Tips on preparation for a Colonoscopy

[red dog 1]

Last edited Mon May 2, 2022, 01:58 AM - Edit history (3)

I've had 12 Colonoscopies.

For me, the worst part of getting a colonoscopy is the Prep.

In my opinion, the worst part of the prep is having to drink that awful 64 oz. fizzy water

The goal of the Colonoscopy "Prep"is to have your colon squeaky clean, right?

Well, I've come up with a way to have your colon squeaky clean without having to drink ALL of that 64 oz. fizzy crap.

First of all, instead of starting your colonoscopy prep at say, 12 Noon the day before the colonoscopy, or whenever your doctor tells you to start the prep, start your prep 12 hours EARLIER....that way, you're more likely to be squeaky clean when he/she does the colonoscopy.
(In other words, instead of a 24 hour prep, do a 36 hour prep, or instead of a 36 hour prep, do a 48 hour prep)

Second, as far as what you are allowed to eat & drink during the prep, follow your doctor's instructions carefully as to what you are allowed to eat/drink.
However, there is no need to get nauseas because you can't really "fill up" on what little food you are allowed to eat.

My first colonoscopy prep made me sick, because I didn't eat much and tried to drink ALL 64 ounces of that fizzy crap.

Here is what I eat during the prep.

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Check with your doctor before trying any of the following "tips"]

1) You can have clear broth, beef or chicken.
Make the broth your dinner, in other words, don't just have a cup of broth, have as many bowls of clear broth as you want.
That way, you won't have an empty stomach before you take the laxatives, fizzy crap and etc. which your doctor has proscribed.

2) Clear juice should be on your list of what you can eat & drink during your prep.
I prefer apple juice, not the "cloudy" health food store apple juice, but clear apple juice.
Cranberry juice is also good, since it's a "clear" juice (unlike orange juice)
White Cranberry & Peach (Ocean Spray) is also a very tasty juice.

3) After my "dinner" of clear broth, for desert, I have clear Jello, (with no fruit in it of course)
(Any color Jello except red) and I eat a lot of Jello (You can have as much as you want, as long as it isn't red Jello.
So, before it's time to start taking laxatives, fizzy fluids & etc. I have a full stomach, and there's less chance of becoming nauseous.

4) Here's my "special" tip.
Since you're starting your colonoscopy prep 12 hours earlier than your prep instructions say,
(With your doctor's permission),.....you don't have to drink ALL 64 ounces of that fizzy crap.
(I usually only drink about 8 ounces of that horrible crap, but your doctor will probably want you to drink more than that)
However, to make up for not drinking the full 64 ounces of "Fizzly Bubbly", I take one or two extra enemas.
Remember, your doctor wants your colon to be "squeaky clean" so taking an extra enema or two (with your doctor's permission)
will help ensure that you ARE "squeaky clean" the morning of you colonoscopy.

So those are my tips on the "prep" for a colonoscopy.

Again, CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TRYING OUT ANY OF MY "TIPS"

(If your doctor wants you to drink the entire 64 ounces of "Fizzly Bubbly"..then do it!)


Good luck!

[ratchiweenie]

1. There's a pill now that you can take instead of the icky syrupy stuff. Called Sutab. I just

used it. It was expensive $60 even with the coupon your doctor provides but you take it with water. What amounts to 64 ounces of water over the 24 hour prep period. It was much better but it didn't work all that great. I still have to do a couple of days of clear fluids and use a laxative a couple of days before I start the regimine to help clear my colon. I simply can't drink the 64 oz of goo and it hasn't worked all that well for me in the past.

I agree. You need to start clearing your colon long before the 24 or 36 hours they recommend. God I hate colonoscopies!!!! At least I am good to go for another 3 or 4 years.

[red dog 1]

11. Thanks for that

I didn't know about that pill.

"You need to start clearing your colon long before the 24 or 36 hours they recommend" is very good advice.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. Ugh

I’m sorry you’ve gone through it enough times to become an expert on the subject.

My additional tips:

I bought several different flavors of Crystal Light (NOT RED), which I was told I could use. I flavored each “glass” of the prep fluid with a different flavor, so I could make a big deal of comparing flavors and deciding which I liked the best (or hated the least). That helped me to break the gallon down into more manageable doses.

The most important tip, though, was the one I got from the nurse ahead of time: CINNAMON GUM! In between doses, or even between sips, I’d nibble on a little piece of cinnamon gum to “cleanse my palate.” It was magical and helped to get the flavors of the prep liquid out of my mouth. Just don’t swallow it, because that wouldn’t look good on the imaging!

All the best to you and to everyone who is facing similar challenges.

[red dog 1]

10. Thanks, those are good tips

[uppityperson]

3. Use baby wipes from the beginning, not tp. It really helps prevent burning.

Waiting until you feel sore guarantees burning.

[applegrove]

7. I was told to usebarriercream you can get in the pharmacy to keep

your skin from getting raw from all that evacuation. And never flush your baby wipes. Never.

[erronis]

4. The biggest problem for me is the anticipation of this regimen. Once I'm in I'm OK.

Like most things in life, fear of the future or unknown is usually worse than the actuality.

Just do it. Get it over with. Be relieved (in multiple senses).

Check your scales. You've just lost a couple of pounds! Now, how to keep them off.....

[Hoyt]

5. I've had just 2. My last one wasn't too bad because I kind of semi-fasted for a few days.

For some reason, the stuff I drank tasted much like lemonade, though a bit bitter.

Good luck with prep and the ultimate findings.

[BigmanPigman]

6. I must be a freak...

I actually liked the drink. It had a slightly saltiness to it. My problem was the amount. They tell a 5' woman to drink the same amount as a 6' man. I think it should be changed for the individual's weight. I bet a man came up with this ridiculous amount to drink.

[RobinA]

25. I Tend To Agree

The last time I did this I threw up most of the first 32 ozs of Gatorade/Miralax. I didn't replace it, I figured that wouldn't stay down anyway. I did manage the entire second 32 ozs. No problem at the hospital, so I figured the 64 ozs was major overkill.

[BigmanPigman]

27. This isn't rocket science

If a joe shmoe like me could do the math then why can't the scientists/doctors?

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. I once had a doc that allowed me to drink Ensure/Boost- made all the difference

Unfortunately, my last doc said no.

[twodogsbarking]

9. The gut is smart. The second brain.

There is much written and studied. The connection is both a marvel and
can cause problems with mental health. You can cure your gut but your
brain doesn't know it so you still feel the same.

[Turbineguy]

12. On a less serious note....

[Lefta Dissenter]

18. HAHA! 🤣

So accurate!

Thanks for sharing that. I laughed so hard, my cheeks hurt. The ones on my face, that is….

[3Hotdogs]

13. I solved the problem a different way. Primary recommended a colonoscopy. I said I ain't doing it.

And I ain't done it and I ain't gonna do it.

That was 30 years ago.

Same with a recommendation for a radioactive, cardiac stress test. I ain't gonna do that one either. That recommendation was 5 years ago.

I ain't recommending you follow this advice. Just the reaction from an 80 year old guy. When I go to a new physician, I explain, " You tell me what to do and I'll tell you what I am going to do."

[red dog 1]

14. My Cardiologist wanted to do an Angiogram on me 15 years ago

I said no.

[red dog 1]

15. I'm no doctor, but

I think there are heart stress teats that don't involve drinking radioactive substances

E.G....Electrocardiogram (EKG) after going on some type of stress machine?

[localroger]

17. I have had an angiogram and two (going on three as of later this year) nuclear stress tests

They saved my life. I had a 75% blocked LAD and would have probably keeled over dead without the angiogram. So yay science.

Still haven't had a colonoscopy though. Nuclear stress test is way less invasive, you get an IV and they put the radioactive stuff into you and it's decayed to nothing by the end of the day anyway. One of those saved my Dad's life too.

And angiogram obviously saved my life. Proud owner of a little spiral of platinum in one of my arteries now. Thanks science!

But angiogram is by comparison extremely invasive. I do have a relative who died of colon cancer so I'm at risk at 58 years old. Have not quite been able to psych myself to go for it yet. And I do realize that might be a decision that kills me one day. Oddly, the angiogram seemed much less invasive because even though they go into your arteries with the roto-rooter thingie, you don't have to do the whole ass-cleansing ritual first. Would do another angiogram tomorrow, and might even have to depending on my next checkup.

[localroger]

20. Grrr colonoscopy is by comparison extremely invasive. /nt

[rownesheck]

16. I'm at the age

where I need to start getting a colonoscopy. The whole ordeal sounds fucking dreadful. I'm thinking of just never getting one. If I end up with colon cancer, could it be as bad as a colonoscopy? Probably not.

Plus, you know they can check for colon cancer with a simple blood test. These doctors just love to humiliate us. That's why they insist on treating us like revolutionary war era muskets.

Of course, I have no facts or evidence to back up my claims, but we live in the 21st century. Why's it got to be so invasive?!

[localroger]

19. My uncle Carl died of colon cancer and he wished he had gotten the colonoscopy

That said I haven't, it's a game of probabilities. There is apparently a non-invasive version of the scan using a CAT or PET scanner that doesn't involve the anal probe, but it's not quite as reliable and much more expensive. And if that scan does discover a polyp, they still have to do the anal thing to fix it.

[beaglelover]

24. I really don't understand all the hesitency to get a colonoscopy.

The prep really is not that bad if you use baby wipes instead of TP. The drink is not great, but it's not terrible either.

As for the actual procedure, you're put out using propofol. You'll never feel a thing. You wake up and it's all over and then you get to have a huge meal to celebrate.

It's not a big deal at all.

[Ms. Toad]

30. Agreed.

It's also a lot easier if you slow down on the food intake way earlier than most recommendations.

The only time I've had problems was when I had food in my stomach that wouldn't mind out fast enough.

And I've prepped my 4 year old daughter for her first. At 32 she's now up to around 17. If she can manage it, so can grown-ups.

[TexasTowelie]

31. I only had one colonoscopy,

but I found that eating smaller meals for the next couple of days helps to ease my digestive tract. It looks like I have another colonoscopy soon since it has been 18 years and my symptoms align with colon cancer.

[RobinA]

26. Telling Myself

that the colonoscopy, which is over in a day, is WAY better than colon cancer is the main way I get through it.

[moonscape]

28. That's what I do, the fecal blood test. Told

my primary since I already have cancer, no way am I going to do chemo for 2 different ones. On the remote chance colon cancer is what takes me out, so be it. She talked me into the stool test though I don’t see the point. If it comes back with blood, I still won’t do a colonoscopy, but I tell her no on so many things (cholesterol tests cuz I won’t take statins, and cardiac anything) that it’s my compromise to stay on her good side

If I didn’t already have cancer, I’d welcome the blood test and then get a colonoscopy if it came back positive.

[Ms. Toad]

29. The blood test both misses a lot - and over-diagnoses.

And it's not specific to colon cancer.

My daughter does have a CA19-9 test regularly, along with a colonoscopy, and imaging every 6 months. (She is at risk for a half - dozen cancers). Her initial hepatologist refused to run the CA19-9, for liability reasons:. It might be mildly elevated because of cancer - but not really enough to justify the really invasive next step. And then she would have to decide between a dangerous test that might turn out to be nothing at all, or skipping the test and missing an aggressive cancer.

Her current doctor does the test, but looks at it as marker to watch over time, and in conjunction with other markers.

Just take the damn test. It's not that bad. Not nearly as bad as dying from colon cancer. My daughter has been having colonoscopies since she was 4. At age 32, she's now up to 17, if I've counted correctly. (Her risk is so high, she has had one every year since she was 18.)

[doc03]

21. I know three people that had their colon punctured in the procedure. I have had

three of them myself and they never found anything. When I am due at 80, I will do the home test first and if it is negative, I will not have it done again.

[keithbvadu2]

22. "Where the sun don't shine" - The colorectal surgeon song

[keithbvadu2]

23. Not yet

[Sparkly]

32. I had to mix something with gallons of gatorade.

Vomited it up, defeating the purpose entirely.

Then I had to drink something with gallons of water within a specific time frame. Same thing.

It's the "omg I have to drink 12 more ounces in the next four minutes!!" that makes it impossible. I like your idea MUCH better! My stomach can not take that much of anything in so few hours.

(I am late for my scheduled colonoscopy because of getting endometrial cancer.)

Edit: I can not stand gatorade to this day!!

[red dog 1]

33. Good luck!