to think these sachets of yummy-looking pre-colonoscopy prep may not clear my snail's-pace system in time!!!

[emeraldgirl1]

Got colonoscopy tomorrow morning and this afternoon I have to start drinking the clear-it-all-out stuff... Am just getting a bit worried that it isn't going to move through my system in time! I have horrendously slow bowels (reason for the colonoscopy!) and at the moment I need roughly 2 sachets of movicol a day plus careful diet just to keep things in check.

But the last couple of days I haven't had much of a proper BM at all (apologies if you're breakfasting) cos I've been easing up on the movicol and cutting down the fibre in preparation for today, as instructed. Now I'm getting worried that the clearout stuff (a much stronger version of movicol) won't get everything cleared out of my sluggish system in time for tomorrow morning. DH had this done a few months back and his was marvellously effective, but then his system is very fast and regular.

If it's not clear tomorrow morning then they'll have to give me an enema (don't know what it is, but I don't like the name...)

Anyone else done this colonoscopy prep under similar circs, with ridiculously slow-moving, potentially slightly backed-up bowel? Did it work IN TIME????/ Argh - not particularly worried about the whole procedure tomorrow but now I'm stressing about this aspect of it and not sure there's much I can do right now...

Thanks and sorry if TMI

Thanks everyone... got the magazines and the Vaseline and the moist loo paper... it can't be that bad... (crossing fingers and wondering if praying might help...)

DH didn't have too awful a time when he did it but I'm a lot more sqeamish about these things than he is...

Drink plenty of water!!!!

I cried when they told me I was going to have picolax for the second time (consultant said I only had to have enema) DH had to speak to consultant as I was in such a state - I was given an enema

Did you eat what it says to eat the day before?? I was near the toilet alllllll day the next day. Definitely worked with me. Good luck!!

I did indeed religiously follow my eat-the-day-before instructions... white bread, rich tea etc...

45 mins til I have to start the prep... main problem at the moment is that i'm bloody STARVING... usually I'd have had 2 breakfasts and lunch by now and I've only had 1 breakfast at 8am...

Take it now, 45min isn't a big deal and if it gets it cleared out it isn't going to "refill" based on what you're eating (or not eating) now. So dive in, and drink it all up - tastes foul, I recommend to keep drinking without stopping.... but if you throw it up, gives you time to find someone else that has it.

I seem to recall (many years ago now) it took longer than I thought to start working, was wondering whether anything would happen.... but it did....

emerald remember me? I posted on your last thread about blood in my stool. I was very worried about a possible colonoscopy and you did a stellar job in reassuring me. I had a consultation with a gastroenterologist just days after that thread after which he booked me in for sigmoidoscopy - THE VERY NEXT DAY. No prep was necessary only an enema an hour before the procedure. I'm slow like you but the enema was really excellent, it cleared out everything .

Enema was administered by a very lovely nursed who noticed I was very nervous and embarrassed, so she explained everything and was kind and very gentle.

Enema was warm, liquid, gave a strange sensation but not unpleasant. It was all very easy and quick. Nurse told me to hold 'it' as long I could (I managed 9 minutes and 36 seconds!).

So no need to worry or be embarrassed if you need one.

Incidentally during sigmoidoscopy, sedation is not necessary (I initially wanted to be sedated but the team were so great at getting me to relax that I didn't want/need one in the end) so I stayed alert and he nurses ensured I could see the monitor and I watched everything the gastroenterologist was doing. It was so, so fascinating.

Good news is everything is fine with me. No problems. Blood was caused by some tears (acute anal fissures I believe).

Thanks again emerald and I wish you luck with your colonoscopy.

BTW I have had a couple of operations (under general) that necessitated use of laxatives and like you have been, I am always instructed to do start the prep the day before the op. As I said I am very slow but everything is cleared up by the morning of the operation. Those things are powerful. You will feel very 'light' by the morning.

Again good luck and let us know how you get on!

Our PlanetNeptune - hello again! So glad to hear your results were all clear! Thanks for the post, hugely reassuring to hear that enema isn't so awful after all if it comes to that... and that being 'slow' in the BM department doesn't mean the laxative won't necc work... all very reassuring! I've just started drinking the prep and feel less anxious now that I've started IYSWIM. No doubt will be regretting these words in a couple of hours...

Jenny70 - yes I have just started taking it, agree with you that silly to wait a pointless 45 mins so started it about 20 mins ago... feeling a bit sick right now but hope I can keep it down. Have flavoured mine with lime cordial - I'm used to Movicol anyway which tastes almost equally vile so I'm not finding the taste too bad at the mo. The sick feeling, however, I could do without...

I've had two of these - one with picolax, one with fleet phoso-soda...believe me when I say that the picolax is far, far better than the fleet prep. Fleet made me erupt at both ends, it was that foul!

Wet wipes are a wonderful thing in this situation, and drink as much water as possible, it assists in the clearing out process very effficiently!

Picolax!! I always said to patients who I had to give it to to feel the chemical reaction when it is mixed (gets HOT) and imagine if it can do that mixed in water, what will it do to your innards- get everyone to leave the bathroom free because, be very reassured, it WILL work!

I had the same stuff before my colonoscopy and don't think there's any doubt it'll work. By the end of the 4th sachet what I wasn't throwing back up (keep a bowl handy!) I could literally feel going through my system. The last glass went through in minutes! Tmi but I honestly thought I'd never be the same again. I was though and it'll be worth it to know what is happening. I wouldn't worry about being hungry either as food will be last thing on your mind afterwards...and I say that as an absolute food addict.

It is obviously not the easiest stuff to do as the nurse was really surprised I'd managed to do all 4 sachets as she said most don't despite the instructions issued. It too me waaay longer than the recommended time though, hence 6 hours on the toilet! Good luck and hope everythings ok.

I had the same stuff before my colonoscopy and don't think there's any doubt it'll work. By the end of the 4th sachet what I wasn't throwing back up (keep a bowl handy!) I could literally feel going through my system. The last glass went through in minutes! Tmi but I honestly thought I'd never be the same again. I was though and it'll be worth it to know what is happening. I wouldn't worry about being hungry either as food will be last thing on your mind afterwards...and I say that as an absolute food addict.

It is obviously not the easiest stuff to do as the nurse was really surprised I'd managed to do all 4 sachets as she said most don't despite the instructions issued. It too me waaay longer than the recommended time though, hence 6 hours on the toilet! Good luck and hope everythings ok.

thanks feedthegoat... I hadn't realised throwing up might be a problem... I'm 2 glasses in (about 6 to go) and I am feeling pretty ropey at the mo tbh - pretty nauseous... DH didn't throw up when he did this so I wasn't expecting to feel sick :(

I was ok drinking the first litre, it was the next three I struggled with! I didn't throw up until the fourth litre, I think by then the job was done and my body was just protesting. I had a whole new respect for my grandad who had to go though it every few months as was very ill with crohns, as was my brother. Hence why I ended up having the camera but luckily turned out to be ibs.

I was ok drinking the first litre, it was the next three I struggled with! I didn't throw up until the fourth litre, I think by then the job was done and my body was just protesting. I had a whole new respect for my grandad who had to go though it every few months as was very ill with crohns, as was my brother. Hence why I ended up having the camera but luckily turned out to be ibs.

hi again feedthegoat - yes, my auntie and cousin have crohns hence why I'm being investigated (after 8 months of constipation...) I'm in awe of people who go through this more often... horrible illness, I wouldn't wish it on anyone .

Back on the Picolax theme, had both sachets and not a visit to the loo. It's now 8.30pm and i have a 9am appointment. Am I human? Anyone else experienced the same?

So had Picolax at 2pm and 6pm including two tablets at 2:15 by 8:30 I really thought they were not going to work however, at 9, 9.10 9.30 they worked. Unfortunately experience tells me I will awake during the night and need the toilet urgently.
I have ulcerative colitis and am having colonoscopy and biopsies ( 9:00am tomorrow) my last sigmoidoscopy had Dysplasia features = a change to cells in the lining of the gut associated with a small increased risk of developing bowel cancel. I'll post again wen I get home/results.

...and try to stay within 2-3 paces of the bathroom.
We only had one loo when I did mine (now we have 3) and told family they had to MOVE when I yelled....too bad whatever they were doing in the loo.

I had a 2 for 1 special a week ago. (endoscopy & gastroscopy). My prep was (the day before) taking some pills at 8 am, then a pack of picolax at 1 pm, and another one a few hours later. I have done this before no, but for some reason I got really ill this time, vomiting and almost fainting. But as soon as I arrived at the hospital and was hooked to an IV, I began to feel a bet better. I was booked for the afternoon.

I hate the prep and am not doing it again.

Corrections.
I have done this before np, not no.

A bit better, not bet better.

I bit too late but for anyone else using this stuff - buy some of those wet wipe toilet paper things - it's worth it.

I have to take stuff called Fleet and drinking it is the worst part - it's weird texture and greasy/scummy feeling makes me heave.

I have a weird system and it does its job - but sometimes I barf too.

Thinking of you OP

Round here the standard is 4 sachets of Cleanprep (most revolting substance known to man). IME nothing much happens for 3 sachets, after which you won't be leaving the bathroom, let alone the house for some time.

I d suggest you start a bit early in case you find the stuff hard to get down. Good luck!

Which is the one that tastes salty, sweet and activates all the taste buds at once, not in a nice way?

Takes me back that does... shat so hard I nearly turned inside out!

I honestly would rather have another barium meal than that stuff. /shudders

Barbarianmum I agree re Cleanprep.