Dreading the colonscopy prep

Options
2timesaround
2timesaround Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Does it ever get any easier to do this prep.? I have been dreading it for a year, since the last one. I hope one day they invent something that will be easier to take. I have to start the prep tomorrow with 2 tablets and 1/2 gallon of golytely. Does anyone have any suggestions to make it easier.

Comments

  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    #2
    Options
    Cold with a straw. The straw
    Cold with a straw. The straw allows u to drink more without tasting it moreso than tAking sips.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #3
    Options
    ketziah35 said:

    Cold with a straw. The straw
    Cold with a straw. The straw allows u to drink more without tasting it moreso than tAking sips.

    Yes....add Makers Mark to the Golytely.......
    It won't help the outcome...but it sure will make ya not worry about it near as much.........

    Just kiddin'...consider it preventative medicine...it makes it a little more tolerable....Love and Hope , Buzz
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #4
    Options
    Buzzard said:

    Yes....add Makers Mark to the Golytely.......
    It won't help the outcome...but it sure will make ya not worry about it near as much.........

    Just kiddin'...consider it preventative medicine...it makes it a little more tolerable....Love and Hope , Buzz

    My doc does not prescribe go
    My doc does not prescribe go liytly anymore, there is this new combo out there with miralax and gatorade and this works great, it does go down easier!
    Kathy
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    #5
    Options
    I'm with you. I will have
    I'm with you. I will have my first colonscoy in September, post dx. Prep was a nightmare. It took 11 hours to get the go lightly down- and i was not going number 2. Excrutiating pain and cramoing, screaming like a wounded animal all night long and frightening my kids. I ended up in the ER the morning of my colonoscopy and I think they gave me an enema to get me cleaned out. Well, turns out I had a massive tumor in my colon so nothing eliminating and my liver was so massive due to tumors that it was pushing on my stomach and espohpogus, Aaah, good times.

    I heard about the miralzax and duocal combo as well. supposedly a bit gentler prep?

    GOOD LUCK

    Peggy
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #6
    Options
    pluckey said:

    I'm with you. I will have
    I'm with you. I will have my first colonscoy in September, post dx. Prep was a nightmare. It took 11 hours to get the go lightly down- and i was not going number 2. Excrutiating pain and cramoing, screaming like a wounded animal all night long and frightening my kids. I ended up in the ER the morning of my colonoscopy and I think they gave me an enema to get me cleaned out. Well, turns out I had a massive tumor in my colon so nothing eliminating and my liver was so massive due to tumors that it was pushing on my stomach and espohpogus, Aaah, good times.

    I heard about the miralzax and duocal combo as well. supposedly a bit gentler prep?

    GOOD LUCK

    Peggy

    Much gentler prep!!! None
    Much gentler prep!!! None of the agaonizing cramping and all that!
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #7
    Options
    I liked MoviPrep (as much as one can "like" this)
    Mixed with tea, but drunk ice cold, it wasn't too bad. No cramping, no extra pills - within an hour or so I started "moving freely".

    I had a colonoscopy in April, and used MoviPrep. When my surgeon wanted me to do a Half-Lytley prep for surgery last month, I asked to go with MoviPrep again - it was much easier for me, and made the prep almost tolerable, but at least not to be dreaded. (Tho be sure you have a dedicated bathroom - warning times are minimal!)
  • Barbie123
    Barbie123 Member Posts: 8
    #8
    Options
    colonoscopy prep
    I am 65 yrs old and had my first colonoscopy in March. I kept putting it off because I was scared of the prep and of getting sick. My stomach is very sensitive anyway. When I found out my Mom had colon cancer I figured I better get one.

    I used the two tablets and the HalfLytley. I chilled it and drank with a straw in a small cup so it didn't appear to be that much liquid. I also sucked on a lemon drop on the side of my mouth, while sucking from the straw way to the back of my throat. That really helped the taste not be so bad. The doc also said I could wait longer than the 10 minutes between doses. That helped immensely. I waited about 30 minutes in between. It took longer but I never got sick. I also took a Xanax before I started so that relaxed me.

    Thankfully, they removed two benign polyps and I will need to repeat colonoscopy in a year. I'm not afraid anymore.
  • 2timesaround
    2timesaround Member Posts: 4
    #9
    Options
    Barbie123 said:

    colonoscopy prep
    I am 65 yrs old and had my first colonoscopy in March. I kept putting it off because I was scared of the prep and of getting sick. My stomach is very sensitive anyway. When I found out my Mom had colon cancer I figured I better get one.

    I used the two tablets and the HalfLytley. I chilled it and drank with a straw in a small cup so it didn't appear to be that much liquid. I also sucked on a lemon drop on the side of my mouth, while sucking from the straw way to the back of my throat. That really helped the taste not be so bad. The doc also said I could wait longer than the 10 minutes between doses. That helped immensely. I waited about 30 minutes in between. It took longer but I never got sick. I also took a Xanax before I started so that relaxed me.

    Thankfully, they removed two benign polyps and I will need to repeat colonoscopy in a year. I'm not afraid anymore.

    Thanks for the advice
    Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I am about 3/4 the way done drinking the golytely, but am starting to feel nauseous now. I tried to use the miralax prep but my doctor's office wouldn't change it for me. I ended up keeping a lollipop in my mouth when I drank it and it helped a lot, and used a straw. Thanks again.
  • Lotus
    Lotus Member Posts: 4
    #10
    Options
    The prep
    The Merilax isn't as good to me. Just have to DO IT! What flavor did u choose?
  • 2timesaround
    2timesaround Member Posts: 4
    #11
    Options
    Lotus said:

    The prep
    The Merilax isn't as good to me. Just have to DO IT! What flavor did u choose?

    Flavor packet
    I ended up using cherry. I think half the problem with me drinking it is mental, none of the preps taste good.
  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    #12
    Options
    understand
    I understand as my mother was dxn with stage 3c colon cancer in May. Since i am 40 i have to get my first colonoscopy soon. I am scared. I've always had digestive problems and other bowel problems.

    -Ktz
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #13
    Options
    new prep
    My new gastro had me take 4 Ducolax at noon. At 1:00 I mixed 258 grams of Miralax powder into 64 ounces of any flavor Gatorade other than red. I drank 8 ounces every 15 minutes. Tasted good and absolutely no discomfort.
  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    #14
    Options
    dianetavegia said:

    new prep
    My new gastro had me take 4 Ducolax at noon. At 1:00 I mixed 258 grams of Miralax powder into 64 ounces of any flavor Gatorade other than red. I drank 8 ounces every 15 minutes. Tasted good and absolutely no discomfort.

    Dianne,
    i think we are in
    Dianne,

    i think we are in the same neighborhood.
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #15
    Options
    Zen.
    I find it best not to think about it in advance. I buy the Osmoprep pills at the drugstore, not knowing for sure why. I take two pills, not knowing that I will take two more in 15 minutes. I stay close to my john, through some vague intuition, but not knowing for sure. It's the anticipation that kills you. Live in the moment.

    --Greg
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    #16
    Options
    Yes!
    Yes! Absolutely! Remember that the colonoscopy may give you information that may save your life!

    I myself, having no colon, will never have to have one again, no matter how long I live unless in my ripe old age they learn how to successfully transplant, grow or otherwise synthesize a colon in time for me to benefit from it. But I feel for you I really do. That level of self-inflicted humiliation and discomfort (who needs waterboarding - we could just give a daily colonoscopy!) would normally be a punishable crime with severe consequences.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #17
    Options
    RickMurtagh said:

    Yes!
    Yes! Absolutely! Remember that the colonoscopy may give you information that may save your life!

    I myself, having no colon, will never have to have one again, no matter how long I live unless in my ripe old age they learn how to successfully transplant, grow or otherwise synthesize a colon in time for me to benefit from it. But I feel for you I really do. That level of self-inflicted humiliation and discomfort (who needs waterboarding - we could just give a daily colonoscopy!) would normally be a punishable crime with severe consequences.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    #18
    Options
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Nutrition
    Weight is something I watch and I can eat anything I want again! Calorie wise. Nutrition absorption does not tend to be my problem, my small intestine absorbs an adequate amount apparently. I eat children's Flintstone's chewable vitamins four or five times a day. When I take regular vitamins I hear them plink in the toilet whole! When i have the cash, liquid supplements, but they are ridiculously expensive. Electrolytes I have to watch too.

    I had two large tumors in different parts of my colon and lots of polyps, so the whole thing had to go or I would be chasing cancer for my whole life. Not an if situation, but a when situation.

    Thanks for the concern, but I believe things can be pretty decent even sans colon.

    I have been thinking that if I do not resume working as a programmer, I will probably go into nursing or at least the medical field. Mostly so I can help people who are having a hard time health wise and need an understanding hand. I think our experiences with cancer uniquely prepare us for those opportunities. We go through enough as it is, a little "experienced" would go a long way.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #19
    Options
    ketziah35 said:

    Dianne,
    i think we are in
    Dianne,

    i think we are in the same neighborhood.

    Lost Lake?
    Same neighborhood?

Discussion Boards