Colonoscopy prep

SandiaBuddy
SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Here's an interesting new article about colonocopy prep (abstract only): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30844973

I have been cheating on the prep (eating yogurt and drinking coffee with cream) on my most recent colonoscopies, and the reports say my prep was "excellent."

Thank goodness my next one is in three years.  I have never liked the prep.

A normocaloric low-fiber diet the day before a screening colonoscopy achieved better results than a clear-liquid diet in terms of adequate colon preparation. Moreover, it also improved the perception of hunger and excessive fluid intake. . .

Adequate bowel preparation was achieved in 89.1% vs 95.7% in clear-liquid diet and low-fiber diet groups, showing not only noninferiority, but also superiority (p = 0.04). Low-fiber diet participants reported less fluid-intake perception (p = 0.04) and less hunger (p = 0.006), with no differences in bloating or nausea.

Comments

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited March 2019 #2
    Yuck

    Hate the prep and can't stand the flavor of lemon.  I'd rather do what you suggested than the clear liquid diet.  Also don't like that they make me split the dose in the middle of the night which means no sleep for at least 36 hours.  That is pure torture.

    Kim

  • Lily Flower
    Lily Flower Member Posts: 260 Member
    edited March 2019 #3
    Speaking of colonoscopy prep.

    Speaking of colonoscopy prep. Why is apple sauce excluded by some doctors? My GI and a friend's GI have the apple sauce listed on the liquid diet. Yet one of my coworkers who just had his colonoscopy done 2 days ago and his doctor said no apple sauce, only jello and liquid. 

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #4
    Lily Flower said:

    Speaking of colonoscopy prep.

    Speaking of colonoscopy prep. Why is apple sauce excluded by some doctors? My GI and a friend's GI have the apple sauce listed on the liquid diet. Yet one of my coworkers who just had his colonoscopy done 2 days ago and his doctor said no apple sauce, only jello and liquid. 

    Tradition

    I think many physicians are mired in tradition.  They keep doing what they have been doing.  

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,289 Member
    #5
    You talked me into it, come

    You talked me into it, come 2020 I'm having my coffee with creamer before to scope. I always hated missing the morning cup, even more than that greasy used and abused feeling after, lol...................................Dave

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #6
    After 13 or 14 scopes over

    The past 20 years. I just drink the prep , do the low residue diet . I have come to accept that pert of the price of survival is a couple of days of discomfort now and then. I am on two yearly scopes again after producing a bumper crop of tubular adenomas last scope. That was after a break of 3 years and 3 months. I have another one next month. Ron.

  • airborne72
    airborne72 Member Posts: 303 Member
    #7
    You would think?

    This time last year I had my first CT scan after prematurely stopping adjuvant chemo.  Understandably, I was nervous because I had decided to not complete the 12 recommended sessions.  When I met with my oncologist to discuss the results of the CT scan he had a solemn look on his face and said that I needed to have a colonoscopy because the scan indicated bowel wall thickening at the site of my previous tumor.  At the time I still had an ileostomy.

    I went home and allowed my mind to wander towards unsatisfactory outcomes, for a while.  Then I was contacted by an individual from the clinic to schedule the colonoscopy.  She gave me the standard instructions about preparation.  I thought about that for a few minutes and realized that nothing that entered my digestive system through my mouth would exit through my large colon - anatomically it just could not happen due to the ileostomy.  I called the clinic and explained the situation to the scheduler.  She said follow the prep.  I then went to the clinic and explained the situation to a nurse, even raising my shirt and proudly displaying my ileostomy bag.  She had a puzzled look on her face and said that she would discuss it with the gastro doctor.  Later that day he called and we discussed it.  He agreed that the normal prep would serve no purpose, and told me to just give myself an enema instead.

    Lesson learned - just because that's the way it's done does not mean that it is correct or effective.  The patient should always take the lead in diagnosis and treatment decisions.

    By the way, I am scheduled for yet another CT scan next Monday, but who's worried?  Me.

    Jim

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #8
    This is one of the reasons I

    This is one of the reasons I like my ostomy so much. No prep because there's no colonoscopies, just a quick in office scope. I feel bad for you guys.

    Jan

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 784 Member
    #9
    Gee thanks Jan. haha   Last

    Gee thanks Jan. haha   Last Prep I had was so horrible I couldn’t finish it all. The scope was okay but they found 2 polyps. Have to go again in couple of years. I wish they could find something better tasting.

  • Diane_K
    Diane_K Member Posts: 84 Member
    #10
    I found that drinking it

    I found that drinking it through a straw directly to the back of my mouth helps. That way the liquid goes down the throat and doesn't slouch around the mouth.  Also, I suck on a lemon slice while drinking.  It takes the yucky taste out of my mouth between drinks.  Just don't eat the pulp, only the juice.  I don't use the artificial sweeteners.  I put a slight pinch of stevia in each glass I pour, just enough to cut the taste a bit.  My gastroenterologist approved the stevia.  It doesn't interfere with the procedure.

  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #11
    Split Prep

    For the last few years, I have always done a split prep and it works so much better for me.  Scope in the afternoon - even early afternoon.  Light breakfast and even very light lunch the day before.  Two Dulcolax tablets mid-afternoon.  Causes some cramping, but tolerable.  Then at 5-7pm around 1/4 of the giant jug of stuff.  Doesn't taste good but it is not that much.  Bed by midnight.  With a 1PM scope, no need to start the next 1/4 jug until about 8-9AM.  Many advantages - no headache etc from lack of food, no need to drink all of that, and a reasonable nights sleep.  I actually felt last time that my scope prep was no big deal.  Might want to check out a schedule like that.

    Take care,

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #12
    Betsydoglover said:

    Split Prep

    For the last few years, I have always done a split prep and it works so much better for me.  Scope in the afternoon - even early afternoon.  Light breakfast and even very light lunch the day before.  Two Dulcolax tablets mid-afternoon.  Causes some cramping, but tolerable.  Then at 5-7pm around 1/4 of the giant jug of stuff.  Doesn't taste good but it is not that much.  Bed by midnight.  With a 1PM scope, no need to start the next 1/4 jug until about 8-9AM.  Many advantages - no headache etc from lack of food, no need to drink all of that, and a reasonable nights sleep.  I actually felt last time that my scope prep was no big deal.  Might want to check out a schedule like that.

    Take care,

    Split prep

    I only did the split prep once, and I did find it to be more bearable.  I just like to get things done as early in the morning as possible, and then try to get back to normal, so I try to get the first available appointment.  It's nice that they let you eat the day before, my prep instructions are no food at all the day before.  That was the main point of my post, I have learned to cheat and it has had no deletory effects.

  • airborne72
    airborne72 Member Posts: 303 Member
    edited March 2019 #13
    SandiaBuddy said:

    Split prep

    I only did the split prep once, and I did find it to be more bearable.  I just like to get things done as early in the morning as possible, and then try to get back to normal, so I try to get the first available appointment.  It's nice that they let you eat the day before, my prep instructions are no food at all the day before.  That was the main point of my post, I have learned to cheat and it has had no deletory effects.

    Words and Meanings...

    SandiaBuddy: 

    Your final phrase unfortnately embodies the character of numerous politicians.  As does colonoscopies.

    Jim

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #14
    airborne72 said:

    Words and Meanings...

    SandiaBuddy: 

    Your final phrase unfortnately embodies the character of numerous politicians.  As does colonoscopies.

    Jim

    Politics

    I will otherwise avoid commenting on politics, but it seems that truth and reality have been severed from the political discussion.  This is not the America I knew, and it frightens me.

  • ann63
    ann63 Member Posts: 20 Member
    #15
    Colon prep yesterday,

    Colon prep yesterday, colonoscopy today, all clear! I go back in 3 years!

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,289 Member
    #16
    ann63 said:

    Colon prep yesterday,

    Colon prep yesterday, colonoscopy today, all clear! I go back in 3 years!

    Great to hear, enjoy the

    Great to hear, enjoy the NEDness!!!

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,289 Member
    #17
    SandiaBuddy said:

    Politics

    I will otherwise avoid commenting on politics, but it seems that truth and reality have been severed from the political discussion.  This is not the America I knew, and it frightens me.

    You're not alone there.......

    You're not alone there........................................... Dave

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #18
    ann63 said:

    Colon prep yesterday,

    Colon prep yesterday, colonoscopy today, all clear! I go back in 3 years!

    Congrats

    Congratulations.  Three years seems much more bearable.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #19
    ann63 said:

    Colon prep yesterday,

    Colon prep yesterday, colonoscopy today, all clear! I go back in 3 years!

    Woohooo

    Great news.  Thanks for sharing. 

    Kim

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 784 Member
    #20
    Great news.....3 years is

    Great news.....3 years is much more tolerable. Next time I will use a straw and lemon candy. Thanks for the advise.

Discussion Boards