Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone couldn’t finish colonoscopy prep?

85 replies

BottomStress · 15/05/2021 21:19

Shamelessly posting here for traffic, sorry Blush

I have a colonoscopy tomorrow lunchtime, so started the moviprep at 5pm. I found the first litre absolutely horrendous. I felt so sick, among other things, and was a little bit sick (sorry!) twice. I had an hour break between doses one and two and drank two glasses of water as advised. I tried to drink some of the second about half an hour ago and was very violently sick. I imagine it all of the water I’d drunk and I imagine some of the moviprep too. I left it 5 minutes, tried to drink some more and was sick again.

I’ve spoken to a lovely nurse who advised leaving it another hour and trying again but she said that if I keep being sick or feeling very sick to stop drinking it. I think they’re going to call me in the morning to discuss options, apparently there’s a chance they might give me an enema Blush

Has this happened to anyone else? I feel absolutely pathetic that it’s affecting me so badly, but also much better after being sick! I’ve had to take time off work so I don’t want to not be able to have the colonoscopy done but I’m also not sure I can physically drink another litre of it...

Anyone have any words of advice? I am drinking it cold, through a straw, mixed with lime cordial and I’m sipping cold water with it too!

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 15/05/2021 21:22

Yikes! No advice. Just hope it works out for you.

DidgeDoolittle · 15/05/2021 21:23

This happened to me. It's vile stuff.
I had the colonoscopy but had to have it a second time as hadn't had enough moviprep to clear everything 🤢.
My advice is to try to finish it all. Drink lots of water or you'll get a stinking headache to add to your woes.
Good luck.

DaisyDreaming · 15/05/2021 21:23

My friend couldnt so was given an enema at the hospital instead

PurpleSunrise · 15/05/2021 21:26

I did a home enema so no experience of this....mine wasn’t pretty and I stayed in the bathroom the entire time (so glad I did!!).... in case they give you this option instead. It was alright though....

JackANackAnoreeee · 15/05/2021 21:26

DH didn't finish all of it. He was on the toilet pretty much all night colonoscopy went fine.

buffyslays · 15/05/2021 21:27

I was exactly the same when I had mine! Horrendous stuff, couldn’t finish it. Just get through as much as you can but don’t worry if you can’t get it all down. No advice other than what you’ve already tried I’m afraid.
I probably managed about half of it and the colonoscopy went fine, no problems.

Original poster
BottomStress · 15/05/2021 21:28

Thanks @DaisyDreaming. Do you know roughly how much of it she managed to get down?

Yep, I’m drinking lots of water and I’ll try again in about half an hour. I felt like I had a terrible hangover and now it’s magically gone. Side effect of that is that I’m now very hungry...

OP posts:
marmitegirl01 · 15/05/2021 21:29

It is awful. Much worse than procedure. Mine didn’t work and I had to repeat it 3 days later. You are doing all the tips. Ice cold. Straw so it’s at back of mouth. I just drank it as quick as I could.
No advice just solidarity x

unruly336 · 15/05/2021 21:35

I did a placement in endoscopy as a student nurse. Quite a few couldn’t finish it, maybe about 25%. As long as you finished the majority of it you should be ok. The enema can also finish the job, albeit it is slightly uncomfortable.

Although it is horrible, keep going and take breaks. Try a small cup of about 250-330mls every hour until you’re done.

Best of luck with tomorrow. Also they should give you tea and toast shortly after, which many patients have described to me as the best meal of their lives GrinFlowers

garlictwist · 15/05/2021 21:37

Handhold. The prep is the worst. I deliberately went for the other brand (can't remember its name) because you have less to drink and the results are more...violent. I knew I couldn't have done the moviprep. It's so much liquid.

I didn't finish all mine in the end either but they said I had a clear colon so I guess it didn't matter.

Original poster
BottomStress · 15/05/2021 21:40

Thank you everyone, you’re all lovely Flowers

I’m hopeful that if I can drink another glass or so then it might be OK, even if I have to have an enema too. I guess it’s better that I’ve told them in advance that I might not be able to finish it?

Tea and toast sounds amazing now, so I’m sure in 16 or so hours it will sound even better! Grin

OP posts:
Babymamma192 · 15/05/2021 21:47

@BottomStress I had a colonoscopy last year and I only managed to drink the first packet.
Sorry for tmi but it was running clear after the first one and the Drs were able to complete the colonoscopy.

Hooe it all goes well for you! Honestly the prep is the worst bit and it will all be over soon.

Also I drank mine mixed with sprite if that might help?

Zippea · 15/05/2021 21:48

The prep is really the worst of it. Second worst thing being the modesty shorts. I did the first litre and felt so, so nauseous. It took nearly two hours to drink, had a break and then started drinking the next lot. I found sipping it through a straw helped to minimise the taste.
Then I sat on the loo for 6 hours with a rather good book.
Good luck tomorrow - hope it goes well.

CliftonGreenYork · 15/05/2021 21:54

I was in the same position as you just over a year ago. It really is vile stuff and I laughed as mine was apparently vanilla flavour. I remember really having to force myself to finish each one. Had to hold my nose in the end. Then the bowels of hell opened up. The colonoscopy was a breeze though.

BeaLola · 15/05/2021 21:58

Sympathy - it's the worst but the prep - I nearly hit my DH (he's normally amazingly kind etc) but kept telling me to drink it all down !

I tried t hot and cold - mixed with orange squash , mixed with black currant juice and also drank alongside bov ril

Good luck for tomorrow

MrsClatterbuck · 15/05/2021 21:59

Ist time doing I found it very hard and most certainly didn't drink it all. I was having a barium enema but same prep. I sucked a pear drop between drinking it. Was old to mix some cordial by a nurse so when having a colonoscopy tried elderflower cordial and a straw which was much easier but still not pleasant. I think now that it has been making you sick that there is no way past that now. My Df years ago had to do the same prep and my DM caught him up at night taking imodium!!!! They eventually did a CT scan on his bowel.

DaisyFeather · 15/05/2021 22:01

I just down it, paced of course, with permitted squash in it to try to take away some of the taste. But I’ve been having it since I was wee so I don’t know if I’ve built up tolerance. It is disgusting though. It’s always the worse bit. The enema will be fine too though. far better than when you think it’s worked and they get the vacuum out and you see it on the screen.

SuperSleepyBaby · 15/05/2021 22:04

I think I mixed mine with 7up - and it was less bad! It is very hard to drink it all within the times they say

purplegirl13 · 15/05/2021 22:07

I've done this prep at least 4 times. The first time I threw up and was worried and called the hospital and that said to try and have more. I definitely didn't finish the whole thing but had as much as I could handle before realising I'd get sick again. I was clear enough for the procedure.

I now never finish the prep, I stop taking it once I'm running 'clear' and eat lightly/ low residue the 24 hrs before starting the prep.

wildeverose · 15/05/2021 22:09

I've had 7, and an enema every time! I've never heard of this but it sounds horrific!

Floralnomad · 15/05/2021 22:09

I couldn’t finish the first batch , ended up vomiting most of it . With the second batch in the morning I mixed it in the least amount of water that it said and literally downed it in as few mouthfuls as possible without thinking about how vile it was .The actual procedure was a breeze in comparison to the prep and I had that without sedation .

Original poster
BottomStress · 15/05/2021 22:12

It’s definitely working, but it’s not clear (sorry everyone!) so I don’t think I’d be able to have the colonoscopy done without an enema unless things progress a bit.

I’ve nearly finished another glass, so that will be 1.3litres when I’m done. I’m retching with basically every mouthful though, so I don’t think I can do any more tonight. I’ll try and have another glass in the morning and see what the nurse or doctor says when they call.

OP posts:
Rfjkf · 15/05/2021 22:12

I just can't keep it down, it makes me violently sick. I have to take picolax instead. Best of luck

Welshmaenad · 15/05/2021 22:12

@purplegirl13

I've done this prep at least 4 times. The first time I threw up and was worried and called the hospital and that said to try and have more. I definitely didn't finish the whole thing but had as much as I could handle before realising I'd get sick again. I was clear enough for the procedure.

I now never finish the prep, I stop taking it once I'm running 'clear' and eat lightly/ low residue the 24 hrs before starting the prep.

Can I ask what would constitute low residue? I've been referred to gastroenterology and I know a colonoscopy will be required and I'm already really nervous about it so I'm trying to prepare!
User1357 · 15/05/2021 22:14

It is utterly horrific! I couldn’t finish it.

I have just had to have a CT with contrast as it’s less invasive than the colonoscopy and you have to drink the contrast which is 100 times bloody worse. I vomited 3 times with the first litre.

It would probably help if the hospital didn’t dilute the it with warm flipping water!

Good luck op. I drank 75% and all went fine.

Swipe left for the next trending thread