctor said "no reason it there were no prevailing symptoms" . He said these kits are very accurate and if there are any indications of a problem then you have a colonoscopy. I chose this option and it was easy peasy BUT they didn't get a usable sample, so I will have to redo this week (hope I don't ultimately have to do the prep, etc).

@patbz , I'm a bit confused. If your first colonoscopy was at 55, were you on the 10 year plan or the 5 year plan. Usually, they only put you on the 5-year plan if they find a problem of some sort. If you're on the 10 year plan, you would definitely be too old for the Cologard as their fine print in the commercials say not recommended for people over 75. And, it's also not recommended for anybody with a history or family history of problems.

Re: It's Prep day

hckynut — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 17:20:41 GMT

@Icegoddess

When the ole memory goes! Now I remember talking about this in the past. See an 18 year old that is close to making the USA Team a lot at the rink. Very good doing triples, and now he is doing quads. Not familiar with Lutz/SowCow and so on, he makes it look very easy. Ole hockey guy here!

Best to you tomorrow,

hckynut

Re: It's Prep day

patbz — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 17:24:30 GMT

@Icegoddess : I am 75. Additionally, when I had my first colonoscopy, I believe they were recommended every five years (later on, that changed).

Re: It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:03:24 GMT

@Lucky Charm wrote:
Oh, hard to say, but just bear with it!

I have never had the cramping. Just a LOT of sitting. I took magazines in the bathroom!

Will soon be over--it's not for forever. !!!

@Lucky Charm Oh, that's an idea. Maybe I'll pre-position my tablet and work jigsaw puzzles while there. I absolutley hate sitting on the toilet and usually wait until I absolutely have to go, but you really can't do that when prepping.

Re: It's Prep day

Catty2 — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:46:06 GMT

I had my first one in October and the prep was the worst part. Lots of anxiety before the test but overall it wasn't that bad and you are doing something good for yourself. Hope all goes well.

Re: It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 23:21:10 GMT

Well, my stomach just revolted. Just up-chucked some of the Miralax solution (all while on the toilet). Just too much liquid in too short a time. And I can't remember the last time I vomited for any reason. I know, TMI.

Re: It's Prep day

Icegoddess — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 16:40:59 GMT

All done. Doctor says I'm good for another 10 years. Maybe by that time at-home kits will be more commonplace and accepted.

Re: It's Prep day

hckynut — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 16:51:54 GMT

@Icegoddess

Glad to see the procedure went well, the prep, not so much. I came close to the same, only 1 time of my 20 gallons. They moved up my procedure that time. Was supposed to have 2 hours to drink the half gallon, and they cut that to 1/2 hour. Think that was for 1 of the Double Balloon Enteroscopies. Been over 2 years since my last one, but if I start bleeding again?

It's a relief for you to know all is well.

hckynut