Any tips for colonoscopy prep with a colostomy?

Posted by pilottd @pilottd, Jan 4 9:37am

I got a colostomy in mid Feb 23 and have my first followup colonoscopy in mid February. Anyone have tips for doing the prep when I only have 1/2 a colon left? Will I need to drink the whole prep? Best way to handle the output? My stoma placement will make it rather messy with a large rapid output to just let it run through the bag into the toilet.

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ams | @ams | Jan 4 2:24pm

I'm going to have a colonoscopy on Feb. 8th. I am going to use one or more of my disposal bags to tape on my stoma. That way I won't have accidents getting to the bathroom. I take 1/2 of the prep the night before and the 2nd half in the morning. That way if the colonoscopy is a success, I will have the surgery that next day as I will be already clean for the surgery. My doctor's office suggested that route.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 13 1:24pm

Hi @pilottd, you're asking great questions. I hope you saw the helpful response from @ams as well. Did you have a chance to ask these same questions of your ostomy nurse?

pilottd | @pilottd | Jan 13 2:43pm

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @pilottd, you're asking great questions. I hope you saw the helpful response from @ams as..." + (show)

Hi Colleen, thanks for following up! I always do the split prep, have done 10 - 12 preps before, just none with a stoma. It's the how do I not make a mess in the bathroom or get a backache bent over the toilet that I was looking for suggestions. My stoma placement and toilet shape make for not a great pair to have stuff just run through the bag into the toilet while seated without splashing all over everything or getting a backache standing over the toilet to prevent splashing. I'm thinking I might just buy a short pvc pipe and put the end of the bag into that and let that flow into the toilet. I don't have an ostomy nurse at this point in time, will supposedly get a referral to a place after the colonoscopy, otherwise I have to do an office visit before getting the referral and that seems like a waste of resources/time.