Good for you, Annie_D! I don't think they're so bad, do you?

Wow, it does a number on you! Once I wake up and get dressed I'm good to go.

I slept all afternoon after mine. Other people have them and just go about their day. One thing in common is everyone is starving afterwards!

The conscious sedation practices used by different gastroenterologists vary widely and probably also vary based on patient preferences - knocked out completely vs. not so much. Some anesthesia drugs have an intentional amnesia effect so you don't remember anything unpleasant which seems like a very good idea for a colonoscopy. I am due for one this year as well. I didn't think it was too bad.

I wish I would forget the prep part...

Good for you for having your Colonoscopy, necessary test that is not as bad as some think.

i asked to stay awake during mine- it's not bad! worth it for me because i hate feeling groggy/foggy for much of the day!

I'm with you maddielee. DH didn't recall a thing after his, including our chat with the doc, his requested stop for something to eat at a fast food place we almost never stop at, eating the burger, or any of the drive home for that matter. Woke up hours later wondering about the whole procedure. Me, I remember almost everything the doc said after mine, and although I was a little groggy, remember the ride home and being so hungry I couldn't wait to eat!

Other than the preparation, I think it's not at all a big deal. I felt fine afterwards and couldn't wait to chow down on my favorite thing in the world- ICE CREAM. Then later ate and ate real food. As we say, the BEST sleep. Instant and I wake up pretty "with it".. It'd definitely no the ordeal some people dread.

What really surprised me was, I weighed myself am of the liquid diet day, and then weighed myself again after I was cleaned out and I only lost 0.2 lbs! I thought I was full of it, but I guess not!

I had one when I was about 55. One minute they were inserting the IV, the next the nurse is showing me color photos of the inside of my clean as a whistle colon. When I got home, I asked for and received a large cheeseburger. I still can't abide peach jello.

I'm now with Kaiser and every year I send in a poop sample.

The stuff I had to drink was vile ... so salty and with an artificial sweet taste that was disgusting. Since my procedure was at 7am, I had to do the 2nd dose of prep at 2:30 am, thank you very much!

I hate that new split dose prep. I was supposed to drink the second batch at 3 am, but was wide awake all night and did it around midnight, since the first had zero effect. I'm thinking about requesting the old prep for my procedure later this year.

The stuff they gave me sure worked! I think I should've taken the 2nd dose earlier as I was nervous I'd even make it to the docs office as I was still very, er, *active* shall we say.

The prep is the worst. I have had two. Both times, I went out for breakfast afterwards with my DH, then home to rest.

I had my first one last year, and I thought it was no biggie. The prep wasn't pleasant, but for someone who was lactose intolerant earlier in life, this was a cake walk. At least with the prep, it's expected and has an end! Although the goop I had to drink tasted exactly like Lemon Pledge smells. Bleh.

Both DH and I woke up and were right back in the game. I remember the doc conversation (I'm on the three-year plan, boo). I don't think I napped that afternoon, just hung out and binge-watched Netflix.

One fun extra, they give you a laxative pill two days before, to get the .. um .. ball rolling. That worked too well. Then we had an ice storm, and my procedure was postponed. I had to do the laxative thing again two days later. Double bleh.

I had my first one last year and I remember being a little annoyed when they roused me awake, but of course they want to get you in and out ASAP. I was a little groggy and just spent the afternoon on the couch.

DH completed the prep for his colonoscopy tomorrow morning. The protocol is different from Annie's. No high fiber for 5 days. He had to fast except for clear liquids since this morning. Starting at 4:00 this afternoon, he mixed 8.3 oz of Miralax with 64 oz clear liquid- he chose gatorade. Took 4 Dulcolax. Fifteen minutes later he drank 8oz of liquid every 15-30 minutes until gone. Then topped off with 4 more Dulcolax. I have some beef broth if he gets hungry. No food or liquid 4 hours prior to procedure. He is upstairs and it is very quiet, He must be asleep. Procedure is 9:00 AM. This is his 4th colonoscopy- each time he has had a big meal on the way home. I expect the same tomorrow.

Wish him luck for me happy2b!

So important, if a nuisance.

I try to schedule mine as early in the day as I can, even if I have to drink the solution in the middle of the night. Being without solid food is also one of the things I do not like, so I am famished by the time we get home. I just want some eggs and coffee! I can't imagine going later in the morning or even afternoon.

I think having a lower fiber diet in the days before also helps. If you eat a lot of nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, you should cut those back. I also find Gatorade helps a lot.

Crazy about the amnesia!

A low-residue/low fiber diet several days before the procedure is supposed to help.

I can't stand Gatorade, so the last time I had my procedure I picked up white grape juice and another organic fruit juice. I also made my own low-sugar jello with a mixture of flavors (I think I mixed peach and a little lemon). Some of the new energy drinks aren't too bad either. After the first C, when I think I starved, for C #2 prep day I decided to buy a quart of egg-drop soup from our favorite Thai restaurant, strain it, and enjoy the broth. Any soup you enjoy would do, preferably low-sodium.

Good for you! It's one of those things we dread, but then we're glad we know.

Years ago, a surgeon I knew said if they flavored the prep liquid like beer maybe (some) people would have less trouble drinking it.

Our doc has you follow the low-residue diet also - which is no biggie. It is supposed to allow them to see things better. Our docs do not have you do the laxative pills before the prep, or at least not everyone. My husband and I haven't done those. Maybe some need the extra help? We both did the split prep with our last testing and I liked it better than the old, and you drink less stuff. Taste is awful though. I'm with others who said the procedure (and prep in my case) was not near as bad as they thought it would be.

Am I the only one who got sick from the prep? I was so sick I almost cancelled the procedure. I was in the waiting room with half a dozen other people who were there for their C's and they all looked perfectly fine. I was stretched out on a couch feeling like I had a really bad flu. I could not wait for them to knock me out. It was miserable!

jellytoast, fortunately I didn't get sick from it at all. But if you do, there are other preps you can use for next time. There are serious issues you can get from some preps including kidney damage depending on your medical history. So it's best to talk to the doc about it ahead of time.

Next time??? Oh noooooooo! I really can't stand the thought. I had the prep where I had to drink about a gallon of water mixed with a packet of kook-aid looking stuff. About 2/3 of the way though I could not keep it down. I will definitely be asking for something different next time!

Jellytoast, I think that's the GoLytely prep. It's a lot more liquid, but doesn't taste near as bad as the split prep. I almost hurled a few times trying to get the split down.

I didn't think it tasted bad at all, but it definitely did not agree with me. It was truly a miserable experience. I also made the mistake of requesting the first scheduled procedure of the morning, which meant I was up the entire night. So, I was not only sick as a dog, but completely out of it from lack of sleep (I NEED 8 hours a night to function). Next time I will request the last appointment of the day! It is encouraging to hear that most people do not react badly, so hopefully it was a fluke.

The "old" prep sounds like what you had Jelly - it may be too much fluid for you. That was hard for me too. With the split, I use a straw, and had sprite on hand for sips in between. Also rinsed my mouth a few times. Chewed gum to get rid of the taste.

How many different types of prep are there? I've heard about pills (I requested those and was denied) and the "gallon of kool-aid" stuff like I had. What is "the split"?

Thanks, Annie, for the wish for luck. He got a kick out of your name and wishes from cyberspace friend. DH is home, eaten, and resting now. Perfect day of it- rainy and dreary again. He was very pleased that he was all clear, no polyps this time. He attributes changing his diet to no/low carbs for this good news. My turn soon. It is so very important to have the colonoscopy even if we do not enjoy the prep. Thankfully there are several different kinds. The best thing to do is speak to the doctor for what is best for you.

What I discovered was that doctors tend to prescribe a prep that that they know and like the best, not necessarily what is easiest for you. I delayed getting a (routine) colonoscopy until Prepopik came on the market in the US. It has been used in Canada for years. And then I had to call around to several doctors to find one that would agree for me to use that prep.

Our GI group will not use the pills Jelly. In years past I believe they did. But, I was told by my doc there is a higher percentage of incidence of kidney problems in using the pills and therefore they will not use them. There is the prep you did - you drink the stuff once but you drink a higher volume of liquid. The split prep you drink a smaller amount and the prep is split into two doses. My test was last year but I am thinking I drank half around 4-5 the evening before than about 5-6 the next morning - my doctor only does afternoon testing (office visits in the morning) except for those with diabetes. I got the first appointment of the day @ 1:30. I was afraid I would be shaky hungry by that point, but it wasn't too bad. I was able to finish up business and have time for a nap before heading to the hospital.

Graywings - I remember you telling us that! My docs have a few different split preps, along with the old 1 dose, etc. and seem to be pretty good in picking one for each patient. I know my husband and I had different preps.

No pills here either. I think the name of the stuff I drank was Movi-Prep. Someone (maybe it was on this forum or a friend) told me to put a little lemon juice in it and chill it. That seems to help a whole lot in getting it down. I had to drink a second dose around 4 or so in the morning before an 8 am procedure iirc.

I have had two of them and each time for me the most unpleasant part was putting in the IV. I follow the prep right to the letter, Movi-prep and no liquids after a certain time. This leaves me so dehydrated that my veins are really hard to find. Last time it was four tries before success! But it sure beats colon cancer!

Versed...Isn't it wonderful to get that over with :-)

I didn't drink mine all at once. My giant container of liquid was divided into several servings spread out over the night.

Looks like I have lots to look forward to. My first one is the 23rd. The good news is I don't have to work the day before. :)

My stuff was a liquid bottle to which you added water til it measured 16 oz. Drink that down, then drink 32 additional oz of water over the next hour. Then do it all again 12 hrs later. I was hungry from not eating all day, until I filled myself up with the water...then I wasn't so hungry!

I have one scheduled for June 3rd. First one. I forget the name of the stuff I'm supposed to drink to clean me out, but it comes with a little flavor pack of fake sugar with lemon flavoring. I think I'll skip the flavor pack - can't imagine fake sugar improving the taste of anything.

I think I'll remember the advice to chill the stuff.

. Bethpen, i'm glad I'll be working the day before. It will take my mind off the inability to eat anything. As long as I don't pass the cafeteria.

I do recommend as others have of following a low residue diet for at least the day before the prep as you'll have less volume to pass. I also recommend a jar of vaseline which will be your friend as your poor bottom can get quite tender from all the matter coming out and all the wiping to keep yourself clean.

Thanks, Anne. I'll also make sure I'm stocked on TP.....

I just checked, my stuff is called Gavilyte-C. Anyone done that one?

I think mine was CoLyte ... a powder that is mixed with 4 liters of water, drink 16 ounces ever 30 minutes until gone. I also had to avoid certain foods for 5 days ... seeds, raw fruits and veggies, fruit and veggie skins, whole grains, meat, and fatty foods. And stick to low-fiber foods.

I was just shocked I didn't have to come back for 10 YEARS after mine! ;-)

Mine was Dec. 2013. 1 little polyp was taken, but was absolutely nothing. You're one of the boring ones they said! Yay!

Can't remember what the prep-stuff was branded, but it was the gallon at "Pharmy" (as Karen Walker on Will & Grace would say...;-)). Yeah, drinking batches of that down every hour or so leaves a little to be desired!

Thankfully, my test was early/mid-morning. I just remember dozing-off just a little when they started. Then, just waking-up when they were done. Went pretty smooth, no complaints. Got dressed, drove home fine, etc. DAMN hungry though!!

Faron

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.

busybee, you seem to be the only one so far, who asked to be awake for yours. I did too, because I've never had an anesthetic before, other than freezing for a tooth extraction. I had my 3 kids with no medication, so I was unsure if I might have an adverse reaction to anesthesia. The colonoscopy doctor was pretty reluctant to do so, and said he'd have IV needle ready to go in, if I couldn't handle it.

But as I was fully awake and watching the procedure on the monitor, he went extra slowly around each bend of the colon and I had only very minor discomfort, so I told him I didn't need him to start the IV. That was 9 years ago though, so I'm thinking my colon might now be more rigid, when I get one next year, so maybe I'll give in and get the I.V., lol!

BTW, I did suffer amnesia again. I remember being in the room with them telling me to lie on my side and that they added the drug to my IV. Next thing I remember is waking up on the couch in the FR and DH bringing me an egg and a muffin. Everything in between...waking up from the drug, ride home, getting dressed, what the doc said...is a complete blank. Fortunately DH filled me in on what I missed.

I find that the Gatorade helps a little bit with the dehyrdration, but this last time the nurse still had trouble finding a vein. Otherwise, I don't really drink it either.