Tips and tricks for an easier colonoscopy

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kimmidwife

kimmidwife

Joined
Sep 19, 2010
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As you may know we are going in for a double header colonoscopy this week, (2 kids getting one).
I had an idea to share ideas I have learned to make it easier and would love to hear things others have learned,
One trick we have learned is to start a clear liquid diet two days before instead of one day prior. So at 12noon on Sunday they will start clears. It makes it easier for them to clean out.
Second thing I have learned, I have found by giving three doses of miralax that day as it Makes things easier the next day. We give one in the morning with a regular breakfast, then one at lunch and dinner time with clears. Then the next day we do the normal prep, we are using miralax prep.
 
Since J usually has diarrhea, the cleanouts haven't been hard. The first time around I made the mistake of putting all the miralax in the same thing - two bottles of Gatorade. After one bottle was finished, she didn't want any more. I just mixed the Gatorade with other things like ginger ale and she drank it without knowing after that. The second scope she was older and wiser and I didn't have to do any tricking. She was much more cooperative. We did the first cleanout in a hotel and had a TV with cable, laptop computer, etc. The second cleanout was at home but not as memorable :).
 
Wipes!!
Vaseline.
Lots of toilet paper.
Ipad/laptop and a movie for the bathroom.
A change of clothes for the car the next day (just in case!).

We used one flavor of gatorade and now M won't drink gatorade ever again. I think CarolinAlaska is right - mix it up with drinks, if possible!
 
We only use clear Gatorade ( ice version)
Ds won't touch it other than for scopes
Regular Gatorade for other stuff is ok

Change of clothes for both of you ( in case you get hit in the cross fire )
Overnight bag for trip in for scope I case they admit after
Snacks for you during the scope since hungry kids don't want to see you eat abd you won't have time when they start to come out of it .

Avoid inpatient clean out if possible
 
We have one coming up and will be prepping in the hotel.

C got really nauseated time before last and vomited. I've wondered if the doc could px those melt under your tongue zofran?
 
^Zofran ODT (oral disintegrating tablet) - M's favorite drug ;).
 
Well, lucky me, I have my 5 year colonoscopy coming up in a couple weeks. So excited!! Not.

My GI office actually has the prep start a week early by eating low residue, going liquid two days before, and then all the usual regular stuff the day before.

With DS, I've learned to start early enough in the day so that he's not falling asleep on the toilet waiting for things to happen, only mix 1/2 the Miralax with Gatorade, the other half with water, and bring lots of snacks for after because he's usually starving.

Also, if your kiddo is not good with needles/IV's, they can put the IV in after the anesthesia, even though they'll tell you they can't. I think they're more lenient with kids.
 
I was totally thinking about the needle thing. They both hate needles. So I was think g of asking for some versed for the two of them before to relax them. Versed is awesome stuff!we call it silly medicine because it makes them you silly after you take it.
Already got the versed ready, iPads and computers ready. MLP thanks for reminding me to pick up some more wipes!
I am so not ready for this!
 
At our hospital they knock kids out before putting the IV in. I bet you can ask for that!

M's had versed before - they call it "silly juice" here - but it didn't help her much. She was little confused but pretty awake and aware.

I'd ask if they can use gas to knock your kiddos out before putting in the needle. If not, the Versed's a good option.

Definitely wipes - we use them all the time here!
 
Ds hates when they use versed
Then he can't remember them asking him stuff before they put him out and he feels like the docs didn't listen to him
Twice they gave it without us knowing
Won't happen again
 
Not a kid, but figured I'd add my tips as well, as I figure that they are not age specific :)
- Try to plan a special or favorite movie for the prep. I always save a movie that I've been wanting to see to watch while I'm prepping.
- Ask for zofran during the case if your child tends to get nauseous. I always feel so much better later in the day if I've been given zofran with the sedation!
 
N always preferred to mix the Miralax in water. This meant he hardly got any calories in that day, but it was the only way he could do it. It always took him quite a while to get started, so now he starts an hour or two earlier than the instructions. I also always packed a gentle snack for him to have as soon as we got in the car since we had to drive a couple of hours.
 
We don't like the Versed here either. Gives my boy a horrible headache and he wants to know what is going on and participate as much as possible, he can't do that with Versed.

He does appreciate when they start the IV once he is out.
 
A had a bad reaction to Versed. It caused extreme memory loss as it sometimes does in the elderly. We even had to retrain her how to use a toilet. It was awful. We use as few medications as possible now.
 
DanceMom said:
A had a bad reaction to Versed. It caused extreme memory loss as it sometimes does in the elderly. We even had to retrain her how to use a toilet. It was awful. We use as few medications as possible now.
Click to expand...

Wow. That's terrible.
 
Wow Dancemom, that is terribl. Now you freaked me out about it. My older daughter has had versed in the past without an issue.
How old was your daughter when that happened to her?
 
found a link listing how much miralax according to weight. Our GI said the same amount for my two daughters which did not make sense, H is a teenager of adult height and weight and S is seven and weighs about 48 lbs. I am following the chart which is from CHOP. It makes a lot more sense to me and the dose is half what they told us. If she needs more I will play it by ear but at this point she is pretty cleaned out already. Here is the chart,

http://media.chop.edu/data/files/pdfs/prep-doses.pdf
 
Last edited:
No idea about orange soda but how are they doing with the clean out Kim?
 
Maya,
It is hard going. They have them drinking so much miralax it is hard to get them to drink in between. We just warmed up clear broth. Hoping they can drink a bunch of that and it will keep things flowing.
 
This is from the link you posted and may explain the same clean out instructions for both girls:

It does not matter if you are short or tall, big or small; ALL HUMANS have the
same colon length. Therefore it is essential that you follow the bowel prep
instructions provided by your Physician
 
^^^yeah that
Ds had a clean out at 7 and 50 lbs
His was the same instructions as mine
Only very young kids age 4 and under get a different set of instructions
You can never clean out too early IMO
Don't want to be up late at night
Finishing up

Really need to follow your doctors instructions
 
I hope all goes well tomorrow! Prep can be so hard poor things. Glad things are clearing out though.

C's always had the same amount as me but the GI has always said when he goes clear he can stop.

I called the GI nurse about the zofran she called back and said she had called it in and it was for after the scope, right? I explained no during prep he gets nauseated and vomits and she said oh well she'll still px it but the GI usually goes with raglan before to quickly empty the tummy. I thought that was odd but we got our zofran so I'm happy!
 
Reglan has some scary side effects. It is used for Gastroparesis (so does empty the stomach more quickly) and it is one of the few meds that M wasn't willing to try (and I wasn't too keen for her to try it either!). I would definitely look into before taking it (in case he tries to px it again at some point!).

Glad he got that Zofran!
 
Yes I've read up on it before at some point. The GI nurse has never mentioned it before for prep and didn't px it this time. I'm wondering if maybe she meant that a certain group of patients he had were pxed this for day of prep, like those with dismotility since I guess prep could be rough for them.

Anyway, glad to have the zofran and appreciate the tips people have mentioned. Great thread Kim!
 
Often they infuse regulan after a scope I recovery if the kiddo is vomiting due to anesthesia so the biopsy sites don't bleed
Typically this is because zofran is given while they are out for the scope

So you may not have been aware of it
Make sure anesthesia knows if you give zofran on the way in ....
They can't give more when he is knocked out then


One dose shouldn't be an issue
Daily doses would scare me
 
CIC,
I don't see that statement anywhere and I read it twice. Anyway the one from chop gives instructions according to weight and she could not drink anymore anyway. Her stool is pretty clear except blue from the Gatorade. She fell asleep so I hope it is good enough. My older daughter is not being cooperative about letting me look. I hope she is okay.
 
We had blue clear stool from Gatorade too. We didn't expect it to be blue so it gave us quite a shock! I'm sure she's fine as long as it's clear :ghug:.

Hope scopes go smoothly tomorrow.
 
kimmidwife said:
CIC,
I don't see that statement anywhere and I read it twice.
Click to expand...

Well you have quite a bit going in so not surprised!

I wouldn't worry too much about how clean either of them are. T got to what seemed to be clear then went back to brown mud. She did this all night. Then started throwing up. We went through one large bottle, a small bottle and a half. In the end they still said to bring her in. Worst case they would give her an enema. They didn't have to. It was fine.

Good luck today! What time are the scopes?
 
CIC,
We are there now. We were supposed to be here 8:30 but were held up in traffic and got here at 9:00
Cailtyn is across the street she is supposed to be getting her entyvio today at the same time but she was having chest pain the past two days so the doctor decided he wants a chest x Ray first. My husband went over with her. They did the X-ray and I haven't heard anything so hoping they are starting her infusion.
 
kimmidwife - I hope all is going okay for you. This is a good thread. We are new to Crohn's and my daughter recently had her first colonoscopy/endoscopy recently. What we found out was that since she had been on an Ensure-only diet for about 2 weeks prior to the scopes, clean out was MUCH easier/better than we thought it was going to be. So there's another plus for the EEN diet!

Question - why Gatorade? Funny reading these responses about Gatorade, as my daughter also said that she will never drink another one of those again! She got 1/2 way though - we mixed 1/2 the Mirilax in one bottle of one flavor and saved the other 1/2 for another flavor. But she REFUSED to drink anymore Gatorade. She said she felt severely nauseas and she could NOT drink anymore. I got permission from the people performing the procedure to allow her to mix the other half with water, which she drank, no problem. Is the idea of the Gatorade just so they get some calories?
 
Not just calories, electrolytes. They lose a lot with the constant diarrhea from the prep.
 
Propel has a new water "with electrolytes" that I'm going to try with my prep this weekend. I can't stand Gatorade so I'll probably do the half G-half water thing. There are other (better) drinks out there too like Aspire and some of the newer sports drinks that are options and less junky than Gatorade. Just be sure to clear it with your GI. Unfortunately, I think it's one of those things they don't think much about.
 
My GI told me nothing with protein in it. So even if it is a clear water type thing it could still have protein...check with your GI.

My girls use straight water mostly and maybe a ginger ale or sprite or two. HATE Gatorade...makes them sick.
 
Ready for TMI?

I have a colonoscopy tomorrow and am not doing so well. All I've done so far is take the two Ducolax at noon today. Since then I've thrown up, been horribly nauseous and am having major cramping. I don't know how I'm going to get the Gatorade down. Can just the Ducolax mess me up this much?

I have so much sympathy for our kids right now...
 
Dulcolax is awful - my daughter also has had horrible cramping and nausea from it. Sending hugs, hope you can get the gatorade down!
 
Maya142 said:
Dulcolax is awful - my daughter also has had horrible cramping and nausea from it. Sending hugs, hope you can get the gatorade down!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Maya. That's good to know about your daughter. I was totally not expecting this. Such evil packed into two tiny pills. *LOL*
 
When she did her last clean out, I accidentally gave her 3 (I know, I know bad Mom)! She was so miserable and I was distraught when I figure it out two days later.

When I admitted it to her though, she just laughed and said no wonder the doctor said her colon was so well cleaned out!

So just imagine how squeaky clean your colon will be!
 
It does the same to A which is why we only use Miralax now. She rolled on the floor in pain with the cramps. It was awful. I'm sorry you feel this way too and I hope it passes quickly.
 
Our prep sheet states two dulcolax stool softeners not dulcolax laxative tablets. Then of course the miralax. Is that the same for everyone else?

I accidentally did the laxative pills the first time and was so sick. But the 2nd did the dulcolax stool softeners and had no issues.
 
We always have done the laxative tablets. And then the Miralax. Hope it goes well for C!
 
Thanks Maya142. This has been my prep sheet not C's.

C's prep sheetc has never included dulcolax laxative or other wise. Just the bottle of miralax with 64oz of gatoradequate and if not clear by 7pm a fleet enema.

With C we've always done the miralax and never had to do the enema.
 
Clash said:
Our prep sheet states two dulcolax stool softeners not dulcolax laxative tablets. Then of course the miralax. Is that the same for everyone else?

I accidentally did the laxative pills the first time and was so sick. But the 2nd did the dulcolax stool softeners and had no issues.
Click to expand...

My prep was Dulcolax laxatives. It's even in bold print. Pretty sure DS has always been the stool softener though.

pdx - It was fine, I think. A couple of polyps were removed and are being tested. I got weepy after the anesthesia thinking about all the kids that have to go through this. I even got the nurse crying.

The worst is they put the IV in my hand and blew the vein. Looks and feels lovely right now.
 
Gosh, I feel like it's our first time. Do your kids go to school on prep day? I'm leaning towards half day.
 
No food so no school on prep day but his prep started at 8 am every time
Light breakfast with miralax /ducolax after an hour
Tend to like Ds down with the bathroom mostly by 8 pm so ...
Never had an issue after 6 scopes

Did one inpatient
They started him at 4 pm
He finished at 4 am so not fun
For anyone
 
My daughter skipped a day for the prep and of course, a day for the scopes. We start prep at 12 pm usually so I guess she could have gone in the morning, but she'd have been hungry and cranky and probably wouldn't have learned anything anyway :lol:.
 
My girls start their prep at 12. They go in and I pick them up at 12 glass of Miralax laced Gatorade I hand. They are hungry but school is a nice distraction and catching even 10% of what is taught is better than nothing for my girls.
 

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