Colonoscopy Prep?

[grcxo]

I’ve got a colonoscopy on friday, is there any tips and/or advice that can be given to make the prep a little easier?

Don't whatever you do drink Coke. It hurts like hell. Some cream in case you need soothing perhaps.

Vaseline.

nice glass of wine and a book!

I’ve never had one but DH has had loads. He follows the low residue diet for longer than it says (tbh I’m not sure why) and starts drinking the “stuff” a couple of hours earlier too because the first time he really struggled to get through it. Apparently it’s better cold and you can put cordial in it (not red) but he doesn’t. Also sudocream on the arse BEFORE you feel you need it.

It really depends what prep you get - moviprep is absolutely foul and IMO it’s better to just gulp it down otherwise you won’t get through it , nothing you add to it actually improves the taste so it’s better to just have another drink alongside it . Picolax is much easier as it’s a much smaller volume . Follow the diet to the letter and you should be fine . I never had a sore bum probably because I didn’t actually go that much and I didn’t have sedation and would describe the procedure as mild discomfort at times .

the prep that i have is plenvu, it says to dilute it with a litre of water. drink a pint at 6pm, then another pint at 9pm. i suffer with a really weak stomach so i’m worried i wont be able to keep it down lol

I would say apply some sudocrem before you start drinking the prep. I had the Picolax so not familiar with the higher volume one. Are you able to chill it as this might make you feel less nauseous with it?

I am lucky enough to endure these bad Boys yearly and now have a system. Plenvu is notntoo bad, when I had my first years ago the phrase "ring of fire" comes to mind.
The drink is sooo sweet so I do the following:

• take a big skull of the gross drink and then chase it down with lemonade (imagine you In a club doing shots). I usually get through it in 30 minutes. Skull, chase, TV every 5 minutes. *lots of water *for the morning drink I chase it down with a cold coffee. *sometimes I can't get through all the drink in the morning, the main thing is that what is coming out of your fire ring is water with a mild yellow tinge (charming I know). Good luck

I have to have colonoscopies every three years, had both private and nhs through the years with Sri ours prep and various advice regarding diet beforehand.

if you have a question tummy, start reducing your food in advance so there is little in your stomach and less in your digestive track. This also helps to avoid explosive diarrhoea as there isn’t much to come out. Stay home while you’re doing the prep and make sure your family know what is going on, that you’ll need quick access to the loo. Have air freshener at the ready too.

i found drinking squash with the prep (so dilute as per instructions, then add some squash in your glass, then add the diluted prep) helps to mask the taste. I sipped over time rather than downed it all.

Re the prep, to be honest I just get on and drink it.

Don't think about it too much - just get on and do it, with distraction (I watch TV).

My first colonoscopy, because social media wasn't what it is now, it didn't even enter my head that it would be a problem. Now you read loads of accounts of people saying they couldn't do it and it plants the seed that you're going to find it difficult before you've even started.

It wouldn't help me at all to start drinking other stuff straight afterwards as the thing I struggle with most is drinking the prescribed liquid volume of the prep!

You watch tv?! Christ. I don't get the time needed to get to the toilet lol.

OP - i literally sit on the toilet for between 4-5 hours. Bloody boring . The prep is disgusting. Do not have moviprep if you can help it!

Yep, I watch TV and then go to the bathroom as needed. I somehow have always managed to get there (despite being prone to accidents due to ulcerative colitis).

And I've only ever had Moviprep which I gather from people online that is the worst of the bunch. I somehow just manage to drink it despite not ever drinking soft drinks in day to day life. I don't have much more difficulty drinking the Moviprep than I'd have drinking large quantities of orange Fanta which I also don't like.

I hate Picolax !!!!! Good luck

This!

I didn't bother leaving the bathroom! Books, soduko, phone with plenty if charge...and vaseline. Its not nice but you'll be grand!

Don’t bother getting off the loo and wiping yourself. You will just get sore. I sat on the loo for three hours reading a good book.

i had my colonoscopy a few months back , i was fine! i watched tv, did house work etc i didn’t feel desperate to use the loo, i just went when i felt like i could go, and they said that the prep worked brilliant, i must have been one of the lucky ones 😂

I've done this what seems like a million times. I would say don't dilute the prep as much as it says so if it says to one litre, make it to half a litre. But keep the other half litre of water next to it uncontaminated.
Gulp several swigs of prep. Follow straight up with the water or lemonade. Then again. At least that way you get to clear your palate. Breathe deeply relax. I have never thrown up.