When I curse someone these days I tell them May your toilet back up during your colonoscopy prep! The Suprep was recommended and highly pushed when I had mine but at over $125 co-pay I said no and went with the alternative, Go-Lytely which was something like $10 co-pay. That was a LOT of volume to drink (and I debated maybe I should have just paid for it) but for me it wasn't taking the stuff that was the worst. I had lemon drops I'd take after taking the stuff and it came with a lemon flavor packet. They said you could mix Crystal Lite or something with it, but I just used the packet provided. What was worst for me, and I didn't even think of it before was the various pain I was in from sitting there so long. I could hardly walk afterward. I know now to take some pain pills before and let them go to work. I also took the advice I read somewhere to cut out meat and things from the diet about 5-7 days before. I ate a lot of Rice Crispies and stuff to be on the lighter end and FWIW they said I did an excellent job of prep for the procedure. They wanted me back in 3 years. Other things that were suggested, comfy toilet paper and Vaseline. Big mistake: Aloe Vera gel. WHEW, never again! And having the computer there to distract me was helpful. I also started a little early with the prep and next time might start a little earlier yet. Not that I want to prolong it but when I got to the point of gagging on the stuff, I could take a little break, drink a little water and move on. (Was that a pun?)

I have had so many I lost track, but I have a positive history. I had to follow a cancer protocol. At first I had another after 6 months, then once a year for a few years, then three years, and now 5 years. My history started at age 38. I most definitely would not be here alive today if I had not insisted on having one done at 38. I made a believer of my gastroenterologist. When you have a nagging feeling that something is wrong stand your ground! I have had several types of preps but I have absolutely refused to do the golytly gallon drink. I also stand up for the type of prep I will do and with as much experience as I have I know what works best for me. I did like the pills and I knew to take them as prescribed with the proper amount of water. Unfortunately because of some people having negative reactions not many doctors use them now. My latest one a little over a year ago was one of the newer split preps it was nasty tasting but I always chill it and use ice, a straw and hold my nose as I suck down as much as possible. Then immediately rinse my mouth with water. It really does work. I also always start taking a stool softener, NOT laxative!, 2 nights prior to the prep. It makes the movement much easier and less painful. Not being able to eat is difficult. I also buy my favorite soup from a restaurant and strain it for just liquid. I stock up on Popsicles. Depending on the Iv drug cocktail I might or might not remember anything. The latest version I didn't need to get Phenergan in the mix but I used to become extremely nauseous upon waking up and would vomit, with risk of aspiration. Demerol does that to me. So they knew to add some Phenergan to the Iv. It's not a fun process but I am alive because I did it! That's a very powerful statement. I will stand on a soapbox any day to help get that message across. I was 38 and the doctor said I probably would not have seen 40. I had no definitive symptoms, I had no blood, I had stools shaped like a U, a deep groove down the center. That was caused by the extremely large growth in my lower colon. My doctor decided he would go along with me just to make me feel better. He was shocked. Please get your colonscopy done.

A little late in response to closing the bathroom door…… if anyone has inward opening bathroom doors please have that changed to swing out or if you cannoy afford it then door should stay at least partially open. You never want a loved one on the floor against an inward opening door….. it is so very scary in a medical emergency. So happy for you and your husband Annie!

Hubs is from New Jersey and Taylor ham on a hard roll was the queen of breakfast! Then, the hard rolls lost some of the quality and they bemoaned about that and tended to make a face and emote when it was brought up in discussion. They are Jersey Italians and that is what they do. I live on the east coast and Taylor ham is available here. I have been craving something salty and fatty like that and just might buy some. I havent done that is about 20 years, or more. We dont eat much of that kind of thing, but once in a while..............I still remember the smell of that frying at MILs house. It has a distinctive smell to it, almost acrid. I cant get hard rolls and the ones that are sold as Kaiser rolls in the grocery stores are just soft bread. And, there are no bread bakeries. I might be able to get some decent enough bagels, though. Maybe I will surprise him with some Taylor ham. He is going through some tough times right now.