Colonoscopy Prep

[Mimi]

Sorry for the distasteful subject, but at my age, I should have a colonoscopy. I have always hesitated because you have to drink a large amount of some liquid to clean out the colon, and I assume that it is "flavored" with sugar or artificial sweetener. I would never be able to get it down or keep it down. Any advice? Do you know of any products of that kind that we would be able to ingest?

[meaniejean]

I am sorry I don't really have any tips for you, but I can tell you that I had a really rough time with the prep. I think the kind of prep I got was a Fleet Phospo-Soda - lemon-ginger flavored maybe - not sure. It was disgusting and I was nauseated and in pain the whole time. I think they have an unflavored one as well. One issue is that I think they all contain glycerin which I seem to have a problem with for some reason. If you find something that works, please let me know. I have to go in every 5 years due to a strong family history of colon cancer (and a history of bleeding - which has resolved completely on a fructose-free diet). I also made the mistake of drinking apple juice during the fast per the instructions I received (before I knew about HFI) - huge mistake that left me in really bad shape.

Oh - they do use some drugs during the procedure so you might want to find out what they use. Also, they tried to give me food after - peanut butter crackers - I refused them as I am allergic to peanuts. So, you might want to make sure you bring an HFI-safe snack with you as you will have fasted for quite some time by that point.

Best of luck!

[julienc]

I would definitely sit down with your doctor and talk about other options.

Before my c-section this past October they tried to give me some type of drink that was supposed to help keep me from vomiting. They couldn't confirm that it was fructose-free, so they were able to use a different drug that they knew was safe. Same with the gestational diabetes test.

Your doctors need to help you and work through this. Good luck.

[CJSculpts]

Here's the lowdown from someone who has had colonoscopies since her early twenties:

- Fleet's Soda is now off the market so you do not have to worry about that.
- Golitely (sp?) which has a funny yet obvious name that always made me think of "Breakfast at Tiffanys" is a horrible tasting powder. It is mixed with water for consumption. I am not positive, but do not think that there is anything in this that would be problematic. The issue would be that they recommend drinking clear fruit juice as a "chaser." This stuff is so awful to drink that I usually found it impossible to complete the full prep and once threatened to punch a nurse if she tried to make me. (Totally out of character but I really cannot drink the stuff without throwing it back up immediately.
- The latest is a serious of giant pills that I think are made out of the GOlitely stuff but are MUCH more palatable. Check to see if the are HFI safe and then insist on them.

One of my biggest problems is with the Versed that the give for the procedure. I wimped out and allowed them to use it this last time despite the fact that my chart says not to. I became violently ill on the car ride home and then spent at least a day in bed with unshakable chills. I have never been given anything to eat afterward.

I am so glad that you posted this or I might not have thought about how I would deal with my next test. I too have a ton of family history of colon cancer (wonder how many of us do??) but would not have had a colonoscopy for another few decades had I not developed these awful GI problems. I have had many polyps removed since so I feel fortunate to have been sick enough to have my GI doc want to perform that first one.

So this is a freakish admission but I also have 3+ ft extra colon. Does anyone else also have physical abnormalities??

[CJSculpts]

Okay question for you guys...
I have read some posts here about not being able to tolerate glycerin in foods. Often for GI test prep, it is suggested to use a glycerin based enema. Would this be problematic as well??