Colonoscopy Prep- any tips?

Hi Everyone! My name is Erica. I've been a lurker here for a number of years and I always enjoy reading everyone’s thoughtful questions and comments. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2008. After a resection surgery, a temporary ileostomy, and the reversal surgery I’ve been doing relatively well the past few years. I feel really lucky!

Next week I’m scheduled for a colonoscopy. I had a terrible time with the prep during my last colonoscopy about 3 years ago. I’m wondering if any of you have some tips or ideas for me. I’m doing the Miralax/Gatorade prep, which is what I did last time. I can’t stand the saltiness of Gatorade, and the “allowed” colors/flavors taste terrible to me. Last time I got about 1/2 of the mixture down before I started throwing up. The prep didn’t get into my system enough to clean me out, and I wound up having to reschedule the test to a few days later. In the meantime I had to do a 3 day clear liquids diet and choke down some GoLitely. The entire experience was miserable.

I’m worried about next week. Will I be able to get the prep down and keep it down? Is there something besides the Gatorade that I could mix the Miralax with? Should I start a clear liquids diet 3 days ahead of time instead of the one day ahead like the prep instructions suggest? Any helpful tips you can give me?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

I always throw up any kind of prep I have to do either for a colonscopy or a CT. In order to combat this, my GI told me to take a Zofran injection before, during and after any procedure. The purpose of the Zofran is to let things settle down. Why don't you call your GI and ask for an antivomiting injection?
Hope the scope goes on well.
Good luck :)

Dunno if this will help - feels like nothing I say ever helps anyone - but I would make up the first litre of prep, then sip it slowly over the course of 2-3 hours while being on the computer. Rinse and repeat later on with the second litre, except I did not always finish the second litre. Sometimes the first litre is enough; if you are passing clear fluid, you are cleaned out and do not need any more prep.

Anyway, sipping it over a long period of time, while distracted, was what enabled me to get the vile prep down relatively painlessly. The literature says to drink it in 15 minutes, I think. Sod that. It's not necessary and leads to a real danger of bringing it back up. This actually happened to me once during an MRI scan. The nurse had pressured me to drink the prep quickly and somehow I did it. But during the scan I started feeling intensely nauseous. I pressed the buzzer and couldn't even speak, but they got my meaning and brought a bowl to me just in time... >_>

The last time I had one I asked for the pill, I don't remember what it was called but it was sooo easy, I don't remember if it was one or a couple of pills. All I had to drink was water. and it was much gentler than the salty powder stuff. And I didn't live in the bathroom for hours like the others. I would feel the need to go and go into the bathroom and then go back and watch tv or do laundry or whatever and wait for another urge. When I requested it the Dr told me he had to give the "black box" warning of kidney problems etc. but I would say if you don't have any liver or kidney problems then that is definitely the way to go.

I just finished my prep yesterday and had the colonoscopy today. It was not as bad as when I had to do the golitely prep in 2007. this time I had something called half litely. It was 1/2 the amount of liquid to drink and although still salty, was not as thick so I didn't vomit. Also make sure you make yourself burp. I chugged the drinks as fast as possible holding my breath so my tongue didn't taste it. And if you start feeling queasy, stop for a bit. I agree with one of the posters here that it is better to take a little time making sure it stays in your system, than drinking it all within the time allotted and then vomiting a few moments later. the queasy feeling hit me on the 5th cup. So I took it easy and was able to get it down. I'm also glad that I didn't have to drink the whole container at one sitting. They broke it up into 2 times.

I had to take a pill the 2 days before (sat) which started me having bowel movements and I was allowed to eat almost anything I wanted except for beef, pork, vegetables, fruit, nuts, anything fibrous, and peanut butter. then yesterday, (sun) I had an all clear diet which about killed me because I was starving and the drinks were not satisfying my hunger. I drank at least 4 liters of liquid by that time. So, at about 6pm, I went to a Vietnamese restaurant and got a 32 oz pho (noodle soup) and just drank the broth. I think the warmth in my tummy convinced my body that I had "eaten" something and so I finally felt satiated. =D

At 10am (sun), I was instructed to drink 5 senokote tablets. Then at 2pm, I started on 5c of the half lytely. I did not put in the flavor packet and didn't cool the mixture in the fridge. I cannot tolerate drinking "cold" drinks because it hurts my teeth, and didn't feel like putting in the flavor packet because it would be nasty anyway. so it would be salty koolaid. After 1 cup, I would immediately drink about 1/4 c of apple juice and then wait 10-15 min and do again. when I got bored of the apple juice, I cut up some lemons and sucked in it just like if you took a tequila shot being careful to not eat any pulp. Some how I made it. Then at 8pm, I finished the rest of the half lytely bottle (I think it was 2.5 more cups). For some reason my bowel movements was not explosive like when I had taken the go lytely, so at 10pm I had to go to the store and buy a 10 oz bottle of magnesium citrate and drink that also (which is what was written on my prep paperwork). I finally pooped without residue at midnight but then had to keep madly drinking liquid till 3am because I drank something red so the water was reddish. =( I wasn't paying attention when I bought the magnesium citrate I bought cherry flavor=red. it finally turned clear at 5am.

Good luck!

You can mix mirilax with any clear liquid hot or cold.

I had a colonoscopy while in the hospital and they mixed the golitely with crystal light, lemonaide flavor and it really helped.

I'm having a colonoscopy Tuesday so I start tomorrow.. I've always done Pico-Salix and Ducolax... But this time my doctor has me taking Klean-prep... So we will see tomorrow how it goes.. I am NEVER a fan of this.. Really not looking forward to it...;( Good luck to you!!!

What about tea like Snapple? My GI doc had me do a 2-day prep(only clear liquids for 2 days!) with ducolax, miralax and Mag Citrate. The mag citrate made me have horrible cramps/indigestion/nausea. Well I ended up puking my miralax up and wasn't "cleaned out" enough for the colonoscopy. So I had to reschedule and prep the next month. This time I omitted the Mag Citrate and just did Ducolax and Miralax and ended up fine.

For me, I don't think I could mix it with any carbonated drink. All that gas in my stomach would not be good. It takes longer to work on me as well so I now start the prep hours before they they have it listed on the prep sheet.

Hi Erica, just saw your post (a little late!) I want to assure everyone who is prepping for a colonoscopy that the Suprep is easy. It works thru osmosis (water in/water out) and is not painful at all. The mixture does not taste good, and the amount of water you need to drink may seem extreme. If you can follow the instructions, I promise you a "smooth move"! To all the apprehensive patients out there....You will be OK! Much Love.