Colonoscopy Prep Quest??

This is the one I did:
https://www.healthinfotranslations.org/pdfDocs/Miralax_Du...

I found it easier to do when I ate light easy to digest meals the day before prep day and start on a third or half of the miralax the night before. Miralax doesn't have a taste to it, the day of prep I finished off the miralax and took two ducolax pills to finish it all. I was told 4 pills but I got the same results with 2, laxative pills cause severe cramping as it moves the stool which is why I suggest taking those last once the miralax has cleared most of it out. Good luck, colonoscopy prep is harder than the i.v!

I take a comprehensive fiber product all the time, with both soluble and insoluble fiber as well as digestive enzymes and herbs. It's patented - safe, effective, unique. So my colon is clean year round, so there isn't as much prep to begin with. I change my diet a little bit for a few days beforehand. I just don't have to go through as much agony with the stuff you drink because there isn't that much to clean out. I've done 2 colonoscopies - one your way and one my way, and boy is there a huge difference!

I also take a regular supplement that has an ingredient that helps with healthy vascular function - strengthens the blood vessel walls but makes them more pliable.

Both supplements are made by the same company and designed to go together.

Before both colonoscopies, I took 3 small bottles of citrate magnesia (as prescribed by the gastro prep team) - I used the lemon flavor but I think there is one more. I took some water too - I forget how much - but it certainly wasn't a gallon. The last bottle really wasn't even needed as I was already virtually empty and cleaned out.

I have a friend who failed several colonoscopies - couldn't get cleaned out - but now she takes what I take and everything was a breeze.

I have difficult veins. The day before drink ice water or put ice in any of the liquids you have to drink. It is supposed to make your veins pop. Also, when they ask which vein you prefer, show them both arms and ask them to see which one they think is best. Let them know that you have "rolling veins" or veins that are hard to find. When they are prepping you, concentrate on something else and avoid looking at your arm while they are working. I have rolling veins and I know how awful it feels to get poked, but what's worse is when they start fishing for the vein once they are inside :( I do think drinking ice water several hours before has helped.

My mom had a colonscopy last week and I took her. She had to take duralex and miralex. I can't recall the exact dosage.

Hope everything goes well!

My prep was not like that....i drank stuff that tasted like thick gatorade 24 hours prior to the procedure...an hour after it - the bathroom was open to ONLY me... :)

that's what I can tell you about a hard stick and vein roller!! Mine do all the time!! :) I've learned the best thing you can do for that is to be well-hydrated and NOT panic...bring a book with you to read and take your mind off of it....or an ipod to listen to music...you MUST stay relaxed...don't focus on what they are doing....

Are you well hydrated? Dehydration is one reason that some people are hard sticks.

I've done this procedure twice. The stuff is awful, and I never finished it, but I was sure to drink plenty water. They say don't eat anything, so I had chicken broth. That helped, too. Maybe you won't have to cleanse so much if you start a day or two beforehand consuming just liquids and some fruits and veggies, no meats or carbs at all.

Good luck on the process and the results.

My gastroenerologist changed her cleansing procedure after she had her own colonoscopy - I guess she had an awakening. So my prep was something like take 4 Dulcolax pills and then the kid's laxative Miralax in 32 oz of clear liquid. I can't remember the timing of all this but maybe my doctors would share the recipe with you. Gastrointestinal Associates in Phoenix, Dr. Barbara McCollom

My mother was prescribed some kind of pills to take because she has a very hard time drinking a lot. I've heard they won't prescribe them to anone w/ kidney issues. Ask your gastroenterologist what alternatives there are.
Best wishes!! =o)

Mine was just pills and lots of liquid, anything clear and not darkly colored, so light colored gatorade was fine, apple juice, etc.

Nothing tasted bad. Just uncomfortable having to use the facilities so often...and I got a bit weary near the end.

Ask your doc for the pills.

Ugh! I have to do this soon! Unfortunately the only preparation I've ever heard of involves the gallon of grossness (basically Miralax). Are you sure the person you talked to had a full colonoscopy? Colace is a stool softener, and it will make you go, but usually not the "complete" cleaning out required for this procedure. Good luck! I hope everything is okay. Just stay focused on the fact that it's better than dying of colon cancer, which is highly treatable and curable if found early.

My first experience with a colonoscopy was similar to yours, with throwing up after drinking the prep and all that water! I was miserable. I too had problems getting my IV, and was very sick and stressed over the whole experience.

But for my second colonoscopy, the prep was much easier. I requested the pills from the Dr., which still require you to drink to cleanse the system, but not so much. Also, they did not make me nauseated. Since I drank extra for two days prior to avoid dehydration, the IV went in much easier (only 2 sticks) and I felt healthier at the time so that the whole thing was a piece of cake compared to the first time. Also, if you let the nurse know that you are a hard stick, you can request the most experienced person to do your IV. (That helped for me, too.)

I only had one polyp the second time, so that now I get to wait 5 years until the next one! I hope your results are similar. Best of luck!

My son has had a few done and every time he uses Miralax with a day of fasting

I just had a colonascopy and my Dr had me take 4 dulcolax then I drank one of the smaller bottles of Miralax ( I think it was 14 doses) in 32 ounces of Gatorade or Poweraid, I used the white cherry poweraid and it tasted great. It was the easiest clean out I have ever done no where near as hard as the past times I've had to drink the gallon of stuff! The other thing they suggested is to use vaseline on yourself, before you start "going" and before you go each time, it worked like a charm no irritation!