Cannot tolerate prep for Colonoscopy

[Frannie800]

Due to a family history of colon cancer and the presence of adenoma polyps and ulcerative colitis, my doctor prescribes annual colonoscopies. After six,  I can no longer tolerate any of the various preps required.  (Pills, liquids, etc.)  Do I have any other option for prepping or does this mean I just do without colonoscopies for the rest of my life and hope the adenomas don't develop into cancer?  Let me make it clear,  I would do the preps IF I could, but I now become nauseated just looking at the pills or bottles and have an uncontrollable gagging reflex.  

[shell1964]

I told my doctor about my gag reflux and he gave me suprep. It taste like a strong grape flavor and i  diluted it with 1/2 suprep (8oz bottle of suprep with 16 oz of regular water) 1\2 grape flavor water with no color and alot of ice. I drank it like a champ. No problem at all!:) Hope this info helps!!

[roe551]

How about the gatorade prep..do you think you could do that...its 64oz of gatorade with miralax mixed into it....I flatly refused to do that 4 litre prep and he gave me this one to do, it really was not that bad and not violent at all, as of the preps can be.  I was supposed to take 4 laxatives before I went to bed, which I also refused to do, but I did take one pill.  I had the scope done...and the doc said the prep was good....I urge to try something like that...I will tell you that I can't look at orange gatorade anymore, but who cares, I didn;t like it in the first place....Good luck to you....

[jdrtwin1]

I have the same problem...I can't even handle golytly anymore or the pills so what they've done for me is admit me into the hospital the night before and put a tube down my nose and feed golytly into my stomach during the night...it helps but its a drastic measure as well.

[gah_70]

I have a history of ovarian cancer, and also have Crohn's disease, so I also get yearly colonoscopies.  I have another scheduled for July.  I've never been really good with the prep, either, but always thought of it as a necessary evil.  When you say pills, are you talking about OTC laxatives, or OsmoPrep?  I suppose a CT scan would give your doctor some idea of what's going on with your colon, but drinking the barium isn't any more pleasant than mag citrate, or phospho soda, in my opinion.  Plus, your doctor wouldn't be able to get the same in-depth info from that as from a colonoscopy.  They do have virtual colonoscopies now, but again, they don't provide the same level of info.  I would suggest you talk to your doctor to see what might be available to you.  Before my surgery for cancer, I wasn't able to keep the magnesium citrate down, so I had to have an enema. Not pleasant, but it worked.  It may take a few days of clear liquid diet and an enema, but your doctor should be able to make a suggestion.  Good luck to you.

[lovethebops]

I understand how difficult prepping for a colonoscopy is. I had my first one last month, and  they did find small granulomas, which seems to point to Crohn's Disease. (still getting a second opinion in about a month).

It was so awful for me, I pray I don't need another for a LONG time to come.


Really, it is up to you. I don't think there is really a lot you can do to cleanse your colon as effectively as using the laxative pills or drink. It is the only way to ensure a thorough cleanse. Otherwise, you  mine as well not have it done, as your Dr. would not get a clear enough Picture of what is going on.

Perhaps you can discuss your concerns with your Dr. I am unsure of any other method, but if you are dealing with a Dr. anything like the one I dealt with for mine, he would probably tell you to suck it up, do the prep and have the procedure done.

I hope you are able to figure it out. I must say, one colonoscopy a year seems like an awful lot. Could you perhaps do it every other year or a couple? They found some stuff in my colon, but never told me when I would need to come back anytime soon...Best wishes.