1. < Digestive Health

Failed prep for colonoscopy: What can I do?

Posted by robbinr @robbinr, Mar 21, 2016

I recently failed two preps for a colonoscopy, and I can't imagine putting myself through another attempted prep (stuff makes me hurl). Initially, prior to my 2nd failure to prepare, the PA put me on Raniditone - which is apparently just Zanactz - but now my heart burn is out of control!<br /> I wake every morning with a sinus-load of stomach acid. I already was taking emepresole (sp?) in the morning. This double-dose of anti-acids seems to be on its way to doing me in. BUT, if I don't take the Randitone - I get the original issue back, which is a horrible pinching pain in my side and massive diarrhea all day. I am at a loss.

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wifeworry | @wifeworry | Jan 13, 2023
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello again @wifeworry, As neurological conditions often result in constipation, have you consulted your husband's neurologist?..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello again @wifeworry,

As neurological conditions often result in constipation, have you consulted your husband's neurologist? If he takes medications for PLS, they might also be a factor.

On Mayo Clinic's website, there is information on PLS. You probably already know a great deal about this diagnosis, but you might find this information helpful. Here is the link,
--Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/primary-lateral-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353968

Whether his constipation is related to the PLS or not, it is important to treat the constipation. Is he currently taking stool softeners like Colace on a daily basis? What other constipation treatments has he tried?

Also, I'm wondering if there are problems with swallowing that might prevent drinking liquids?

I would encourage you to contact the neurologist who treats your husband for PLS about the constipation. The doctor needs to be aware of this problem and can perhaps help you get the treatment that he needs for constipation.

Will you post an update when you talk to the doctor?

Jump to this post

We reached out to our neurology/multidisciplinary team at Mayo from the ER last week. Unfortunately, we live out of state, and were at our local hospital. We had mentioned gut issues during visits with the neurology team in the past, and they had advised us to use osmotic laxative daily, which he does. He is able to drink liquids (with straw and sometimes chin drop). Local Dr. did mention that side effects of other meds may be a contributing factor to the ileus, so will be investigating that as well. For now, he is home and doing much better, and ready to go back to work!!! Thank you for mentoring this feed.

REPLY
2 replies
annabelle1245 @annabelle1245 | @annabelle6dawgs | Jan 13, 2023
In reply to @wifeworry "Hopefully it won't get to that point. Currently Humana is just asking for more info from..." + (show)
@wifeworry

Hopefully it won't get to that point. Currently Humana is just asking for more info from the Dr. The Dr office is understaffed, as are most healthcare offices in our area currently. (That is why we ended up in the ER - an appointment for GI doctor was months away 🤷‍♀️). Hopefully resolved today!

Jump to this post

Excellent! Sending positive thoughts to you!

REPLY
annabelle1245 @annabelle1245 | @annabelle6dawgs | Jan 13, 2023
In reply to @wifeworry "We reached out to our neurology/multidisciplinary team at Mayo from the ER last week. Unfortunately, we..." + (show)
@wifeworry

We reached out to our neurology/multidisciplinary team at Mayo from the ER last week. Unfortunately, we live out of state, and were at our local hospital. We had mentioned gut issues during visits with the neurology team in the past, and they had advised us to use osmotic laxative daily, which he does. He is able to drink liquids (with straw and sometimes chin drop). Local Dr. did mention that side effects of other meds may be a contributing factor to the ileus, so will be investigating that as well. For now, he is home and doing much better, and ready to go back to work!!! Thank you for mentoring this feed.

Jump to this post

Glad to hear your husband is home and doing better! He is lucky to have you as his advocate. Please remember to take care of yourself. Looking forward to your next progress post.
Best wishes to both of you!
🤗

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jan 13, 2023
In reply to @mpeters "I’m sorry for your troubles. It’s good to get a colonoscopy. I assume you failed due..." + (show)
@mpeters

I’m sorry for your troubles. It’s good to get a colonoscopy. I assume you failed due to inadequate prep? That happened to me, twice. The exasperated doctor was quite mean about it. Luckily I had a Mayo doc who knew what to do about it. I have a weeklong prep. No whole wheat, whole grain anything and the usual restriction against small seeds. I don’t eat at all the two days before colonoscopy. Two nights before the procedure, I drink my first prep, which is something citrate in a small green bottle in the pharmacy for people who are constipated. The word “ something “ means I don’t remember the first word. That night I get up and am in the bathroom moderately often. The next day, which is the day before colonoscopy, I drink the usual prep, starting at about two o’clock. Believe me I have to start that early or I won’t get done in time. That night I’m in the bathroom a lot. As an aside, I suck on a lemon right before drinking my prep and I make sure it is ice cold. During the colonoscopy I’m on light anesthesia because I have tortuous colon. I hope you can have a successful colonoscopy. Please post again and let us know how you are doing.

Jump to this post

You're talking about magnesium citrate, or citrate of magnesium - and this stuff will clean you out. I'd ask the Dr about how much to take, and sleep on towels so you don't wreck your bed.

Another approach is 4 tablets of Duloclax followed by enough Miralax to dilute in 64 oz of Gatorade. That seems to work well.

But what you eat, or don't eat for 3 days before the colonoscopy is important. I failed one and don't want to go through that again.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 13, 2023
In reply to @wifeworry "We reached out to our neurology/multidisciplinary team at Mayo from the ER last week. Unfortunately, we..." + (show)
@wifeworry

We reached out to our neurology/multidisciplinary team at Mayo from the ER last week. Unfortunately, we live out of state, and were at our local hospital. We had mentioned gut issues during visits with the neurology team in the past, and they had advised us to use osmotic laxative daily, which he does. He is able to drink liquids (with straw and sometimes chin drop). Local Dr. did mention that side effects of other meds may be a contributing factor to the ileus, so will be investigating that as well. For now, he is home and doing much better, and ready to go back to work!!! Thank you for mentoring this feed.

Jump to this post

@wifeworry
I am glad that your husband is doing better now and is even back to work.

If you don't mind sharing more, what type of osmotic laxative was recommended by the neurology team?

REPLY
annabelle1245 @annabelle1245 | @annabelle6dawgs | Jan 14, 2023
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello again @wifeworry, As neurological conditions often result in constipation, have you consulted your husband's neurologist?..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello again @wifeworry,

As neurological conditions often result in constipation, have you consulted your husband's neurologist? If he takes medications for PLS, they might also be a factor.

On Mayo Clinic's website, there is information on PLS. You probably already know a great deal about this diagnosis, but you might find this information helpful. Here is the link,
--Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/primary-lateral-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353968

Whether his constipation is related to the PLS or not, it is important to treat the constipation. Is he currently taking stool softeners like Colace on a daily basis? What other constipation treatments has he tried?

Also, I'm wondering if there are problems with swallowing that might prevent drinking liquids?

I would encourage you to contact the neurologist who treats your husband for PLS about the constipation. The doctor needs to be aware of this problem and can perhaps help you get the treatment that he needs for constipation.

Will you post an update when you talk to the doctor?

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 and @wifeworry
I was researching supplements and found Neurochondria by Thorne Research which is a formula containing 8 main ingredients described on their website as "A convenient, all-in-one formulation for nerve and brain support*
Neurochondria promotes mitochondrial energetics, a foundation of good neurological health.* It includes well-researched nutrients that provide protection for sensitive nerve and brain tissue.*"
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Here is the link:
https://www.thorne.com/products/dp/neurochondria-reg-90-s
Although the Mayo Clinic online store doesn't carry this specific formula, they do carry other Thorne Research supplements.
I emailed the company to ask for any clinical studies but they did not have any on this specific formulation but provided this info:
"You can find some studies related to specific ingredients, on our Explore our Ingredients page. This will not have all of the ingredients, with studies attached but quite a bit. For others, that do not have studies listed, you will find a lot of information on each supplement page, such as the descriptions, that were taken from different studies. From there, if you are familiar with research, you can head over to PubMed to search relevant studies. Keeping in mind that we are limited to what information can be shared, with regard to supplement claims."
So you might want to ask your medical team if Neurochondria might help your husband's neurological condition.
Hope you husband is doing better!

REPLY
sharonokay | @sharonokay | Feb 13, 2023
In reply to @doolz "I don't know if this will be seen since the post is from 2016? I just..." + (show)
@doolz

I don't know if this will be seen since the post is from 2016? I just tried to get my colonoscopy done today and yesterday. I did the prep the hospital asked for and I drank all of the GaviLte-C (x2). Yesterday my stool was not clear and I went home to take another GaviLyte. I went in today and the doctor said my colon was not clean enough after I went have my IV(1st time ever) and anesthesia(1st time ever). They could not do the test and are having me come back in 3 months.

I guess I have a slow digestive system. The new prep orders are for GaviLte-C, Maralax and enema.
I never thought a procedure would be so hard and yes I know I didn't fail but I feel like I did. Any other advice would be welcomed. Thanks

Jump to this post

I am 72 with mulitiple autoimmune diseases. On Friday, I went for a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. I failed the prep. This is the second time within 3 weeks. Because of my first failure, my doctor had me do the following:
** start a low fiber diet for 2 weeks prior
** start taking Miralax nightly for 2 weeks prior
** switched to Senokot nightly 5 days prior
** start drinking clear liquid 2 days prior
** start the prep of Golytely -3/4 starting at 4:00 the day before & the other 1/4 on the morning of colonoscopy.
I started throwing up the prep after about 3 hours after starting to drink it. Threw up the morning of. I was dizzy, weak and so dry I couldn't talk. I went to the hospital thinking they would still do the colonoscopy. They got me into the surgery room, everything hooked up, oxygen on etc AND I started to dry heave. They immediately removed everything.
So, home I went. I am still having diarrhia and nausea. I can't go through this again! I have not problem having the procedure - it's the prep.

REPLY
4 replies
epm | @epm | Feb 14, 2023

I, too, had same reaction twice to the prep. As a result, am way overdue for Colonoscopy and refuse to go through that again.
Am 80 yrs. old.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thank you.

REPLY
2 replies
annabelle1245 @annabelle1245 | @annabelle6dawgs | Feb 14, 2023

I am so sorry to hear about your challenges. I am not a healthcare provider but have experienced GI issues for many years. Another patient on this portal posted about taking tablets instead of drinking the fluid for the Colonoscopy prep. You may want to ask your doctor about SUTABS. Here is the link:
https://www.sutab.com/WhySutab
You can also ask your doctor about doing a cologuard test which is from a poop sample so does not require a prep. You can also ask your doctor about Ondansetron to help with the nausea but I'm not sure how this affects the prep but your doctor would know. I found this medication to help quickly with nausea but it does slow down the track and so it can lead to constipation. At least that is what I experienced. I hope you find a solution. I have lost many friends to colon cancer. Sending you positive thoughts.

REPLY
3 replies
rozy288 | @rozy288 | Feb 14, 2023

I didn’t know about these til today .
Check into these and ask Dr.
If they won’t do it for you this way , get a new GI Dr. Asap .
The prep is just the worst the way you did it . Poor thing ;(

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