Colonoscopy diet and prep help

[BettyNora]

Evening all. Put on chat for traffic whilst thinking should have put in AIBU but that scares me over there!
Got the procedure Friday so have eaten non whole meal, and white only versions of things today. I feel like my FIL who doesn't do fruit or veg and only eats white bread.
I feel quite bloated and wonder if I've eaten too much bread and fretting that it won't "clear".
I am veggie so can't really do the chicken broth / consommé soups and shredded plain chicken and rice they suggested.
Will I be ok with white toast and a bagel and eggs tomorrow morning / early lunch then nothing but liquids and the prep? Will I feel faint from all the poo and no food ? Guessing sickness bugs are the same hit with no guarantee of keeping fluids down so fingers crossed I'll take my new book, podcast and a duvet into the bathroom
And camp out. Questions I may?

• Vaseline on bum or sudocrem or?? For soreness
• Apple juice or an energy drink (lemon?) to drink

I've heard to make the prep cold/ hold my nose/ alternate with lemonade but the woman who gave me the prep was very doom and gloom about how bad it tastes ! All tips welcome 🙏 thank you so much

i had mine two weeks ago Friday. I had scrambled eggs on white toast before 9am on the Thursday, then just water until the procedure Friday morning. As i had to start the first plenvu at 5pm, the scrambled egg got me through ok. especially as i had butter in it which not done for years! The first prep although not pleasant was better than the second at 4:30 Friday morning. Prob because everyone else asleep! Just make your bathroom comfortable - something to read / podcasts to listen to and settle in once you start. better than getting up and down and wiping bum each time in between. I had a barrier cream put on once took plenvu, sudocrem will be fine.

And yes, make the prep up early and put it in the fridge so cold. my 4:30 am one is made the night before. I got the shivers with the plenvu before it all started to come out, it's a wierd time!

BTW i got an "excellent" for bowel cleansing prep on the report you get given after - yes, we get marked on it!!! So scrambled eggs and white toast works !

@SpringCalling thank you. I'm on that one too but told to start at 5pm then take second lot at 9pm. I've the option to bring it forward so I can sleep more but am working before I start the prep. Don't drink a lot of other fluid like lemonade ?

Sorry just saw you said only water. Crikey. I'm worried I will faint

I have these every two years. If you've got Moviprep, mix it with flat and cold Coke Zero. It's marginally less gross that way. Then get a straw and take it right to the back of your mouth to swallow so you bypass a lot of your tastebuds.

It will work, I promise, so don't stay too far from the loo. Vaseline or Sudocrem are essential.

i didn't but know you can have a fizzy drink

Just had mine a few days ago!

My advice re the liquid laxative is to chill it - I put ice cubes in it, and stored in the fridge in advance. To take it, i found a mouthful of the prep followed by a mouthful of lemon cordial helped it go down for me! Don't drink it too fast - I did on my first one 5 years ago and it made me nauseous. I took a litre over 30 mins this time, no nausea. It's pleasant, but lemon cordial to take the taste away really helped.

Took about an hour to work for me, then was very effective - suddenly urge, you need to be near the loo!

Softest toilet paper in the shop and vaseline or sudicreme before you start - I used it half way through, but I was sore by then. I told the Dr and he used a local anestic gel fir the procedure, which was very effective.

Mine was Tues am, so last food was toast and a boiled egg at 8am on Monday, prep from 5 on Monday, but I was up a couple of times in the night still passing what was just liquid by then. I use a sanitary towel in case of leakage, would definitely advise.

Procedure less onerous than the prep!

I'm allowed to eat until 1pm but nervous that's too late reading these timings ! There's a specific leaflet for a morning appointment though !
I thought Coke would be a no due to the colour or does it become clear by the time it's been through you?!

I drank then had some seven up. Best of luck x

Don't worry about overdoing the white bread, the preparation will remove the lot. I don't think you'll feel faint either, the loo trips are quite distracting.

I had an afternoon procedure about a month ago, if it makes you feel better, the actual colonoscopy is a breeze in comparison to drinking the moviprep or whatever. Really don't like the lemon taste but it does the job. Don't think I'd have wanted more lemon but flavoured/orange squash or whatever takes away the worst of the aftertaste.

Do we think lemon or apple lucozade with prep is allowed ?

I think so. I can't find my preparation pamphlet but this was my diet sheet if it's helpful.

Although this suggests it shouldn't be red or purple. The preparation medication should come with a leaflet setting out what you can drink.

I had no trouble with the Moviprep and didn't think it was that bad. I found hot drinks made me feel fuller than cold drinks, I don't like black coffee or tea but peppermint tea worked well for me. You can also have clear boiled sweets as long as they are not red or purple. I had my colonoscopy due to chronic diarrhoea, so the emptying out bit wasn't that much different from my normal life! You might be in the loo for a while so make sure you are warm and have something to do while you're in there. I find it an excellent time to read a book! 😁 I have a basin thing to fill with warm water that sits in the toilet bowl to wash my underneaths, which seems to help. Also consider using wet wipes to clean yourself. Having a nice warm bath helps to sooth any gripes.

How about a vegetable stock cube dissolved in warm water? Or clear vegetable soup (with any bits strained out)? After I'd taken the prep stuff I did clear cuppa soups, sucked clear boiled sweets (not red or purple ones - check your rules about colours because I can't remember which ones were ok), and drank water - squash might've been ok but again I can't remember.

Also - lipsyll rather than vaseline is my helpful tip - easier to apply! Use it after every bowel movement, and put some on before you start.

I actually found the prep wasn't too bad - I just lined up some box sets, stayed near a toilet (very near - if you feel the urge to go, go straight to the toilet, do not pass go !). I was paranoid and put towels on the floor in case I didn't make it, but second time I had one I didn't bother with that.

Veg cup a soups strained is a great idea. I might not need them but it would be good to have them on hand, psychologically!

I also feel like I'm getting a grumbly tummy already probably from all the white food ! And senna taken for 3 days as advised. I'm a good worker so am craving a rating of excellent for my prep or I'll feel I'll let myself down 🤣

I've had one glass wasn't that bad. I'm now incredibly nervous about when it'll work. Seriously anxious. What's wrong with me??!!

Both times, it's taken several hours to start working for me so fear not, you will get there!

I've had about 10 sigmoidoscopies/colonoscopies in the last ~20 years (Crohn's). The prep is the worst. If you can't stomach the Moviprep, ask for Picolax. Much less volume; still horrible but less to neck down. Not sure about cola but lemonade is ok for a mixer. Try to avoid things with bits in, so cuppa soup OK but without lots of red pepper bits!
Sudocrem 100%. Nice loo roll and some of those wipes.
If it all fails (it has for me a few times - I vomited all the prep up) then if they really need to scope you, they'll give you a Fleet enema in the hospital. It is fascinating to watch them do the procedure. Then you get tea and toast and go home! Good luck, OP.

Yes to making sure you are warm.

Drinking the ice cold liquid (to avoid the taste) and alternating with more cold drinks made me feel really queasy and freezing.

By the second lot, I switched to black tea, and a hot drink felt much better.

I've had a glass of pear and apple barley water. Do you think that's ok? I'm on my own now and no lemonade in but DH can probably bring some back with him. I'm feeling very sick now tbh. Drank it no issue but it was 🤢

Yeah I feel awash with cold liquid now. Trying to watch tv but slightly nervous !

I found that drinking it through a straw was best, and holding my nose too.