I haven't gone through this yet, but this is my fiftieth year so my day is coming. I was told to get it really cold and to suck it to the back of my mouth with a straw to avoid any of it passing over my taste centers on my tongue. The person imparting this wisdom was talking about both the old kind of stuff and the newer Go-litely so I don't know if these instructions were only for one of them.

If you do a search, type colonoscopy, you will get a posting from way back. Go down till you see my response on my experience. I listed severaal things that really helped me as I was petrified to have it done. I don't recall if I used the Go-Lightly or the other one but I did take the one that had the laxative, although it hadn't worked after 4 hours so I went ahead and started the Prep drink. I had fasted for an extra day and had eaten lightly for a day before that so I didn't have much in my system.

Do use a straw and do add Crystal Light. I used the one that said Hydration on it(Crystal Light) and I think it helped me from feeling weak. Plus the taste is less salty. The other things I listed all made the experience tolerable, but not pleasurable. I feared having to drink the carbonated stuff as some doctors make their patients do - I had had a horrible experience with that once before and had put off having this done if I had to drink that stuff again.

Do check out the suggestions. The one I did came in one squatty bottle that made it look like it was less than it really one. Everything helps.

trianglejohn and mboston, thank you both for your suggestions. I will definitely buy some straws and some Crystal light and read up on all of the suggestions.

I asked my dr. about the pills that have come out that can be used for prep, and he said they don't cleanse nearly as well. I wish some genius would come up with a better way.

I am scared. Not so much of the procedure, but that colon surgery, or God forbid, cancer might be in my future. The last time I had a colonoscopy, the doctor had removed two additional polyps in the same area where the big one was, and said if I continued to have them, I would most likely have to have part of my colon removed. That was 5 years ago. I was intending on having another, and then Katrina came and for a long time afterwards I didn't care if I lived or died. Slowly but surely, I have worked past those feelings, and now I only hope I'm not too late.

Wodka, I don't blame you for being scared. I admire your courage for keeping up with your colonoscopies. It would be easier but not smart to ignore this issue, so keep up the good work. Why don;t you post back here and let us know how it goes?

The straws and Crystal Light seem to be good suggestions, and I'll remember them for when my next time comes.

Interesting the variety of liquids being ordered. My doctor has ordered 64 oz bottle of Gatorade, mixed with a special powder, by RX only.

woodnymph2, when are you having your colonoscopy? If it's soon, please let me know how you handle your special Gatorade, I might put in a request for it.

I agree, socks - the straws and Crystal Light will definitedly be helpful, I think. My colonoscopy is scheduled for Monday, May 19th, and I'll let you know how it goes.
Thank you for your concern.

My DH is scheduled for his on the 16th...It came about rather suddenly after them finding blood in his stool...He just picked up his kit and it's called "HalfLytely and Bisacodyl tablets Kit...It says it comes with flavor packs so we'll see how he "enjoys" his drinking....
Please keep us posted....

I think that is what I did irishdancersgram. I did use the flavor pack but still added the crystal light as it helped with the salty taste. I don't care for Gatorade at all cause of the salty taste it has.

I haven't picked up my prep kit yet, but just thinking about the "salty" taste really makes me queasy. In my past experiences with the Fleet Soda, the prep was always worse than the actual procedures.

irishdancersgram, I hope your DH has a good report. Will be thinking about him. Good luck.

That's one reason that I sucked on the popscicles and chewed gum inbetween the drinks. Helped get that taste out of my mouth. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and you are right, the procedure itself wasn't bad at all. I didn't have any after affects and was home within 2 hour of having it done. Went to excerise class the next morning. They do put you to sleep here for it at the Surgi-center, although I have heard since that insurance companies are now bulking at paying for the cost of it,saying that it is not necessary to be put to sleep for it.

mboston, I've never thought of the gum (I've sucked on butterscoth candies before, and banana popsicles, but I'll stock up on the gum, too. Thanks.)

Although colonoscopies are a relatively painless procedure, I believe that everyone should be more or less "knocked out" during this time. During my 12 procedures, I was awake, carrying on conversation in every one of mine, and I would much rather have been asleep. One colonoscopy did cause some discomfort, and when I told the doctor I was hurting, rather than give me more medication, she laughed and said that I wasn't having pain, it must be a cramp or gas! I felt like asking her to switch places with me and let's see what she felt! Since then, and I've only had one procedure since, I've made sure to request that they totally knock me out.

As far as insurance companies go, I can't say what I really think, but suffice it to say I think the whole insurance industry needs to be investigated and overhauled (is that the word I mean?)

Have a great week. This time next week I will be through with my colonoscopy. (Yea!)

I know what you mean about them telling you you don't feel any pain. I had an ammniocentesis just a couple days before my planned C-section. When the doctor stuck that long needle in, I screamed with pain. He told me I couldn't be feeling anything - well when the results came back, he had hit my bladder - not the womb - needless to say - it became standard procedure to do a sonagram while doing the ammnio -

This was way back in 1980 when such things were not common procedures. When the doctor told me we would have to try again to do the ammnio- I told him he only had one more chance and he better not miss this time. He didn't and my son, who turns 28 tomorrow was born healthy and with no puncture wounds!

Good grief! Thank goodness you didn't have any trouble with your bladder after that episode! And what a beautiful ending to your story! Happy birthday to your "puncture-free" son!

Happy to report, DH came through his test with flying colors...The doctor came out and told me, no cancer or polyps but he does have (I know I'm spelling this wrong), diverticulitous, but he shouldn't have any problems....We are so relieved.....
Good luck, Wodka
Sending good wishes

irish, I'm so glad your DH is okay.....I know y'all are so relieved and happy to have that over with! Now you can have a nice weekend.

Given my colon/polyps history, I decided to cancel Monday's colonoscopy that was going to be done by my primary care physician. I called to schedule with the gastroenterologist, and he will meet with me on May 28, and then we'll schedule the colonoscopy. I like my primary care doc, but gastro should be more experienced, especially if there are any complications. I just want to be prepared, I guess.

I agree with you...The gastro doc my DH went to is one of the best in our area...I had heard nothing but good things from everyone I talked to...That alone made us feel so much better...
Good luck, I'll be thinking about you.....

I am having my upper and lower GI in the morning, May 19. My Dr. ordered the pills called osmoprep. I was suppose to take 4 pills every 15 minutes for an hour, with a total of 20 pills. I did this, and it's three hours later, and I STILL haven't been to the bathroom. Now my husband has always said I was full of **it, and i'm guessing i'm going to stay that way. I have NO idea why I haven't had any movement yet. I am really worried. I have to take three more rounds starting at 9:00 this evening, then that is it. hoping that does the trick.
As for previous experience, I did the citric drink mix the last time, and it was awful. But It did clean things out. The procedure was horrible. It liked to have killed me. I got up and went to the restroom and passed out. So no one need to tell me there is no pain!!!! I refused to do another one, till the Dr. said he would put me out. I thought the pills would be the way to avoid the nastyness of the drinks, but so far it's a no go. My problem was pains in my lower abdomin. I thought it was my overies, but my gyno thought otherwise. and refered me to the Gastro. So, that is my story so far.

I found that chugging the little bottle of nastiness then following it with an entire bottle of Gatorade helped cut the agony. I tried mixing them together, icky icky.

I say do a shooter of the stuff then a Gatorade chaser. No easy way to get this stuff down, I totally feel for you!

micagroff, please let us know how you did today. I was supposed to have mine today, but cancelled it until I see a specialist next week.

I have asked about the pills, thinking, as you, it would be much easier in prepping for the procedure. But every doctor I have discussed it with said the pills do not do nearly as good a job as cleaning the colon as the Go Lytely and Fleet Soda do.

The only symptom I ever had as far as problems I experienced was that I went for about a year without a solid "stool." (Sorry to be so graphic, but I am only telling this in case anyone else is having this problem and is too embarrassed to ask.) I told my doctor and since I was 48 at the time (1998) he said try eating more fiber. I did, and nothing changed. So the next year at my physical, when I said I was still having problems, he said let's set up a colonoscopy. I was more worried about the embarrassment, etc., never thought they would find anything. The gastro dr. had barely begun when he said, very seriously, "We need to address this." He had discovered a very large mass in the lower third of my colon. The surgeon said later it was the largest non-cancerous polyp/mass she had ever seen. She gave me the option of major surgery or to remove a piece at a time and biopsy each piece. After she told me the surgery would require cutting me open, removing my bowel, putting it back in, etc., I said let's try option 2. I spent the next year and a half going through colonsocopies and sigmoidoscopies until it was gone. We then moved to a new town and I had to find new doctors, so time lapsed. I did a follow up colonoscopy in 2003 and two new polyps had grown and were removed. That's when the new gastro dr. said if the next colonoscopy found more polyps, that I should consider surgery. More time lapsed, Katrina hit, had more worries on my mind than my colon, our doctor left town, and here I am. That's why I'm so anxious, because the "next" colonoscopy will be in a few weeks, after I meet with the specialist, and I'm so afraid that I am going to have to have surgery, or worse.

So, in the meantime, I'm eating healthier and exercising, trying to do all the right things, so if they have to do surgery, I'll be physically prepared for it.

A sweet friend of mine who died of cancer last year, after battling it for years, always said "listen to your body." If there is anything that you don't think is exactly right, call your doctor. I hope I haven't waited too long.

Well, after much worry about the pills not working, I started the second round of the pills, and lets just say, it was brutal. I think the pills have alot of sodium in them and they burned horrible coming out. The test was no big deal. The only thing they found was an irritation in the lining of my stomach. They took a sample for testing. I have to have a CAT scan on thursday because they couldn't find the cause of the abdominal pain. I have to drink some other mixture of stuff for that. Not looking forward to that.

micah, I'm glad they didn't find any major problems yesterday, but sorry that you have to go through more tests. Hopefully, they'll find out what's causing the pain and can get you back to normal very soon.

The pills don't sound like they're any better than the nasty drink prep. I've said this over and over, but someone could make an absolute fortune if they could come up with an easier, more pleasant prep stuff!

Good luck and take care.

I didn't add it to my list of suggestions but someone told me to coat my bottom with vaseline, helps with the irritation from the prep. However, my prep wasn't that bad. Guess it depends on the type and your system.

Hope all goes well for you Wodka and Micahgroff.

mboston, thanks!

I just re-read your post (thank God!) I first thought it read to coat my mouth/tongue with vaseline - can you imagine!?!!

I'm really hoping the Go Lytely won't be as bad as the Fleet's. I'll find out soon enough.

Wodka, My sister took the Go Lytely. When she went for her exam, she told the Dr. they should change the name to **it through a screen door. I guess it had the intended results. She never mentioned if it tasted bad or anything.Micah
BTW thanks to all for your concerns.

micahgroff, I think your sister described the prep procedure perfectly!!!

Is today your CAT scan? I'll be thinking about you and hope it all goes well.

The CAT scan results are in. It showed a cyst on the left overy. They think it isn't significant enough to cause the pain, so now what? I don't know what else to check. any suggestions?
Micah

Gosh, Micah, what else is there left to check? It sounds like you've covered everything. Do you think it could be the cyst that's causing the pain, even if they don't think it's significant enough to be the cause? Did they remove the cyst? I hope you get answers soon. It must be frustrating for you.

I met with my new gastro dr. today - he seemed a little goofy, but like my husband said, wouldn't you be, too, if that's what you did for a living?! My colonoscopy is schedued for next Wednesday morning, so this time next week, I should be done, hopefully. Unless they think I need surgery, which I pray I don't.

Good luck to you.

Well, today is my "prep" day. I have the HalfLytely kit and have just taken the two tablets, made my lime jello, bought my straws. I haven't had any broth or anything yet. I know it's in my head, but I'm feeling queasy already, just thinking about drinking that stuff later today, beginnng at 4 pm. I bought some popsicles last night and when I got home noticed that the ingredients included a slight amount of dairy, so those are out. Who puts dairy in popsicles?

If I had the resources and talent, I would spend the rest of my life figuring out an easier prep procedure than this.

Micah, I hope you are feeling better. Did you ever find out what was the cause for your pain?

Hope you are doing okay, Wodka. I never checked to see if my popscicles had dairy in them. Must have not mattered. When you mentioned starting at four, it reminded me that the type I didn't use started later in the day. When I asked why, they said that people who work often choose it since they don't miss two days of work, just one. If I had used that one, I could have changed the time since I don't work out of the home.

Hope all goes well for you this evening and tomorrow. Let us know.

mboston, thanks for the well wishes. They worked! They found NO polyps this time, so I'm assuming I won't need surgery and hoping I won't have to do this but every 5 years or so. I'll meet with the doctor in a few weeks to discuss the results in more detail. I just feel so relieved and promise to keep taking better care of my body. Thank God, today is a good day. I hope everyone else's is, too!

Congrats on the results. Hopefully by the time we have to do this again, they will have another way to do it. All the stress over the prep and the procedure is worth the good news, though. Have a great afternoon.

Wodka, So glad to hear the results were good....Here's hoping the doctor also has a good report when you see him.....

Met with the gastro Dr. to discuss the results of the CAT scan. He feels I should see my gyno DR. again, to discuss diagnostic laproscopic to see inside. He said there are some things that x-rays can not find, and most of them are gyno. I had reduced pain while we were on vacation, but once I got back to work, it came back worse than before. I almost wonder if it might be phantom pain from another source, like maybe my hip???? my pain now hurts all the way to my back, does that sound dumb? Have had a hard time sleeping on my side, back sleeping is the only way to get sleep. ( side sleeper). Have an appt. Thursday with Gyno for his view on the situation. GRRRR may just have to live with this. Sure hope not.

irishdancer and mboston, thanks again for your kind thoughts. I feel so lucky and relieved for the good results, and hoping the news continues to be good. I vow to take better care of myself. I may die tomorrow, but I plan on being the healthiest dead person there is - ha.

micahgroff, I am so sorry you're still experiencing such pain. I hope your gynocologist can offer you some relief. Maybe the diagnostic laproscopic tests are a good idea? And don't give up, you shouldn't have to live with this. Something is causing this pain and they will find it, even if you have to change doctors.

Irishdancergram, has anyone mentioned Endometerosis? I had a cyst that came up suddenly, grew to the size of a grapefuit in just a little over 2 months. They thought I had ovarian cancer and had mentally prepared us for those results when they did surgery. It ended up being an endometrial cyst and endometreosis. I had a total hysterectomy and they took my appendix. They had to do alot of cleaning of other major organs too for the endometreosis. That was at the age of 36, over 20 years ago. I never had any pain from the endometreosis, but when the cyst got big, I had all sorts of pain cause it was pressing on my kidneys. Certainly glad it wasn't cancer. Doubt I would be here if it had been.