Tips for successful colonoscopy prep

I got the SUTAB pills. 12 mid-size pills with 2- 16 oz cups of water. Then 30 mins later 16 oz. of water, 30 more minutes 16ozs of water. I flushed out within 2 hours. No drinking of the dreadful stuff!!!!! At 4am, I had 12 more pills and 2- 16 oz. of water. 1 hr. later 16 oz. I had to leave to the hospital, so the last 16 oz. I drank on the way. In the morning, I only really had liquid. It was orange which was the pills residue. By the time i was wheeled in for the procedure, I was cleaned out of my liquid.
Result- Excellent on cleaning out per the doctor.
It is a lot of water.
7 days before cut fiber, eat white bread and white items like cottage cheese and yogurt. Egg Whites. 1 day before stop eating by 12 noon. Only the clear fluids.
No food till after the colonoscopy.
I could have vanilla wafers the week before. I ate a bunch before noon. I had Lorne Doones 1st in the recovery room.

At home, I had no pain, urine normal and results from the doctor and 4 pictures of my colon that had nothing to see. No polyps or cancer. I go again in 10 years!!!!

I needed to post as I was offered a choice by my doctor, so I asked my pharmacy to check with my insurance. SUTAB does not seem to be available to all yet. I suggest you look it up when you need a test. It works.

Just had my 10-year colonoscopy at 76 with the Dulcolax, MiraLAX and Gatorade on 9/17/2025. Mayo had me take the 238 grams of MiraLAX the night before and 112 grams the day of the procedure and I was pissed about the extra 112 grams of MiraLAX, but it was needed. I do my colonoscopies without any anesthesia. My previous one had only used 238 grams, and I believe that cleanout was more through than this one. Doctor said it may have been because of age. I drink the lemon/lime Gatorade and to me it tastes pretty good, and I could have drank it even faster than recommended. What I do do once things are going is I wash my anus after every bowel movement with a handheld shower head and then apply Aquaphor liberally to my anus and I had no soreness. Try having it done with no anesthesia. It fascinating to watch it live on a big screen TV and it is not painful. This doctor gave me a great guided tour and highlighted all the way points as he went in and out. You also see what he sees so you get no secondhand information afterward because you saw it all. I hope this helps.

What if I can't take the medicine for colonoscopy I tried tablets I throw up recently and then the liquid stuff I can't hold down my colorgard showed positively abnormal so I am very afraid and right now I don't have a minute to take the test but when I do what can they do other then the stuff that clears u no tables and no

nativedyme, I do the same thing with the colonscopy prep with throwing up.

If I take little sips, don't try to get it all down in the time frame that's on the instruction sheet, I do much better.

I pray they can come out with a simpler prep with less liquid to get down. I personally think it overloads your gut
with so much liquid in that time frame that is given.

Praying for you. I empathize. Blessings.....

@nativedyme ask your doctor to prescribe Pico Salax. I have had trouble with other preps, but Pico Salax is so easy to take. It comes in two small sachets. You can drink any liquids and eat jello of your choice except the colours not allowed, all day, and just need to take the contents of one small sachet in a half glass of water late in the afternoon, then the second sachet in a half glass of water later in the evening.

@nativedyme
Not sure what worse, the procedure or preparation. I am always worried I will not be cleaned out enough. That happen once and had to repeat exam few months later with a different prep.

Here are few dissuasions that have advice that might help:
Colonoscopy prep: make it easier
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/take-charge-healthy-aging/newsfeed-post/colonoscopy-prep-make-it-easier/
This member's discussion ask about things to do for a sore anal area, but the comments talk about different types of prep. Tips for successful colonoscopy prep:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/another-issue-regarding-colonoscopies/
When is your coloscopy scheduled for?

@nativedyme
Are you able to swallow any pills at all? The pills for colonoscopy are only laxatives and the pills are small. You should be able to easily swallow them and can put them in a spoon of liquid if that helps you swallow the small pills. Take them separately rather than all at once.

For the miralax added to Gatorade, I get the sugar free kind because I can’t stand the sweetness. I drink frequent small amounts to get down the amount needed over time.

Use the abnormal pretest result as the motivation needed to help you prioritize getting the prep and test done as soon as possible. You need your colon clear for the colonoscopy to be successful and see if you have any abnormal growths/polyps/changes in tissues.

@nativedyme
I also meant to mention that if you are dealing with anxiety about the test and the result, you may benefit from counseling and an antidepressant to help you manage your anxiety and fears.

For those of you fretting about getting cleared out for a colonoscopy...let me share my experiences. Yes, it is a tedious process. No, it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Try to eat very lightly for a few days prior to the prep. Less in, less out. Just try to follow the instructions as best you can. You can look forward to one of the best naps you've ever had during the scoping. I was actually a little upset when I was awakened. I was in the middle of a great dream(in color!). If you've gone through the prep before and are fearing all the "stuff' you have to undertake, try using citrate of magnesium. It is a cathartic and will likely do a good job of clearing you out. My grandmother used it once or twice a year as part of her "regularity" process. She swore by it. I hope today(November 1, 2025 finds you all in better health and spirits.

@nativedyme, I moved your question about preparing successfully for a colonoscopy to this existing discussion:
- Tips for successful colonoscopy prep https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/another-issue-regarding-colonoscopies/

You might also review the tips in this expert blog:
- Colonoscopy prep: make it easier https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/take-charge-healthy-aging/newsfeed-post/colonoscopy-prep-make-it-easier/