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truth about the prep before surgery. :-)

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Posted 12/31/2008 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
I get mad when they say the prep tastes like sprite.
Its called Magnesium Citrate and its AWFUL!! They also say it'll taste better mixed with apple juice (again, not true. If you ever have to drink it, I suggest drinking it as fast as you can, I don't want to scare anyone but I think its best to be honest with people.

If you want to ask me anything, go ahead and ask :-) smilewinkgrin
Posted 12/31/2008 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah well, once we all go thru the prep the first time we never forget that taste do we? Fleet's Phospho Soda has a taste ALL its own (unflavored or lemon lime).

Personally, here's what I do:

1. Chill the prep.
2. Put toothpaste on toothbrush.
3. Unwrap gum (but don't swallow it, more on that later....LOL)
4. Pour grape coolaid in glass.
5. Pour 7 up over ice in glass.
6. Add the laxative dose to the 7up (1.5 ounces of Fleet's in my case).
7. Take a deep breath.
8. Down the 7up/laxative mixture AS FAST AS I CAN!
9. Immediately chase it with the grape coolaid.
10. Brush my teeth.
11. Chew the gum (but don't accidentally swallow it, no solids allowed, LOL!)

By this time, all of this had landed in my stomach with a thud. But at least it's down. Until the next dose......

Yeah, it all sucks, big time. The only prep that I've heard doesn't taste terrible is from Canada? It tastes like Tang. But it's not been approved here in the US.
Posted 1/1/2009 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Marsky - I am giggling out loud!

I, for one, prefer to mix it with gin. That's clear isn't it??? (Just kidding.) I have a colonoscopy scheduled for next week. They said to prep as normal. Why? And what's it like having it done through the stoma? I wince at the thought.... any tips will be greatly appreciated!
Posted 1/1/2009 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
BadBagGirl

Having a scope through your stoma is heaps easier than the other way. I have an ileostomy and had my ileoscopy via my stoma and was awake and watched it all on the monitor - I did have good 'happy' drugs though.

Out of all the scopes, it was by far, the easiest one I've ever done.
Posted 1/1/2009 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Shaz! I consider you the veteran of all these things so I am feeling a little better about it!
Posted 1/2/2009 8:15 AM (GMT 0)
I actually have had a scope through my ileostomy with OUT any happy drugs... I happened to be at a doctor appt at Cleveland Clinic, like 8 hours from my home to get there, and Dr. Fazio was going to have me come back in another day for it OR do it right then without the drugs. Rather than make another trip, I asked him to do it right then. It was not the most comfortable thing I have experience with OUT the happy pills. But it certainly was DO-able. Let's just suffice to say, I've had worse discomfort. And I hate waiting on test results and news, I want it right then.

Good Luck!
Posted 1/5/2009 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
 

 

Hi, I have had two colonscopies and just had a total colectomy on tuesday this week.. just got home yesterday.... i have had to drink citrate of magnesium for all my prep's and when my colonic inertia was getting real  bad my doctor wanted me to do one bottle of citrate every day.... i said i couldnt ( because obviously you live near a bathroom if you do citrate) so i compromised and did two bottles one day a week.....

 

anyway, when i describe it to someone i describe it as a very flat sprite taste with a interesting aftertaste.... sorry i know someone before me here said no way to the flat sprite thing... and the first time i had to drink it I probably said the say thing... but now its no big deal... i was told... to drink nothing until its gone ( so dont mix it with anything - and dont drink water inbetween ) like i had to do 2 bottles in the a.m. and 2 bottles at p.m.... so i had to finish it all before i could have anything ... so my advice is drink it as quickly as possible and the more you walk around and drink water the faster the stuff works.... but mistake i made was not to drink the water... drink ... drink... drink... as much water as your paperwork says.. or whatever liquid your paperwork says you can have... drink and walk... i just walked around the house... but it helps.......

 

hope this helps

Post Edited (tcr1130) : 1/4/2009 6:58:10 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/5/2009 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
I've had to take the citrate a few times, and the thing that helps me the most is taking the citrate with a straw...that kind of helps it go down fast without actually tasting it as much.

I just had another colonoscopy last week, and didn't have to drink anything; I took 32 pills throughout the day, and then dulcolax in the evening.  It worked better than the citrate, and was much easier!

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