Bowel prep solutions for colonoscopies trigger your asthma

Posted by Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor @jenniferhunter, Jan 23 4:03pm

I had some breathing issues after using Clenpiq which is a liquid you have to drink (along with diet restrictions) to clean out the GI tract prior to having a colonoscopy. I have allergic asthma, and needed my inhalers after taking this. It also gave me a bad headache which could also be related to breathing issues. I was worried about having to drink the next dose in the morning. I called the doctor's office and they canceled and reschedule my procedure. It's not safe to go under anesthesia when you aren't breathing well. We still need to figure out what I can use safely for this procedure. This product has Sucralose (artificial sweetener) and sulfites that for me are asthma triggers. In the past I've had reactions to procedures that used polyethylene glycol (which is in Miralax and the common colonoscopy preps), so we were trying to avoid that.

Does anyone with allergic asthma have suggestions that have worked without exacerbating their asthma for a colonoscopy?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Asthma & Allergy Support Group.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jan 24 10:38am

Hi, @jenniferhunter - I have allergic asthma, but I've not had a bowel prep solution for a colonoscopy trigger my asthma.

A few members that might have thoughts on bowel prep triggering asthma are @astaingegerdm @kspowell @kmoorekc @samcal9977zz @sisterpulse and @darwin66.

jenniferhunter - I was amazed at all the options I was given for bowel prep by a GI doctor - far more than just the one option prescribed for me in primary care. I don't know if you can take sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride tablets (Sutab)? I didn't love it personally, cause it made me vomit twice, but evidently others like it. Did your doctor have some ideas for what prep might work?

crn | @crn | Jan 25 12:00pm

Actually, no. However, i was very i pressed with the attending nurse and the anesthesiologist who were both concerned about my asthma just prior to the colonoscopy. The nurse had me use my albuterol (emergency) inhaler upon meeting me. Then the anesthesiologist reviewed my asthma condition and assured me that the major part of his administration would be concentrating on my breathing and sincerely assured me i would be just fine during the procedure and he would be watching this closely the whole time. I didn't even realize my asthma would factor in with the procedure. So, i was impressed that they were and wanted to assure me all would be well. And, it was. But i did not have any problems with the stuff i had to drink prior. However, we are all different and our asthma issues vary.

Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jan 25 11:43pm

In reply to @crn "Actually, no. However, i was very i pressed with the attending nurse and the anesthesiologist who..." + (show)

@cm Anesthesia does depress the reflexes for breathing a little bit. It is much more so for a person under general anesthesia where they have to intubate the patient and breathe for you with a machine until you come out of the anesthesia. Colonoscopies are usually done under very light anesthesia like Propaphol. With asthma, you may have resistance to breathing or some phlegm interfering with oxygen absorption, so they are right to be concerned about how well you are breathing and your oxygen levels before they put you under. When I did have major surgery, they did have me use my rescue inhaler right before the surgery.

Please sign in or register to post a reply.