Colonoscopy and Endoscopy: Preparation

Posted by suzanne2 @suzanne2, Jul 11, 2020

On Tuesday I have a endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled at Mayo in Rochester. Looking for advice on the golytely prep. Not looking forward to it especially in a hotel room. Have to begin drinking at 6 p.m. Monday. I am having issues so not a routine exam! One that involves biopsy. Any advice to get me through the prep would be appreciated.

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I will be taking a Miralax Prep but I cannot drink power drinks they make me sick, so my patient advisor said I could drink it with water. Now I read you need Gatorade to supply the electrolytes you lose. So, since I can't drink that, what other solutions are there to help with electrolytes? I have high blood pressure also so don't know what to replace it with. I'm starting the prep today.

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@dablues

I will be taking a Miralax Prep but I cannot drink power drinks they make me sick, so my patient advisor said I could drink it with water. Now I read you need Gatorade to supply the electrolytes you lose. So, since I can't drink that, what other solutions are there to help with electrolytes? I have high blood pressure also so don't know what to replace it with. I'm starting the prep today.

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Hey @dablues, have you tried Pedialyte?

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No, what I did buy was coconut water with no pulp since they had coconut water listed ok to drink.

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@dablues

I will be taking a Miralax Prep but I cannot drink power drinks they make me sick, so my patient advisor said I could drink it with water. Now I read you need Gatorade to supply the electrolytes you lose. So, since I can't drink that, what other solutions are there to help with electrolytes? I have high blood pressure also so don't know what to replace it with. I'm starting the prep today.

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I use Lyteshow, it is an electrolyte-replenish drop. I have used it for years in place of Gatorade and the like. My husband bought it on amazon when I was doing cancer treatments.

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Thanks for your reply. I saw this today and had my Endoscopy/Colonoscopy yesterday. Never heard of it but will keep it in mind. I wound up buying coconut water and used that..

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I'm having a colonoscopy and endoscopy, I'm reading stories about the Dulcolax tablets causing severe stomach pain, cramps, faintness. I don't remember these being part of my colonoscopy prep in 2015. Since then my stomach has gotten much worse and more sensitive/painful. I'm worried these pills are going to make me so sick with pain that I won't be able to drink and keep the Miralax solution down.
I'm on a double prep...
1st day Miralx with 64oz Gatorade.
2nd day 2 Dulcolax tabs and 32oz Miralax mix.
Day of procedure another 32oz of solution.
Has anyone skipped the Dulcolax? If so did you get a complete clean out?
Thank you.

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@klm67

I'm having a colonoscopy and endoscopy, I'm reading stories about the Dulcolax tablets causing severe stomach pain, cramps, faintness. I don't remember these being part of my colonoscopy prep in 2015. Since then my stomach has gotten much worse and more sensitive/painful. I'm worried these pills are going to make me so sick with pain that I won't be able to drink and keep the Miralax solution down.
I'm on a double prep...
1st day Miralx with 64oz Gatorade.
2nd day 2 Dulcolax tabs and 32oz Miralax mix.
Day of procedure another 32oz of solution.
Has anyone skipped the Dulcolax? If so did you get a complete clean out?
Thank you.

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Hi KLM67,
I'll be able to tell you my experience of Dulcolax in a day or two. It's a fairly new medication I think.
I'm having a colonoscopy on Wednesday so have instructions to take 2 tonight, followed by 2 sachets of Picosolax & lots of water - one tomorrow & other very early Weds morning.

I too now have a very sensitive digestive system after 35 yrs of tablet taking. My Rheumatologist has prescribed 2 new tablets a year apart. The first one got stuck in my damaged throat & burned me from throat to butt😩 The next new tablet I was prescribed got passed my throat but the burning throughout was terrible.
If Dulcolax does the same I'll be calling the Ambulance and not tuffing it out at home again.

I wish I could have the endoscopy at the same time but cannot afford to do so. When do you have them? Are you having a general anaesthetic?
Wishing you all the best🥰

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Oh KLM67, good news - I've just read that Dulcolax is actually Bisacodyl which until recently I had taken in rather large doses for a number of years by which time it had started to irritate my system. I have needed to create diarrhoea to get poo passed the gnarly obstruction I have at my splenic flexure for years now.
I don't have the prep instructions handy at the moment, but if its a dosage
of 2 x 5mg, hopefully it won't irritate your digestive system too much.
I'm shopping for tena lady knickers today as we have a 45 minute drive on the highway on Wednesday morning & packing a change or two of clothes!

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Oh the pills getting stuck and burning all the way through sounds horrible. 🥺
I'm looking forward to hearing about your experience but by that time I will also be deep into prep as my tests are this coming Wednesday.
I'll be under somekind of anesthesia, Propofol I think.
Wishing you the best as well! 🙂

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@annewithane

Oh KLM67, good news - I've just read that Dulcolax is actually Bisacodyl which until recently I had taken in rather large doses for a number of years by which time it had started to irritate my system. I have needed to create diarrhoea to get poo passed the gnarly obstruction I have at my splenic flexure for years now.
I don't have the prep instructions handy at the moment, but if its a dosage
of 2 x 5mg, hopefully it won't irritate your digestive system too much.
I'm shopping for tena lady knickers today as we have a 45 minute drive on the highway on Wednesday morning & packing a change or two of clothes!

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That's good to know, I have severe anxiety and the unknown really messed with my head.
I was giving serious though to buying some disposable undies as well. 🤣
A girl has got to do what we gotta do! 😉

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