HELP! colonoscopy with NuLYTELY & prep tips!

Hello Ladies~
This is my first post on here. I guess I could post this on post op section to.
Lets see.... I was wondering if I could get some help & suggestions.
I"m 27 yrs old. I'm scheduled to have my first colonoscopy on sept. 24th.
I have severe endometriosis & possibly adyneosis (endo of the uterus). I went to my dr. complaining of pain: with Bowel movement, before Bowel movement, sometimes I get a sudden urge to use the restroom after eating. I have pain off & on without my period.
So... My ob/gyn told me to make an appt. with a gastroenterology dr, which I did that. This was to rule out any other causes of pain besides endometriosis.
The G.I. dr said he would do a colonoscopy, I'm glad he didn't just ignore me like some drs. do.
Lets see... I got quite a bit of information from the web reguarding colonoscopy bowel prep.

with the bowel prep:
I have to have clear liquids (all 3 meals), until midnite.
I figure I would drink: apple juice, sierra mist, boost breeze orange (that's a clear nutritional drink), lemon or lime jello, chicken broth, maybe some itailian ice. I might get some propel water, or little flavor packs to put in the water.

I have to drink Nulytely with flavor packs (I checked the web site)- it's a big gallon jug.
with the nulytely I guess i mix the stuff in the morning & put it in the fridge after mixing it.
My instructions say to start drinking at noon, every 30 mins till the whole jug is gone.
is it better to make your mouth really cold? what is suggested to make the stuff go down better?
If anybody has done the bowel prep with this: how does the stuff taste??? I read to drink the stuff as fast as I can & through a straw. what would you suggest I drink after drinking 8oz?
I'm wondering if there's any pt. where you are all cleaned out: like what does the diarreah color look like? then I guess you could stop drinking? I guess I could drink the whole jug like my dr. instructions say, just to be ALL CLEANED OUT!!!
I figure that I would use some aloe vera wipes & cream like desitin after going: has anybody done this before? I heard that it causes less pain after going so much.

Lets see... I take 4 ducolax tablets at 6pm.
morning of test: 2 enemas before I go for my appt.

I'm thinking of maybe night before I start clear liquids after I eat dinner to maybe have some epsom salt (mixed in water). I thought I want to make things as easy as possible. Do you think this would help any or is it not necessary?

Luckily I'll be sedated & hopefully fall asleep. I'm wondering anybody who has had a colonoscopy before did you fall asleep totally after being sedated or where you somewhat awake?
I also have mild symptoms of Multiple sclerosis, so it might take me a little bit longer to wake up.

HMMM.... I'm wondering if anybody has anything else I haven't mentioned? is there anything that helped you greatly get through the bowel prep process?

Thanks so much~

Bonnie

Hmmm... I started having bowel issues before I had bleeding issues, and I've been wondering if these things haven't all affected each other.
In any case, I survived a sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy before I started the uterine and cervical biopsies, etc.
The colonoscopy was easier for me, because the nulytely is something you drink that cleans you out. With the sigmoidoscopy, I had no nulytely and just the enemas. Ouch. For, me exit only is just that. I found the enemas extremely unpleasant. Oh, and with the colonoscopy, you are very sedated. If I hadn't been so scared about what they might find (they did an endoscopy at the same time), I probably would have fallen asleep.
For the colonoscopy, I followed all the diet instructions which helped. And you asked a lot of questions, so I hope it's not too much information, but yes... expect to spend the next several hours very near a toilet. Wipes (even the prep h cooling stuff) will help but you will probably feel tender anyway from all the wiping. The stools will be very liquid, and eventually all the food you've eaten will be gone, and it will feel almost like peeing.
Your broths and drinks should be fine. I would stick with diet stuff if you can, though... sports drinks have a lot of sugar. I think I had beef and chicken broth and crystal light lemonade. Just remember to follow your diet instructions, nothing red or orange that could "stain" your insides
Also, soft food for the meal after the exam is probably a good idea. Afer going through all that you're body might not appreciate steak and potatoes. I was starving and had soup, salad, and bread. I discovered I had a little diffulty swallowing, but I also had the endoscopy.
My biggest problem is that I'm such a prude about bathroom activities. It took me a very long time to tell my doctor about my problems because of it. I don't know if you have that issue, the best I can say is to get over it as quickly as you can.
Dignity has no place in medicine. Your bowels are going to be loose and gassy. They will not let you leave until you pass gas, and the nurse wouldn't let me sit over a toilet to do it. He said I couldn't leave the bed until I passed gas. What's the big deal - it's clean air, he says. So I press on my belly and lift a butt cheek and squeek one out. The nurse says, see isn't that better. And I tell him I need a wipe, because even though it's clean air I have just pooped in my bed something wet. I assume it's whatever they use as a lubricant.
Ew. With witnesses - the nurse and my husband, who despite having been with me for twelve or so years at the time has never seen me fart. Told you I was a prude.
So, I'm clear to go. I dress as quickly as I can and head for the nearest bathroom. I'm telling you, the toilet seated position is soooo much better for passing gas than lying in bed. Your parts just relax a little better.
I don't think you will need any additional laxatives. What they have told you to take should be enough. I think it's more important to follow the clear liquid instructions..
Hopefully, I haven't rambled too long.... your post doesn't say, but have you had or are you scheduled for a hysterectomy?

i havent used the nu-lytely, but if its anything like the go-lytely ure in for a treat. My best advice is to definitely use the desitin and baby wipes or even some tucks pad.....when you are drinking your "tasty" little cocktail don't sip it, you should just CHUG and get it over with because sipping will definitely make it tast worse.Jello is the best thing to eat, the chicken broth made me very nauseated. Definitely chase
it with sprite or sierra mist. Believe me you won't need to do the
epsom salt you will be definitely cleaned out with just the nulytely
and dulcolax.Good luck!!!!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by bonbon1981 Hello Ladies~ This is my first post on here. I guess I could post this on post op section to. Lets see.... I was wondering if I could get some help & suggestions. I"m 27 yrs old. I'm scheduled to have my first colonoscopy on sept. 24th. I have severe endometriosis & possibly adyneosis (endo of the uterus). I went to my dr. complaining of pain: with Bowel movement, before Bowel movement, sometimes I get a sudden urge to use the restroom after eating. I have pain off & on without my period. So... My ob/gyn told me to make an appt. with a gastroenterology dr, which I did that. This was to rule out any other causes of pain besides endometriosis. The G.I. dr said he would do a colonoscopy, I'm glad he didn't just ignore me like some drs. do. Lets see... I got quite a bit of information from the web reguarding colonoscopy bowel prep. with the bowel prep: I have to have clear liquids (all 3 meals), until midnite. I figure I would drink: apple juice, sierra mist, boost breeze orange (that's a clear nutritional drink), lemon or lime jello, chicken broth, maybe some itailian ice. I might get some propel water, or little flavor packs to put in the water. I have to drink Nulytely with flavor packs (I checked the web site)- it's a big gallon jug. with the nulytely I guess i mix the stuff in the morning & put it in the fridge after mixing it. My instructions say to start drinking at noon, every 30 mins till the whole jug is gone. is it better to make your mouth really cold? what is suggested to make the stuff go down better? If anybody has done the bowel prep with this: how does the stuff taste??? I read to drink the stuff as fast as I can & through a straw. what would you suggest I drink after drinking 8oz? I'm wondering if there's any pt. where you are all cleaned out: like what does the diarreah color look like? then I guess you could stop drinking? I guess I could drink the whole jug like my dr. instructions say, just to be ALL CLEANED OUT!!! I figure that I would use some aloe vera wipes & cream like desitin after going: has anybody done this before? I heard that it causes less pain after going so much. Lets see... I take 4 ducolax tablets at 6pm. morning of test: 2 enemas before I go for my appt. I'm thinking of maybe night before I start clear liquids after I eat dinner to maybe have some epsom salt (mixed in water). I thought I want to make things as easy as possible. Do you think this would help any or is it not necessary? Luckily I'll be sedated & hopefully fall asleep. I'm wondering anybody who has had a colonoscopy before did you fall asleep totally after being sedated or where you somewhat awake? I also have mild symptoms of Multiple sclerosis, so it might take me a little bit longer to wake up. HMMM.... I'm wondering if anybody has anything else I haven't mentioned? is there anything that helped you greatly get through the bowel prep process? Thanks so much~ Bonnie

Hi BonBon1981,Im scheduled for a colonscopy on10/14,about 1 wk after being scheduled for the "bladder lift"thing..please let me know how it goes...mspat09

Thanks so much for the advice & suggestions especially Baily22, you have been so helpful lots of advice

I do understand that this is for hysterectomy (which is wonderful) .
Lets see... as for my hysterectomy date: (I think baily22 asked). I haven't been scheduled for a hysterectomy yet. one time it was mentioned by my dr. I have severe endometriosis, this has done alot of damage. I get a lot of cysts on my left ovary due to severe endo of the ovary. I guess my dr. mentioned hysterectomy due to I get cysts & I guess it would fully take care of the issue.
I might ask in the endometriosis section about hysterectomy.

I had to take GoLytly for my prep which is pretty much the same thing that you are going to take. I had my hysterectomy two weeks ago and I can honestly say that the worst part was waiting for the procedure, not the recovery. I remember going to the pharmacist a week before surgery to pick up the "stuff". She handed me the gallon jug filled with powder and we both started to laugh. It seemed ridiculous to expect a person my size (5'2", 103 pounds) to down that much fluid. On the day of the prep my husband recorded a chick flick and we watched it in the dark while I worked my way down the jug. I started at 1:00 and ended at 5:00 pm. It took that long to watch the movie because we had to pause it every time I had a temper tantrum or ran to the bathroom. The movie helped. Having a friend I trusted with me (my husband) helped. Drinking it with a straw helped. Pretending I was at the beach drinking sea water helped. But most importantly, having a good sense of humor really helped. I only drank 3/4 of the jug with a lot of apple juice chasers, before I called it quits. I decided that what was ever left inside of me could just stay where it was. GoLytely isn't fun, but when you finish you'll feel like a sense of accomplishment. Google GoLytely and read some of the funny comments people made about their experiences, but only do it while you are in the process of taking it, so that it empowers you. Shut your eyes and wish away the day. This too shall pass and before you know it, you will feel strong and healthy.

Bonnie,
You sound very organized--WOW! I have had four colonoscopies over the years! My only suggestions are that you can also have popsicles, clear hard candies (suck then don't bite) and I liked beef bouillon because everything else was so sweet. I agree with another poster that it is better to chug the drink down. I have used several different drinks and none of them are really tasty so it is best to get it in as fast as possible!
I agree that you need something for your bottom and I have found Vaseline to be the best as it is protective against all the activity.
Regarding being asleep or not. I have had three when I was awake but relaxed and my last one I was pretty much asleep--woke up near the end. My DH had one in July and he slept through it all. Tell you that you want to be asleep and I am sure he will do it.
So good luck----you will be fine!

I couldn't tolerate the golite so did a Miralax prep instead. I didn't accept the sedation (have no one to drive and all that BS) so did it without. The discomfort was less than the pain of most cramps.

The rest of the week I was tired and cranky, felt like I had the flu.

Hopefully by now the eruptions are slowing, but don't worry if they continue tomorrow or you make a mess in the recovery bed. The smart nurses have pads in the area ready to take it.

Bonnie - I'll echo what some of the others have said (so why should I say it, right? Oh well). I had GoLytely and it is definitely a treat. I can only hope that NuLytely is the new and improved version - they couldn't have made it worse, that's for sure. I laughed out loud at Saridah. I think pretending you're at the beach drinking sea water is a great idea, but there's always the possibility that you'll never, ever go to the beach again afterward. One mistake I made is mixing the stuff with lemonade powder on my doctor's suggestion, and to this day I can't drink lemonade without gagging. So I wouldn't mix it - just chug as fast as you can. I also chewed gum (my doc said it was ok). I plugged my nose, sucked the stuff down, and stuck in some cinnamon gum before I unplugged my nose. I figured that out about halfway through and it helped. I also gave up about 3/4 of the way through, and I was definitely cleaned out (although I'm not suggesting you go against doctor's orders). Good luck - it's only a few hours, and when it's over you'll have a great story to laugh at.

Haha! Some of you have reminded me about the taste. To be quite honest, I was more worried about the aftermath.

By all means, chug according to the directions. I think it was 8 oz every 20 minutes or something? It's been a couple of years.

I refrigerated according to the directions, but I find it easier to chug at room temperature. So I would pour my next glass as I was downing the one that had been sitting out.

I wouldn't bother mixing with anything... and whoever suggested the straw idea - that was great! I learned that with the lower bowel series where they make you drink that white stuff.... a straw helps you bypass your taste buds.

And like a few others have said... this will only be a few hours of your life. You will get through it just fine and will have a "funny" story for later, I'm sure.