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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/11/2009 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
I am scheduled for my colonoscopy the end of the month.  I alreadysent away for, and received my Pico-Salax(generic kind) from Canada.

Now he has already givine me a prescription for the gallon prep yuk.

The last time I tried to take this I threw up more than I took in.   No matter what I did.  Sucked candy, drank strong tasting fluids, the minute I put the glass to my mouth, I stated to gag. The thought of it now can make me shiver.  He is unsympathetic to this, and just says  "do the best you can".

If I start and find I just can't get it down, of course I will have to postpone the colonoscopy.

If I tell him about what I ordered he will not grant permission to take it.(really can't blame him as since it isn't available in US he probably would be going out on a limb to tell me to take something he isn't familiar with)

So, would you just take the Pico and not say anything? 

I am just sitting here thinking what if it doesn't work, or something?  You see what I am saying?

So, has anyone ever done this on their own?

Posted 3/11/2009 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
How is the P-S different, is it also a drink?
My doc has given me so many different kinds of preps over the years, I'm not sure she thinks it makes any difference. Do you think he would care? Mine wouldn't, as long as I was honest with her about whether it worked! (and of course you can tell if you're cleaned out when everything turns clear). But I guess I would ask her first.

Lately what she tells me to get does not even require a prescription. So I guess I do it on my own in that regard...
Posted 3/11/2009 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Peety, trhe PS is orange flavored. People say not a bad taste and not having to drink all that salty liquid at such a fast pace.
Many here swear by it.
Posted 3/11/2009 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
I would suggest doing the best you can. I had to try that stuff once and although I, like you, threw up more than I was able to keep down, and didn't finish nearly what I should have, it worked well enough that the colonoscopy was possible. I had another colonoscopy a week ago which was unsuccessful since I was apparently in too much pain for them to go beyond 30cm. So now I'm having to go for a chest x-ray and a barium enema among other things. So if you have a colonoscopy that isn't successful, you will just be in store for a whole new range of tests.

If you try it, and it messes up the colonoscopy, he may just give you the same stuff and tell you to try again.

I know the stuff is vile, but I'd at least try your best. If you find you can't do it at all, then maybe use the Pico-Salax.

Good luck.

Peety said...
How is the P-S different, is it also a drink?

Pico-Salax tastes like orange pop. And you only need to drink two cups 150 ml each. Meaning you could take the entire preparation in two gulps if you wanted. I'm not sure which other prep the original poster is talking about, but the stuff I tried 'Kleer Prep' or something, tasted absolutely putrid and I was ordered to drink liters and liters of it. If you have the choice you definitely want Pico-Salax.
Posted 3/11/2009 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
My GI has me take a huge thing of Miralax w/Gatorade plus laxatives. I couldn't imagine having to drink something that tastes nasty. Ask about Miralax, it's tasteless. What does it matter as long as the colon is cleaned out?
Posted 3/11/2009 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
You could try drinking it through a straw, that helps some people...but I agree anything that's meant to clean you right out should be good enough.

:)
Posted 3/11/2009 8:15 AM (GMT 0)
Products that contain oral sodium phosphate products (OSP) can damage the kidneys. On December 11, 2008, the FDA started requiring black-box warnings on oral sodium phosphate products Visicol and OsmoPrepl. The FDA also started requiring all OSPs to be available by prescription only.

Pico-Salax contains sodium picosulfate. I don't know what the difference is between sodium phosphate and sodium picosulfate.

Make sure you are fully hydrated before using any products that contain sodium phosphate. Apparently, being fully hydrated will reduce the affect of sodium phosphate on your kidneys.

My GI had me use over-the-counter Fleet enemas before getting a sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. I don't know the risk to the kidneys, given that I took them anally, not orally.

I would use whatever I felt posed the least risk to my health.
Posted 3/11/2009 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
To add to what subdued is saying...

I had a long talk with my GI about the dangers of Osmo because it's the one prep I've had success keeping down. He says that the risk is higher for the elderly and children but if you take it, there is not really any more risk than any other meds as long as you HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. The risk to the kidneys comes, he says, when the salts hit your kidneys without being diluted at all.

It's always important to have honest discussions with your doctor about any prep (or other med) and get as clear a story as you can about what any of these meds do to our bodies. A good doctor will always level with you.
Posted 3/11/2009 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
I hate that stuff!!!

The first time I drank it I puked my guts out! When I was in the hospital during my second flare they tried getting me to drink that nasty stuff.. When the nurse would leave I put it down the toilet.. I drank maybe two cups, but they had me on a liquid diet for a few days anyways. I just drank a little and everything was fine..

My opinion would be to try and drink it, but if you can just try a liquid diet a day or two before your procedure that way you dont have much to digest anyways... Goodluck
Posted 3/12/2009 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain, i have had to do that prep 3 times! i have found that mixing lemonade flavored crystal light in the mix and chugging it 8 oz at a time will suppress the gag reflex just long enough to get it down. if that doesn't work there is another prep out there. admittedly it is almost as bad from what i hear ( i have never tried it) but maybe it will be a little easier for you
Posted 3/12/2009 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
I used the phospho-soda which wasn't that bad and was available over the counter in the US. Not sure if it still is.
Posted 3/12/2009 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
     Geez, I must be living under a rock!  I never heard of Osmo and Pico..whatever.  My GI doctor always has me drink that Nulitely or Golightly...you know..that gallon jug thing.  He says it is the easiest on the gut of people who have UC.  Who knows, maybe he has shares in the company.  Anyway...my solution is to eat very lightly for three days before taking the prep.  As a matter of fact, the day before I take the prep I try to stay on only clear fluids and maybe soda cracker.  Then, the day of the prep I only have to drink like 1/3 of the fluid.  I make sure it is very cold and drink through a straw.
Posted 3/12/2009 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
my last two times i took the pill prep- can't remember what it was called...not fun but a lot better than the liquids!!!!!
Posted 3/14/2009 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
I am from Canada, and I took pico-salax a few months ago, I have been using pico salax for a while to do my scopes.
It is much easier and quicker to take, and it does clean you out.

Thanks
Posted 3/15/2009 3:07 AM (GMT 0)

After having my last colonoscopy last week, my gastro told me that some people only require about a glass of prep to be cleaned out and some require more. 

Personally, I start fasting about 5 days prior to my colonoscopy and then drink about 3/4 of a glass of prep vs. the 2 liters usually required.  My colonoscopy's have always been fine.  I simply eat jello, popsicles, Italian ice and juice.  It is tough as I am usually hungry but I would rather deal with that then the prep as I have the same problem you do, I vomit when I try to drink it.

I also take a sip of prep and before swallowing it take a sip of apple juice and then swallow them together.

Good luck!

Charlotte

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