I sympathize with you. That prep is the worst. My late husband died from colon cancer. I remember one time early on in his diagnosis he had to do that prep three times within a few weeks.

I have a colon history and have been through many many preps and scopes. I personally think that is a very long time for the prep to last. I have never done one that was that long. For me the easiest preps were the ones that used just pills. Some doctors won't do the pills because unfortunately some people didn't follow the instructions properly and because of that they are worried about allowing anyone to use it. I have used the pills multiple times following the instructions to the letter with great success. I have refused certain preps, I will never drink a gallon of prep. I have used the bottles of magnesium citrate, I have used the suprep, never used both together over 2 days. The suprep is not as bad as some. I get it as cold as possible, have a glass of ice water right beside me, using a straw in the prep, I hold my nose put the straw to the back of my mouth and just keep sucking as long as I can then I immediately flood my mouth with the ice water before letting go of my nose. That method gives you almost no taste of the liquid. Holding your nose is essential that blocks a lot of the ick factor. It usually takes me three of those big drinks to get the dose down. Drinking a ton of water is so important because these preps can dehydrate you quickly and cause kidney damage if you don't keep them flushed out. That's why the pills got a bad rap, people were not drinking the large amount of water that is essential. A two day prep will require a lot of water and fluids. I like to have Popsicles it gives me something to crunch, good flavor and it's a liquid.

I always have started 2 days before my scope when I go to bed I take a stool softener so everything is ahead of time soft not hard this really helps me. Not a laxative! A stool softener pill.

Thankfully I don't have to have them as often now but during the worst part I was going every 3 months then 6 months etc now after last year and a good scope I am released for over 5 yrs, I am so happy for those good results. We do what we have to do! Good luck with your scope.

You can mix prep with the Crystal Light or Apple juice or white grape juice (which also comes in no-added-sugar style). Much easier to drink! Good luck!

Can you get your doctor to write a prescription for you to use PREPOPIK

It has been around for years, but just became available in the US in the last couple of years. It is far easier than other prep products because you drink only 5 ounces of pretty OK tasting prep solution and then 40 oz of a clear liquid of your choice over a period of 5 hours, and then do it again a few hours before the procedure.

I postponed getting a colonoscopy for a few years waiting for it to become available in the US.

I am Type 2 Diabetic and find that my concerns are trying to find "stuff" to eat so my blood sugar doesn't go too low, or alternatively, too high which means testing my blood sugars constantly. A real pita, and once it is all over I would love to over-indulge and binge eat! But, last one 2 years ago found 7 polyps which were removed. My procedure is a happening thing next Thursday.

Any other diabetics out there going through this?

Since I could not keep the liquid prep down at all I was able to use the pills. During the fast, the dr. suggested I consume homemade chicken broth without straining off the fat. Very filling!

Good luck, it'll be over soon.

I'm on an every 5 year schedule.

The stuff I used last year ( I think was Miralax) wasn't bad at all, and curtailing normal eating for a few days wasn't hard for me. I wouldn't want to go through it every week but it wasn't uncomfortable or difficult. After getting a lot of sweet drinks for the run up to the procedure, I found that drinking plain water was best. I know everyone is different and has different levels of toleration and reaction to such things.

I woke up just as the procedure was starting and enjoyed talking to the doc and watching the TV image from the scope's camera .

Justlinda I am a type 2 diabetic. I have not had any problems with my numbers during the preps. I usually do broths, and lots of water, I don't do any drinks. I do jello sometimes and I do Popsicles. You can find no sugar type.

I sometimes get soup from the Oriental restaurant down the street and strain it for only the broth. You can do that with any clear type soups just strain them to remove any solids. I also suck on hard candy, sugar free, to have something in my mouth, makes me think I am eating something solid.

Thanks everyone for your replies and tips. I will print them out and use them.

They had to reschedule so don't have to go in till Nov. 20th. I had an appt. for next Wednesday. I don't know why he has me doing it over 2 days. I have never done it that way before. They always find at least one polyp so I know I have it checked. I have been postponing it for a year because I hate doing it so much. I have asked for the pills, but none of the doctors I go to want to use them.

Like I said, I am fine with the procedure. I have done it all the ways, asleep, semi-awake and fully awake watching it on the screen. It was kind of interesting. I do what ever the doctor wants to do. I just wish the prep was easier.

Prep is horrible, I hope I never have to do it again. The procedure is nothing, but the after isn't so nice.

Caflowerluver, when you had the procedure fully awake were you given something for pain, or didn't you need it? I've read that if they go slowly, it's manageable.

That prep sounds crazy-long! My doctor said to use the Miralax prep--very easy, and much shorter (just the day before). I was concerned about my blood sugar and protein intake, so one thing I did was to dissolve plain gelatin in beef and chicken broth.

Alisande - I must have had something for the pain because I don't remember feeling anything. Thanks for the tip about gelatin.

When I had my last one the needle was inserted in case they needed it. So the procedure started out by my watching the monitor, but at some point they realized they had to remove 7 polyps, and they put me to sleep, but I don't remember anything about that. Back in the recovery they told me that they had to remove the polyps and scrape the colon. My sister, on the other hand, didn't get put to sleep and she said it took 3 people to hold her down because of the pain, and they hadn't made any preparations by inserting the needle (her request). Bet next time she'll choose to be put to sleep LOL.

You say, "have done every kind of prep and they all are bad."

Have you tried this? What was your experience? It is only 10oz.

http://www.prepopik.com/about-prepopik/

I don't think it's necessary to do clear liquids two days prior....that seems a bit much. I did eat light starting two to three days before....look up "low residue diet." The day before the procedure I started clear liquids that morning....the prep at 6pm that evening and then again 6 hours before the procedure, which usually means you have to wake up in the middle of the night to do it....that was not fun!

Of course I didn't like the prep but I disliked the procedure more.....it's just so embarrassing! But I'm glad I did it. It does give you peace of mind.

I've had two colonoscopies and I agree. The prep is crappy.

You say, "have done every kind of prep and they all are bad." Have you tried this? What was your experience? It is only 10oz. http://www.prepopik.com/about-prepopik/

To all of you who are saying you hate the prep, you need to try this stuff. It is only 5 ounces of prep to drink at one time. There is a long thread on the Home Dec conversations forum about this with ideas for what to eat and not eat:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2382389/colonoscopy-time-for-me?n=57

I am taking notes on all of this as I am one who cannot physically abide the different preps that I've used in the past. I told the doctor that if he continued to insist on Moviprep or similar, he won't have me as a patient.

I have done just fine with a low residue diet for a couple of days, as well as the clear liquids. My choices have been lemon ices, banana popsicles, broth and consomme, and jello. And water, of course. I use a combination of sugar free and regular products. I am ABSOLUTELY going to use plain gelatin with the clear broth!

I was reading that Boost or Ensure or other soy based liquids was okay in small doses the day before. I'll have to ask about that. And what about coconut oil and ghee?

I'm due for one pretty soon....I should call him and start negotiating. A low residue diet would be no problem for me for a few days, even though it's so different than my usual eating habits.

Thanks again for all the replies. I was curious about Prepopik. Maybe it is that good but I am turned off by the cost, $120 and up and not covered by insurance. Bummer.

I also wanted to say how sorry I am to those of you who have lost someone to cancer. And wish all of you good health.

I too was surprised at the cost of the Prepopik. But Suprep isn't cheap either, it's in the high $80s. For a once-every-5-year event that saves you from gagging, I would - and did - pay for it out of pocket.

I saw a coupon on the prepopik site so check around and ask the doctor for a discount coupon. Lots of these things have a discount coupon.

Even Costco was high at $144.51 for 2 Prepopik Powder Packet. Is that how you took it? I don't know why it has such a high price. I will check the prices on the other stuff and see if the insurance covers it. I hope so than I only have to pay a co-pay.

I'm also on the five-year plan and have realized after my third colonoscopy that it's the volume of liquid I have to drink that is so very difficult. The Miralax didn't taste too bad, but it was still too much to drink. I managed about 2/3 of what I was supposed to drink and they still took me. What a relief!

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?)

Am due for a colonoscopy again in January. I don't mind the drinking of the stuff, what bothers me is the other end.

I am highly allergic to many of the ingredients in the preps. When I needed a colonoscopy, I negotiated with my Doctor. I gave him a list of some the clear fluids he already recommended, and I told him I'd drink copious amounts of them for the next 48 hours. (I'm normally passing all "items" eaten less than 12 hours before as evidenced by "marker" peas,) If I wasn't clean as a whistle, he could still charge me for the test.

After he performed my colonoscopy, he commented that I was actually better cleaned out and better hydrated than many patients who take the citrate based preps.

I drank white and green teas (sweetened with agave syrup) for my caffiene, white grape juice, apple juice, clear hot homemade chicken broth, homemade lemonade (sweetened with sugar), and lots of water (a gallon a day beyond the clear fluids already consumed).

Freezing the juices and blenderizing them makes for a fun, refreshing treat. I found if you drink the right amounts of sweet and salty, you will not get nauseated. I did tie the cupboard doors shut so that I wouldn't absent mindedly snack on anything!

I can do you one better...had some unexpected bleeding and went to the er...they decided to keep me over night then went on to do the procedure while there...well, was ok but a bit of residual bleeding and bam! 6 weeks after the first had out patient one! they'd missed a polyp or something...really should have another, soon...but "knock on wood" have been doing ok...