Colonoscopy buddies anyone?

[gotumtum]

Hi Everyone.

Just thought I would leave a note here to say that I am about to start the colonoscopy prep process tomorrow...No food tomorrow, prep tomorrow night and Tues am and go in for scope for Tues 1pm.

Trying to be brave - did this about 7 years ago so I know what to expect unfortunately!

I think I am more grumpy than apprehensive. Though am apprehensive about the results.

Is anyone else having to go through this -this week ?

Colonscopy buddies anyone?

 

[jamesmom]

My son had a colonoscopy 3 weeks ago. He found the prep to be worse than the procedure. He threw up 3 times while trying to take a Gatorade/Miralax solution. FWIW, I've read that it's easier if you eat light in the days before the prep day. Good luck.

 

[jwfoise]

Sorry gotumtum, nothing scheduled for this week, but good luck with yours.

 

[Bellasaurus]

I have mine on Friday and also need a buddy! Too bad yours was earlier but you're all done now! Please give me a play by play

 

[poopaholic]

Mine is friday the 18th, so next week . Personally I am getting tired of this test . Two times last year. I have been getting scoped about every ten months or so . I couldn't tell you how many times I have had this done . It would be nice to have a prep buddy though. Just my two cents.

 

[Bellasaurus]

Well it's nice to know you survived your previous Any tips or experiences?

Mines 11th! Looking for prep buddies for Thursday!

 

[gotumtum]

Hi Bellasarus and Poopaholic.

Mine went well

I had fleet Phophosoda as prep as I can't have sulfur etc

Prep went well - no cramps which was nice.
Drinking the stuff was nasty as expected. I put it into the least amount of water I was allowed, and then took sips of the nasty alternated with really strong flavoured liquid.

I ate only lightly on the last day of eating, and that helped heaps. I also started conciously drinking a bit more water the week before just in case I couldn't drink all the post prep liquids. Which worked out well as I had some nausea. I was sick twice, but felt much better afterwards.

I even felt well enough to shower before I went in to the hospital!

They were lovely - did all the paperwork, weighed my, took temp blood pressure etc and then took me through to the next area - I got changed into a gown, but got to keep my socks on
Only a short wait, and then they took me through to the room, onto the bed, IV in, quick spray of the throat ( i had an upper endo too) and was asked to roll on my side.

The next thing I remember is waking up under a nice snuggly duvet
No sore throat either which was nice

They let me snooze for a bit, but kept asking if I was in pain - Nope

Then suggested I sit up, and get dressed - The nurse was keeping an eye on me and I went a funny colour so they told me to rest a bit more!
Then clothes on, into a waiting area and was offered a biscuit / sandwich and a drink. The specialist then came through and took me to a consult room and told me that he could not see any problems, but that we would wait for the biopsy. and home for a nice snooze!

Best wishes for your scopes - which preps do you use?

 

[gotumtum]

Poopaholic - How awful to have to go through this soooooo often!
Could you ask for an alternative scan or something?

 

[poopaholic]

Well gotumtum, my crohns has been labeled as severe . I think I have had every test available. Believe me when I say the scopes they have to day are way easier than some of the tests they use to rely on . The old lower GI which they pumped you full of barium was rough . I don't really mind the scopes . I get all my help from the st.louis veteran's hospital . I am fortunate that they are willing to stay on top of this very ugly disease . As of prep I use the miralax . I mix it with orange Gatorade and it really isn't that bad . I also request the antetisha (sp). Anyway I am glad your test went well . I know waiting on the biopsies is worrisome. I have worried about that in the past, but now I have been through it so many times I don't even think about it .

 

[Bellasaurus]

Gotumtum, great that yours went well! I am slightly jealous you are all done now I'm also a little more nervous now to hear you got sick twice with your prep.. my biggest fear! But I'm less than 24 hours away from my prep, so no turning back now. Today, I only had clear liquids as I decided to start a day early just in case I was too scared or too sick to finish all the prep procedure.

Poop, sorry to hear yours is severe and you had to endure worse scopes in the past! I'm using the new Prepopik, which I heard is a vast improvement. I'm lucky I didn't have to suffer through the things you probably had to

 

[poopaholic]

I have never heard of that prep . Tell us how it goes. Getting help at the VA I think my choices are limited . I request the miralax over the golytly. Which even the name is a cruel joke. It is so nasty and they give a gallon jug full. That is the normal go to prep when I am inpatient. It is so hard to drink that much in about three hours or so . I am so glad I am feeling well lately . The last three years were very hard for me . But now everything is going well, as long as I get all my meds in everyday . My doctor still wants another scope . I just do whatever it takes to stay on top of my health. At times it seems so overwhelming for me, but I always get through it. I know the veteran's hospitals have been under the publics scrutiny lately, but I really like my doctors . Sometimes I wish I didn't have so many . I am rambling. Bye

 

[gotumtum]

Hi Bellasarus

I would not worry about me vomiting - I have a tendency towards it anyway - have since I was little- Maybe a dodgy valve somewhere!
The best thing about the prep is when you are done, and you wake up from your colonoscopy and it is all over!! - Such a good feeling!

I think its a great idea that you started the fluids bit an extra day early - and from what I understand it is very very unusual to vomit with prep. I have always been a bit different! - Best of luck - I have my electric blanket on the bed and have a selection of good books on hand. I sneak back to bed when I can to warm up Thinking of you!

Poopaholic - although it is sad that you have such troubles - It is good that you like your doctors

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Nah I think the best part is when you can eat properly again after everything is done

 

[Bellasaurus]

Gotumtum, the more I read the prep 'horror stories' online, the more scared I get! It seems vomiting seems to be very common online, but I need to remember that usually only the best and worst cases are talked about. T-minus 7 hours for me! I'm already looking forward to being knocked out I'm hoping this isn't TMI, but I'm already going cloudy liquid based of my liquid diet, so I have high hopes that I will be cleaned out by tomorrow with the prepopik. I have heard that some users have had difficulty being completely clean for the scope :/

I would love some onion rings.... agh!

 

[Bellasaurus]

I figured I'd document my experience here, if anyone in the future wants a play-by-play. I know I really appreciated these, as I am a bundle of nerves! I am 24, F, suffering from anal fissures and am also lactose intolerant and hypoglycemic (so a liquid diet was a little frightening).

I started a clear liquid diet yesterday, a day before my prep day. This wasn't required by my GI, but I figured anything that might make the prep day suck less, I'd do. Five days prior, I also started a low residue diet. So on those days, I ate congee (rice porridge with boiled chicken breast), tuna salad, and french fries. Really unhealthy, but it kept me more or less full. I also binged a little on gummy bears! These 5 days I doubled my dose of Miralax to 2 capfuls a day. I typically take 1 a day to combat my fissures.

Yesterday, my clear liquid diet consisted of yellow gatorade, chicken broth from the box (trader joe's brand), some lemon jello, water, and clear "ice" gatorade. Surprisingly, I didn't get any hypoglycemic-related episodes where I feel dizzy, nauseous, and overall crappy. I guess the sugars in gatorade kept me pretty stable all day, which was a HUGE relief. It is about 12 noon here now, so 36 hours into my liquid diet. I am not feeling too fatigued yet, just craving some junk food like fried chicken, but nothing crazy. I am sipping on some broth for lunch. I am trying to get in a bunch of liquids now before I start the prepopik at 4, in case it makes me ill. But not TOO much liquid - I heard some overdo it and get nauseous and dizzy from too much water disrupting electrolyte balance!

I need to call the office at 2 to see when my colonoscopy is scheduled for tomorrow. That will dictate when I need to do my 2nd prepopik dose - six hours prior to my arrival. Then my husband will be home at 4 to provide moral and mental support as I take my first sachet of Prepopik! I also have an RX for Zofran, which I am planning on taking at 3:30. Eek. I am nervous, but almost excited to get this over with. And there are some people online that say Prepopik was easy! No cramps or anything, just watery poops. I'm used to rectal pain from the fissures already, so that won't be a big deal for me.

Four hours!

 

[Bellasaurus]

Back!

I took the Prepopik at 4pm here. I know it tastes eons better than other preps, but compared to.. regular drinks.. it does not taste good. It was sickly sweet and sour, almost syrupy, and fizzy. I didn't drink it all at once, but instead drank it over a 10 minute period. I felt a tiny bit sick and bloated, and drank an 8oz glass of water over the next 20 minutes. I need to drink 4 more of those in the next 5 hours.

An hour later, at 5, I had a mini bowel movement that was a bit watery. About 15 minutes later, i had a full BM of all liquid. I am drinking some yellow gatorade right now and waiting for my next BM. So far, no discomfort anywhere besides the minor bloating when I initially drank the prep.

Now it is 6, and I have 3 cups of clear liquids to go. I had two more watery BMs that lasted less than a minute each, and I am already clear yellow! Woohoo! I Love this prep so far!

 

[Bellasaurus]

I am hungry, though...