I just got done having my third colonoscopy in a 6 year time frame because of very small polyps that were found at age 34. I am now 40 and all was clear thankfully.

I did use the osmoprep for the first time and had a horrid experience with it. I was told that it was easier to take the pills over the liquid but I got extremely ill the night before my procedure. I was nauseous and leaning over a sink waiting to vomit for hours. I stayed up all night and could barely get around... I was also going to the bathroom all night...it just didnt stop. I thought for sure I wouldnt make it to my appt which was this past Mon morning but somehow I did because I started feeling somewhat better by 6am Mon morning.

I took 20 pills from 6-7pm Sun night and then 12 more pills 8-8:30pm ...taking 4 pills every 15 minutes along with a 12oz glass of water every 15 minutes.

My lower back has been killing me since that Sunday and I am wondering if all that water didnt affect my kidneys temporarily. I am going to give the doctor a call in a few days if that doesnt clear up.

Has anyone else had a problem with the osmo prep pills? I did the liquid the last time and while it wasnt pleasant it didnt make me sick like the pills did.

Mike

Sorry, I cannot advise but I wonder why they cannot make the prep more pleasant? When I had mine last week, I was given magnesium citrate...a 10oz bottle of drink that really was not unpleasant at all...very easy to drink, and very effective!

I am glad your results were good...as were mine!

Mike,

Wow that is certainly a lot to have to go through for a prep. I am actually going through mine now and all I was told to do was take 3 dulcolax at 8am, 3 more at 9am and then starting at 4pm for a three hour period drink 2 10 oz bottles of magnesium citratre. Of course I am supposed to drink a lot of water. I also got some gatorade after reading some posts here to make sure I have electrolytes since I know I am going to be going a lot. My stuff was not even prescription just stuff that could be bought at any pharmacy. Perhaps each doctor is different about how they want you cleaned out but I agree with Allison, surely there is an easier way..

Terry

I agree with the importance of water and I also drank gatorade to replace the electrolytes. The only concern that I had was that the suppository I had to use the morning of the procedure produced very little, but it was obvious that I was already well cleaned out!

That sounds like a horrible experience you had.

When I have had colonoscopies I have to take a small bottle of senna 2 days before procedure, then the day before 2 sachets of picolax - one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. This is mixed with water. I hate it and have a terrible time keeping it down. I would much rather take tablets.
It seems that we all have different preps. Like has already been said I do wish they could make the prep more pleasent.

Great to hear that you got the all clear

Lalee

Alison I am glad to hear all went well with your colonoscopy too.

I think the doctors have their own preferred way of doing the prep. This doctor was new for me because of new insurance and he said he only does the pills.
I dont want to sound overly dramatic but I really was so sick Sunday night that I am not sure I have actually ever felt that sick to where I couldnt really move around the house. The only comparable time I felt that way was when I had a bad case of the flu and even this I think was worse.

I probably should have had gatorade... because I definitely felt off. The nausea and the sick feeling in my stomach was the worst part. It was constant from about 9pm until 5:30am

I also had to take 4 dulcolax before bedtime Sun night but for me there was no bedtime since I was up all night before the Mon morning procedure. Also I was going to the bathroom non-stop from 8pm till 7am.. right before the 7 30 procedure time. I know from my last two preps with the liquid I was able to sleep.

For me I will go back to what I did during my first two colonoscopies and that is the liquid. While it may not taste great I didnt get horrible sick.
My lower back which was aching badly for three days after the procedure is much better today too which I am happy about.

The easiest part of this whole thing was the scope procedure itself. This new doctor had me out like a light. My first two procedures I have some vague memory near the end but this time nothing.

Regardless of how bad the preps can be we all know how important a colonoscopy is. I had some adenoma polyps found in 2000 with a sigmoid ...had them removed with a colonoscopy in 2001 and had a repeat scope done in 2004 with more tiny multiple polyps found. This time no polyps were found which I am thankful for and I do not have to repeat for 5 years.

I think my experience with the osmo prep is not a normal one...I just wondered if anyone had the same experience I did.

Thanks for the feedback

Mike