routine colonoscopy prep.

[marni]

On the third day of clear and and semisolid liquid diet I rediscover the joy of jello.

I definitely prefer chicken broth to beef.

Now the long night of bowel prep begins. I have my computer, book and a blanket in next to the toilet. Whee! I will be sol glad when this is over tomorrow.

Fortunately it is only once every five years. Just long enough to make the whole process new again each time.

[BikeDutchess]

Oh joy! I just scheduled mine for next month. Hang in there!

[snapdragen]

Yep. The prep is worse than the procedure itself, IMHO.

[salsabike]

Yep. The prep is worse than the procedure itself, IMHO.

Totally true, Snap.

Because I have a genetic error that significantly increases my risk of mortality from colon cancer, I get to have a colonoscopy every year or every two years...we haven't quite settled on which yet. Beaucoup de fun!

[ny biker]

Three days??

I will be turning 50 this year so was expecting to have one of these things. If I have to be on a liquid diet for three days I will have to spend three days in bed, I won't be able to function.

But then I have no one to drive me there and back, since I live alone and have no family in the area, so it may not happen anyway.

[snapdragen]

Totally true, Snap.

Because I have a genetic error that significantly increases my risk of mortality from colon cancer, I get to have a colonoscopy every year or every two years...we haven't quite settled on which yet. Beaucoup de fun!

Ugh. I have another friend who gets one yearly, he's considered high risk because of his family history.

Three days??

I will be turning 50 this year so was expecting to have one of these things. If I have to be on a liquid diet for three days I will have to spend three days in bed, I won't be able to function.

But then I have no one to drive me there and back, since I live alone and have no family in the area, so it may not happen anyway.

It might depend on the doctor. I only had to do one day of the liquid diet.

[Crankin]

I don't know anyone who has to be on a liquid diet for 3 days. I had to eat low fiber foods for 3 days, then like a half a day of jello type stuff and a few hours of liquid, along with the horrible stuff that is supposed to make you "go." That stuff didn't work that great on me. The procedure itself was nothing, but unlike my DH, I was awake through the whole thing! Feeling no pain, but awake. The doc gave me a tour of my GI system on the screen. He actually asked me if I had done the prep, as it was hard for him to se, but I had drank every last bit of the stuff.
I came home and ordered take out Indian food.

[emily_in_nc]

It might depend on the doctor. I only had to do one day of the liquid diet.

+1

I had to eat a light, bland diet two days before, then the liquid started the day before the prep. It was not that bad. I did the prep over the weekend and had the procedure done on a Monday -- got a day off work, so I wasn't too upset! If you schedule it this way, it's best to do it at a time of the year when you wouldn't be riding on the weekend anyway...like in the dead of winter.

[salsabike]

Three days??

I will be turning 50 this year so was expecting to have one of these things. If I have to be on a liquid diet for three days I will have to spend three days in bed, I won't be able to function.

But then I have no one to drive me there and back, since I live alone and have no family in the area, so it may not happen anyway.

Hey, ny biker---the prep is usually bland diet for two days and liquid for one. And not to be TOO much of a proselytizer, but can you make a deal with a friend or co-worker to drive you, and trade some service for it? As one with a big old multi-generational family history of colon cancer, I am one who can testify pretty passionately to the importance of getting your first one done.

[Grits]

Hey, ny biker---the prep is usually bland diet for two days and liquid for one. And not to be TOO much of a proselytizer, but can you make a deal with a friend or co-worker to drive you, and trade some service for it? As one with a big old multi-generational family history of colon cancer, I am one who can testify pretty passionately to the importance of getting your first one done.

+ a million on what salsa bike said. Try to find someone to give you a ride -or take a cab. If you live really far from the doctor's office, then find a hotel close by. Another idea, ask the doctor's office what other patients with that problem do. Maybe they know of a shuttle service or a place close by you could stay. My 58 year old SIL (with not officially diagnosed Aspergers) refused to go to any kind of a doctor for her whole adult life until she recently had an intestinal blockage and emergency surgery that turned out to be Stage 4 colon cancer with a very poor prognosis. The doctor said it had probably been growing for 10 years. All of her siblings have had polyps removed during colonoscopies and so have avoided what she is going through now. This is not something to mess around with. (I AM being a proselytizer!)