Tips for Colonoscopy Prep

It can depend on the prep, and on your health at the time. If you have a horrid time with this variety of prep, ask if you can try a different brand next time.

Tips:

* calming creams for the bottom - stuff with local anaesthetic if you can; just some nice soothing zinc or similar if you can't find anaesthetic
* ease off on the sugary drinks: try drinking some stock or broth, and plain juice in between. You'll get sweetness overload otherwise
* mint tea can help
* nice, soft, toilet paper
* congratulate yourself for every glass of prep you get through
* have a sense of humour about it

Good luck. Please do let us know how it goes.

Ivy.

I just did my first about 6 weeks ago. I too had the same concerns and it wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I was having bad stomach cramps and gas pain before, but it wasn't intense at all with the prep.

Sense of humor is key. We had some work issues and during the first few hours I was working. For awhile there I had a nice little setup going in the bathroom. Had quite a bit of fun telling a few of the people I work with exactly what was going on...but I did skip the conference call.

It never cramped me but did make me very cold especially when I was ill. Remember that the prep is, by far, the worst part.

Keep your butt hole coated with vaseline. DON'T GO OUT. Put a barrier between you and your mattress or don't sleep in your bed.
Don't let anyone get between you and the toilet or they may be injured! lol

It usually takes a couple hours to kick in. Then for me the D lasts all through the night. Not to frighten you, because I'm sure it's different for everyone and depends on how bad you are flaring at the time, but I don't get much sleep the night before because I wake at least every hour or two to run to the bathroom. By morning it usually slows but it's still a struggle just to make the 45 min car trip to the scope place in the morning. Just keep thinking happy thoughts like what you will eat when it's all over. On the bright side, you'll get plenty of rest after the procedure because of the sedatives and lack of sleep the night before. The prep is by far the worst part. Good luck!

I find like Ivy said that chicken broth really helps me not to feel so dehydrated or hungry. Make sure to keep your self hydrated with allowed drinks. Also try to pat dry, not wipe that will help you not to be so chaffed down there. Also if you are going clear (maybe be yellow tinged) then you are cleaned out. Good luck!

if you don't like the taste of the prep sucking an ice cube briefly before your drink it can numb the taste buds. I then use lemonade as a mouthwash to get rid of the after taste. This helps me keep it down. Simple baby vaseline from the supermarket on the bottom end stops that getting sore and is cheap if you don't have anything else.

Good luck - it is not actually that bad ;)

As for night time I never had too much trouble until the last time it just wouldn't quit. For the trip to the dr office I will stuff my "area" with toilet paper in case a slip up and I will keep a bucket in the car. Of course you know you are not allowed to drive yourself.

Don't over think and worry about this. It sucks, get 'er done! Go about your life. OK?