Tips for successful colonoscopy prep

@patts. Watch what you eat, not spicy foods or very acidic foods, that may help. I had a poor endoscopy two ago so for the last one I had to eliminate any raw fruits and vegetables a few days before and then I had to go on a liquid diet. The reason was not the same but those ideas might help too. If you are allowed to take something like tums that might neutralize the acids a bit. Check that with your gastroenterologist.
JK

Ditto! But a few years ago I asked my pharmacist why they give the colonoscopy patients the same amount of liquid medicine etc regardless of their weight. (Ex: A 250 lb person compared to a 125 lb person.). This seemed harsh to me. She said that there is a different liquid medicine that you can get that is a lot easier on you. You may have to pay out of pocket if your insurance company doesn't cover it. It's about $135 but well worth it even if I have to pay for it. Good luck! Mine is on November 20th and I have to go every 5 years.

Thank you for your reply. It’s the preparation drugs that cause the burning. This time I’ll be doing 2 days of soft foods then 1 day of liquids, but I’m expecting the same outcome as it’s happened every time.

@patts. Do you know if an antacid might help? I would check with the doctor before taking one, but it might.
JK

Some years back I had “poor prep” and the doctor was really angry with me. Thank goodness I saw my Allergist soon after, who told me that some people need to take additional steps. He got me in touch with the right people in the GI department and from then on, I did the additional steps which I believe in the medical field is known as “expanded prep”. Three years ago I did the expanded prep and I felt happy that my prep was “good”. Fast forward to current time, to my great dismay, my prep was deemed “poor”. For those of you who have experienced this, what additional steps do I need to take in addition to the steps I followed ? Here are my steps:

1. Seven days prior to colonoscopy, ate only low residue, low fiber foods. Took Miralax at night.

2. Two days before colonoscopy, stopped eating. Drank only clear liquids.

3. Two days before, I drank Magnesium Citrate. Drank water per instructions.

4. One day before, I drank GoLytely. Drank water per instructions. I didn’t do the split dose due to taking two preps and very early appointment time for colonoscopy.

I am 76 years old. My next colonoscopy will be in a year.

Thank you.

Is Natural Calm a good alternative to Miralax for colonoscopy?

Is Natural Calm a good alternative to Miralax for colonoscopy?