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tips for colonoscopy with a colostomy?

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Posted 9/18/2009 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
My wife has a temporary colostomy, and the day before her reversal she's scheduled for a colonoscopy. The doc who's doing the colonoscopy is not the same as her surgeon, and they haven't been terribly helpful with info so far, so I thought I'd voice some of her concerns here and see if anybody can provide their experiences.

She has received instructions for a colon prep that's pretty standard stuff. Based on MY experience with non-ostomy colonoscopies, I remember the clean out from the prep causing fairly strong contractions in my gut. How does this generally work with the ostomy bag? Is the clean out strong enough that it might damage the appliance? And since you basically have no control over your colon, do you have to sit on the toilet until it's finished?

Also, they gave her no instructions on cleaning the lower part of her colon (what she calls her "stump"). As we understand it, there are only about 7 inches of that left. Do they normally NOT do a colonoscopy of that portion?

Like I said, she has a call into the doc's office, but hasn't made it through the layers of admins who separate the patient from the doc.
Posted 9/18/2009 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I had mine done two weeks agao, they had me use a fleet (flush) from both ends. I had to flush the unused side of my stoma as well as a flush from the rear. It doesn't make any sense to drink that stuff and just fill up your bag, unless that's what your doctor wants? After they did my colonoscopy to make sure I heeled enough for the reversal, at the hospital on the day of my reversal they used a rubber tube and stuffed it in my stoma (the side connected to my colon) and flush with about 16 oz of fluid. This was a nightmare as I cramped immediately and broke out into sweats. I did pass the fluid within 15 minutes, thank god, then it was off to surgery. Hope this helps, I would double check with your doctor!

Posted 9/18/2009 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I would just make sure she brings a spare to put on after the fact. Good luck.
Posted 9/21/2009 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies! The doc doing the colonoscopy finally called back and answered her questions. He said she should do the fleets on the bottom end and will be drinking the "normal" prep for the top end, and said it might be a bit messy.
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