I am scheduled for scope Friday and will prep tomorrow. With the new prep routine I'm not sure what to expect because last time I had this done I had to drink a gallon of yukky stuff. This time I have to take a bottle of phospho soda and 4 Ducolax tabs. Instructions say to take half bottle at a time and then the tabs at 11:00 PM. Will taking the tabs at 11pm have me up all night in the bathroom? Why would they have you take it so late? Could I just start the routine earlier in the day?
Annie

Annie...I recall taking the phosphosoda in two divided doses about 4 hours apart. Don't recall the ducolax tabs, though. I'd suggest calling your doctor & asking him. One thing that's extremely important is to keep drinking fluids until the very last minute. You really need to be hydrated. Good luck & I will keep yu in my prayers....Goody :wave:

I agree with goodie-keep yourself hydrated. Just had a c'scopy today. Had to take 1 phosphosoda (45ml) over 30 minutes at 4pm & a 2nd bottle over 30 minutes at 9pm last night. Got to sleep about 1am after everything "came out". Could only have fluid diet from 4 to midnight then nothing by mouth after midnight. The c'scopy turned out OK. Amen!!
positive4U :)

It is important to follow instructions to the letter. The colon and rectum must be completely clean or the procedure cannot be done effectively. My husband was up several times in the night but that is a small inconvenience compared to getting good news after a colonoscopy. If you do need information, do contact the doctor.

Thanks everyone. I will follow instructions to the letter.
Positive4U - so glad to hear the good news about your results!

Annie

Do you just have one day's prep? I'm due colonoscopy next Tuesday and I have to take a bottle of senna on the Sunday at 6pm, then 2 sachets of picolax on the Monday 8am and 6pm with nothing to eat for almost 48 hours before the colonoscopy.It seems that drinking plenty of fluids is the most important thing. Good luck for Friday
Lalee

I have had 2 preps this year. The first was drinking that horrible, salty stuff. They said to drink it between 12 & 3. I think by 4 I was still drinking it and gagging. The 2nd time, I had what you are drinking, except no pills. It wasn't fun, but it was much better. I mixed it with ginger ale sometimes, then ginger beer (no alcohol, but stronger tasting than ginger ale to wipe out the taste of the prep), and then grape juice. At least this gave me some variety. The second prep was so much easier. In fact, when I called to make the appointment for the colonoscopy, I asked them if there was an option from the gallon of the salty stuff. I told them I didn't think I could drink it again. I really wanted pills that I had heard about. They said they don't use them because you have to take 40 with lots of liquid, and most people don't finish them and then they don't come in "clean". The phoso is not so bad. Good luck on the procedure.

It's a toss up which prep is "better" some work better because the patient is more likely to complete the prep while others are better because they require less in the disgusting taste department.

Phospha soda tases horrible but is only a small amount. You can mix it with ginger ale as said above. In my case though, I now cannot stand the taste of ginger ale! Also you MUST stay hydrated and as equally important keep the electrolyte levels up. To that end (no pun intended) sport drinks and clear broth soups work best.

The Golytly (salty gallon of stuff) , my surgeon has changed the routine to half one day and the other half the next day. It means an extra day no solid food but it a lot easier to take. I find that rinsing with Scope right after each glass full helps with the aftertaste. Also keep paper towel on hand to wipe your lips to remove excess after each glass.

The Senna plus laxitive pills works good but it is doubly important with this prep to drink a LOT of fluid as they are not as effective by themselves as the others. On the other hand it doesn't taste near as bad.