Prep for Colonoscopy

  Hello,

   It is 15 months after my husbnd was  diagnosed with rectal cancer.

   He is in  remission and the oncologist wants him to  have another colonoscopy. He had lots of trouble doing the preps in the past. He has had 4 preps in the past year. They will not use Fleet phosphsoda because of the chance of Renal failure.  He refuses to use Golytely or any of the preps that require his taking 1 gallon of prep. The gastroenterlogist wants his prep with 10oz of magnesum citrate then Tri-Lyte. He was so sick with the Golytely he says if he has to do the prep the MD wants he WILL NOT have the colonoscopy. He had no trouble with the colonoscopy he has trouble with the prep.  Any suggestions.  Note the MD will not change prep . Concerned wife,  Notme

Hi I also had to have allot of preps and also had a hard time getting the prep down. What worked for me was to suck on hard candy like lemon drops and sip on sprite or seven up after each drink to keep from gagging and keeping the prep down. The last prep I had the bottle was only about half the amount which did make it a little easier but still isn't fun. The flavors they give you aren't much help either. I  hope everything goes well and good luck Kenny

Sometimes we, as patients, have to be insistent and be our own advocate.  Have your husband tell the doctor that he would like the pills - OSMOPREP to use as his bowel cleansing method.  Many docs don't want to use this as it has a tendency to really dehydrate you and, in patients, with kidney problems, this is NOT a good choice.  However, if your husband does have good blood results with respect to kidney function and no other problems, he should be able to take the pills without problem.  If the doc refuses, then have your husband INSIST on the pills.  Usually, unless there truly is a good reason, the doc will back down.  Remember though, the pills MUST be accompanied by way more liquids (sprite, coke, water, jello, broth, etc. with the same 'no color' rules) than one might take with the GoLytle or other preps.  For me, it's a NO BRAINER.  I'll drink way more liquids (but I don't have any kidney issues either) that I like than have to drink that gaggy prep concoction.

Jaynee

 

On 8/28/2009 soccermom wrote:

Sometimes we, as patients, have to be insistent and be our own advocate.  Have your husband tell the doctor that he would like the pills - OSMOPREP to use as his bowel cleansing method.  Many docs don't want to use this as it has a tendency to really dehydrate you and, in patients, with kidney problems, this is NOT a good choice.  However, if your husband does have good blood results with respect to kidney function and no other problems, he should be able to take the pills without problem.  If the doc refuses, then have your husband INSIST on the pills.  Usually, unless there truly is a good reason, the doc will back down.  Remember though, the pills MUST be accompanied by way more liquids (sprite, coke, water, jello, broth, etc. with the same 'no color' rules) than one might take with the GoLytle or other preps.  For me, it's a NO BRAINER.  I'll drink way more liquids (but I don't have any kidney issues either) that I like than have to drink that gaggy prep concoction.

Jaynee

I know I wasn't the one to ask but THANK YOU Jaynee, everytime I

think of my next scope I literally gag thinking about the prep, the taste is

horrendous and I was never one to get nauseous.  What I was ganna do

was take Miralax for 3 days w/o eating??  But dont know if something

would be left.                    with the best intent,

                                           Denise