colonoscopy

[It's time. 145]

I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy and since my previous one was " fair" they want me to the high volume two day prep. This is after my sleeve surgery and I can't see how I can drink 180 oz, in 24 hours. I normally have 64 oz in a day. My stomach just isn't that big anymore. I have a call into my doctor. What have others done for the two day prep, post surgery?

[catwoman7 10,881]

I scheduled my last colonoscopy appointment in the afternoon so I could break up the Golytely (or whatever it is) - I drank half of it in the evening and the other half the following morning (per instructions).

I had a morning appt the first time I went through this so I had to drink the whole gallon in one evening. Not doing that again...

In both cases, though, I had to drink a bottle of magnesium citrate the night before I started the golytely, and the mag citrate is only like 16 oz - so I did have two days of prep, but it sounds like it might be different from yours.

(in other words, I did day 1 - bottle of magnesium citrate. Day 2 - half gallon of Golytely in the evening. Day 3 (day of colonoscopy) - the other half gallon of Golytely that morning, colonoscopy in the afternoon

Edited July 1, 2021 by catwoman7

[lizonaplane 1,605]

12 hours ago, It's time. said:

I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy and since my previous one was " fair" they want me to the high volume two day prep. This is after my sleeve surgery and I can't see how I can drink 180 oz, in 24 hours. I normally have 64 oz in a day. My stomach just isn't that big anymore. I have a call into my doctor. What have others done for the two day prep, post surgery?

The liquid doesn't stay in your stomach; it passes right through, so that's not really the issue. I haven't had surgery yet, but I have had two colonoscopies. I will tell you the worst part is the taste of the stuff and it makes things come out both ends. You will not want to drink it, but it's got to be done - I work in cancer research and colon cancer is not something to mess with! I would take as big "gulps" as your new stomach allows, and try to drink as early in the day as you can and then just keep drinking. Hopefully it will be not as terrible as you think and you will have a clear result! Good luck!

[It's time. 145]

15 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

I scheduled my last colonoscopy appointment in the afternoon so I could break up the Golytely (or whatever it is) - I drank half of it in the evening and the other half the following morning (per instructions).

I had a morning appt the first time I went through this so I had to drink the whole gallon in one evening. Not doing that again...

In both cases, though, I had to drink a bottle of magnesium citrate the night before I started the golytely, and the mag citrate is only like 16 oz - so I did have two days of prep, but it sounds like it might be different from yours.

(in other words, I did day 1 - bottle of magnesium citrate. Day 2 - half gallon of Golytely in the evening. Day 3 (day of colonoscopy) - the other half gallon of Golytely that morning, colonoscopy in the afternoon

Maybe I wasn't clear on their instructions. The day before, 64oz in the AM then another 64oz in the PM. PLUS, an additional 64oz the morning of the procedure. That's 192oz in 24 hours.

[It's time. 145]

3 hours ago, lizonaplane said:

The liquid doesn't stay in your stomach; it passes right through, so that's not really the issue. I haven't had surgery yet, but I have had two colonoscopies. I will tell you the worst part is the taste of the stuff and it makes things come out both ends. You will not want to drink it, but it's got to be done - I work in cancer research and colon cancer is not something to mess with! I would take as big "gulps" as your new stomach allows, and try to drink as early in the day as you can and then just keep drinking. Hopefully it will be not as terrible as you think and you will have a clear result! Good luck!

I've had several of these, but none post surgery and none that called for 192 oz in 24 hours. It's not the taste nor the shitting. I'm concerned about the amount of Fluid intake in a short period of time. My stomach is small. You'll understand after your surgery. They want 64 oz the day before at 8am, then another 64oz at 5 pm then another 64oz at 8am the day of the procedure. I normally have 64oz total in 24 hours. This is three times the amount I normally have. My post surgery doctor said there is a modified prep for bariatric patients.

[RickM 1,747]

I would definitely give some push back and ask for a different prep - there are many. Does he know that you have had WLS since your last scope?

I just had one last month and they prescribed SuPrep, which is a low volume, two step prep - two 8 oz (IIRC) bottles that you drink fairly quickly, followed by a couple of bottles of Water the next hour, done the night before and then again the morning of the procedure, and that seemed to go well - for both me and the doc. Should be little problem for a 1 year post op.

My wife had a bad scope some years ago despite being compliant with the prep, It turns out that others with the DS like her reported similar problems - it seems that the wacky intestinal configuration needs a bit more time to clean out, as we discussed in one of our support group meetings. One of the other vets in the group who had a similar problem worked out a revised routine with his gastro that basically involved doing the clear diet for two (or possibly three) days before the bowel prep, and that did the job. When it was time for my wife's next scope a couple of years ago - new gastro since we had moved - we hit him up with the problem, and while he was focusing mostly on the WLS needing a low volume prep, which he prescribed, she did the modified longer liquid (not strictly clear the first day, just liquidy) and all went well with that one, too.

So, while I am not an MD, it is clear that there are several ways to get the job done, and you gastro should be sensitive to your needs as well as his own. It kinda sounds like he is punishing you for what he may interpret as non-compliance the last time, or maybe this potion is what he is most experienced with for a more challenging case, and while he may be aware of newer preps on the market, he isn't experienced with them and goes with his old tried and true.

Again, I would push back at this, tell him that you can't comply with this and why. Discuss what other options there are to get the job done that works for both of you. Your medical care, as with most things in life, are a negotiation and you have a say in this. If the doc doesn't want to comply with your needs, then it is entirely within your rights to go to a different doctor to get what you need. Ask your PCP or your bariatric practice for a referral to someone more bariatric friendly, if necessary.

Good luck,

[It's time. 145]

1 hour ago, RickM said:

I would definitely give some push back and ask for a different prep - there are many. Does he know that you have had WLS since your last scope?

I just had one last month and they prescribed SuPrep, which is a low volume, two step prep - two 8 oz (IIRC) bottles that you drink fairly quickly, followed by a couple of bottles of Water the next hour, done the night before and then again the morning of the procedure, and that seemed to go well - for both me and the doc. Should be little problem for a 1 year post op.

My wife had a bad scope some years ago despite being compliant with the prep, It turns out that others with the DS like her reported similar problems - it seems that the wacky intestinal configuration needs a bit more time to clean out, as we discussed in one of our support group meetings. One of the other vets in the group who had a similar problem worked out a revised routine with his gastro that basically involved doing the clear diet for two (or possibly three) days before the bowel prep, and that did the job. When it was time for my wife's next scope a couple of years ago - new gastro since we had moved - we hit him up with the problem, and while he was focusing mostly on the WLS needing a low volume prep, which he prescribed, she did the modified longer liquid (not strictly clear the first day, just liquidy) and all went well with that one, too.

So, while I am not an MD, it is clear that there are several ways to get the job done, and you gastro should be sensitive to your needs as well as his own. It kinda sounds like he is punishing you for what he may interpret as non-compliance the last time, or maybe this potion is what he is most experienced with for a more challenging case, and while he may be aware of newer preps on the market, he isn't experienced with them and goes with his old tried and true.

Again, I would push back at this, tell him that you can't comply with this and why. Discuss what other options there are to get the job done that works for both of you. Your medical care, as with most things in life, are a negotiation and you have a say in this. If the doc doesn't want to comply with your needs, then it is entirely within your rights to go to a different doctor to get what you need. Ask your PCP or your bariatric practice for a referral to someone more bariatric friendly, if necessary.

Good luck,

Thank you so so much for your response. You seem to understand the situation. I like the idea of a longer liquid diet or even doing the 192 oz they want me to have over 3 days. I am still waiting for a return phone call from the doctor but it feels good to have some suggestions/modifications to discuss with him. My post surgery doctor just told me he would defer to the gastro which was disappointing. I thought he would have some options.

[lizonaplane 1,605]

On 7/1/2021 at 2:09 PM, It's time. said:

I've had several of these, but none post surgery and none that called for 192 oz in 24 hours. It's not the taste nor the shitting. I'm concerned about the amount of Fluid intake in a short period of time. My stomach is small. You'll understand after your surgery. They want 64 oz the day before at 8am, then another 64oz at 5 pm then another 64oz at 8am the day of the procedure. I normally have 64oz total in 24 hours. This is three times the amount I normally have. My post surgery doctor said there is a modified prep for bariatric patients.

I may not have had surgery yet, but I have listened to what my surgeon and other surgeons have said. Fluid goes right through the stomach. It doesn't stay in the stomach. But I agree with @RickM ask your GI guy to talk to your bariatric surgeon and come up with a better plan.