Colonoscopy prep

Anonymous · September 2007

After watching all of the celebrities who recently died of colon cancer or were dx'd, I decided to have a colonoscopy and it's scheduled for tomorrow. I've got all of the stuff to take and need some advice about taking an Ambien to sleep. If I take the stuff between 3-6:30pm, will I still have an urgent need to use the bathroom all night or does it stop at some point? I'd like to take the Ambien to make sure I get a good night's rest, but want to stay alert to 'nature's call' too. What do those of you who have had this test advise?

Thanks, y'all! Wish me luck....this is just gross!

~Marin

EachDay · September 2007

Glad you're doing this Marin! It's a good idea for all bc survivors to have a colonoscopy. I had my first one a couple of weeks ago and it was fine.
Not sure what will happen where they do yours or what you are taking...everyone prescribes something different.
I used something called "Klean Prep" ... I had to drink 4 litres (a litre is a little more than a gallon) of this stuff and it worked VERY quickly, like almost immediately. I was drinking it in the afternoon and I had virtually stopped going before dinner. I slept through the night, no nature calls and I think I went once in the a.m. before leaving (more nerves than anything else!).
Once there I was given sedation in an IV and I slept through the procedure...felt nothing, knew nothing until I came to and they were wheeling me into a recovery area.
There is a lot of gas with it afterwards because they use "air" to guide the tubing in...that is easily taken care of by walking around to move it.
Such a delightful topic, isn't it?!? But it's absolutely something worthwhile doing.
I'm not sure about taking the Ambien and if you would need to wake up. If no one else here knows for sure, why not call the office of the doctor who is performing it and the nurse or secretary there should be able to tell you, depending on what you've been given to take for the cleansing.
All the best...it'll be over before you know it!!

Harborwitch · September 2007

Mine is scheduled for October - it was supposed to be 2 weeks ago - but one of our Pugs was seriously ill and I had to reschedule.

One of the women on a cooking forum said she spiked her prep stuff with vodka - called it a Tom Colons!

2up · September 2007

marin ........ you should be okay with the sleeping pill.

we start our bowel preps at around 4pm (4 litres of 'go lytely' lol) .......... one glass every 20 minutes till the jug is empty .......... most patients are cleaned out by 8 or 9 pm (unless they have underlying gi issues) and they are not disturbed in their sleep.

but in hospital, they are also on clear fluids the day of prep and 'nothing by mouth' after midnight, until the scope is done ........... if you eat solids with your prep, you'll be in the bathroom more than with clear fluids.

good luck!

roseg · September 2007

My husband is going on Friday.

So he's been bugging me about jello for Thursday. He doesn't start the prep-stuff until late Thursday.

We have to drive 40-45 minutes to the place so I'm hoping he can go that long without any bathroom breaks.

Harborwitch · September 2007

I hadn't even thought about that! Mine is scheduled for mid-afternoon and we have an over an hour to drive. Could be an interesting ride!

Member_of_the_Club · September 2007

When I did this I slept fine nd had no trouble with the drive, I was all cleaned out by morning.

The drugs they give you during the procedure are fabulous. I felt so great after wards I wondered why I hadn't done it sooner.

Anonymous · September 2007

Thanks so much, you guys! I have been 'ordered' not to eat anything all day today...only clear liquids, jello & ice pops, and nothing red or purple. After midnight, I'm to have nothing at all. The prep consists of 4 Dulcolax tabs at 3pm and then a whole 238gm bottle of Miralax mixed with 64 oz. of Gatorade, taken in 8oz. increments every 10-15 minutes until finished, starting at 5pm. I'm scheduled for 8:30am tomorrow and have a girlfriend taking me (due to anesthesia...I wanted to just take myself just like I did during bc tx, but they said I can't). I'm still undecided about the Ambien, but may forego it just in case....

I'll just be relieved (pun intended!) when it's done! I will say that the whole prep, though, is an anorexic's/bulimic's dream

~Marin

shorfi · September 2007

Marin...wish you the best and hope that you get good results. IMHO...the prep is the worse part of the procedure.

Shirlann · September 2007

HAHAHA, Fitchik, as usual, you are one darlin' gal! I laughed myself silly over the anorexic bit!

Hugs, Shirlann

EachDay · September 2007

Yes, it truly is a "cleansing" experience!! I couldn't recall the name of what I took and told my kids it was "clean sweep"...seemed even more appropriate!!

Anonymous · September 2007

Marin---I had to start the bowel prep about 4:00, was in the bathroom going about 6:00, and done around 9:00. Waited until 10:00 to be sure, then went to bed for the night and only got up to pee. The colonoscopy itself was easy--I had conscious sedation and don't remember a thing. My grandmother died of colon cancer and my mom has had it twice in the last 5 years, so I have to have one every 5 years, Good for you for being proactive with you health!!! (I wish everybody was--my mom is alive today because of colonoscopy finding her cancer so early).

Anne

iodine · September 2007

One caution: After it's over and you are expelling the air they insert to expand the colon so they can see better, take care to do so in the bathroom. It' s not always air.

wallan · September 2007

Hi there:
Good luck with the test... my hubby had it and he had no problem with the prep.

I had a sigmoidoscopy a few years ago and had to take the same kind of prep. It hit me brutally. I mean, I could not control the disaster so I just sat on the toilet for hours.
I will alert the docs next time I have the prep I think.

But, most people are fine.

HUGS to you

Wendy A

LiveForToday · September 2007

You all are keeping me rolling! Can't believe this but I too am scheduled for my first colonoscopy on Sept. 20. I have been many times with my husband but never would agree to do it. Now the internist says I can't put it off any longer so Off I Go!!

My husband did tell me that your body feels so good after being cleaned out totally. Can't wait yeah right!!

huggs. Sherry

iodine · September 2007

Just don't go shopping for any new clothes with all that weight loss! They sure won't fit later.

sharebear · September 2007

I'm also going to have to have one when treatment is done. My problem is I have had one, did the prep as directed and it still did not clean me out enough. They had to stop half way through because I was still full of sh..!. You see I also suffer from IBS with constipation. Next time they told me there is a 2 day prep I have to drink. They even gave me a picture of my colon still full of the sh.. to give to my dr. as they didn't think he'd believe it unless he saw it. It is as gross looking as it sounds. If you can't drink the stuff you can also request the pills. In my case, I'm looking forward to getting cleaned out, just not the process.

Sharon

EachDay · September 2007

Oh poor you!!! To go through all that preparation and then they couldn't finish!!!! I think we all "wonder" if it's all clear...it may well feel like it but how can you really know?!? What an experience!!!

VickiTN · September 2007

I had mine about a year ago and the prep wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had to drink the large milk jug looking container of stuff and was on a clear liquid diet with nothing after midnight. I slept fine all through the night. I really wouldn't take anything to help you sleep unless you talked to your doctor about it first.

I was given an IV during the procedure and the doc said that it knocked most people out; however, I was wide awake during my entire procedure. I didn't feel a thing, but, I remember talking ninety miles a minute to the doc and nurse during the procedure...There was a monitor on the wall and I was on my side watching the whole thing. I remember that I was so loopy that I was laughing and commenting about my intestines. I remember saying, "Wow, is that pink thing my colon? Cool!"

Once it was all over I was so relieved to have had it done. I would do it again in a heart beat! They did find a polyp that turned out to be benign...so, I have to have another one in 3 years. But, I'm not worried about doing it again at all!

Best wishes for you...praying all goes well for you, too!
hugs,
vicki

p.s.: I knew I was all cleaned out because after a certain point it was "all clear" - like clear water....I think that's how you know that you're cleaned out enough. Once I reached that point I was weak and tired...I spent most all the day on the sofa just watching tv and sleeping.

lam · September 2007

Marin you are so brave! (And all you other ladies who have been wise enough to get this done)I know I have to go for this as well, my doc told me to go a year ago but I just dread it all. Also cannot psyche myself up to do more "doctor" stuff. Let us know how you do, praying that it goes well for you and that they find nothing.

Lots of hugs,

EachDay · September 2007

Yes, you can do this too!!! We do get so sick of the doctor stuff, feeling like this is all we ever do, but this is one of those tests that isn't "difficult", not pleasant and not a lot of fun, but it's over so quickly and you'll feel better for having done it.
Put it on your "list of things to do", move it up slowly and before you know it, you'll be ready to make that call.
((((((((((((((you can do it)))))))))))))))

Anonymous · September 2007

Like Vicki, I didn't go to sleep either. I KNEW I wouldn't. I told them I wouldn't. The doc came in afterwards and told hubby that he could have given me more stuff, but that I did fine. And I did. Just had a bit of cramping.

I took the pills AND they are big. I didn't sleep well at all. I had the "urge" during the night. Then I had to get up early in the morning and take some more pills. Then on the potty again. I was on the potty right before we left. However, if there's any "liquid" left they can "vacuum" it out.

I had two polyps..one benign and one precancerous. The gastro said to come back in five years. I was NOT happy about that so I told my pcp and he agreed that I should wait no longer than 3 years. Not that I want to do this again, but....

I waited until I was 60 to have this done. After having bc and got over the "going to the doctor stuff all the time" I decided it was time. I'm glad I did. I thought if Katy Couric could do it on national tv I could do it (not on national tv).

Marin, are you on the potty right now?
Shirley

sharebear · September 2007

I had mine done about 6 months before dx because of my IBS. Did you know that the same mutuation to the BRCA1 also causes colon cancer? Funny thing this mutation. I've had IBS for years. So even though I'm only 44 after treatments over and I'm cleared its recommended I have another one with better evacuation this time. I've actually thought about colon cleansings too.

Sharon

MargaretB · September 2007

I put off doing this but hubby was relentless about bugging me to do this so I did to shut him up. I just had mine done last month. I got to take the osmo prep pills - sounded so much better to me than drinking all that crap that would make me gag. I started the pills at 5:00 p.m. and had to take them every 15 minutes for an hour. The pipe was cleaned out by 9:30 or so and I slept all night. I had to take the pills again at 4:30 am for another 30 minutes and worried about the 15 minute ride. It was fine though as I was again cleaned out by 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. They gave me 1 Ativan to take 1 hour before my procedure and I had conscious sedation so it was over before I knew it. Got the all clear. The prep is definitely worse than the procedure.

Margaret

Harborwitch · September 2007

When they scheduled my colonoscopy they set it up with the same surgeon who did my lumpectomies. I was thinking that would be great - but someone double checked and my insurance wouldn't pay for him to do the colonoscopy! Tongue out

They had to set it up with another Dr. Oh well!

laureniris · September 2007

Hi Fitchik. Here's some more support for the colon prep (you always give me lots of great support!). I had to do it twice this past year -- once for ooph and once for colonoscopy. Both times I thought it was a much better experience than your typical stomach ache (i.e., diarrhea (sp?), spoiled food , or using laxatives for constipation). Yes, you GO alot, but it was that crampy, sweaty, horrible kind of going. Everything came out a lot faster and with much less wear and tear.

I had lots of that air/gas AFTER the colonoscopy and felt too yechy to go back to work. I had one polyp removed and -- probably because I'm BRCA2 -- will be going back in a year for another colonoscopy. All in all, though, I'm SOOO glad I did it. I didn't expect to have a polyp, but since I did, I'm sooo relieved that it's gone.

Good luck Fitchik!

laureniris · September 2007

ooops -- i mean the colon prep was NOT the sweaty, crampy kind of "going"

Ambien -- i've taken it everynight since my bc diagnosis, including the night before the colonoscopy. no problem.

laureniris · September 2007

Ok, my last comment:

One is, you'll know when you are clean during the prep because, as a friend put it, "you start to pee out of your ass."

Anonymous · September 2007

Well its all over, y'all and I'm so glad! And I now am very clear as to the origin of the phrase 'pain in the a$$'! Geez. Not that I had any pain, but the whole deal took 2 days out of my life and made me extremely grumpy. I was well-rewarded however....first of all, the drugs were awesome (I just LOVE Versed and Phentyl...had them for my lumpectomy too) and, most important, they found absolutely nothing but a clear, healthy colon!!! YAY! So now I can move on to obsessing about having cancer in other body parts. Wouldn't you know, I suddenly got scared that I have pancreatic cancer and have been looking for a yellow cast on my skin or in the whites of my eyes...ascites maybe...since Luciano Pavarotti died this morning. And to think that I never considered getting cancer 2 1/2 years ago!

Thanks for all of your support and helpful info, you guys! And BTW, if anyone has a colonoscopy coming up and the cleaning out goes over into the next day (mine did, but I slept fine w/o ambien anyway), I felt more secure wearing a sanitary pad in the car on the way in. I stuck it up a bit higher than normal in back. Nothing happened, but it was one less thing to worry about. Oh, and I don't need another colonoscopy now for 10 freakin' years! I'm down with THAT!!!!

~Marin

livesstrong · September 2007

Way to go Marin. Isn't it great not having to go for another 10 years!! You sound just like my DH (lymphoma survivor). Everytime he hears of someone dying he automatically thinks he has the same thing!! See, your not the only one.

Valerie (livesstrong)

sharebear · September 2007

Marin,

Glad everything came out well in the end!😉

Sharon

Colonoscopy prep

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