I used to laugh at you old farts and your colonoscopy threads. Well I hit the age where now it's my turn.
Prep is worse than the procedure...yeah yeah I know. But does anyone have any advice about the prep to make it easier? I'm told no fiber 3 days out (seeds, raw fruits/veggies) but that's pretty much mostly what I eat! What are some foods you eat 5, 3, 2 days out? I know day before is all liquid - so checken soup broth? Pho? Gatorade?
Also, I'm reading some side effects from some of the preps such as arryhthmias, A-fib, loss of consciousness, etc...even in those with no prior issues. I think my doc prescribed SuPrep.
Anyway, I'm not as brave about this as I thought I'd be lol
What a pain in the ass...ar ar ar
I used yellow Gatorade which used to be my favorite kind now I can't drink it and I find it gross for some reason since I used it as Colonoscopy prep.
Only thing(IIRC) is no eating 6 or 12 hours before the prep fluid and nothing red.
My advise is get a bidet which every red blooded human should have anyway. Regardless of whether you have one, even the bidet can wear your ass out after 24 hours or the process. You go a lot.
To be blunt, treat your asshole gently. Even using the bidet got painful after a while. Follow the instructons to the T especially with what you eat. IF you fuck up, you won't find out until the day of and then you have to do the whole thing all over again. Get it right the first time.
Only thing(IIRC) is no eating 6 or 12 hours before the prep fluid and nothing red.
I was. No fibers or certain foods approx a week prior. All in all it wasn't difficult but there were some things I had to avoid, memory is fuzzy.
My main issue with it was I had visions of like voluminous movements on the toilet for hours. I set up a camp chair and everything. And while I had to go a lot, it never felt 'satisfying' or complete if you get me. That was the worst part. That and sitting awake trying to go to the bathroom at 3 AM and being tired.
It's not as bad as some make it out to be.
I agree it really wasn't that bad but yes, you basically go a little bit over and over and over....and over and over.
The key things for me, good advice, was to time it just right. I want to say I had a pretty early appt for the actual procedure so I wasn't really knee deep in the going part over night. I want to say the worst or most intense part of the process was about 3-4 hours in--which for me was during waking hours, mostly. I think I only had to "wake and quake" maybe twice?
IF you can't time it perfectly you run the risk of being up all night, pretty much literally.
The wipes is the best advice yet, buy them. A lot of them.
Yep, this is what I will do next time. I was as raw as you can get.
And even worse that that, on the drive to the procedure and even when I was on the damn gurney - I still felt like I had to go!
Upside - you'll probably have the best sleep you ever had.
I remember asking the nurse should I start counting backward from 10, she said not really......and that's all I remember.
I was advised to eat mainly mashed potatoes and baked chicken/fish starting a couple days before prep. Made everything easier. I could have halved my prep.
It was the nurse overseeing the colonoscopy who advised this diet change. I'm glad she did. Made things a lot easier. Mashed potatoes and simple chicken or fish are filling, tasty, and easy to digest. No salads. And obviously no red food or beverages.
While it is likely too late for you. For others, I would recommend having the procedure during the summer, bc for me, the worst part was drinking the prep straight out of the 'frig at 4:30 in the morning in February.
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they may not be covered by insurance, but they may be cheap. Explore all the options.
I was advised to eat mainly mashed potatoes and baked chicken/fish starting a couple days before prep. Made everything easier. I could have halved my prep.
It was the nurse overseeing the colonoscopy who advised this diet change. I'm glad she did. Made things a lot easier. Mashed potatoes and simple chicken or fish are filling, tasty, and easy to digest. No salads. And obviously no red food or beverages.
Interesting. Hey whatever works so you are one and done.
64oz of Gatoraide/Mirolax mix
8oz glass every 15-30mins for the 1st 32oz then a wait for a few hours, then the same for the last 32oz.
Don't stray far from the bathroom, don't try to fart.
No special diet before but plenty of jello and fluids while doing the prep.
I'm 55 and have had 3 done. My uncle would still be here if he did this so many years ago. Yes its a horrible 24hrs but think of the alternative.
Thanks for the PSA
2. At dinner time the night before, I had bone broth. I like the taste and if you can imagine well....imagine it is a steak dinner.
3. Gummy Bears (Not the red or green ones), but the lighter colors make a satisfying snack all through the prep and the next day. They are simply liquid in your stomach and they feel like solid food in your mouth.
4. Agree. The procedure is actually not bad. When you go in, you change into a gown, they put an IV in for the anesthesia and then they wheel you in. You get on your side and they administer the anesthesia and BOOM...asleep. About 45 minutes to an hour later, you wake up. They compliment you for doing the procedure, they may tell you some results and then you get wheeled to the same place where you lie there, have a snack and a drink. A little while longer they let your spouse or your friend or whoever is driving you home in and you get dressed and head to the best meal you will have tasted in quite some time.
Good luck! I have had 3 which my latest earlier this year. I have to go every five years because they found pre-cancerous polyps in my colon in 2013 during my first procedure. They remove them on the spot during the procedure.
The prep is very uncomfortable and unpleasant and I can't think of a way to make it more comfortable. You just gotta do whatcha gotta do. Gotta do it.
when you get in the room, the weirdest thing will be how many people are in the room with you.
- WSchedule it early in the morning.
- Definitely go no fiber for a few days.
- When you say broth, it has to be actually broth, not the liquid from chicken (or any other kind of) soup. They are two different things.
- You can't eat or drink anything that is red or orange, and she would tell you to avoid purple too.
- The "side effects" from the prep you mentioned can be tided to dehydration. So keep drink clear fluids.
- The diet isn't designed to help you with the prep (or its effects). The diet is to ensure there is nothing left in your system that will cause them see things that aren't really there. My wife shares a story of a not so good doc who turned to a nurse and, looking at the monitor, asked "what is that? Should we biopsy it?" The nurse calmly said "That's a carrot, leave it alone."
Basically, follow the instructions they gave you to a T. Just suck it up for two days. If you don't, and your system isn't totally cleaned out, they might cancel the procedure as soon as they start. And guess what, that means you're going to have to do the prep again.
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Now I prep with just Dulcolax and Mirolax
I did that with country time Lemon aid and that did well. Agree on the wipes and wear shorts or comfy pants anything to get down I a hurry
I think that is now used in youger people. That is all my daughter used.
I've had three - all clear - and always had the salty thick stuff you mix with clearish fluids....
It is an important procedure that may save your life one day...good luck!
While it is likely too late for you. For others, I would recommend having the procedure during the summer, bc for me, the worst part was drinking the prep straight out of the 'frig at 4:30 in the morning in February.
Man, you are so right about your last few sentences.
I had a scope a few years ago because I spent New Years Day in the ER because I was bleeding every time I took a dump and it also hurt to take one.
I was scheduled to get my colonoscopy on a Tuesday and the admin called me that morning to confirm. I did all the prep the night before. A snowstorm hits. The doctor can't make it.
I have to start the process over again the next day.
It was brutal.
Something wrong with my stomach so they are going down my throat also. Depending on the order...do I need to tell the doc to make sure to wash it very very well?
I also made it a point afterwards to eat Fetticine Alfredo as my 1st meal after regardless of what they tell you no rich foods. Ive survived no problem, it's now a tradition
I used yellow Gatorade which used to be my favorite kind now I can't drink it and I find it gross for some reason since I used it as Colonoscopy prep.
This! I WILL NEVER DRINK LEMONADE AGAIN!
- WSchedule it early in the morning.
- Definitely go no fiber for a few days.
- When you say broth, it has to be actually broth, not the liquid from chicken (or any other kind of) soup. They are two different things.
- You can't eat or drink anything that is red or orange, and she would tell you to avoid purple too.
- The "side effects" from the prep you mentioned can be tided to dehydration. So keep drink clear fluids.
- The diet isn't designed to help you with the prep (or its effects). The diet is to ensure there is nothing left in your system that will cause them see things that aren't really there. My wife shares a story of a not so good doc who turned to a nurse and, looking at the monitor, asked "what is that? Should we biopsy it?" The nurse calmly said "That's a carrot, leave it alone."
Basically, follow the instructions they gave you to a T. Just suck it up for two days. If you don't, and your system isn't totally cleaned out, they might cancel the procedure as soon as they start. And guess what, that means you're going to have to do the prep again.
This is the best advice. Suck it up, follow the advice they give you exactly as written.
It's not that big a deal. So you pee out your butthole for a day, it's better than colon cancer ffs!
The worst part of the whole thing was drinking a gallon of that solution when you are starving. The procedure itself was nothing.
Only recommendation I have is that you schedule the procedure as early in the morning as you can.
Ignorance can lead to the worse case scenario. People you care about likely depend on you. Do it.
The prostate exam has no prep and is over in seconds but it's more traumatic. Do that too. Colonoscopy is literally one annoying day and it's over. Do it.
Propafol will feel a touch like your arteries/veins are getting warmed as it moves through your system. Last time I fought going under to see how far it would pass until I went out. It got as far as my ears/temple(warm feeling) and that was the last thing I remembered.
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Need to get my first one soon. Been postponing it for like a decade. After all that, I dunno... ignorance is bliss?
Ignorance can lead to the worse case scenario. People you care about likely depend on you. Do it.
The prostate exam has no prep and is over in seconds but it's more traumatic. Do that too. Colonoscopy is literally one annoying day and it's over. Do it.
Thanks, Bro. I'll need to plan for and schedule it. For the prostate thingy though, isn't a PSA test good enough to screen for it?
1. Use flushable wipes. A must priority
2. Eat normally until they tell you to fast. The difference is negligible.
3. Enjoy the first movement, you feel great after wards - the rest suck.
4. Dont fret them at all, because I actually feel like a million dollars after they are done.
5. Lounge by a TV/tablet and a toilet. Binge watch something or watch sports all day. Your wife cannot yell at you for doing this.
This. It's not a big deal.
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Propafol will feel a touch like your arteries/veins are getting warmed as it moves through your system. Last time I fought going under to see how far it would pass until I went out. It got as far as my ears/temple(warm feeling) and that was the last thing I remembered.
Exactly the same with me. It hit my temples and I said "that's crazy man..." and the next thing I know it was 30 minutes later and I was in a different room lol.