Quote from elsabet:
Hi, all. I am having my first colonscopy May 13th. and I am terrified. I live in Canada and the prep. might differ. I have to take 1 pill called "Reglan" one hour before I start drinking "Colyte" But it sounds almost like the prep. mentioned here. I am really nervous about it and thinking of cancelling the appointment. I am having this procedure because my mom died very suddenly with cancer with mets to the liver, unkown primary. It was suggested by my doctor to start screening with a colonoscopy. I am scared silly to say the least. any suggestions? This prep sounds like the prep that is mentioned here. doing the same thing, pills and liquid, cleaning you out. but isn't there any easier way, like an enema or something? I can handle not eating anything the day before and only clear fluids, But the side effects mentioned here has me on pins and needles. Help!
As dwallech said the prep can interfere with one's electrolyte balance. this would account for the shakes and fainting as could being slightly anemic. If you are aware of an existing anemia please make sure the doc already knows about it.
Prior to the prep have a bowl of chicken broth and a bottle of sport drink or pedialyte to start your electrolytes off in good shape. If you are prone to low blood pressure you also must make sure you are hydrated so keep drinking the sport drink and any other clear liquid both before and after the Colyte is done.
You may have
clear apple juice
water
clear soda pop (non-caffinated) such as ginger ale or 7-up/Sprite(go easy on this though as they cause gas
clear broth (no noodles or vegiies)
Jello any flavor, no fruit or whip cream
Sport drinks such as Gatorade
Pedialyte
As soon as you start feeling ill while drinking the Colyte stop, don't continue trying only to throw it up. Instead simply wait an extra 10-20 minutes before resuming it. The time taken to down this stuff isn't that important, a few extra minutes between glassfuls won't make a big difference. If you can get through at least half of it or better you may be 'clean' enough for the colonoscopy anyway even without an irrigation.
Colyte and Golytely are much easier to take if they are very cold Mix it the night before and store in the fridge, do not freeze it though. Although they tell you not to you may mix a little Kool-aid or Crystal Lite powder with the stuff. Best bet is to mix it without powder in the jug and to add a little powder to the glass (1/8th teaspoon of Crystal Lite was enough per glass for me). This way if the flavoring is not helping you can stop using it , if you mix the whole jug with flavoring you are stuck with it. BTW I use the unflavored Colyte, sometimes it comes with a slight pineapple flavoring already and I hate pineapple.
Also keep a bottle of alcohol based mouthwash handy while drinking the Colyte. After each glassful immediately rinse with mouthwash and be sure to get your lips rinsed with it as well.
do not swallow the mouthwash I found Scope to do the job well. This keeps that taste out of your mouth between glasses.
Stay calm while drinking the prep, (easier said than done I know) have soothing music on and have a magazine in the bathroom. Reader's Digest or similar with short articles.
Hope this helps.
