Very bad reaction to scope prep.

[Kev]

OK, heres the thing. Tomorrow I was scheduled for a scope to check if any more pre-cancerous growths had popped up in the past 6 months. This wasn't my 1st scope... I've lost track of how many I've had over the years, so it was pretty much routine... or so I thought. I've used the 4 litre GoLytely almost exclusively in the past... tried Ducolax once, but it didn't seem to clean me out adequately. This time, the drug store was out of GoLytley so they offered me Colyte instead. They said it was the same. I started it this afternoon, and the results weren't good. In fact, they were so bad I've had to cancel my scope. Here's what happened (caution: no for the squemish). I started drinking it, and everything seemed in order... then I started getting these very nasty burps. Then, with so little warning I had to scramble for the garbage pail, everything I had drunk came up. I vomited all that I had ingested, plus the contents of my stomach... it wasn't nice. Well, not one to give up at the 1st setback, and as I wanted to know about those nasty pre-cancer polyps, I tried to finish the rest (about 2 1/2 litres) of the prep. Got all of that down me except for the last glassfull... whammo! It all came up... this time with extreme vomiting, gut wrenching, projectile even. This time it appeared as if it was mixed with contents of my upper GI tract (sorry for including that info)... I've never had a reaction like that ever before. Not sure what to make of it. Anyone else ever have that reaction? Anyone got any ideas as to what the .... bleep happened? Welcome any info.

 

[PsychoJane]

Hello Kev,
You are not alone. I don't know which one between Golytely or Colyte got me that wonderful reaction but I know projectile vomiting can happen from it. I've lived it too. I only have to take half of it because of my colonless state but even with less than a liter in... It never went through really... well maybe there was a bit left but yeah... It sometimes makes me vomit and then I get at the hospital and the nurse goes through a sheet with me and she ask me if I did the prep and end up checking "yes but the patient did vomit".

Both shares the same ingredients in nature and in concentration though. I don't know if it might be our physical state of the moment that cause it to turn that way. I know I don't react to it every time. Could it be the flavor pack?

 

[skippy111]

Kev, Sorry to hear about what happened,

There is a little bottle prep that fleets makes, the fleets oral enema, it is gross as hell but works...

You chug half a bottle then chase it with whatever , 7 up, water, etc

then just before midnight, repeat..

ask your DR if that is ok, some drs prefer the bigger golytely but that tiny bottle of fleets works just as well.

I hope everything turns out ok with the scope.

 

[nikimazur]

I like the Miralax prep the best, mixing a 238g bottle of Miralx with 64 ounces of Gatorade. There is no taste whatsoever, and it can even be mixed with crystal light if youre not a fan of Gatorade. It also is the easiest on my tum. Any of the lyte-ly products make me barf, and the fleet is just as terrible, plus it doesn't always get everything out. It's over the counter, and easy, and you can make it whichever flavor you want, with zero taste or gritty-ness

 

[hawkeye]

I have had two not so great experiences with Pico Silax (taken with Ducolax) couldn't really stomach the stuff and it did not have quite the intended effect - maybe the disease was too active. Makes me miss Magnesium Citrate.....

 

[Trysha]

Hi Kev,
Sorry you had such a terrible reaction.With the prescribed Golytely
I have had projectile vomiting in the past and for that reason my GI avoided it and instead prescribed dulcolax (same as with Go lytely) followed by Picolax,This works OK for me---so far-- and it is much easier to tolerate.It is tastelss but I add a few drops of fresh squeezed lemon to
offset any nausea.The volume is less too, although it is important to keep drinking any clear fluid every hour, the more the better for a good flush of the system.
Feel better soon
Hugs and best wishes
Trysha

 

[Tiffany]

Hawkeye I also had a pretty bad reaction to pico silax. I'm not sure if it helps anyone, but I called my doctor after my reaction to the first dose and was told to take some anti nauseant a little bit before my second does. I still felt nauseated but I didn't throw up YAY

 

[Kev]

Yeah, I've heard that... hmmm, can't recall the name of it... anti-nausea... seasickness pills, would help.... I've never had that reaction before... can't think there is anything major different between Colyte and Go-Lytely aside from brand name, but I'm going to try Pico Salax w Ducolax for the next appointment... whenever they can arrange to fit me in.

 

[Tiffany]

I never really did well with preps but pico was the easiest one I did. The amount you drink is way less and the orange one tasted like the orange drink from Mc D's. I only had to drink a half a cup at noon and a half a cup at 6 then the Ducolax tabs at 10pm. It was way better then trying to gulp down a 4L prep. altough I did feel pretty ill, I'd choose pico again as long as I could still take something for the nausea.

 

[michellew]

Hey Kev,
I'm seconded Tiffany's suggestion of the Pico-Salax. Way easier to get down than any other prep I've tried. It comes in orange or a cranberry flavor - and both are fairly pleasant tasting. I've been told that if nausea is a problem to take some gravol, and, as you know, when doing these preps - LOTS of fluids. I had to prep for another scope just last week and used the Pico-Salax (2nd time using it) alone - as long as you keep hydrated, it works really well.
Good luck with getting a new date for a scope - they are crazy busy up there!!
Michelle

 

[Kev]

Thanks Michelle... Yeah, I know they're busy, and summer is the worst time to get anything done... short staffed covering summer holidays. Went thru that with my 1st op.

 

[Stephenie]

Hey Kev,
Just getting around to reading your post. My boyfriend had a similar reaction but used the fleet phosphosoda(sp?) prep and had to cancel his scope in April. Very sick etc. He is now quite anxious for a re booking, ie. knowing what is going on with his crohns. He is very depressed and has shut me out but I try to support him as best I can. So hope the next time goes well with your prep,pico salex not familar with that, but will mention this to him. Maybe this will be good for him too! Hope his GI is ok with that.