Colonoscopy prep

[nkh18]

My last one was when I had better mobility. Now I'm afraid I'll have problems making it in time to the bathroom. What do others do for this problem? I'm meeting with the Dr. next week to talk about it.

[FourPaws]

Is there any way to move a relatively comfortable chair (borrowing one if you need to?) very close or into the bathroom? I have had the prep a few times and you're definitely in there so much, but you don't want to hang out on the toilet the whole time. Plus it's not terribly practical to rent one of those chairs that have a bed pan in them because of volume and force.

Wet wipes and soft toilet paper are worth their weight in gold as you will know. If things are easier you may choose to wear a nighty and leave the panties off so you don't have to wiggle those on and off as much.

[Jules A]

What about wearing Depends just in case you can't make it? It might be a good investment for a box of them.

I also had some supplies like magazines handy because there were times when I knew it would be better to just sit there for a while rather than bother going back to bed.

[techie]

Just keep in mind the prep is worse than the test

I think I ended up basically sitting in the bathroom and trying to get all the 'stuff' drunk By the end of the night I hated the taste of lemon aide!
Fortunately I don't need to have another for 10 years
techie

[hunterd]

Great question, I was wondering the same thing.

[nkh18]

Thanks for the great tips. I agree that the prep is the worst part.

[4boysmom]

I followed the prep religiously, being miserable before I finally started going. I have to have another in 5 years because I wasn't totally cleaned out!

I think this is my most undesirable MS problem. I can drink citrucel daily, take magnesium, pro-biotic, etc., and I still have to use a suppository to go. I try to make myself go every day. I'm currently working with a gastroenterologist for this problem, the one that did the colonoscopy. Bloodwork came out fine, but we also did a CAT scan.

I see him next Friday to see if he found anything that way. It is extremely frustrating!

[Jules A]

I agree that the prep is the worst part.

The gravity of this statement didn't quite register with me until I had been through it. I happen to agree but for those who haven't done it yet...

think about how horrible that prep must be if the rotor-rootering of your personal parts isn't the the worst part.

[fishead]

I have to agree with 2 pearls of wisdom.

Given that you will be "slowed", I think investment of Depends is worth every penny. I ALSO liked: "Do not wear PJ bottoms".

Perhaps using BOTH pieces of advice together would be even better.

[BigA]

For my first Colonoscopy, my doctor gave me the Golytely and a exploding magic diarrhea pill. The second time the prescription did not include the pill and although I went a lot, it was much delayed and less urgent. So while I was clean by the end of the day the first time, the second time it took overnight.

So I would go over things carefully with the doctor beforehand. They may be able to do things more slowly and while it may take 24 instead of 12 hours to clean things, there may be careful ways of doing it.

[Jules A]

Oh and I also started eating fairly light two days before the prep figuring what didn't go in won't have to come out.

[anneth121]

My last one was after I couldn't work anymore and was on disability. Really couldn't walk with a cane or walker fast enough to get to the bathroom fast enough and the doc didn't want me to spend the day or night on the toilet. Sooo, I was admitted into the hospital over night and did the prep there. Nurses around, bathroom chair at bedside, bathroom handy, insurance paid and was pampered. No polops (sp?) so can wait 10 yrs to do it again. Good thing - can't walk anymore.