Afraid of not being able to drink the Prep for colonoscopy...... Miralax?? HELP!!

I was scheduled for colonoscopy two years ago and was told to drink the Fleet soda prep. I TRIED AND TRIED to drink it but it just came back up and pretty soon the smell made me dry heave so the doc told me to forget it.

March 2 is round two w/a new GI doc. They use Movi Prep... BUT I'm worried that the same thing will happen--I am VERY sensitive to smells and taste. BUT I keep coming across that many member on this forum talk about using Miralax for a prep... REALLY?? HOW and WHY did your doc prescribe it?? Why wasn't that given to me as an option?? Did you have to use 'magical words' to convince your doc to let you try it?? I've been super sick for almost two weeks--totally blocked up, distended, pain in right side of stomach/tender... and used two doses close together yesterday to get things moving--finally--success..and then more success...yellow D 6 times in 1 1/2 hours. I don't know if that's normal for miralax...but wouldn't that be a good sign to the GI doc that Miralax could be an alternative if I can't get movi prep down??




I would love to hear ANY ideas!

Hi,

For my son's first colonoscopy he had to use the Mag Citrate which he had a bad experience with (throwing up, lots of tears, and refusal to drink any more).  When it came time for his second one, I told his GI that he couldn't take the Mag Citrate and asked if there were any alternatives.  He was told to take Miralax mixed with gatorade.  It's one dose of Miralax mixed with 8 oz. of gatorade, every hour for 8 hours.  I think he also took Dulcolax the evening before he started with the Miralax.  Anyway, he's done this prep twice and it's been fine both times.  I don't know if it's different because he's a kid, but it wouldn't hurt to ask your GI about this prep.

Take care,

Nancy (son Ben,15,CD dx 3/06; double Remicade, probiotic, multi-vitamin)

My daughter just had her second scope today.

Prep is easy.  2 Dulocolax tablets at 12 noon. Then starting at 3 pm, empty and entire 238 mg bottle of Miralax into an entire 64 oz. bottle of gatorade (no red or purple obviously). Drink that gatorade mixture over the next three hours, with the goal being to drink 8 oz every 15 minutes. If not cleaned out, take more Dulcolax.  That's it. Very simple. 

My daughter can't tolerate even the Gatorade so we used apple juice instead. She also can't drink that much liquid in such a short period of time, so we started her earlier in the day (about 12 noon with the juice), and the cleanout last longer (till about 6 pm till she was emptied out.) She did fine and was cleaned out after only about 4-5 trips to the bathroom. She's tiny so it was fast, but this same prep method was used by my husband when he had his scope last summer.

Hope this helps.

Oh my gosh!!! You guys, thank you soooo much! I put a call into my doctor's nurse today and left a message asking about alternatives to nasty tasting stuff. But you guys were so helpful w/laying out a schedule. I pray that my doc is open to it!! I am so grateful for the information that I get from this forum!

yay!! I'm still waiting for my doc's nurse to call me back to see if I can just do the miralax.. i hope my doc is down w/that.... WHY doesn't all docs do this?? it just seems like the EASIER on your stomach because it tastes better..so much better... AND it's easier on your system. :D

I have noticed with fleet prep it is good to do as a "shot", meaning in a shot glass.

I'm not suggesting you go against your doctor's orders but they can't tell what you've used. They only care that you are cleaned out.

I used to use a prep called Nutri-prep/Lo-so prep that included solid food. It was great for my hypoglycemia and it was easy. I used it for 6 colonoscopies plus my resection and other ab surgeries and procedures. My last GI refused let me use it even though I had pictures showing that it cleaned me out. Since I really needed the procedure, I just agreed to his prep and then did mine anyway.

After the procedure the nurse said that I should be glad I used their prep because I was so clean. Since I was still loopy, I laughed and told her that I used my prep, not theirs. I told her I had problems with a liquid diet. She told me that it was funny how only fat patients had trouble staying away from food. Apparently, I then laughed at her and and started telling her in sailor language exactly what I thought of her. My husband almost smothered me getting me to shut up.

If I'm running clear, do I have to take the magnesium calcitrate?

I've been having colonoscopies every 2 years since I was in my 20's(I'm 55 now) The only prep I've been able to do is the mag citrate prep. I tried the miralax once but it was just too much to drink in such a short time and it gave me chills for hours. Having another one done next week. The preps have changed quite a bit over the years. I can barely get down one bottle of the mag citrate, but I rub lemon on my tongue before each gulp. That seems to help. Seems now, the doctors want you to do 2 bottles. Hmm, I don't think so. 1 has worked for me all these years. don't see a reason to change. I also take a couple of dulcolax tablets a few hours after I drink the mag citrate. It does seem to take longer and last longer for me though. I don't get much sleep the night before.