Failed prep for colonoscopy: What can I do?

I did my first colonoscopy a few years ago. I did two days of SuPrep, 2 enemas 3 hours before and my results were small. When I do it again ill definitely do 3 extra days of just liquids before any prep. But i do not recommend su prep.

@januaryjane I too had a somewhat inconclusive colonoscopy due to the prep not being as thorough as it should have been. I got so sick in the middle of it that I had to stop drinking the liquid for a couple of hours. The next time my gastroenterologist had me eating easily digested foods starting on Sunday for a Wednesday colonoscopy - no raw fruit or vegetables. Then I had to go with just liquid starting Monday night.
Colonoscopy prep is a really miserable experience, although my first one was more tolerable. If you do three days of liquid only it probably will be easier. Will you still need to do the typical prep?
JK

Colonoscopy prep did not work completely; 5 days later still no bowel movement. So doctor recommended mag citrate (whole bottle) and 4 dulcolax laxatives which I did and it totally cleaned me out. Felt great, but now 4 days later again no bowel movement. Painful, gas that won't expel, no feeling of having to go, just blocked and very uncomfortable. Tried Milk of Magnesia for 3 days - nothing. Can anyone recommend something that would just give me a natural bowel movement without too much at once which then causes me to backup more. I drink water, take 400 mg mag oxide. Tired 1/2 dose of Miralax before and it was uncontrollable bowel movements (going without even knowing I was going). Obviously very sensitive. Diagnosed with SIBO about 2 years ago but went off of protocol because of eating disorder ramping up from restrictio of diet. Very frustrated. My diet is healthy - berries, whole grains, greek plain yogurt, salmon, brown rice, peanut butter, broccoli, spinach, eggs. Nothing in large amounts, just feel like it is a healthy balance diet.

Hi @ltk and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. On Connect we’re not medical professionals and can’t diagnose health problems. However, we can share our own personal experiences and valuable insights to answer questions and offer encouragement.

Oh I feel your pain... Having gone through lots of medical procedures and meds in the past 2 years, let’s say the ‘works got out of rhythm’ a few times. Always been as regular as a clockwork, so not having any movement at all was frustrating!
Having to depend on laxatives is literally not the way to go! LOL.

Your diet sounds great but sometimes our bowels need a bit of encouragement after a major disruption to get back in motion and ‘everything connected’...

Miralax was the last thing I needed. Fiber from food was the key. Have you tried adding ground flax to your yogurt or oatmeal daily? And drink plenty of water throughout the day. I also found when those two things didn’t work, I did take Metamucil daily. That was much more predictable and effective than miralax with no embarrassing surprises and you don’t get dependent on it once things get back into rhythm.

The BEST advice came from one of my awesome chemo nurses who showed me a trick for stimulating the natural movement of the intestines. I’m posting a YouTube link here so that you can see the basic exercises. But then!! At the end of the video is the key to getting the peristaltic movement of intestines back in sync again! Have you tried any of these methods?
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&ei=UTF-8&p=exercises+for+getting+bowels+to+move+around#id=2&vid=0aa3685daa8e0cdef907841407e92576&action=click
Here’s to moving right along... Lori. 😉

@loribmt. Thanks for the exercises link for combating constipation. It loads up as lots of videos in related subjects. Which video in particular are you referring to as most helpful?
Thanks,
@clutch

Hi @ltk and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. On Connect we’re not medical professionals and can’t diagnose health problems. However, we can share our own personal experiences and valuable insights to answer questions and offer encouragement.

Oh I feel your pain... Having gone through lots of medical procedures and meds in the past 2 years, let’s say the ‘works got out of rhythm’ a few times. Always been as regular as a clockwork, so not having any movement at all was frustrating!
Having to depend on laxatives is literally not the way to go! LOL.

Your diet sounds great but sometimes our bowels need a bit of encouragement after a major disruption to get back in motion and ‘everything connected’...

Miralax was the last thing I needed. Fiber from food was the key. Have you tried adding ground flax to your yogurt or oatmeal daily? And drink plenty of water throughout the day. I also found when those two things didn’t work, I did take Metamucil daily. That was much more predictable and effective than miralax with no embarrassing surprises and you don’t get dependent on it once things get back into rhythm.

The BEST advice came from one of my awesome chemo nurses who showed me a trick for stimulating the natural movement of the intestines. I’m posting a YouTube link here so that you can see the basic exercises. But then!! At the end of the video is the key to getting the peristaltic movement of intestines back in sync again! Have you tried any of these methods?
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&ei=UTF-8&p=exercises+for+getting+bowels+to+move+around#id=2&vid=0aa3685daa8e0cdef907841407e92576&action=click
Here’s to moving right along... Lori. 😉

Colonoscopy prep did not work completely; 5 days later still no bowel movement. So doctor recommended mag citrate (whole bottle) and 4 dulcolax laxatives which I did and it totally cleaned me out. Felt great, but now 4 days later again no bowel movement. Painful, gas that won't expel, no feeling of having to go, just blocked and very uncomfortable. Tried Milk of Magnesia for 3 days - nothing. Can anyone recommend something that would just give me a natural bowel movement without too much at once which then causes me to backup more. I drink water, take 400 mg mag oxide. Tired 1/2 dose of Miralax before and it was uncontrollable bowel movements (going without even knowing I was going). Obviously very sensitive. Diagnosed with SIBO about 2 years ago but went off of protocol because of eating disorder ramping up from restrictio of diet. Very frustrated. My diet is healthy - berries, whole grains, greek plain yogurt, salmon, brown rice, peanut butter, broccoli, spinach, eggs. Nothing in large amounts, just feel like it is a healthy balance diet.

Colonoscopy prep did not work completely; 5 days later still no bowel movement. So doctor recommended mag citrate (whole bottle) and 4 dulcolax laxatives which I did and it totally cleaned me out. Felt great, but now 4 days later again no bowel movement. Painful, gas that won't expel, no feeling of having to go, just blocked and very uncomfortable. Tried Milk of Magnesia for 3 days - nothing. Can anyone recommend something that would just give me a natural bowel movement without too much at once which then causes me to backup more. I drink water, take 400 mg mag oxide. Tired 1/2 dose of Miralax before and it was uncontrollable bowel movements (going without even knowing I was going). Obviously very sensitive. Diagnosed with SIBO about 2 years ago but went off of protocol because of eating disorder ramping up from restrictio of diet. Very frustrated. My diet is healthy - berries, whole grains, greek plain yogurt, salmon, brown rice, peanut butter, broccoli, spinach, eggs. Nothing in large amounts, just feel like it is a healthy balance diet.