Magpiezoe's Journal, 27 July 2024

I get a colonoscopy, more than willingly, every 5 years due to a family history of Crohns disease and intestinal cancers, and a personal history of IBS. I actually found the low fiber days to be worse than the liquid diet cleanout. I fill up on fiber, and I found with low fiber foods like white rice with butter, I could eat until my stomach hurt and still not feel full. Truly, though, it's not that bad, just a couple of days to get through for the benefit of knowing you are taking care of an important piece of self-care. Do yourself a favor, and just worry about eating to comply with the protocol, and nothing else. Don't worry about weight, don't worry about trying to maintain whatever you can of your normal diet. Just eat whatever you're allowed for a few days and worry about the rest when you're done. Good luck! 

What about treating it as a fast completely and going 24-48 hours without food for both your health and the procedure? 

I'd vote against fasting completely. It's grueling enough without going into it without some calories in your system  

The process is certainly not fun. The worst being the entire prep period. Good luck! 

The prep has increased over the years. It's all so they can get a good view of your colon. Considering what they are looking for, it is well worth the effort... 

I'd try to eat very little 3days before as the screaming shits will hit you either way but at least it won't have to empty the colon from the food you had 2 days prior. goodness my neighbor had it done they let him eat jello and pudding and ice cream so there's a valid reason to eat ice cream and carbs.  

I just turned 50 and have never had one. I am not looking forward to that at all with my hospital phobia. I'm going to do Cologuard testing first and try to put off the bill from the colonoscopy for another year or three. I'm just postponing the inevitable though. Good luck with your test! 

Catfish -- you might want to double-check with your insurance company first before going Cologard. I've heard that with some insurance companies, if they find something on Cologard that necessitates a full colonoscopy, that procedure is considered diagnostic rather than preventive, and is subject to deductible and copay, where it might have been fully paid for if you had just done the colonoscopy in the first place. Just something to be aware of before you finalize your decision  

Clean inside and out. Been thru 2 and prep is no fun. But ate like a moose afterwards!! 

I had my first colonoscopy last year. I figured out the perfect time to have the procedure is 11:30 AM. Because when you backtrack the hours to the prep required, you sleep a normal night before the procedure and continue in the morning at a good time.  

Thank you everyone for all the support. You all are great! I wanted to do Cologard instead, but the doctor won't let me since I have a family history of cancer. My mom died from colon cancer and my sister gets polyps. I'll admit that I am nervous. They do have Jello and ice-pops on the list, but there can't be any red or purple food coloring, so I'm left with lemon and pineapple Jello. They said no milk products, because milk coats everything and they want a very clear picture. I've never taken a laxative, so this is my first. To add to it, they are having me take both Dulcolax and Miralax the night before and morning of the procedure! One is 4 pills. The other is a bottle that I'm to mix with 64 oz. of Gatorade. (No red or purple) The only place that sells a 64 oz. bottle of original lemon-lime Gatorade is Walmart, and they are all sold out. I might have to buy the smaller bottles and mix it in a pitcher. Luckily the procedure is at 10:00 am, so I'll be done in time for lunch. The doctor is coming in from another larger town, so he does the procedure only on certain days, which might explain why lemon-lime Gatorade is so popular right now. Anyhow, I'm expecting everything to go well. Again, thank you everyone! 

Good for you for deciding to have this procedure. The way I see it I’m willing to put up with some unpleasantness up front in exchange for the benefits of the thorough testing. (Thinking of past generations who didn’t have these opportunities.) I’ve had three colonoscopies over the years, all with the prep you’ll be doing. It seems better (more tolerable) to me than the prepackaged kit my husband had to drink several years ago. Thumbs up on the lemon-lime Gatorade. It’s been a few years but I believe the blue flavor is allowed for my prep and I think there’s also a clear one. I also like the soothing effect of drinking hot chicken broth. Also FYI my husband who is diabetic now has to find the sugar-free Gatorade or his numbers are too high. Here’s hoping that all goes well with the prep and you get that “10 years, all clear!” report.