Colonoscopy Prep Question

[saidinstouch]

So my GI wants me to have another scope (3rd one in 5 years) because of my major flare back in January. The first scope I tooke like 2 strong laxative pills around noon and had to drink one dose of fleet phospho-soda around 7pm the night of with a liquid diet. The second one I got the joy of a half-lytly prep kit and had very VERY poor results (luckily right after they put me under it decided to finally work my doctor said so I got a nice scope at least). I was dreading having this kit again simply because of the sheer volume of liquid you have to drink. It tastes ok the first like 50-60% you drink but then you fillup and the saltiness finally takes over.

This time I go back to the fleet phospho-soda, only I have to take 2 doses of it rather than 1 like my first prep. I was barely able to choke the stuff down the first time when I tried it in chicken broth to try and mask the extreme saltiness of the stuff. I'm not sure I can swallow 2 doses of the stuff this time without puking it all up and having to start over. One dose is around noon and the other is around 7 so its fairly spread out at least.

My question to those of you with experience in the matter: What method of masking the flavor/saltiness of fleet phospho-soda have you found to work best for you? The chicken broth was so-so, but very difficult to choke down. I wan't to find out if anyone has any other suggestions for me to try because as anyone who has tried this stuff knows...ITS NASTY!

I plan to up my standard laxative dose starting monday to get a head start on the clearing process since my scope is thursday. My laxative has a next day effect usually so that should help some if I do have issues getting all of this stuff into me at least.

 

[Isla]

Actually I treat the phospha soda like a large shot of the nastiest alcohol I can think off. I take swigs of the soda and then use a chaser - I suggest a carbonated beverage like 7-up or Sprite. This might not work for everyone, but it takes like a minute or two to get the phospha soda down and you can spend the rest of the time drinking delicious REAL soda. I guess I am one of those people that would rather get it over as quickly as possible instead of drawing it out.

 

[saidinstouch]

I sorta tried chugging the diluted version and pretty much anything more than 1-2 swallows and I was gagging, even with a plugged nose!

 

[BWS1982]

I had Go-Lytely prep, and it came with fruit flavors. I picked Cherry the second time, but my first scope in the hospital I chose orange for. The fruit flavors weren't so great, and it still was horrible. Pretty bad stuff, but I've drank nastier stuff in protein shakes.

 

[Rosemarie]

I've always mixed it with VERY COLD sprite/7up. OR try getting a small cup and pouring it over ice. Drink one cup every 10 minutes (or whatever- depends on how much prep time you have). Anything that helps it go down easy is a blessing... I always drink it through a straw with my nose pinched b/c that cuts some of the taste. Chew on ice or chase with a little soda to help with the aftertaste.

I do it this way because drinking it straight like a shot would only make me puke it all back up- defeats the purpose. I only weigh about 115 (110 last time I had to drink the stuff) so I've never really finished the full dose. The docs dont normally tell you that, but if your on the skinny side and your having results from it by the time you get partway through the second bottle, you dont have to finish it ALL if its making you teeter on the edge of vommiting it all back up- from the full feeling. As long as your cleared out (of solids- a lil dark liquid is expected no matter how much you drink) enough for them to see everything, its fine to dump that last little bit. I HATE drinking that stuff... Hope all goes well with you and the scope! Just remember "This to shall pass" no matter how nasty it makes you feel while your going through it.

 

[butt-eze]

I'm right there with you Isla. I try to drink it as fast as possible but it still takes me forever because I gag too! The last time I did prep I used pills and was so much happier.

 

[Isla]

Hahahaha ok now I know why the nurses called me hardcore in the ER. I had to finish my prep in the ER due to severe pain and nausea. I chugged down the phospha soda in less than 3 minutes. I didn't even gag.. shrug, maybe my taste buds are total crap now!

If you take straight swigs you could also try sucking on a lemon - just make sure you don't eat the pulp. Lemon juice cleanses the palate (thats why I suggest 7-Up.)

 

[Reese1603]

Ok when I had mine - sure the prep tasted bad, but I could tolerate it fine in teh beginning. It was after my nasea kicked in was when it got super bad - I mean, I could not even take a sip without gagging. However, I wish I would have found this forum before I had the colonoscopy - because I tried to do it like the doc said - drinking the whole thing....it didn't work.

I had Golytely. NON flavored! Added lemonade Crystal lite to mask the salt taste....can't drink lemonade crystal lite anymore! haha.

someone said to me before I started the prep to try going off solid food for a day longer then they tell you - and I think it was a good idea. sure, it was hard not eating, but I bet it would have made the prep a whole lot worse. I told that to the nurse before the procedure and she said that was a really good idea and that it probably helped a lot.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I think you may have had your colonoscopy by the time you read this, but here's my answer anyways for future reference.
I had the Fleet phospho soda for my first colonoscopy, and half lytely for my second one. My 3rd was a combo of pills and a flavorless laxitive. If you click on my name, then click on 'find more posts by My Butt Hurts', then look for the post titled "Colonoscopy prep - not so bad" you will find all of the details.
In short, it didn't taste too bad, just thickened the liquid I mixed it with, but took a long time to work, and had me up most of the night.

 

[s.a.m.]

thanks for the advice everyone!
my brother has Crohns but never had a colonoscopy...from what i've told him of my symptoms it appears its probably Crohns...I'm not really sure what else would appear on a barium xray as 'inflammation consistent with Crohns'.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

This thread is making me gag slightly. I can't even think about the prep routine without getting queasy.

 

[s.a.m.]

Has anyone ever had the pleasure of taking Citro-mag??? Nothing is worth than that! It is in a clear glass soda-pop shaped bottle, ewe, gross!

I actually didnt find it that bad...the results of taking it werent so fun though.

 

[Babe123]

i honestly didnt find my colonoscopy that bad.. i had Picolax which tasted ok..although it was awful afterwards i thought it would have been worse.. id much prefer a colonoscopy to a barium meal though!
xx

 

[AbstractDonut]

Yeah the barium mix for a small bowel follow through is pretty rough as well.

 

[MCPayne]

Another method you may want to try is something called FlavoRX. It is available I believe at most pharmacies for about $5. Even though they say it's for children, I don't see why adults can't use it. It's basically a fruit flavor that you mix in with the phospho soda. The website for it if you want to research it is www.flavorx.com.

I mentioned this in another thread, but what you may want to ask your doctor about is Miralax. This is the most recent prep method that I've used, and I have found this to be the best. I've had more colonoscopies done in years past than I care to remember, and the prep methods I have used were Go Lightly, Magnesium Citrate, Phospho Soda, and Miralax.