Bad Monday

[BobN]

http://www.bobnortham.com/whats-new.html

[willowtreewren]

I feel for you , Bob! I'm on 4 different antibiotics (yes, you read that correctly). And despite the complicated schedule along with appropriate probiotics at the correct times, my gut is constantly complaining.

At least you have another 5 years to wait for another colonoscopy. 

[Angiepkd]

Getting ready for my first colonoscopy.  Sounds like loads of fun. I can't wait!

[big777bill]

 I'm scheduled for one in 2 weeks and I've been dreading it.

[cattlekid]

Okay folks, time for my colonoscopy prep lecture.  I had my first colonoscopy 25 years ago and I am now a member of the every year club.  At the ripe old age of 42, I have had at least eight colonscopies that I can remember and probably more before that.  So here goes:

Here is your supply list:
whatever prep your doctor prescribes
SOFT toilet paper, even if you like the sandpaper stuff for every day, believe me, you want the soft stuff for this endeavor
a plastic cup (like the proverbial Red Solo Cup) - you will never want to see that cup again
a Sharpie marker
lots of clear liquids, 7up, sprite whatever floats your boat
popsicles (but no red ones!)
broths (you're gonna want to feel like you ate something with a little salt)
lots of reading material or access to the Internet in your bathroom

Here's the steps:

1.  Make the prep WAY in advance.  Get it as COLD as possible.  Ask your doctor if you can add Jello powder to the prep intsead of the packets they provide.  I reserve peach Jello for colonoscopy prep and never touch the stuff the rest of the year.
2.  Sorry, but there's math involved.  Figure out how much prep you have to drink and when you start and when you have to end.  Divide the number of ounces by the number of hours and divide that result by four.  That's the amount that you have to drink every 15 minutes.  Mark that line on your Red Solo Cup. 
3.  Get your chaser ready.  I prefer 7up.
4.  Stock your bathroom with your reading material and TP. 
5.  At the appointed time, channel your inner barfly and start chugging from the Red Solo Cup with your chaser.  Set your timer for 15 minutes and don't think about it until the timer goes off.
6.  Repeat step 5 until you get through the prep.  Somewhere around glass number 6, you might start having to have someone bring it to you in the loo in order to keep on schedule.  Your milage may vary.

After you get through the prep for the day, reward yourself with a lovely dinner of broth with a popsicle for dessert.

It sucks, but remember....the better the prep, the less chance of having to do it again!   

[Angiepkd]

Thanks, cattlekid!  I will take all of your advice, as you seem to have it down to a science lol!  The things we learn thanks to illness. 

[Riki]

I feel for you guys.  I will probably be in need for another one sooner or later, but I haven't actually had one since 2006 or so.  I also believe that the colonoscopy prep, Go Lightly, is a form of torture that should be banned by the Geneva Convention.

My best friend went through this a month or so ago and I kept her company through the prep stage (virtually, as there is 800 miles and an international border between us).  After it was all over, I asked her how she felt, and she said she was clean as a whistle. *L*

[Jean]

Having just had one of those wonderful tests, my last one I do believe, I have to pass on my one little hint. I drank my prep thru a straw. Some how that seemed as if not as much of the prep actually comes near your taste buds and you have less chance of gagging and losing the whole thing. It worked for me.

[kit78]

How do you drink all that if you are fluid restricted to 4 cups of liquid a day?  Just curious! LOL Me...go without my ice...no way! LOL

[jeannea]

You drink it while ignoring your fluid restrictions. Your doctor wants you to do it. And you will NOT retain that liquid anyway. It's not a problem.

[Riki]

yeah.  There's no way you're going to retain that liquid.  It ALL comes back out, and then some..