Colonoscopy Prep Solution??

[Chris]

I always ask to be put out. I do not want to know what is going on, because I will be to nervous if they don't after a couple bad incidents I have had. Besides I like having a good sleep to after having a rough day with the prep!

[malaka]

I've had a coouple.  I learned something.  They tell you to go on a liquid diet 24 hours before the procedure.  Do yourself a favor and start at least 48 hours before, if not 72.  Sure, you'll overdue your flluid limit, but it really helps the "prep" as there's little to evacuate.  Easier to have an extra 500 cc removed at dialysis through the machine.  The prep solutions will sort of just flow on through you wthout um, er, encountering any obstructions.   

[noahvale]

^

[Deanne]

Blech. I have an introductory meeting in a couple of weeks so I can get mine scheduled. No horror stories please!

[cattlekid]

Is your access in your left arm?  Then you are going to have to go through some gyrations as the gastro doc will most likely want you on your left side for the procedure.  I compromised by staying on my left side but sticking my arm out so it wasn't bent and I wasn't laying on it.  It didn't get in the doc's way as he was working on the other side of the table anyhow.

I've had TRILYTE many a time for a colonoscopy, both before dialysis and while I was on dialysis.  I can attest that it didn't seem to affect my labs or volume at all. 

My turn on Thursday morning.  This is my first time.  Transplant Center put me on inactive since late April until I had it done.  The physician my cardiologist suggested I use didn't have an opening for 10 weeks.  Longer than I'm comfortable with being inactivated, but had to make the compromise to get a GI specialist to feel confident about.

I'm taking a generic form of TRILYTE because insurance wouldn't cover the brand.  Ended up paying $1.80 as opposed to $75.  Directions say to mix with Crystal Light to help with the taste, let it get real cold to help with drinkability and then drink a friggin gallon!  I called the GI's nurse practitioner and he said not to worry, that this is the prep they give to dialysis patients.  It supposedly stays only in the colon - then out of the body - while not being absorbed into the tissues.   My neph is alright with it as well.

My major concern is my access arm.  I don't want anything to happen to it.  Made a sign out of a red index card and a rubber band that I'm going to put on my right wrist.  It says: "THIS ARM FOR HEMODIALYSIS ONLY.  NO BP CUFFS/NO IV'S/NO BLOOD DRAWS.  DO NOT KEEP IN BENT POSITION OR ALLOW PATIENT TO SLEEP ON IT."

Procedure scheduled for 10:30 a.m.  I have extended hours dialysis later that night.  Lovely day planned!

[skg]

I had the generic go-litely stuff. I can't remember what the standard stuff is (which CKD patients are encouraged to avoid) -- but bring it up with your Dr. and it shouldn't be any problem.

I have just taken to asking about any medication/procedure/whatever -- "I am stage 5 ESRD -- is this safe for me? Are there any special precautions?" This has almost always worked just fine. With my insurance, sometimes they have had to specify the ESRD is why something out of the ordinary is being done, but it's always gone through after that.

As for the colonoscopy itself -- I've had four of them so far, and really, it isn't too bad. The prep is unpleasant, but not that difficult -- I just set a timer for 10 minutes, and then every 10 minutes drank 8oz of the stuff until it was gone. Making sure it is cold seems to help. I like the idea of starting the liquid diet and maybe the prep a bit earlier.

I (and probably you) really want to be cleaned out -- if there is too much fecal matter left, they can't see things clearly enough and you get to do it all over again!

But, I definitely categorize it as a nuisance rather than a horror.

cheers,
skg

[charmed]

I had the one from the throat - issue is why don't these guys let you drift off before attacking you with that s called camera. and why are they always in such a rush. I grabbed her hand and said no way after she tried to push that snake down my throat while I was fully awake. She wrote non compliant in my note. Thanks NHS.

I had the solution for the alternative route - there is no way I could take it, its horrid. I have had many horrid medications but that is just mean. common GSK cant you make something that doesn't stink as well as taste bad.

I just lied when they asked if I had taken the solution and the id the procedure. they still managed to find out what was going wrong.

[Deanne]

Has anyone used MoviPrep? Thd gastro doctor said he wanted me to use this instead of whatever he normally uses because of my renal funcion. The MoviPrep website still says to use caution with renal patients.

[jeannea]

Just about everything says to use with caution in renal patients. Check with your nephrologist before using.

[Deanne]

In case it comes up for anyone else, MoviPrep is fine for us to use.

[Hemodoc]

Dialysis patients should avoid magnesium laxatives since their ingestion in this population could result in hypermagnasemia.

http://www.turner-white.com/pdf/hp_mar02_laxative.pdf

Magnesium has uses in anesthesia and is also used in toxemia of pregnancy. For dialysis patients, stay away from large doses of magnesium.