Connect
← Return to Colonoscopy and Endoscopy: Preparation
Discussion
Colonoscopy and Endoscopy: Preparation
Digestive Health | Last Active: Aug 1, 2023 | Replies (120)Comment receiving replies
Some say no more after 75 I guess some say 70. But it does make a difference your history and lets say you reach 75 but have not had one for 8 years....rather be safe and have one more while still easy (relatively) to do prep. This will be my third with no history of polyps. Doctor ordering this at Mayo is not in the GI department and is fine with me using any of the preps. It is routine. Just seeing if anyone had a story about taking xxx and not complete clean out? I also think it might be more difficult in terms of electrolytes etc. the older you are.
Replies to "Some say no more after 75 I guess some say 70. But it does make a..."
@kathy49 - I have a story about taking sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride (SUTAB) and not having a complete cleanout. I'm in my 50s. I thought the Peg-3350 (Golytely) tasted a bit yucky before and it was a ton of liquid, so when my gastroenterologist gave me many options and did not just automatically prescribe Peg-3350, I thought taking tablets seemed far nicer.
It was not nicer than Peg-3350. It made me vomit twice, which put me in doubt about how well the whole process was going for me. I had to set various alarms all night to take more water and pills. Because of that, I did not sleep with my husband and slept on the couch in the living room.
The next day when I arrived at the medical center it turned out I was not cleaned out enough. They offered to give me a sodium phosphate rectal (Fleet's enema) to help, and I "enthusiastically" said yes. What I mean by the enthusiasm is that the last thing I wanted was to go through all the prep and go home. That would have been really disheartening. In the end, I needed two sodium phosphate rectals.
So, with the feeling like I was on the verge of being sent home due to a prep process that didn't work, plus the poor sleep on the sofa and vomiting, I determined the next time to go back to Peg-3350. I'd say if you know one prep works for you, stick with it.
kathy49 - of the three prep options you were given, what did you choose?
Ended up with Moviprep (generic) split dose. Lets just say awful!! But it worked, cleaned out and 3 Tiny Polyps removed. I would say as an older person the prep was rougher.
Connect
I think the answer for getting one past age 70/75 is what was found on previous colonoscopies and what was removed. My last one at age 78 was difficult which I think had something to do with a messed up colon (twisted?) but they did remove a small benign polyp. My previous PCP wanted me to get one but I was against it because of the difficulty of the last one. My new PCP had a better perspective and helped me understand a little better why I should get one more due to the polyp that was removed.