<p>^^</p>
<p>My dr. said that tea and coffee (no cream) were considered clear liquids and could be drunk until, I think, 3 hours before. But I would have preferred a morning appt too; I could have spent the afternoon on the couch relaxing, rather than spending the morning needlessly worrying.</p>
<p>Emaheevul07: Gatorade is another good chaser.</p>
<p>I will go for my first colonoscopy as soon as possible after I turn 50. I have a close friend whose BOTH parents passed away from colon cancer. I’m not sure what their history of colonoscopies was.</p>
<p>I had a 10am appointment and had to fast completely after midnight the night before-- not even clear fluids, and a clear fluid fast for the day leading up to that. The docs should really get together and set some kind of standard, it sounds like a lot of possibly better options arent being offered.</p>
<p>I asked whether the pills could be cut in half, was told they could.</p>
<p>1moremom, it’s interesting that you are tiny and also have trouble with the prep. I’m not as tiny as you, weigh about 118 lbs but I have wondered if the standard prep is just too much for my system. </p>
<p>I’ve taken pills, fluids and pills+fluids and always end up on the bathroom floor. Ah well. A night of misery is worth it.</p>
<p>Sistersunnie, could you tell a little bit more about the pills? I just don’t think I can do the liquid after the last time. Are the pills as effective and did you have trouble taking them or was it okay? Did you have to drink a lot of liquid with them? Thanks.</p>
<p>I a 57 ,and yesterday I had my FIFTH colonoscopy .The best prep I had was the most recent and I used MIROLAX ,which is TASTELESS ,in a 64 oz bottle ,which I consumed over 3 hours ,along with BISACODYL -2 tiny tablets twice ,2 at 6 pm ,and 2 at 10 pm . I have had 5 or 6 various which involved anesthesia ,and it is no big deal .The procedure only takes about 15 minutes . I once had a sigmoidoscopy with too light sedation ,and THAT was TERRIBLE ,as they blow lots of air ,and that was crampy .As long as you are out ,it is fine . JUST DO IT !!</p>
<p>The Mirolax was a powder ,which I mixed into a 64 oz bottle of apple juice .</p>
<p>My new doc here in New Jersey is prescribing Mirolax and Bisacodyl. Hope I’m not too late in getting this done. Realized in going through my “health” file that I’m a year late, not six months.</p>
<p>My mom had her first colonoscopy this morning - she is 76. We don’t live in the same town, but she is always so good about having her other “check-ups” - mammograms, dentist, cholesterol, etc. I guess I assumed she had had one. She was having some bowel issues starting around Thanksgiving- that’s when we started asking her about and pushing her to have one. I can’t believe her doc has never pushed her to have one! 76! She is in very good active health otherwise. In fact, this was the first type of procedure of any kind that she has ever had that they put her out. No time in the hospital except giving birth. I hope I’m so lucky!</p>
<p>So far results are good - took a couple of polyps, none cancerous, but I guess they will biopsy them anyway for precancerous conditions. I PROMISED her I would schedule mine. I recently turned 51 so it’s time!</p>
<p>Abasket - my H’s aunt - 98 - just passed last month. At the service her daughter told us she had never had a mammogram or a colonoscopy. Amazing. She had NO medical conditions. We are hoping that we are as healthy as she but will follow any preventative measures as recommended!</p>
<p>No nuts, seeds, etc for a week before. I had to do the clear liquid diet for 24 hours prior. Started the pills noon on the day before the am colonscopy. There were 32 large pills, took the first 20 at noon(4 at a time with 8 oz of water each dose) in 15 minute intervals. Finish with a can of gingerale. Then the last 12 (again a few at a time, 15 mins apart) with at least 8 oz of water each dose and finish with ginger ale. So thats about a gallon of water and 16 oz of ginger ale minimum. I think the pills were the same stuff you drink in liquid, tasted like it anyway. The prep was very successful. UGH!</p>
<p>DH had his colonoscopy today…they didn’t find anything and we are happy about that. “Come back in 5 years.”</p>
<p>His prep was 1 bisacodyl pill and 8 glasses of Miralax-type solution, after a day on clear liquids. Wasn’t so bad, that I could tell. :)</p>
<p>Happy Valentine’s Day!</p>
<p>Because of family history, I had my first when I turned 40. Lucky I did, the exam might have saved my life. Don’t put it off, especially if you have a family history, as the exam is also the treatment.</p>
<p>[Dogs</a> sniff out colon cancer - USATODAY.com](<a href=“USA TODAY - Breaking News and Latest News Today”>USA TODAY - Breaking News and Latest News Today)</p>
<p>Sigh. I can’t tell you how much I dreaded a colonoscopy because of the prep! I didn’t get it when I turned exactly 50, I figured 50-ish would be good enough.</p>
<p>Well, destiny got the better of me and at just about 51 exactly I started bleeding horribly. I’ll leave out all the details, but for this thread… suffice it to say that within one calendar year I had 3 colonoscopies, colon surgery (hemi colectomy – which requires a full prep), another hospitalizaton (a small prep) a video capsule endoscopy to see my small intestine (which required almost a full prep), and a sigmoidoscopy (small prep). Oh, and 2 or 3 cat scans, which required not preps, but drinking horrid contrast material.</p>
<p>So I really, really got over my “thing” about preps. If I can do all this, anyone can do it one time!</p>
<p>BTW, on the first, urgent colonoscopy (apparently, if you are 50-ish, and bleeding enough to almost need an ER for loss of blood, they don’t like it! And it is really scary! Well, because you were stupid and ignored a little blood for a couple of weeks because you thought it was “nothing to worry about”) they found a “megapolyp” too big to remove during the colonoscopy. Not too common. Biopsy was precancerous, and the polyp was big enough that the sample wasn’t enough to know for sure, so out it – and a good part of my colon – had to come.</p>
<p>Had I gotten my colonoscopy during the year I was 50, before I just turned 51, they would have found it without any of the drama of bleeding and blood loss (although they estimate it was growing for about 10 years and I still would have needed surgery).</p>
<p>
Please don’t let her family confuse not getting screening with not having conditions. Her mom could just have easily passed at 57 if she had something…</p>
<p>^My mother was of the school that you avoided doctors at all cost, unless you were on your deathbed. Well, she died at 74 of a stroke, which couldn’t have been predicted or tested for, BUT…we’re pretty sure she also had some lower intestinal issues which she didn’t want to admit. I don’t know what it would have taken to get her to go to the doctor.</p>
<p>Silversas, thanks for sharing your story. That must have been a difficult year, but I bet you inspired some folks to quit procrastinating and make the appointment!</p>
<p>I have not read the whole thread but wondering how do people with diabetes/hypoglycemia prep for the colonoscopy?</p>