Readying for colonoscopy: Asking for advice?

[Brian]

Good afternoon all:

in June this year, I will be going in for my first colonoscopy. I've heard a lot of things about how colonoscopies work, and my dad's had it at least twice, and he's had an endoscopy a couple times to make sure that he was clear both ways. my question concerns advice so that I can do my very best for this particular procedure.

Usually they have people at home and they tell people to take a specific medication that can be mixed with water. I have this this medication and I'm not sure exactly how much they would make me take in order to clear my bowels in order to do that. I've been told that having a colonoscopy is hard, and I figured that it would be.

I was told that it would be hard because you have to keep going between the bathroom and whatever you're sitting on or sitting in, and I was told that you were in a high dose of the medicine that I use, and that will make you go to the bathroom, to clear your bowels. I was always told by my dad that I should be walking around naked that day because I would need to use the toilet most of the time. there was only two things that I needed to figure out And one is should I sit on the toilet all day and sleep there, or is this something that once you start it will get better.

I was told that it was easy to do the home prep, but I find that it is not, and I don't want to do the prep myself. My CP and all of the things that I deal with make it harder, and if what happens is that you have severe diarrhea or you have owls, you don't want to be cleaning up diarrhea and having it all over you, and then end up with burning sensation because of acidic stuff, and the release of water and whatever else. I told the doctor that I wanted to be in the hospital because of my disability. I figured the nurse would be available to help me with the prep, And because of my incontinence I'm wearing my megamax diapers. my program at home for moderate needs is specialized, and it has certain things that you can do and certain things that you can't do, and certain things that staff can do and can't do. if it's not listed on my home plan, then they have to call my case manager and ask for permission to do this particular task. if she approves it then that goes on to my plan, but when I deal with colonoscopy are any test in the hospital, then I would end up having no one to help me, because there are two problems that I would have One of them is, that if it's not on my plan, they can't do it. The second thing is they can help me clean up a mess in the bathroom for example, but I have to do all the cleaning for myself to clean myself off, and then change my own diapers.

If I go to the hospital and I have it done, the nurse will be there, and I am a patient in the hospital as an internal patient, so they would be able to help me. the only I could have someone come in to be able to change diapers or help me during a procedure like this would be if I was in the high needs program, which would require me to do a whole bunch of paperwork and have a change to my plan which I don't think I need. So I told the doctor that there was no one that would be able to help me do the prep, And if there's no one to do the prep and I wasn't going in the hospital for my colonoscopy, that I wasn't gonna do it! And I told him that every test that I do from here on out that has to do with something that I can't do, that I wish to be hospitalized!

all I can imagine is that somebody's gonna give me the medicine that I take in a very very high dose, I haven't Megamax on, and maybe an hour later, a whole bunch of poop is gonna come out along with a bunch of water and everything else, and I won't be able to stop until my bowels are clear, and they will keep doing whatever they do for hours And I'll just continually have this horrible discharge diarrhea to make sure that I'm clear. then in the morning, i'll go downstairs into the procedure room and they will do it right there at the hospital, i'll be in recovery, and then later on in the afternoon i'll take a ride home. I don't know how the colonoscopy works very well, especially with my condition, but all I can imagine is that I won't be able to control anything And I'll just be releasing anything I'm holding. This is why I decided to go in the hospital for this procedure, and thank God for my Mega Max's, because no hospital diaper is going to be quality enough to take care of it.

I've heard people say colonoscopy isn't that bad! Unfortunately, because of my disability, and my need my need for help to get this stuff right, I need to go into the hospital for stuff like this. I can't do it on my own And no nurse can come out to help me for one night, it would cost a fortune and I don't even think that's Fair, so I told him that I needed to be in the hospital. He made sure that happened, and the next thing I have to do is go for that particular procedure. I'm not very scared, I'm just wondering: if being if being urinarily incontinent means that you're constantly peeing all over the place, when you do a colonoscopy that medicine will make you poop everywhere, and all I can say is I feel like it would be a rainstorm of whatever is in my bowels. maybe I think that it's kinda weird, or maybe what I'm thinking is I'm thinking too much, and I think it's worse than it actually is, but this type of a procedure doesn't scare me, but incontinence will be a factor, but In some ways I'm feeling like this will be interesting, because even though it will feel embarrassing doing it, I have the diaper so they'll expect it to be used and helped me all the way through, the nurses will help me change diapers and they will help me keep myself clean and make sure and I do what I'm supposed to do.

Am I thinking that a colonoscopy is worse than it actually is? i've heard from my dad the way they do it for him, but they have to take his trake out and run run the camera through the hole in his neck. my dad is 76 years old so my dad has to deal with everything that has to be done in colluding making sure that he doesn't get sick or have any problems with his breathing. He's had the end of Scopy and he's had other ones But I sometimes wonder how this will work, and wonder how the thrill of teaching all of that water will feel Like because I'm thinking that once they give me that medicine, it will be like a rainstorm came in and I will be peeing and pooping everywhere, so I have to have good diapers.

Now I have one final question: when I go into the hospital I will have my go bag on the back of my chair. I usually carry 5 Mega Max diapers, but I don't know how many diapers I should take with me to the hospital to make sure that I can use my own. I've heard horror stories about hospital diapers being no better than bounty paper towels, and I don't really understand if there is a diaper that I could use that the hospital provides that helps me with it, but it's probably not going to work. I will do my megamaxes, but I'm not even sure how many that I would need?

Thoughts?

Brian

Edited October 21, 2023 by Brian
Removed the Errant Title Words "You Own" that were there when I originally Posted this --Brian

[zzyzx]

@Brian

This is only my opinion.  I have had two UGI procedures years ago and one LGI procedure more recently.  For the LGI, yes, the prep is "interesting".  I understand there are at least two styles of prep used to clear the colon.  I can understand why you might want to use the hospital for the prep work.  In my opinion that is the worst part of getting the procedure.  I find typically, the doctors will use an IV delivered knock out drug for the procedure so you are "out of it" while they run the scope, and won't remember what goes on.  With this medication you definitely need someone assisting you after the procedure to get home.  If you normally drive, you need to not do that I think for about 12 hours after the procedure.  You might be able to handle your normal assisted transit (for wheel chair transportation) on your own.  I'd discuss that with your doctor / medical team to get their opinion on that.  One of my sisters has done the LGI procure without that  knockout drug without issues.  With my lack of feeling pain (typically till you find the nerve and actually hit it), I probably could have gotten away without using the knockout medication.  So, yes, in my opinion, the prep is worse then the actual procedure.

For me, I had the oral stuff in a set of consumption in the evening with the colonoscopy the next morning.  There was one occurance where I should have been closer to the toilet than I was.  The rest of the times, I was better handling.  My memory recalls drinking the solution in two rounds, I forget how far apart.  By the end you are cleaned out, and will have no food from a certain time prior through finishing the procedure.  Once cleaned out, I would expect you will only use your diaper for # 1.... 

As to diapers, number would depend on how you manage the prep.  I will admit that you may want to bring more than you think you will need.  The clean out can hit with sudden need to get to the toilet, and I can see where that would be a challenge for you.  You will not be in a diaper while they scope.  You'll have to ask them about how they want to handle urine in that situation.  For me it wasn't an issue.  I did relieve the bladder after arriving the procedure, and had no issues through getting dressed again to go home, despite having issues with (at the time occasional) nocturnal enuresis.

[John Davis]

Yes, bring many more diapers.  You will not need high absorbency as fecal material will tend to clog the diaper's mat anyway.  Don't forget plastic pants (multiple pairs) as you probably will have to deal with one or more leaks.  Good luck.

I am have had several colonoscopies.  As I have nerve damage to my anal sphincters, that makes it very difficult to hold anything in, my problem is very similar to yours.  As I am much older than you, I discussed this with my gastroenterologist and we decided that the colonoscoopy would not be worth it.

--John

[Slomo]

I've went through a colonoscopy at 35 years old, and am about to go through it again at 46. I was mostly just urge incontinent back then, now functionally incontinent.

The prep: Not going to lie, that medicine tasted  land and nasty to me. Take it all at once if you can, but many docs will have you take half with a number of hours in between the second dose. No food from here out either. You will feel your stomach and intestines cramping, but it's not as bad as the worse cramping you've ever had. You will need to keep extremely well hydrated during this time too. Usually with Gatorade (no red or blue dies though), or some other electrolyte drink.

The cleansing: The first time it hit me wasn't bad at all. Just a normal bowell movement really. Get ready though, because you're not done. From here you absolutely will need to have quick access to a toilet, like under 60 seconds. With my urge incontinence I kept my diaper on, but also made sure the tapes were just loose enough so I could pull it down quickly. Pants definitely needed to be off too, though I guess wearing loose shorts would have probably been ok too.

From here, how comfortable is your toilet seat? The frequency and severity will get worse. No more painful or annoying than having run of the mill diarrhea, but enough you will not get very much warning. So again, being able to use the toilet quicky is going to be a must. And you can expect that to randomly happen for at least the next couple hours. For you, you may just want to set yourself up to stay on the toilet for 3+ hours. If not, then make sure you have 6+ diapers (with tall leak guards), and a bunch of wipes on hand l. At some point it will taper off to where only a little water will come out, then none even though you'll swear there's more to come. But you'll be cleaned out by then. Congrats, the worst is over.

The procedure: You'll normally head to the surgical center or hospital 8+ hours (or the next morning) after that first dose. You can opt to stay awake for the procedure, I chose to be knocked out just to make everything easier for everyone. So I can't comment on the details here. Basically, they put a LOT of gas in your out hole, then insert a snaking camera with a really long wire. The gas inflates the colon enough so they can easily see everything. From there they proceed all the way up, but short of your stomach. Then back out and release as much gas as they can. Or so I'm told.

Recovery: I went into the OR with my diaper on, and woke up without it in recovery. It's an uneventful recovery, and I didn't even feel sore anywhere. I diapered up, and waited. That's because they hold you untill you start passing the rest of the gas. And you will be letting them rip, which is normal and expected.

Follow up: This is a normal doctor's visit. They'll go over anything they find with you then determine if/what anything needs to be done then.

 

[Brian]

@Slomo

thank you for all of the awesome information! I definitely will be going into the hospital the night before the procedure. I also will probably bring at least one package of megamax, Because that seems to be how many I will use, but I'm not quite sure how strong of a dose they will give me. I will have to Ask about that when I go in, and I talk to whoever I'm supposed to. that will help me determine anything that I may need. I understand that most of this will probably be like having a major case of the runs or diarrhea, so it shouldn't be too bad, I just wanna make sure that I'm not breaking my legs to try to get to the bathroom, and that's why I'm wearing diapers. Diapers make it a lot easier and I won't have to make as many trips I hope.

Once I'm cleaned out, that should be no problem, because I probably won't be able to eat after midnight anyway, the only thing I'll be taking is medicine with water. I don't know what I have decided as far as how they're gonna put me out, but I definitely will check with him.

Again thank you for all of the awesome information, I will keep you advised!

Brian

 

 

 

[Slomo]

Got my prep done, and waiting for the procedure soon.

The prep drink was as horrible as expected. Chugged it then was able to wash my mouth out with too much water to drink. I started the first dose at 5pm last night, and the 2nd dose at 9pm. Was up past midnight having to constantly go, and (thankfully) woke at 3 am and 6am needing to go more.

I'm tired, thirsty and hungry. As expected. At least this will be a familiar walk in the park for me.

[Slomo]

Well, it turns out taking the second dose of prep right before trying to go to bed is a bad idea. I found out afterwards there was still a bunch of poop left in part of my intestines. They didn't see anything worth noting, but because they couldn't see everything they want me back in a year for a redo.

When I saw the doctor in recovery he even mentioned it would have been better if I took the second dose when I woke up. Thanks doc, maybe then you should change those instructions I was given. Uuugh. Other than that, recovery was easy and quick. I was in and out in under 3 hours.

Then came the gas. Little know fact. During the procedure they use nitrogen gas to literally blow your intestines up like a balloon. It's needed so they can see everything good. But that can be painful to some hence why they knock everyone out. They do deflate you before you wake up, but still, there's always some left for you to pass thereafter. I didn't have it bad at all my first colonoscopy, but this one was much worse. Maybe because there was still poop in me, I don't know. The gas moving through me felt like massive pressure at points, which caused me enough pain to double over at times. Eventually it did pass though, and all returned to normal.

 

[John Davis]

Slomo, I'm glad everything came out ok.😱  I fully agree re vague or inaccurate instructions.  I have received conflicting instructions.

As I have nerve damage to the anal sphincters, I have only limited sphincter control.  Any prep is a nightmare of continuous bowel accidents (in the diaper of course).  It is so bad I am debating not having another colonoscopy.  When I mentioned this to my gastroenterologist, he understood and, to my surprise, did not argue the point.

--John

[Slomo]

On 6/3/2023 at 7:40 AM, John Davis said:

Slomo, I'm glad everything came out ok.😱  I fully agree re vague or inaccurate instructions.  I have received conflicting instructions.

As I have nerve damage to the anal sphincters, I have only limited sphincter control.  Any prep is a nightmare of continuous bowel accidents (in the diaper of course).  It is so bad I am debating not having another colonoscopy.  When I mentioned this to my gastroenterologist, he understood and, to my surprise, did not argue the point.

--John

I only have a vague feeling of that. I forgot to mention I did use my diaper a couple of times during the prep. Mostly because I was in the middle of something and not quite close enough to a bathroom, so I tried to hold it but couldn't. Having to deal with that liquid cleanup every now and again is bad enough, but every single time??? Yeah it's no wonder you don't want to deal with it again any time soon.

[Brian]

UPDATE:  Today I finally got a hold of my my chart file and looked at it because I needed to see what was going on with a upcoming physical. Had to be rescheduled because of something that was going on that I wasn't aware of and so I had to reschedule it. The physical will happen tomorrow. Unfortunately, I also found out that my colonoscopy was scheduled for Monday the 19th, and apparently they were going to admit me on Sunday the 18th, which is father's Day. I understand that they wanted me to go in on that day, but apparently they had just stuck me there, and they had no idea that I didn't have transportation there, and apparently didn't realize that I always disabled, and that I needed help with the prep work and all that. Ohh I spent most of today on the phone with the GI specialist, my GP, the nurses, the nurses in the procedure area, and a couple nurses in the hospital. Now I guess they're working on setting it up so that I can be admitted on Sunday, and our local transportation provider will be put into service on Sunday to bring me up there, but I haven't heard the finalization of that yet. Once I get that taken care of, I'll just go up there on Sunday and I'll have the procedure done Monday morning and it won't be so bad. Doesn't even look like it's gonna be as bad as what I was under the impression it was going to be, because they're going to give me something that is similar to mirror wax in higher dose so that I can clean myself out pretty good.

The only thing that scared me was the fact that I didn't exactly know why they had stuck me in just anywhere on a Sunday, for that particular situation, and I wasn't sure if any of my medical team had realized that it was a Sunday they had scheduled me for. Our electronic system my chart ends up keeping notes from every single medical provider that provides me service, so anything that happens is updated within the system so any medical provider can log in and look at my notes in real time. The notes I got from the procedure nurse told me that they were working on that happening, so I shouldn't have that issue. So as long as I can get there, I have everything I need, and I do what I need to do, it won't be that bad.

I just hope that this thing goes off without a hitch: I realize that it couldn't be a pain in the neck, that I will probably have to deal with some stuff that might be a little uncomfortable, And the like, but at least once this procedure is done I don't have to worry about it for a few years. I have been assured that this will be easier for me than it would for my dad who had to have a tracheottery removed in order to have his done because they put the camera wire down the hole where his tracheotomy sat. I'm just a little surprised that they just stuck me in on a Sunday, and that I didn't even realize that it had been scheduled there, until I saw it this morning and I went, what the heck are they doing that for?

So the only thing I really have to be careful of is to make sure I'm not eating a bunch of seeds, and that I can drink as much liquid as I want prior to the procedure but I can't eat after midnight on Sunday. At least this way I will be able to have the procedure done, and I won't have to worry about it because when they're all finished, because all the coordination with a hospitalist in all the people involved, I will be able to get in there, have the procedure done, and then be able to come out, and I should be OK.

Thank you for all the information regarding your experiences @Slomo

[John Davis]

Wow Brian, but that’s so complicated. Very best wishes. I hope everything comes out ok😊

—John

[Slomo]

On 6/7/2023 at 7:31 PM, Brian said:

UPDATE:  Today I finally got a hold of my my chart file and looked at it because I needed to see what was going on with a upcoming physical. Had to be rescheduled because of something that was going on that I wasn't aware of and so I had to reschedule it. The physical will happen tomorrow. Unfortunately, I also found out that my colonoscopy was scheduled for Monday the 19th, and apparently they were going to admit me on Sunday the 18th, which is father's Day. I understand that they wanted me to go in on that day, but apparently they had just stuck me there, and they had no idea that I didn't have transportation there, and apparently didn't realize that I always disabled, and that I needed help with the prep work and all that. Ohh I spent most of today on the phone with the GI specialist, my GP, the nurses, the nurses in the procedure area, and a couple nurses in the hospital. Now I guess they're working on setting it up so that I can be admitted on Sunday, and our local transportation provider will be put into service on Sunday to bring me up there, but I haven't heard the finalization of that yet. Once I get that taken care of, I'll just go up there on Sunday and I'll have the procedure done Monday morning and it won't be so bad. Doesn't even look like it's gonna be as bad as what I was under the impression it was going to be, because they're going to give me something that is similar to mirror wax in higher dose so that I can clean myself out pretty good.

The only thing that scared me was the fact that I didn't exactly know why they had stuck me in just anywhere on a Sunday, for that particular situation, and I wasn't sure if any of my medical team had realized that it was a Sunday they had scheduled me for. Our electronic system my chart ends up keeping notes from every single medical provider that provides me service, so anything that happens is updated within the system so any medical provider can log in and look at my notes in real time. The notes I got from the procedure nurse told me that they were working on that happening, so I shouldn't have that issue. So as long as I can get there, I have everything I need, and I do what I need to do, it won't be that bad.

I just hope that this thing goes off without a hitch: I realize that it couldn't be a pain in the neck, that I will probably have to deal with some stuff that might be a little uncomfortable, And the like, but at least once this procedure is done I don't have to worry about it for a few years. I have been assured that this will be easier for me than it would for my dad who had to have a tracheottery removed in order to have his done because they put the camera wire down the hole where his tracheotomy sat. I'm just a little surprised that they just stuck me in on a Sunday, and that I didn't even realize that it had been scheduled there, until I saw it this morning and I went, what the heck are they doing that for?

So the only thing I really have to be careful of is to make sure I'm not eating a bunch of seeds, and that I can drink as much liquid as I want prior to the procedure but I can't eat after midnight on Sunday. At least this way I will be able to have the procedure done, and I won't have to worry about it because when they're all finished, because all the coordination with a hospitalist in all the people involved, I will be able to get in there, have the procedure done, and then be able to come out, and I should be OK.

Thank you for all the information regarding your experiences @Slomo

Of course. And it IS weird they put you in on a Sunday. Most likely the scheduler who did that, didn't have the full reason for why. Glad you were able to get it sorted out though.

And yeah, when we say the prep is the worst part, take solace that the prep is no worse than a bad case of diarrhea. It's uncomfortable, and for sure annoying, but not painful. And yeah the prep solution they'll make you drink will taste just as you'll imagine it will. 

 

[Brian]

Here is an update on my colonoscopy:

As many of you know I have cerebral palsy and that requires me to use a wheelchair because of mobility and I'm incontinent. One of the things that I knew I had to do was that I had to bring plenty of briefs with me, which we call diapers. I ended up loading my onboard bag that I carry on my wheelchair with 10 of them, and then I loaded my overnight bag with 10 of them.  Little did I know however, that the next day would be one of the worst in my life! By this I mean that the prep was something that I was expecting to have to do, and it isn't the fact that I had to mess myself and be changed many times during the day and the night, but I had to take what they call go prep, which is basically four liters of the most ridiculous tasting liquid that you ever thought of in your life, and then once I start that prep, I can't have anything to drink other than the prep liquid. I was told by the nurse that I would have to drink all four liters of this thing, before 7:00 AM in the morning, otherwise the doctor would call off the procedure.

Unfortunately what happened was not something that I wasn't expecting: that stuff was horrid, they told me they would mix in some lemon flavoring to the prep mixture, but it didn't taste like lemons, it left a sour milk taste in my mouth for the entire duration, and I threw up about 8 times, almost to the point of projectile vomiting, because I can tell when it gets that bad that the next thing I'm going to release is going to be bio fluids! I was continually coached to keep taking a drink of this liquid and I kept trying to chug it down but it was impossible. I take about I take a small sip every few minutes, but then when I tried to take a large gulp like I would gulp water down, I would choke on it and then I would swallow it and it wouldn't taste very good, and then 15 minutes later I would vomit! This kept on happening every time that I tried to take this stuff, and it would make it very hard. Made it through to the night, but they woke me up at 3 AM, And wanted me to drink more of that, I kept on trying to do that, and then finally I just said I've had enough of this I can't deal with it -  So I was instructed to take as much as I could between 5 and 6:00 AM, and then I could stop drinking this prep. The nurse on the floor was telling me that there would be a possibility that I might have to have the colonoscopy canceled if I didn't get enough of the preparation into me to help me clear out my colon.

So I go into the prep for the morning, and they get me ready, and they make me comfortable, and of course all night long, in addition to having to evacuate everything in my colon, I was having severe pain in my legs, because I wasn't able to move very well and I couldn't get out of bed of course cause I was in the hospital.  so I get into the prep room, and they get vitals from me and they get information from me and they're entering into the system, then what they'll do is they will tell me what's going on. After they do that, they roll me into the prep room and they tell me they're going to sedate me they used fentanyl and Versed in very small amounts to put me under for about 30 minutes, and then they told the me that they were going to remove my diaper, and then they were going to put a camera up there and it didn't even bother me, didn't even feel it. However, 35 minutes later I'm in the recovery suite, and then the doctor comes over to me and says that they need to do it again. They told me that they would send me back upstairs and that they would end up starting me back on the Go Prep probably about three in the afternoon! When I heard that, I literally looked at the doctor and said there's no way in hell you are going to beep give me that beep beep beep again, because not only was it causing me problems because it was making me violently ill it was making me projectile vomit, he was vehemently telling me that I needed to take this prep, because that's what they do for people that are in patients in the hospital. Little did he know however, that I told him that any type of procedure that I do from now on since I am over 50, because of my disability and my mobility constraints would be done in the hospital! I told him that I needed help with the prep and I would never have been able to do it myself otherwise I would have canceled any colonoscopy and I would never have it done nor would I have any other tests completed because no one is available to help me, because my program specifically says that they are not supposed to give me incontinence care! They couldn't change me or anything like that, and I'm on the moderate needs program, which would need to be upgraded so that I would have full care high needs, and if I'm only taking colonoscopies every 10 years that would be ridiculous, and so I told him that there's no way I'm gonna take that again! I was so distraught angry and everything out because I was hungry tired and I hurt, that I was advocating for myself. Then the assistant Alex, told me that they could do another attempt but do the prep in another way! This made me a tad bit more angrier, because the nurse told me that they Would give me miralax plus Gatorade, and basically they would just double or triple up the doses of the Miralax:  I told the doctor that I take miralax when I need it for constipation, and I've never ever thrown up taking it, and that was what they said they would do. I basically advocated for myself again and I told the doctor that I would never take that go prep again, he again stood on his laurels and told me that that was the way it was done in the hospital and there was nothing he could do about it! I said well we'll see about that, because my doctor will order a test and he will put into the records that I need to be admitted, and that I need help, because of my incontinence which should be on the records!

So they send me upstairs, and the next thing I know they said ok we're gonna do this prep at about 3:30: we'll get the medicine and all that stuff together and we'll have the doctor come see you, and I had the hospitalist in there, and while I was talking to the hospitalist I was telling her about my pain in my legs all night, and the fact that that stuff was disgusting, meaning the prep liquid I had to drink. He told me that it was OK, that nobody really likes it, and that they would take care of me. I had a day nurse named Chris and a night nurse named Geraldine: if it wasn't for Geraldine being so awesome along with Chris being so understanding, I probably would never have been able to get through it.

From the time I had gotten there on Sunday afternoon, until about 4:00 o'clock yesterday I had been changed a total of 27 times, gone through 27 mega maxes, and I can tell you from the experience that I would rather do the miralax prep with the Gatorade than any prep that they could ever imagine: they even had me take a special couple of pills every time I would take a Gatorade so that it would help me to evacuate what was left. During the first night when I was doing this, the nurse kept telling me that she was sorry that she had to have me continue to drink it, and I grimaced at it and told that I would try but I couldn't guarantee anything! When doctor Ingram my doctor, found out what was going on, I guess he decided to Chuck on me: doctors now don't have to visit their patients in the hospital anymore, because of the hospitalist, but my doctor took time out of his busy schedule to check on my welfare to make sure I was ok and to make sure that I had everything I needed. I had talked to the hospitalists, and I had talked to him, he gave me the results of my Ultrasound and told me it was a fatty liver, and possibly a lesion on my kidney, and these were pretty common and not to worry about it, and that he would order a cat scan to see what was going on. So I'm upstairs and they tell me that I'm going to be reset for 11:45 the next morning.

So that night I start at 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM, and they have me drink four Gatorade. Asked my nurse Chris, if that's all I had to do, and he said yes that was all I needed to do, so I bought the 4 Gatorade's and chose the flavor of the Gatorade's, they went to get them with my debit card and brought it back to me. Then at 3:00 PM they ended up starting me on this prep, in there like doubling or tripling the normal dose of mirror ax that I would take during a day in the morning. Let me tell you within half an hour to an hour and a half, my stomach was rumbling and it started happening really fast, everything I was holding that was stopping the test from the night before was evacuating and it was easy. Wasn't sick, I wasn't irritable, And I was able to drink both of these Gatorade's, and still have electrolytes in my system, because I couldn't eat or drink anything after 7:00 PM the previous evening because of the prep. So I made a note of the east of this transition, and when I went back downstairs next morning to the procedure room I basically told the doctor that the next time I do this I'm going in and I'm going to do it with the MiraLAX And Gatorade, and he's like, we can't do that because if you're inpatient that's what we give you is the goprep: and I looked him in the face and told him that he was full of what I was releasing, and that what I did last night was easy compared to all of the hell in sleepless night and all the pain! I basically had to have the doctor give me an injection of medicine so that I could sleep because my legs were in a lot of pain I was really really tight and I had no way of releasing all of that, but after the scan was complete, I ended up staying in the hospital until about 130 or two o'clock, and then at 230, the orange brought me downstairs to the front entrance and waited for my bus. The local bus transportation brought me back to my house, and then I came back I went to subway afterwards got my sub for dinner after having an awesome lunch of toast a hamburger, broccoli Spears, and two cranberry juices, plus orange Sherbert. I hadn't eaten for almost two days and I was famished!

So like everyone says, that prep they use they call go prep is disgusting! They always tell you that you need to advocate for yourself, well let me tell you I did, and I told them that it was easier for me to do the prep the second time than it was the 1st, and if it was up to me all of the nurses that helped me to get through this would have gotten what they call a Daisy Award for their professionalism their charisma their compassion their caring and their loving support, I would never have been able to get through this without them, or without my doctor being tenacious and insisting that this be done! When it comes to my disability and my conditions, I don't care what it costs, but I'm gonna make sure that I am taken care of and I am comfortable!
 

So yeah, my Colonoscopy was clear, it showed diverticulosis as it Says, but everything is clear, everything is clean, and the doctors tell me I shouldn't have to return for 10 more years, by that time I will be 61, and hopefully the medical ways they do colonoscopy prep will have changed significantly so there's no need for me to be so sick tired irritable and in pain that I can't handle it! I never thought that a colonoscopy would be so hard as far as for a person with a disability, but I know for one thing that I would never have been able to do it myself, because I had to be changed at least 27 times. Even last night when I got ready to go to bed, I had to change my diaper and then I had to wipe myself again, because apparently the nurses that changed me the last time before I went out the door might not have gotten me as clean as the nurse that was on duty when they took care of me during the day and the nights before!

Brian

[Slomo]

Oh wow. I can't believe they made you keep taking it after you threw up the first time. Let alone after so many repeats. Doctors are supposed to know they can use multiple types of prep solution. Mine was called Clenpiq, it was a small 6-8oz bottle I drank half of in one gulp, then again 4 hours later in another gulp. I did almost throw that stuff up, and I'm sure if it was mixed with the electrolyte water like yours was I probably would have. 

Why they can't make it tast less awful I have no idea. But mine didn't tast like it was supposed to either, not even close. My last one 10 years ago had me use mirlax and dulcolax. No bad taste, and no inclination of throwing up. Same end result.

And wow 27 megamax diapers? That's way more than I would have guessed could have been needed. Then again you did effectively go through the prep twice in a row. At least you had the supplies and didn't have to result to those medical grade pullups. I don't even want to imagine that.....

[zzyzx]

@Brian Thanks for letting us know you are through this.....  I'm sad that you had to advocate for yourself as much as you did.  I expected you to have "fun" (not) with the prep, but not to the level it hit you.  Best wishes.

[Brian]

My colonoscopy is COMPLETE, and I was happy for that, but a little tired for the next 2 days, and according to the doctor (GI) There was nothing that was concerning to him, and they want me back in 10 years:  I made it through, and I must say my PCP said he would take care of me, and BOTH of them did:  I had a Hospitalist that was awesome as well, and the nurses, LNA's and others were great, and they took really good care of me.

Now, we can deal with the CT Scan  of my liver and Kidneys, and that happens July 20  - Then we will see what happens 🙂

Thanks for all the advice and support 🙂

Brian