[Motors Mommy]

Yee ha........I get to have both!!!! Wooo Hooo!!!!!! Talk about getting it at both ends!!!!

I saw a GI specialist today (she was sooooo nice and really listened). We talked about the constant constipation, rectocele, painful lump, trouble swallowing etc. She is starting me on amitizia? and miralax and Im scheduled for both theses lovely procedures. But the procedure it self wont be dobne until noon.......should I reschedule for an earlier appt? I was given instructions for no food, clear liquids,& laxative. What can i expect from both procedures?

Yesterday i saw an infectious disease doctor. (not thrilled with him) we discussed my recurrent shingles and coughing. I tried to explain that I was a pet groomer for many years and that groomers are suseptible to lung problems.....dont think he believed me. He sent me for blood and i will go back for xrays (since his staff messed up the order)

[Koala77]

Don't forget to ask him to do the top end first!

Sorry, I couldn't help that. I have to have a colonoscopy soon to check that the bowel cancer I had last year hasn't returned.

I cancelled my first appointment because my DH was in hospital, then I plain forgot all about the 2nd appointment I had made, and that was after waiting 3 months for it to come around.

I finally have another appointment in September, and if I don't get to go to that one, I've a feeling I'll forget all about it all together and just not bother.

Good luck with your tests Motors Mommy. I don't mind the actual 'scope at all, it's just the preparation for the rear end one that's not pleasant..

[starfish]

I had the colonoscopy last year because I was 50. The worst part is the preparation. You have to stay very close to the bathroom. I think I kept ginerale and a chcken broth near to help with rehydration. Also it helped keep my glucose up so I did not feel faint or feel like I was starving.

The procedure itself was painless. I was knocked out and when I woke up all I wanted was a big breakfast!!! Thankfully I a good for the next 10 years.

Good luck with your procedures.

[NurseNancy]

i had both procedures a couple of yrs ago.
they give you versed which puts you in a twilight sleep. you'll never feel a thing. i was totally unaware of anything. then you wake up fully alert and it's over.

the prep was also the worst. you have to drink a bottle of the stuff and there's something else either before or after. and, it starts early. i believe you can have clear liquids but my memory fades on that.

you'll be glad you have that extra time in the morning. you'll need it to complete the prep. try to grab rest when you can in between. and stay hydrated.

i don't know anything about your meds, sorry.
you'll come thru this fine.

it will be a big relief when it's over.
hang tough. you'll be fine.
let us know how it's going.

[ewizabeth]

I had both done recently and it was a breeze. But the prep part of drinking the gallon of goat spit, er... I mean the RX mix you get at the pharmacy, isn't fun at all. You have a lot of potty visits after you finish it all.

After it's over you can eat or drink whatever you want.

[Motors Mommy]

What is this prep y'all are referring to?
My instructions are for miralax and gatorade. Does the miralax taste???
I was told the day before no solids!!!! Just liquids. Then at 3:00 4 Ducolax pills and 8oz of water. Then a bottle of miralax with 64 oz gatorade.

[starfish]

Oh dear! Okay, you have to poop like you have never had to poop in your life so you colon is clear so the scope going up can take pretty pictures and the doc can decide if you have any precancerous things going on. This is called the prep. Basically pooping for hours.

If you are not clear enough they will empty you by giving you an enema before the procedure.

You are getting the gatorade to replenish electrolytes that you will lose from having watery poops. This prevents you from feeling faint. IMHO it is best taken diluted because that usually increasing absorption, but double check with your doctor.

The good news is they sometimes can remove little things during the procedure that are suspect. Based on what they see you will be told to have the procedure again in 5 years or 10.

My gastro actually showed me my polaroids ( I did not ask) and told me I was very healthy. Not something I really wanted to see, but it was nicer than what I ever could imagine.

Just remember you are doing this to stay healthy and it is something you will not have to do again for a long time. Best wishes.

[ewizabeth]

Originally Posted by Motors Mommy

What is this prep y'all are referring to?
My instructions are for miralax and gatorade. Does the miralax taste???
I was told the day before no solids!!!! Just liquids. Then at 3:00 4 Ducolax pills and 8oz of water. Then a bottle of miralax with 64 oz gatorade.

Well that sounds a lot better than what I had to drink. They RX'd a huge empty gallon jug with a mixture called NuLytely. yuck-o. I had to mix it with warm water, a flavoring, then refrigerate.

Miralax is tasteless. That sounds like a much better mixture. I wonder why my doctor doesn't use that?

[starfish]

Different docs use different things. My colonoscopy was done by a gastro surgeon, not a gastro. I don't know if that makes a difference. I did not have to drink a gallon of awful stuff either. It was something simple I picked up at the drug store.

I was not told to have gatorade, but I think its a good idea because I think it helps prevent you from feeling so weak.

[cricket52]

As procedures go neither is too bad. It looks like each physician has their idea of what works best for colonoscopy prep. I used Picosilax and like you had to watch for hypogylcemia. For me the worst part was the gatorade!

I was given Versed and Fentanyl and watched most of the procedure on the monitor. When it got uncomfortable (not really overly painful) I was given more Fentanyl, dropped my oxygen sats and they had to abort. She ran out of scope anyway at the hepatic junction. So once I was up to 98 I was shipped off for a barium enema. Again - no biggie.

Because of the constipation being so severe I had been getting overflow diarrhea and vomiting, which is why I saw the surgeon in the first place. The barium fill was to the cecum which started the incontinence and vomiting. The nurses were awesome, I've had much worse days and when I went home a few hours later I had a great lunch and was fine.

Slept through the endoscopy which was a bit disappointing cause I wanted to watch, but it was a great nap and I was up and about quickly.

With a good doctor things will go well, the chances of something serious happening are rare.

Best of luck to you. Once the prep is over the rest is a piece of cake.