Wellness

[SeaMaiden]

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@PINKdogWOOD wrote:

@LindaSal  @Helen Bach   As well, I find it really helps to follow the bland diet starting 3-4 days prior to taking your prep. A much lighter diet with just liquids 1.5 to 2 days just prior to is so much easier on your system. 

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I fasted for two full days prior and used herbal laxatives to clean out.  Made the ACTUAL PREP easy....and FAST. 

[Coquille]

@Helen Bach  I make sure it's really, really cold, drink one glass fast, 3 or 4 swallows at a time, then after the 3rd or 4th swallow, I gargle (just gargle, then spit it out) with either cold ginger ale or coke. Just remember to spit the soda out!  I find that the soda cleanses my pallet and the horrible taste is hardly there. That makes it easier to keep drinking, so I can get it all down.  I don't drink soda anymore but years ago, when I did, I tried that and it worked for me then and still does.

Good Luck! You'll do and be fine.

[chrystaltree]

Talk to your doctor.  I knew the prep would be the hardest part of a colonoscopy for.  I had to do the prep many years ago prior to abdominal surgery and I could not get all the Golytley down. I got about half a gallon down.  The nurse said they'd have to reschedule the surgery but the surgeon said since I hadn't eaten any solid food in two days (I had Bern to I'll to eat) I didn't have drink the entire gallon.  Definitely it has to be cold to get it down.  There are smaller volume preps which is why you should talk to your doctor.  The small volume prep is something like 16oz of prep and then you drink a lot of clear water.  

[Teddixat]

i'll jump in too.  My doc wants me to have one also.  I've had several of them and it doesn't get easier.   I think the idea of eating light a couple of days in advance and an herbal laxatives will make it easier.   I just don't know why they makes the stuff so horrible tasting.  I think it's full of artificial sweetner which to me makes it even worse.  

good luck.

I found this doing a search. There is a pill

https://www.ccalliance.org/blog/prevention/new-colonoscopy-prep-tablet-approved-fda

https://www.samhealth.org/about-samaritan/news-search/2021/03/09/prepping-for-a-colonoscopy-is-bette...

[CAcableGirl2]

@Helen Bach   It wasn't as bad as I expected.  I had the huge container and finished it.  I added 2 of the packets (looks like small tubes) yellow Crystal Light lemonade powder to the container and then filled it with water.  My procedure was scheduled the the next morning.

I started at 1 pm and drank 6 oz every 20 minutes until it was gone.  It really wasn't as bad as I was told.  I just drank it down quickly every 20 minutes, and by 6-6:30 I was done, took the two pills they gave me (I was emptied out by then), and slept through the night.  Didn't get up in the night if I recall.

You will be fine - thinking about drinking that liquid was much worse then it was. 

Next time, I would start about 12-12:30, but that would be the only thing I would change. 

[Icegoddess]

I just can't drink large amounts of liquid.  My last one I ended up throwing up and I was done.  I refuse to rush getting that stuff down.  I'll drink it at my own pace. I see no reason to rush it.  

My tip would be to actually start a day or two ahead by cutting back on eating the things that take longer to digest.  That way there won't be so much to clean out.  

Oh, and when you feel the urge, run, don't walk, to the bathroom.  You won't be able to hold it.

[queendiva]

It could be worse- I am having my third colonoscopy in as many months two weeks from now. Large, benign tumor found, surgical removal scheduled.

I asked my DR's office about the pill, which my sister-in-law took. They did not allow it for possible long term problems.

I agree about distracting yourself as much as possible. I must dring smaller amounts more often as "chugging " the cocktail down is not an option. Also agree to start eating light several days pre-prep. That will also help a lot.

[Karie2022]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

Talk to your doctor.  I knew the prep would be the hardest part of a colonoscopy for.  I had to do the prep many years ago prior to abdominal surgery and I could not get all the Golytley down. I got about half a gallon down.  The nurse said they'd have to reschedule the surgery but the surgeon said since I hadn't eaten any solid food in two days (I had Bern to I'll to eat) I didn't have drink the entire gallon.  Definitely it has to be cold to get it down.  There are smaller volume preps which is why you should talk to your doctor.  The small volume prep is something like 16oz of prep and then you drink a lot of clear water.  

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Totally agree, talk to your doctor...my husband only had to drink a much smaller amount, I had to drink the gallon which I barely finished.  He found it very reasonable. I guess it depends on the doctor.  

[lynnie61]

First colonoscopy at 50, I had to drink the gallon.  Was throwing up by half of it, but ate light several days, so I was good for the procedure.  Didn’t know the straw tip at that time.  

Second colonoscopy I asked for something different prep, had 2 / 10 oz preps.  Also, on my second, I waited until I could get 1st or 2nd appt.  and was walking out of the hospital by 830 am.  On my first, I had an 11 am appt, and didn’t get my procedure until 230.  Nope, wasn’t doing that again.  

Eating lightly days prior really helps.  

[lgfan]

@Icegoddess "Oh, and when you feel the urge, run, don't walk, to the bathroom.  You won't be able to hold it."

You also must go to the bathroom even if you think it is only gas.  Usually it is more than gas and you can have a messy accident if you dont use the bathroom to release what you think is only gas.

For me the hardest part wasn't drinking that awful medicine it was going constantly to the bathroom.  I now regret not using moistened towlettes instead of toilet paper because after a few trips to the bathroom you do become chafed with so much toilet paper use.