MoviPrep

[happyballerina]

My colonoscopy is in a week and I would really like it to be over with already

I couldn't get to sleep tonight despite feeling very tired so I decided to spend some time looking up information about the prep I was prescribed.

Now I can't decide if that was a good idea or a bad idea! You see, I picked up several good tips: drink it ice cold, use a straw, have a chaser of ginger ale, and suck on hard candies afterward (although, are those allows on a clear liquid diet?)

At the same time, it has made me very, very nervous. I heard a lot of people throw up from it. I'm terrified to throw up!!

I hear that some people use miralax and it's supposed to be easier. I'm considering calling the GI and asking him if I could do an easier prep like that. Do you think it's worth the trouble? And even if it is, do you think I can change my prep prescription even though my colonoscopy is only in a week (Monday May 2)?

I was really looking forward to the colonoscopy as the prospect of finding out for sure what is making me ill and getting treatment is wonderful, but now I am dreading the prep day and really scared for it.

 

[Becca1991]

My first colonoscopy was in 2009 also had a second one in the same year, but the first one i had picoprep and i bought lemonade and barley sugars and i felt ready but when the time came to drink it i took it with warm water, it tasted so horrible i couldnt stop crying so i got mum to ring the pharmacy up and the gastro dept to see if there was anything esle to take instead but no they said ill have to drink it but once i drunk it i was glad to get ot over and done with.
The second time i also had picoprep but added ginger ale and drunk it in one go but nearly threw up lol but i did better than the first time to be honest.

Picoprep is only 2 sachets, drink one with a glass of water or clear fluids and then drink another one at a later time and thats it but they do taste salty and chalky.

I hope you find out what is wrong, but the prep is known to be the worst part.

One tip i found was not to taste the prep before you drink it just get it all down in one go.

 

[ThanksP]

My last colonoscopy was February 17th, 2010, the day after my beloved Bulldog died in surgery. Yep, that means I had to start the prep 2 hours after hearing the horrible news about my boy. I had Moviprep. Despite my extreme mood AND drinking wine in between glasses of Moviprep, I still did not throw up. No, I would never EVER recommend someone chase it down with Chardonnay but I needed something to kill my pain at the time. I have to say, the Moviprep was better than some of the other preps I had done in the past (Golytely sticks in mind as horrendous).

And I agree with Becca...the best way is to just chug it. Drink it down like your life depends on it and don't even give yourself a second to think about the taste.

 

[spingirl]

Miralax

It all stinks...I've never had the one you are prescribed but I have had golytely. Its like a gallon of salt water and it is nasty! I've also had this other stuff that was too smaller bottles of something like concentrated lemonade and that made me puke. Magnesium Citrate or something like that. I've done Miralax three times now. My oh my...after I had the first few sips I cried thinking...this is not so bad...finally I can do this...and then after the first glass was down (I mixed it with crystal light)...the salts in it started to get to me...and it was hard...really hard...to get down...but if I had to choose I would do Miralax. I will have to have another one the end of this summer and I will start crying over this prep a month before! Someone on this forum told me about a new one. I just don't know why they can't come up with something better. With so many people having colonoscopies...I would have liked to have tried the pills but they are off the market. To this day I can't enjoy a lemonade anymore. However, you will get through it and its one of those things...you just do it. It really is the worst part. I'd rather have 1000 colonoscopies vs. 1 prep! Good luck!

 

[Misty-Eyed]

To be blunt, the prep is always usually the worst thing about the entire procedure. Which ever one you take, it's not going to be nice. Some taste horrendously bad and others not so bad, but you have to drink more and it makes you feel bloated.

I can honestly say that I've never puked up on them though. Plus once it's over, you go to the hospital and don't feel like you need the toilet. It's great!

 

[happyballerina]

Thanks guys

I do feel a bit better after hearing it directly from you three.

Is it really ok to drink alcohol the day before the prodecure?? I'm sure a shot or two of vodka here and there would help me! Haha, not really though.

Is it physiologically possible to drink through a straw and plug your nose at the same time? Seems like that would be the most efficient way to prevent tasting it, given it's actually possible. *Reminds self to try it with water*

 

[Misty-Eyed]

I really wouldn't drink alcohol. Just for the reason that you'll be dehydrated anyway. Alcohol will just make that worse.

Also, I forgot to say. Moviprep doesn't taste that bad. It's just the amount to drink that makes it hard. I'd honestly chug it if I was you. Then it's gone as quickly as possible. Just slow down if you do start to feel a little ill.

Just remember that we've all done it and know how you feel! Before you know it, it'll be over

 

[happyballerina]

Oh yeah, I would be too scared to drink alcohol while doing the prep anyway -- I get dehydrated so easily every day so I know not to mess around with that kind of stuff!

I'm planning on using the prep day as an opportunity to read a good book, which is something I have just been too busy to do with starting college and everything. But my last exam is on Thursday, and my prep is on Sunday, so I won't have any studying to worry about! Yay!!

 

[ThanksP]

No, I would not suggest drinking alcohol. I did not to make the prep go easier but to try to forget about the loss of my dog that day. Although I do have to say I don't remember much of that prep other than a ton of crying and sitting on the toilet for hours lol

I think that mixing the prep with different flavors only makes it taste worse. But that's just my opinion.

 

[spingirl]

I always cry and feel so bad for myself. To this day - I can't look at jello either. I also start to eat light all week because I never finish all of my prep. I just get down what I can. They have a suction thing they can use to clean you out if they have to. Or so I'm told. I have no idea what goes on once I get my happy meds!!!

 

[happyballerina]

ThanksP -- I'm sorry about your dog What terrible timing!!

spingirl -- thanks for the tip, I will eat light this week for sure! When I eat light, I think low calorie...so in this case, eating light would mean gentle foods rather than eating light from a calorie perspective, right? Less fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains? More broths and saltine crackers?

Were you under general anesthesia? I'm pretty sure I'm doing general and not twilight. Thank goodness.

 

[wheepsie]

I had my first colonoscopy last Monday-- and I too had to use MoviPrep.

I had to do half of the prep the night before, and the other half the morning of. The night before, the prep made me sick, but once my bowel movements started, it was much easier to finish (I chewed gum in between my gulping). The day of, the prep was much easier to swallow, partly because I had refrigerated it the night before (I highly, highly suggest preparing all parts of your prep ahead of time). I also gulped it down, instead of using a straw, so I didn't have to think about what I was doing.

The colonoscopy was worth it, and I've heard this prep is much easier to deal with than some others. The only thing I would make sure you do is to make sure you drink plenty of other liquids in order to avoid dehydration (I did not, and I regretted it later).