I have to have Colonscopy/Gastroscopy tests next Tuesday and have read a lot on here about the 'prep'. Could anyone tell me what this involves?

I actually had 2 pres becasue my first colonoscopy was cancelled ( I was pissed).

The first time I was prescribed this liquid it looks like about a gallon or less. They give you flavor but it doesnt do much trust me. The taste is very salty and thick. I didnt finish it. You drink 8 oz like ever 15 minutes I think it was I cant remember exactly. But I had to drink plain water between to make it not taste too bad. I spent 7 hours sitting on the toilet drinking this stuff. AT LEAST. Make sure you dont have to take car of anything that day you WILL be busy.

The second time I told them that that liquid was too rough for me and I actually cried while drinking it. That is me though I have heard better experiences. They prescribed me pills this time. YOu still spend all your time on the toilet once you start going. And still get full from the water and ginger ale they have you drink. but the next day for my colonoscoy they didnt get clear pictures as they said I was not cleaned out enough. So I think maybe the pills aren't as good who knows. Anyway its not a fun day but it will help you to know the colonoscopy is a breeze I didnt even know it was over when I woke I though it had only been a couple seconds. i felt nothing and had no effect at all of any of it.

Good Luck.

Hi Andreanna,

Thank you, I understand now what all the prep is.

I have been given a small bottle of Senna Liquid (50 mls) to take around 16.00 tomorrow. Two hours later I prepare something called Citramag which is to be drank in one go. At 21.00 I make up half the contents of the second sachet of Citramag, drink that and leave the second half to drink a few hours before I leave on the day of the test.
Sounds like fun, huh?, but not as bad as your experience I would say!. I think the fasting will be hard as I cannot eat any solids from 14.30 the day before, right up until the time of the tests, which are at 12.30pm. That will be hard, especially as the reason I am having this test is because my stomach makes the most awful noises when it becomes empty and food is the only thing that shuts it up.

Anyway, thanks for sharing that with me as it has made me wiser in what to expect in the lead up to this test. Just want to get it over with now.

J

As we "speak" I'm in the midst of the dreaded prep! I had to take two pills, then at 6 pm I start drinking that HalfLytley junk (ummm, cherry flavor.) Gotta drink 8oz. every 15 mins. until it's gone. Then no water until the procedures are done...at 9:30 tomorrow morning!! I'm having an endoscopy and colonoscopy due to family history of colon cancer and recent abnormal weight loss and problems with my, er, plumbing.
I told the doc all these meds I take are causing my tummy woes but he didn't buy it.
ugh.

Good luck with your test J!

It's amazing how the preparation to this test varies. I have been advised the oposite to you in that I must drink lots of fluids leading up to this. Did you have to eat certain foods one and a half days before? All day yesterday I could only eat; fish, white meat, cheese, white bread, butter, plain yoghurt, honey, potato(no skin), eggs, clear jelly and ice cream. Today I could have a breakfast from the list but after a light lunch at 12.00 I start the fast right up until 12.30 tomorrow. The dreaded meds start at 16.00 today.

I also wondered if taking continued prescriped meds in the form of antibiotic had contributed to my digestive problem, but I guess they can't tell until they have been in and had a look. Kinda daunting isn't it?

Hope you get on OK, Dogmom.

J

J,
The prep is to clean your colon out so the Doctor that conducts the colon exan can see the walls of your entire colon.
In any country it is not a pleasant experience.
The cleaning laxatives are very strong and do the job if taken as directed.
It has frequently been call the -- Prep from Hell.

I wish you well ---- Harry

Harry,

You are not wrong about the laxatives, they are incredibly strong, but they were the easy part of it for me. The test is all over now and It is not something I would like to go through again. Despite saying that, the actual test itself was nothing as I remember very little. I hadn't actually realised that they had planned a Endoscopy as well and all I remember of that was retching and coughing momentary and then nothing. It all just seems like a dream now. I have to say the lead up to it was far more nerve-wracking than the actual test itself.

J

You made it J! :)
Well, we both made it thru the prep from hell. I just now got to the computer and am amazed at all of the food you were allowed to eat leading up to your colonoscopy/endoscopy! The day before mine (Sunday) I could only have a hard-boiled egg, chicken broth and clear liquids. (tea w/no milk, jello, soda or water.) Then nothing after 6pm when I started drinking that horrible HalfLytly stuff.

It was very unpleasant for me because of the abdominal cramps. When you already have IBS, you don't need to drink something that's going to upset your plumbing even more! ha ha! I was up until 3 am and had to be at the hospital for 8am. I didn't get home until 1pm because I believe they didn't take into consideration the sedating effects my anti-seizure meds. already have on me, then when you top that with the anesthesia they gave me...well, it took quite awhile before my blood pressure got over 90/60. I just couldn't stay awake once the procedure was done.

All I care about is that it's over and done with and I don't remember a thing! And no polyps! YAY!

Hi DM.

Glad to hear you got through yours too!

I was surprised about the food allowance too. It seemed that as long as you steered well clear of any foods that take a while to pass through (red meat, nuts, corn etc) then it was allowed. I did miss my cuppa tea in the morning though as I just can't drink it without milk, and milk was not on the list. And as for water, well, I must have drank gallons of the stuff! With all those laxatives working on me I was a little apprehensive about leaving the house that morning. It didn't help that the Hospital was having a new car park made and car parking was at a minimum. They had set a Park-and-Ride down at Lego Land nearby so we had to jump on a mini-bus and make the 6 min journey to the Hospital. Thankfully I was OK. Could have been embarressing huh?


I was surprsied about the anesthetic as I felt fine once I had arrived back up to my room. I actually expected to be zonked out for most of the day but felt 100% almost straight away. Looking at the report it was mostly normal, but they did pump Buscopan into me with the anesthetic! My consultant suspects that I have IBS and in a way I hope it is as I would hate for it to be something like Coliac Disease or something worse. Apparently it is manageble. I guess through medication....?

Well, it is back to work today and I am dreading my symptoms returning once there. It is so uncomfortable and embarressing as my stomach makes the most dreadful noises. Not great when working in a quiet office :eek:

Hope you are feeling a 100% better now and yes, thank goodness it's over!

J

Hi J--That "Buscopan" they pumped into you during the procedure...I'm not sure what it is? Perhaps a painkiller? I was told that in addition to the anesthetic that one would be thrown in the mix (Darvocet I think?) That's so you don't experience any discomfort when they start cramming those scopes down your throat and, well, elsewhere!

If you have IBS, yes, it's manageable. I've been dealing w/it forever it seems. You can manage it mostly with diet and OTC meds. I avoid fried foods, sometimes my stomach rebels against leafy greens and sadly I can't drink milk anymore without taking Lactaid. (found over the counter.) When you get a "flare-up" either Metamucil or Immodium AD chewables work pretty good. I'm not sure if you have those in the UK but certainly you have similar products across the pond!

Good luck with keeping that tummy quiet at work! ;)

Hi DM,

I knew I recognised the name Buscapan from TV ads and when I looked it up it was, sure enough an IBS product. I guess it was used intravenously to calm any spasms during the procedure.

Yesterday at work went suprisingly well as regards the ol' rumblings. I would say that it was around 50% better, which was great as it allowed my anxiety levels to stay low. I usually have to eat something to stop the noises and that's no fun when you really do not want it.

I do recognise some of the product names you mention. One we have here is Immodium and the other one you mention I have seen in Walgreens when we have been out there. We are flying out to NC next month (husband comes from there) so I will definately be on the lookout for some over-the-counter products to take back with me...Customs allowing! I guess I'll know more on Tuesday when I go and see the Consultant about his findings.

J

I finally called my G.I. doc on Thursday because the abdominal pains were getting ridiculous. Couldn't eat anything. He prescribed something similiar to what you were given! It's the generic form of Bentyl called Dicyclomine, used to control the spasms. So I can finally eat something again. Even water was disagreeing with my poor plumbing!

Did you say you and your hubby are flying to NC next month?! Too FUNNY! That's where I LIVE! We reside on Kerr Lake, an hour north of RDU airport. Where in NC is your DH from? My husband and I moved here from New Hampshire 14 years ago. :)

Hi DM,

Sorry to hear that you are still having the stomach pains. My stomach noises have subsided a little, but I am still having to run to the smallest room in the house everytime I eat, and sometimes drink, anything. I have my appointment with the consultant tomorrow so hopefully will find out all about what they found.

That is a coincidence you living in NC. My husband comes from Rockingham, which I believe is south of where you are. We will be flying into RDU and visiting his sister first in Laurinburg and then we will make our way to the Smokey Mountains where we have a cabin booked for a few days. Looks very nice on the Net!