Colonoscopy and Endoscopy: Preparation

I just had my colonoscopy last week. Someone said use a straw and that was a great idea! To me it just is so salty and I don't eat a lot of salt. Best wishes .

I did promise to let everyone know the results of said endoscopy and colonoscopy. Dr Shafftner called me today and said it was as he thought, microscopic colitis. No cure but there is a medication that can put it into remission after taking for 6 weeks. It is a steroid but would run me $1200 if filled in Michigan (U.S.), but I can mail to a particular pharmacy in Canada and it will run around $100. Finally after 4 years I have a name for why i seem to reside in the bathroom. Not food related and really no specific reason for it.

@suzanne2 - You have an answer! That in itself is a relief. You are most likely to go into remission with treatment. It can come back, but then you know what it is and can nip it in the bud.

@suzanne2 I'm also glad to hear that you have an answer and a treatment plan! Wishing you well as you start the new med. Will you post again and let us know how you are feeling?

Thank you and definitely will post after I get my new medication and see if I am able to achieve remission.

I found out the hard-er way that starting a few days before with lighter meals and more liquids made it that I could pace myself with the solution drinking. First time, I got very nauseated and had to slow down, which resulted in incomplete purge. The next time I changed my diet a couple days before, drank the solution more concentrated than recommended, 'chased' with the recommended water. I just couldn't handle the large volume with nasty taste. I also had flavoured ginger mints that helped with nausea and taste. The baby wipes, soft paper and cream really was a lifesaver! I used hemorrhoid HC cream before and Calmoseptine after (cooling zinc/calamine based cream). Afterwards I found the bloating and gas quite uncomfortable. I used a heating pad and drank warm fluids to help that. Good luck!

Hello @hara and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that this is your first post and I appreciate the information that you shared about the prep for a colonoscopy. I hope that you had good results from your test. Please feel free to share (as you are comfortable doing so) at any time in our discussions.

Are you currently dealing with digestive tract problems?

My GI Doc knows that Golytely causes me to projectile vomit! Since I am not a diabetic, he recommends the Miralax Prep which combines 238 oz
bottle of Miralax with Gatorade. The prep can be found on line and is tolerable along with careful eating choices and has worked like a charm. My reports
have indicated that I was “clean as a whistle” and ready for a good colonoscopy! Moo1

I have had several Colonoscopies, I could manage the drinking prep part but the actual Colonoscopy is every time very painful. I am told they put sedation in the IV but I was everytime wide awake and the Biopsy one time was excruciating painful. Any help for that ? I dread the next one. I always mention it to the doc. beforehand but they reassure me that I will be fine.

Hello @margreet,

I am surprised to hear about the pain you experience during a colonoscopy. Generally, the sleep medication that is used for these procedures works quite nicely. Have you asked to speak to the anesthesiologist prior to your procedure? By doing so he/she might be able to prescribe something that would be more helpful.

Do you have any other health problems that might preclude you from getting a good medication for the procedure?