Intestinal Distress While Running - Warning - Gross

[uk elephant]

When my Crohn's was more active, I had the same problem and gave up running for several years. I would try heading out and after half a block I would have to turn around and go home to the toilet. Now with my Crohn's under control (with meds and live yogurt), I'm much better and back to running 3-5 mile runs! Here's hoping your colonoscopy goes well (it's uncomfortable, but not too bad) and that nothing serious turns up so you can start healing and finding solutions that work!

[michelem]

Thanks for more encouragement (and moths, too!). No more diarrhea since Wednesday night - now I am dealing with a distended tummy that makes me look like I'm pregnant! Feeling nauseous too, but not sure if that is due to the antibiotics. One side effect of the Flagyl is a nasty, metallic taste in my mouth. All of the docs have said that an infection is the best-case scenario because the antibiotics will take care of it and that will be that. I sure wish they could have sent my "sample" to a lab to find out without doing the colonoscopy. Sigh . . . It's good to hear that others have gone through this test and survived though. I'm getting nervous about the prep - do I basically need to stay camped out on the toilet the night before the test? How fast does the stuff take effect? My paper work says to take the first dose of phospho-soda between 3pm and 6pm and the last dose 3 hours before the colonoscopy (scheduled for 8am). I sure don't want to lose control of my bowels at work or in the car!

[LBTC]

Hi, Michele

I had intended to work the morning before I drank the prep, which I was to do at lunch time, then again around 9pm.

I also had to be on a clear fluid diet for 2 days prior to drinking the prep. I'm an eater. That pretty much wiped me out so I stayed home the day of the prep, thereby missing 2 days of work in a row. Which is fine with them. Anyway, I think it was an hour or longer before the prep started to take effect, but, personally, I was not going to risk it. I would take the time off work to go through this.

I did sleep in the spare room, beside the spare bath. I did manage to sleep for several hours at a time - I think I was up 2 or 3 times through the night. It wasn't all that bad, I am usually up once every night anyway.

The puffs facial tissue instead of toilet tissue was definitely the way to go. Don't wait until things get tender. Use it right off the bat and you may avoid some of the discomfort.

Do you have to change your diet for a few days?

You'll be fine. The butterflies and moths will be there to help.

Hugs,
~T~

[nancielle]

I would take the time off work to go through this.

I second this suggestion. A few years ago I had to have surgery and had to ingest Senna the day before, starting an hour after I got up. I thought I'd at least get in a 1/2 day of work. Uh, no . I had to leave 45 minutes after getting there. Could only do clear liquids as well. I remember feeling more fatigued than anything else. Take the day off and take care of yourself. Good luck.

[Tuckervill]

I third the suggestion to take the day off. My husband has regular scopes, and he always takes off work for the prep. This from a person who doesn't take off work for anything else--so schedule the day off. You'll be glad you did!

Karen

[Blueberry]

The puffs facial tissue instead of toilet tissue was definitely the way to go. Don't wait until things get tender. Use it right off the bat and you may avoid some of the discomfort.

Hugs to you all - I hope this isn't anywhere in my near future

I do have what (I hope) will be a helpful suggestion. I use Cottonelle (sp?) wipes - and find them particularly helpful with an upset tummy. They're soft and make sure there isn't any *ahem* residue left to irritate.

Take care and good luck!

CA

[Kitsune06]

I 2nd the cottonelle. very good for if you have unfortunate bouts with IBS, too...

[michelem]

Oh boy. Good to know that I should take some time off the day before for the prep. I did some more reading after seeing your comments, and it appears as though the phospho-soda may take effect in as fast as 30 minutes! So, looks like I'll take that afternoon off and stay close to the toilet.

I'm supposed to be eating low residue through tomorrow. Enema tomorrow (Monday) evening. Clear liquids after that (7pm Monday until after procedure on Wednesday). Start the phospho-soda around 3pm or 4pm on Tuesday. 2d dose around 3am or 4am Wednesday morning. Procedure scheduled for 8am.

I am really getting nervous about drinking the phospho-soda. I am so afraid of uncontrollable vomiting! I am going to call first thing tomorrow morning and ask about the pill form.

I'll make sure to stock up on Puffs or Cottonelle wipes!

[LBTC]

I'll make sure to stock up on Puffs or Cottonelle wipes!

Or both. Variety is the spice of life.

Michele, you will do fine. Doesn't hurt to ask for the pill, though.

Hugs,
~T~

[Aggie_Ama]

((Hugs)) My husband has Crohn's and I know how frightening it was for him to have many of the same symptoms you are having and not have a clue why. And he said Flagyl is pretty freaking nasty (metallic taste).

Definitely take the day before off, get those aloe wipes. For him the soda pretty much worked quick and then he was just weak all evening. The positive side? When my husband had one he was so loopy afterwards that he just took a long nap. His stomach had been giving him so many problems he hadn't slept more than three hours at a time. He still tells everyone the day of napping is the best part of the colonoscopy.

[rocknrollgirl]

The prep is the tough part. I had both ends scoped last fall. TAKE OFF....no way you can work through that....

AND...

We will all send good karma your way. I sure hope it is a big fat nothing....darn pesky intestines...

Ruth

[michelem]

Okay, I'm starting to freak out here. I drank the first bottle of phospho-soda at 2pm and NOTHING has happened! I don't even have a slight urge to go. I called the drs. office a little bit before 5pm, but they had already forwarded the phones to the after-hours service. I left a message, and the on-call dr. called me back about an hour ago. He just said that as long as I follow all the directions (which I have), that's all I can do. If I don't go before the test tomorrow morning, they will have to find an alternative to clean me out and reschedule the test. What the he!!? I already took today off of work and drank that nasty stuff (I'm supposed to drink it again 3 hours before the test - ha! I'll be drinking it well before that, because if it already hasn't worked in 5 hrs. then it's certainly not going to work in 3!).

Any suggestions??? I drank the phospho-soda (lemon-ginger flavored) in 24 oz. of lemon flavored gatorade (directions said 3 - 8 oz. glasses of liquid). Since then I've had another 32 oz. of water - the instructions said at least another 24 oz. over the 6 hours before bed. AAARGH!!!

Anyone???

[Dianyla]

Okay, I'm starting to freak out here. I drank the first bottle of phospho-soda at 2pm and NOTHING has happened!

Just you wait....

[michelem]

Well, I hope so. 5.5 hours seems like an awful long time when the instructions said it would start to work in as soon as 30 minutes.

[michelem]

Well, here it is at 4am . . .

I finally went a small amount after about 7 hours of waiting. I went to bed at about 9:30pm and got back up at midnight to start phase 2. The instructions said 3 hours before test, but I wanted to make sure this worked BEFORE the test! Now, here it as at 4:30am and I'm starting to go a bit more. Nothing of much note though, and it certainly ain't clear!

So, let's hope they can still do the test. I do NOT want to have to reschedule after all of this! Bleh . . .