Miralax prep question

[Shannypan]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the site. I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2003 when I was 22, my doctors think I've had it since I was around 7 years old. I've had 5 colonoscopies in the past. I recently had an upper endo where active disease was found in my stomach. So, we're doing another colonoscopy to see if there's any active disease elsewhere. I hated the mag citrate/golytely combo, threw up most of it last time, so I asked for the miralax prep. It's a three day prep. My question is, how bad is the prep the first two days? I'm a nurse and I'm a little worried about being at work the first two days. Do you go a lot those days, or is it pretty mild? Any info or personal experiences be of help. I really appreciate it!!
Hope everyone is doing at least fairly well. Happy holidays to you all.

S.

 

[rkoll327]

My Miralax prep was only one day, the day before the procedure. I have never heard of the 3 day prep. What are your instructions?

 

[Shannypan]

Hi! Thanks for responding. My prep instructions are:
3 days before procedure: one scoop (17gm) miralax after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Can continue usual diet.
2 days before: take two scoops (34 gm) miralax after breakfast, lunch, dinner. Can continue usual diet.
1 day before: Drink only clear liquids; take two scoops miralax after clear liquid breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The night before you're supposed to drink mag citrate, but they said I didn't have to since it makes me so sick (thank god!).

 

[SarahBear]

I've done the Miralax prep in one day, and I think I've done it in three days in the past. It sounds like the three day prep would be a lot easier, because you're taking it more slowly.

All in all, I don't find the Miralax prep to be bad at all. I always request it because I can't get any of the other stuff down. It typically doesn't upset my stomach. If you find it does bother yours, maybe try drinking it with ginger ale. I also keep some peppermint tea and candies on hand. Also, it usually takes a while to kick in, even with the larger does done in one day. You should be fine!

 

[rkoll327]

I wouldn't worry about the first day at work. You may be able to get through the whole day okay without too many trips to the bathroom.I think it also depends on your BM's lately. If you have been constipated it will obviously take longer for the meds to kick in and do anything (If I am constipated I usually take 1 dose every night and it takes until about the 2nd or 3rd day to have an impact) But if you have been having diarrhea lately I wouldn't panic either. The good thing is this isn't a laxative that works the way Ex-Lax does, think of it more as a gentler version/maintenance laxative. It works to help regulate you. However, the second day you will most likely be going to the bathroom more often, especially since they have you doing two doses after each meal. If I was you I would look into taking off work the second day.

My Miralax prep was one of the giant bottles mixed into two 32 oz. bottles of Gatorade. I had to drink all that in 2 hours the night before my procedure. I can't imagine that your prep will have you violently running to the bathroom on the first two days. Even so, this prep has been the best for me. It wasn't painful or cramping the way the mag citrate was for me. And not to mention you can't taste it!

Small piece of advice, even though it says continue your usual diet I would eat as light as possible at least the second day. It just makes it easier when you are trying to get it all out later on. I tried doing soft/light foods the two days before my 1 day prep and it helped enormously. It also mixes easier into hot liquids, I usually do tea. Or if you have it in something cold it's easier to shake it in a bottle rather than stir with a spoon for ages until it all dissolves.

Hope that helps!

 

[Shannypan]

You guys are so wonderful. Thank you for your advice, it really helps a lot. I think you're right about taking the second day off. That was my original plan, and your advice confirms it!
I'm so glad it isn't a large amount of liquid at once like the golytley prep. I think it's harder on us smaller girls, too! I'll stick with smaller meals for a few days prior-- I'm pretty used to that anyway.
Thanks again!!

 

[kh216]

The Miralax prep was by far the easiest prep I have ever done. The Miralax powder was mixed in lemon-lime Gatorade so I didn't taste it at all. Mine was a two day Prep. Two nights before the procedure, I was originally supposed to drink Magnesium Citrate but I told the doctor I couldn't tolerate it so I took 2 Dulcolax pills instead (Much better!). The day before the procedure I had only liquids with no red or blue dye in them. The afternoon before the procedure, I mixed the large bottle of Miralax into 64 ounces of Gatorade and drank 8 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes until it was all gone. I was glad that I did it in the afternoon instead of the evening because the emptying process was finished early and I was able to get a good night's sleep.

 

[seebee]

The prep sounds a lot easier than the magnesium citrate one that I did. Good luck with the prep and let us know how it goes.

 

[LonghornGirl]

I also have only done it the previous day, the whole big bottle within the 2 hours the evening before.

I would think the 2 days before you should be okay to work.