Colonoscopy and Endoscopy: Preparation

@kathy49 - that is good news this prep cleaned you out, as someone who's arrived at the medical center before with a prep that was not totally completed and had to be given enemas.

Yay for only three tiny polyps.

I'm sorry to hear this prep was just awful. Will you share more about what was awful with this prep? Also curious about why this prep might be rougher as an older person. Will you talk more about that?

MiraLAX, as prescribed in large doses really works. Ask whoever is doing the colonoscopy.... I'm 80 with a tortuous colon. 2 day easy prep, w miralax. Works painlessly and does the job. Check on amts w lots of fluid. Easy peazy!

@normasue - with the polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLAX) prep, did you start the night before the colonoscopy with your prep, or a full two days prior?

I had a situation where a fellow, a gastroenterologist in training, had trouble with my tortuous colon and then handed over my colonoscopy to the senior physician accompanying her. Do you advise the doctor performing your colonoscopy about your tortuous colon before so they are prepared or can help out any medical trainee working with them, as needed?

Well the same thing that is awful about all the liquid prep....it tastes awful and after some time the gag reflex is activated. Nothing new here just the usual. I think everything gets a bit more difficult as one gets older.general health may not be as good as 8-10 years ago...higher chance of dehydration etc. Again nothing major just observations. I appreciated all the suggestions here and wanted to report back.

My preference is Gatorade & miralax. Much easier to drink & keep down compared to the prescription meds I’ve tried. Although newer ones might be better.

To me, the prep is awful because I have no control over my vowels so I set up a lawn chair right next to my toilet. So no sleep and I go so much otherwise that the prep just drains me and I am as weak as a noodle. I’m almost 70 so hard to do it now. I wonder if there’s any other way they could do it. By some kind of scan or put you out and suck all the poo out of your guts. 🙂 My last colonoscopy made things worse…when I got home, had a tiny bit to eat and it was just like I was in the middle ofthe prep again. That made me wonder if maybe there was poo stuck to the sides of my colon and the wand knock them of????

I'm in my 70's and not to discourage you, but I am done with colonoscopy's. I've had several throughout the years and all of them make me sick to the point I start vomiting. I told me GI when I had my last one done that this would be my last one. They told me this last time, oh, they are much better now. That's a bunch of baloney! Wishing you the best.

As to the comment above about "they are much better now" advice...nope they are more or less the same. Are there different prep options out there...for sure and this thread has been valuable to outline them. One thing I learned is the difference in liquid prep volume...some are less. Also Good RX coupons will make most of the options affordable if not fully covered by insurance. I was unaware of Good RX until now and will always check it in the future. In most cases the ordering doctor will just write the scrip for whatever he knows and in fact they don't really care what you use (could be medical reasons for some to recommend one over another). In my case I did all the research and went with a lower volume and it did the job.

I’m scheduled to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy in less than two weeks and I just remembered after reading your comment that I’ve read online that there are now virtual colonoscopies. Has anyone ever had one? I’m really dreading this one because I’m already weak from not eating for so long and I’m so scared. It’s going to trigger my stomach to be worse. On the other hand, I need to find out what’s going on inside. But there are so many things. The colonoscopy can’t test for, like stress related, IBS and SIBO. Thank you in advance.

The only bad thing about the virtual colonoscopies is they aren’t able to take any biopsies. Microscopic colitis is found only by a biopsy. That’s all I know. I don’t know how well they work… Just my two cents. I Hope things work out for you. My doctor said he doesn’t believe in the SIBO test. I really think taking the antibiotic Cipro cause me to have SIBO. I’m following the. FODMAP Diet to get rid of it. Also started taking charcoal pills. I believe that diet is helping. I am nearing the end of three weeks. I keep a journal of everything that goes in my mouth, including tea and my bowel movements. My best to you!