Colonoscopy, which prep?

[Ian S]

Make sure it isn't fruit punch flavored........no red colored drinks during the prep. It could be mistaken for blood in your colon.

Yup, I like the blue Powerade or the clear one. Don't remember the flavors, just that I like the taste even after dumping an entire container of Miralax into it!.

 

[tulak]

I used Golytely. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. That’s what the doctor’s office prescribed and I didn’t research alternatives.

 

[ncbill]

Recently had a colonoscopy. I paid $35 for the kit at the doctors office. It basically was a bottle of MiraLAX, some pills that were probably Dulcolax, and a packet of I believe magnesium citrate.
You mix the MiraLAX with Gatorade after you take two of the pills. Then you take two more pills later with more MiraLAX and Gatorade. After that, you do the magnesium citrate powder which I believe was unnecessary. It wasn’t bad at all. Especially if you refrigerate the mixture. Good luck.

Doctor's office wanted to sell me the above kit for $30 but I had them call in a SuTab prescription instead which cost $60.

 

[big-papa]

Just did my latest one 2 weeks ago. It was an afternoon procedure which I do recommend as it won't interfere with sleep.

10 years ago it was the awful, nasty prep. The stuff of legends.

This time it was all over-the-counter. I purchased it all from our local grocery.

1. Night before it was 3 dulcolax (or equivalent) laxative pills.
2. 238 grams of Miralax (or equivalent) powder mixed into 64 ounces of gatorade. Started at 5am and they wanted me to have had all of it by 7am.

Within an hour, the fun started, but it was pretty much over between 10am or so.

It's not pleasant by any means but the whole experience seemed "gentler" than the prescription stuff 10 years earlier. After the procedure, doc says system was well cleaned out from my prep.

Cheers.
Big-Papa

 

[big-papa]

Make sure it isn't fruit punch flavored........no red colored drinks during the prep. It could be mistaken for blood in your colon.

Yep - lots of warnings about eating/drinking anything red colored leading up to the main event...

 

[sengsational]

Here are the specifics from U Michigan for the OTC prep: https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/MBCP/MiralaxGatoradePurge.pdf

 

[Earlyretirementology]

I paid the usurious price of $165 for Clenpiq: it was by far the least miserable experience of the 6 I have had so to the degree that constitutes an endorsement I recommend it.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire23]

My time is up. Scheduled for a colonoscopy on Jan. 3rd. Not my first but could be my last?
My gastro Doc sent a Rx for Clenpiq but got a call from pharmacy and it's not covered by insurance so will cost me $120. But the gastro office called and said they have a free prep, Plenvu which is PEG, and that there's not much difference and that they all work well. The $120 cost is not a problem for me but I want the best tasting easiest prep.
Any suggestions?

Go to your nearest Wal-Mart.
2 bottles of their store-brand magnesium citrate: 2 x $1.47 = $2.94

One box of great value lemonade additive: $2.24

Total cost: $5.18 + tax if applicable.
Chill both bottles of lemon flavored Magnesium Citrate. Pour 1/2 of one lemonade packet in each bottle.(or use an entire packet each if you like your *lemonade* really tart) At the prescribed time, shake well; then pretend it's lemonade and drink one entire bottle as fast as you can manage. Then, 2 hours later, (or whatever your paperwork recommends) mix/shake the second bottle and drink as quickly as you can get it down.
For me, the first bottle went down fairly easy. The second was a little more challenging to finish but I got it down.
Then wait for some time (YMMV) until it's time to go.
Best of luck. As they say on commercials, "Enjoy the go."

 

[CTRetiree]

I was a low-risk colonoscopy. Routine after 10 years. No polyps, so great result.

The prep my doc prescribed was SuTab. He provided his own instructions. I don't enjoy fasting, so I scheduled my colonoscopy for very early in the morning. As it turns out, that was the worst plan. My experience with SuTab is that it is *very* precise. You take the 12 pills and things commence within 1/2 hour. 2 hours later, you are done with the first prep and can sleep until the 2nd prep.

Understanding this, the instructions say take the first 12 pills between 6-7 PM, which should finish up around 9 PM. The second set of 12 pills are taken 5 hours before your scheduled appointment. Mine appointment was for 6:45 AM, so I was taking them at 1:45 AM. A better strategy would have been to schedule the colonoscopy for 11 AM or noon, and get a better nights sleep. The instructions said to fast for 30 hours prior to the appointment. With each set of 12 tablets, you need to drink 48 oz of water.

For me, SuTab was not at all painful or problematic. Did what it was supposed to do, promptly and quickly. Can't say I enjoyed it, but it's not something to dread.

CTRetiree

 

[Kat07]

Last time - this was my fourth or fifth I think (family history) - I did the Ducolax/MiraLax and Gatorade prep. By far the easiest of the ones I've had and no vile taste. Not only was it easy to take but things moved swiftly and thoroughly without much hassle. Doc gave me a "nine out of nine" for cleanliness. It's all over-the-counter so no Rx needed and wasn't too expensive.

Of course, always follow the recommendations of your doctor.

This is what I have always done too. Works great!

 

[meleana]

Last time - this was my fourth or fifth I think (family history) - I did the Ducolax/MiraLax and Gatorade prep. By far the easiest of the ones I've had and no vile taste. Not only was it easy to take but things moved swiftly and thoroughly without much hassle. Doc gave me a "nine out of nine" for cleanliness. It's all over-the-counter so no Rx needed and wasn't too expensive.

Of course, always follow the recommendations of your doctor.

Exactly what my doctor recommended. I bought generic versions at Amazon and Gatorade at Walmart. Cheap and effective.

 

[reneeh63]

Last time I used SuTab, which is not a liquid but tablets taken with water, and it was by far the easiest of any prep I've done. Not covered, but not expensive either. I think it was around $45.

I agree with SuTab - yes, a lot of tablets to swallow but doable and not a lot of nasty liquids. Also, doctor said it did an excellent job - I did follow a light diet for a few days prior to the actual prep.

I'd done SuPrep before and vomited to the degree that I had to cancel my test so this was a raging success. Also, not that it matters especially but I did it without sedation and had no issues there either - and I drove myself home while everyone else was still "recovering".

 

[Toast]

Exactly what my doctor recommended. I bought generic versions at Amazon and Gatorade at Walmart. Cheap and effective.

As many others have mentioned, easy and over the counter.

 

[badatmath]

I agree with SuTab - yes, a lot of tablets to swallow but doable and not a lot of nasty liquids. Also, doctor said it did an excellent job - I did follow a light diet for a few days prior to the actual prep.

I'd done SuPrep before and vomited to the degree that I had to cancel my test so this was a raging success. Also, not that it matters especially but I did it without sedation and had no issues there either - and I drove myself home while everyone else was still "recovering".

You are lucky they let you drive home. I can't even take a taxi per my doctor. Your escort has to be present at check-in and stay in the waiting room or they don't take you back. It is a real problem for those of us without family near by and my friend that took me last time has passed away.

 

[CardsFan]

You are lucky they let you drive home. I can't even take a taxi per my doctor. Your escort has to be present at check-in and in the waiting room or they don't take you back. It is a real problem for those of us without family near by and my friend that took me last time has passed away.

Yeah, that is pretty much the protocol we have seen. No way they want you driving after the knock out drugs.

 

[folivier]

Had my c-scope this morning. I did the free Plenvu prep, first dose was mango flavor, second was fruit punch. I don't really care for either flavor but mixed each one with ginger ale which helped. Actually the taste was ok with ginger ale. Drinking each 16 oz. prep in 30 minutes wasn't a problem. I ate a couple bowls of jello, hope I don't see jello for a few years either. Drank ginger ale and mountain dew for my clear liquids. The sugar helped with hunger somewhat.
C-scope was good. Had 3 polyps that will be evaluated. Had Cane's chicken for lunch, Blue Bell chocolate for dessert. DW is cooking bacon for a sandwich for dinner. Yeah I'm a glutton for punishment but I deserve it!

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

I had my first colonoscopy last May at age 64. I used Suprep which doesn’t require as much liquid all at once. I’m limited on the amount of liquid I can drink due to a previous surgery on my esophagus.
Suprep was fine- 16 oz went down easily enough. The morning dose was harder and made me feel queasy for a short time but that passed.
Procedure was easy enough and no polyps so I should be good for 10 years.

My advice is to drink apple juice on the day you can only have clear liquids. I did that and got a head start on the prep!

 

[Dabbler]

Go to sutab.com, you’ll find a copay savings card for either $50 or $60 copay for Medicare or other insurance or no insurance patients. DW had a couple of embarrassing prep failures previously so sutab was her last chance. It worked well.
Last time for myself I had to drink the Golytely/Gavilyte solution. It’s a little over 1 gallon as I recall. According to the instructions, chilling it first makes it tastier. And if the procedure is to happen later in the day like 11 or later, you have time to drink the second half early morning on the day of the procedure. That’s what I tried but I just couldn’t stomach that cold salty liquid on an empty stomach. Fortunately I was already well cleaned out leaving out the last 16 oz.

Sutab site ["Pay as little as $50"] https://sutabmedd.com/copay

 

[mathjak107]

i use my wife’s cooking .

we say our prayers after we eat

 

[AudiDudi]

It's fun doing the prep and then driving 55 miles to the hospital with no public bathrooms inbetween

 

[bjorn2bwild]

According to this gastroenterologist*, the clear liquids part of the prep is unnecessary.

*Benjamin Lebwohl is a gastroenterologist and director of clinical research at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

Yet we specialists continue to provide outdated and disproven recommendations on colonoscopy bowel preparation that make the process more difficult for the millions of patients who undergo colonoscopy every year: We tell them to adopt a clear liquid diet the day before their procedure.

https://www.statnews.com/2024/03/19...on-liquid-only-diet-data-gastroenterologists/

 

[Teacher Terry]

According to this gastroenterologist*, the clear liquids part of the prep is unnecessary.

*Benjamin Lebwohl is a gastroenterologist and director of clinical research at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

https://www.statnews.com/2024/03/19...on-liquid-only-diet-data-gastroenterologists/

I took a picture of what food is allowed for my next colonoscopy. My first one I stopped eating before midnight of Saturday and then had it Monday morning. I was miserable and sick from not eating. My second one my friend told me that she always ate 2 eggs and a piece of white toast for breakfast the day before and that’s the last time she ate. I felt much better following that advice.

 

[badatmath]

I took a picture of what food is allowed for my next colonoscopy. My first one I stopped eating before midnight of Saturday and then had it Monday morning. I was miserable and sick from not eating. My second one my friend told me that she always ate 2 eggs and a piece of white toast for breakfast the day before and that’s the last time she ate. I felt much better following that advice.

I really don't see what difference it makes as not eating was the easiest part of the prep by far.

I gag on all the preps and often throw up so it is hard to get enough in there. Fleet phososoda was the worst. Never been so sick in my life. Kind of like food poisoning on steroids!

I'd give up food for days if that meant I didn't have to choke down that crap. I have plenty of fat to sustain me!

I may be weird in that I have trouble drinking a lot at once - even water. It just seems like there is not enough room in me for it to fit.

 

[ncbill]

I really don't see what difference it makes as not eating was the easiest part of the prep by far.

I gag on all the preps and often throw up so it is hard to get enough in there. Fleet phososoda was the worst. Never been so sick in my life. Kind of like food poisoning on steroids!

I'd give up food for days if that meant I didn't have to choke down that crap. I have plenty of fat to sustain me!

I may be weird in that I have trouble drinking a lot at once - even water. It just seems like there is not enough room in me for it to fit.

SuPrep tablets require a lot less liquid so that's what I went with to avoid upchucking.

Unlike some other posters I had zero trouble eating nothing before & during the prep...clear liquids sufficed for me.

 

[Phroig]

i use my wife’s cooking .

we say our prayers after we eat

You could have a colonoscopy every day.