Help Please! Going to chicken out of colonscopy!
#72483 - 05/22/04 07:18 PM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Ok, I admit it, I'm a baby, but I'm seriously worried that I'm going to chicken out at the last minute and not go through with my colonscopy (scheduled this Tuesday). I'm ok with the actual procedure, I'm just scared to death for the prep.
I don't feel adequately prepared, because the doctor just said he wanted to do one, I said I had questions, but he left and just sent in his nurse. So I don't even know simple things like about whether or not I can take my regular medications beforehand and stuff like that.
Plus, I've been really sick lately, nauseous and having almost constant D, and I have barely been eating, so I'm worried it's going to wipe me out. I have to do 2 preps. Fleet Phosophsoda at 6:00pm and Citro-Mag at 6:00am. I'm concerned that I'll be completely empty from the Fleet, and then what'll happen to my body if I take more laxative?
Also, I'm concerned about what to mix it with to get it down. My doc said I can have herbal teas, sprite, ginger ale, jello etc. but with the exception of herbal teas I don't normally drink any of that other stuff because it will upset my tummy. I was thinking that because I'm going to be pooping it all out anyways, it shouldnt' matter if I have a few things that I wouldn't normally like carbonated beverages. Anyone have any thoughts on that?
Any advice would be great, I've read Jill Skylar's post on the prep which was great, and I've posted on the Colitis/Chron's board, but am still totally open to other suggestions 
Thanks guys!
Kelly
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Ok, so we all know by now that a colonoscopy is important for diagnosing IBS and that eventually you will need it done if you want to know for certain what it wrong/not wrong and begin taking the steps to deal with what you have/don't have. So, ask yourself this...
If you don't go on Tuesday, do you feel that you'll be better prepared mentality and physically at a slightly later date?
If your answer is yes, maybe you should call up your doctor, explain your concerns and reschedule.
If your answer is no, then you should probably just do it. Its going to have to be done eventually, unfortunately, and maybe sooner is better...what do you think?
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Ok honey, you cannot back out on this. We all talk about how bad the prep is, and true it is no fun, but we all made it and you will too. Be sure to drink, drink, drink and drink some more. Carbonated bev., pour them into a glass, with a large spoon stir vigorously until the bubbles die down and they wont bother your tummy, or at least they dont bother mine.
Call your doc Monday morning and ask about the meds, maybe make a list of ??? you may have and ask his nurse. That will help put you at ease.
I hope I may have helped you a little, the biggest help is to sock down the fluid.
Dont cancel, go ahead and do this, you will be glad you did.
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Thank you for your suggestions Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking ahead, Monday is a holiday in Canada so the doc's office won't be open. We have a 24-hour provincial nurse line I could call, but it would be better if I could contact the doc...should have thought that one through better.
Kelly
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Hello and thanks for your response.
I know I won't be any more comfortable or prepared if I put it off, I've put it off before, and it certainly didn't help any. So, I'll have to bite the bullet, I just wish I was more prepared. Now that it's getting closer I keep thinking about all these questions I should have asked...very frustrating.
BTW, does anyone know anything about the use of Fleet's Phosphosoda being dangerous for some people? I read a Health Canada advisory that sometimes it's not good to use in people with chronic D (like me) or who are already in a weakened state (40lb weight loss might be considered weakened). I'm not sure why, but it said other preps are better in that situation, so now I don't know what to do.
Anyone have any advice on that?
Kelly
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Hi Kelly:
I took the Phosophsoda with ginger ale. Although I quit carbonated drinks about a month ago, I figured it wouldn't hurt to take the prep with. It wasn't too bad and it didn't make me feel sick or anything.
Let us know how it goes.
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Hang in there sweetie. It's totally up to you, but I wouldn't go with the carbonated beverages especially since you've been so sick. IT could make a difficult situation worse. As for the prep, I would just take a deep breath and do it. I admit I almost passed out before the prep stuff. I was so worried! As unpleasant as it is, it isn't any worse than what you have imagined - and probably isn't as bad as you think. Try to distract yourself - radio, anything to give you something else to focus on.
Seriously - who on earth is this Doctor? I'm asking because I want to switch and don't want to end up with yours. Is he in London? He sounds like a jerk - just like my Dr.
Consider that if you go through all of this, you can relax the minute it's over. Then it won't be hanging over your head.
As for the meds, I would take them as usual if they are a 'can't miss' kind of med. If you can, delay them until the end of the procedure which is in the morning anyway, right?
Hugs for your bravery,
Han.
- enjoy your 2-4 weekend! Try and relax as much as possible on Monday. Really take it easy.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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I did my colonoscopy about two months ago- and it at last eliminated any serious organic problems. The prep isn't that terrible. But I took the first does at 4 p.m. and hte second at 7 p.m.
It isn't like D at all-there was no cramping just this feeling of "Uh oh- I gotta go..." That day was hard- no solid food, jello, liquides and Boost/Ensure- but they make me gag!
Once they started running the IV and started to rehydrate me I felt great...the procedure is painles, with hardly any after effects....
I drank the Fleet stuff with gingerale- what did I care. I let it get a little flat-
Good luck- it's an important test and it gave me great peace of mind...Don't cancel.
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Don't worry! If I can do it, anyone can. I was scared to death to drink the stuff. I will tell you - it is NASTY, but I drank it plain, really fast with my nose plugged. Going to the bathroom is really not bad at ALL, it doesn't hurt - just like Evan said. But (this sounds funny) - buy baby wipes!! Your a$$ will be so sore
Think of this as a good thing - totally cleans you out and you can start fresh. Good luck!
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~Cara~
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Hey there, Girlfriend,
You caught me off-guard here. I think you're the first person who has ever freaked out over the prep instead of the procedure, and I don't know how to answer you.
Honey, it's no big deal, you just have to poop a lot, that's all. What did I drink? Hmm, lets see, oh yeah -- I had grape juice. I LOVE grape juice. I also had apple juice and lemonade. That's it. Apple juice and lemonade. Nothing carbonated. I also fixed Jello, but I don't think I had much of it. I'm not crazy about Jello, never have been.
Do you think your not feeling well and having D is from the stress of the prep? While it is true that the prep is the worst part of the entire procedure, it's not THAT bad. I mean, you have D right now -- that's the extent of the bad part -- you just have D, but without the cramps.
Why are you "barely eating" right now? What's happening with you? That's not good. You need to keep a soluble fiber in your tummy at all times. You need to eat, Kelly. You want to be prepared for Tuesday, so you have to eat now -- how about some toast or cereal, maybe a little oatmeal?
"What'll happen if [you] take more laxatives?" Well, you'll just clean yourself out, that's all. You don't take laxatives on a regular basis; if you did, well, that'd be a different story. This one time won't hurt you. You'll just clean yourself out. And you wanna be cleaned out for the procedure.
Can you find instant apple cider? It's made by the makers of apple juice (Tretop), but you can also buy Safeway's brand (it's cheaper). It comes in a box of individual packets. It's powder, you mix it in hot water. All the ingredients are IBS-safe. The calories from the apple cider, the grape juice and lemonade will be sufficient for you until after the procedure when you can eat solid food again -- it's just a few hours, that's all.
Kelly, you can do this. You KNOW you can do this. It's absolutely no worse than what you're going through right now with the D. Please try to relax. Whatever you do, DON'T CANCEL the appointment. You want this procedure. It's very important. Just remember the marvelous drugs you're gonna get -- oh YEAH!
Please eat something today. Tomorrow you'll take the Fleet and the Citro-Mag and you'll have D again, that's all. No biggie. And then the great drugs on Tuesday. Whooppee!
Honey, I'll be thinkin' 'boutcha.
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Kelly, I'm sure they're talking about repeated use of the stuff, not a one-time thing. You're only using it ONCE. Just ONCE. And your "chronic D" is just chronic today, not every single day.
All the more reason for you to eat something TODAY.
Honey, I'm a D. Always have been. I took the Fleet and I was fine. (Except for all the pooping, of course.) You're just freaking yourself out needlessly. Are you really in a weakened state? You had a 40-pound weight loss? Could you afford it? Are you too thin now, is that what you're saying?
I honestly don't think a one-time use of the Fleet is going to hurt anyone. Otherwise I'm sure your doctor OR your nurse would not have recommended it. It's standard operating procedure for everyone.
Honey, please calm down, stop putting more pressure on yourself. Everyone goes through this, in just about the same way, and we all survive. You will too. You'll just have a nice, cleaned-out colon when you show up Tuesday morning for those marvelous drugs.
We're all behind ya, honey!
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Hi
I can sympathize with you but really the prep isn't that bad. I just had a colonoscopy in Dec. and my doctor gave me pills and they were great! They took long to work but they were much better than the other preps ask your doc if he will give you the pills. Try to relax because I know from experience anxiety can make it worse. Do the best that you can do if you can't do the whole prep then it's not the end of the world. When I did my prep my hubby bought me like 6 magazines and I put them in the bathroom with me and I tried to sit and relax and read. I wish you all the luck! Let us know how it went!
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Bunkee, love the purple font with that flower. That's a keeper okay?
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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For Bev
#72603 - 05/23/04 11:09 AM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Hey Bev,
I think I could have afforded the weight loss, I was overweight a bit to begin with, and now I'm just at the low end of "normal" for my weight. It's just how fast it happened. I've lost it all in about 2 1/2 months, so I feel almost constantly dizzy and crummy. And because my diet has been sooo bad (just a little bread, rice, teas, not much else) I was just concerned that my electrolytes may already be off kilter.
What about Gatorade? I know generally it's an IBS no-no, but my doc's nurse highly recommended it for me because of the electrolyte problem, so I'm wondering if it would be ok to drink just for the prep. I'd drink it in small amounts mixed with a lot of water, and I have pedialyte too, but I don't like the taste too much.
Thanks again to everyone for all your encouragement!
Kelly
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Most of my doc's have an emergency number for nights, weekends and days off. I know that in Canada things are far different than in the states. Could you call your docs regular office #, they may have a recording where you could leave a message?
That may be what the nurse's line is you are talking about. I know you are not stupid, just throwing out a suggestion.
You are just stressed and need to know you are blessed to have all of us here! We are behind you 100%.
You have nothing to loose by calling the nurse line. Go ahead, I would if it were me.
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Please don,t chicken out of your colonscopy.I was so-----afraid.getting ready for it wasn,t so bad.do you have a good husband that will help you.when it came time to drink the sh-- lol I just sat on the pot an every 10 min.I think my husband brought me my plain cocktail it went in one end an out the other.if there is anything wrong they will fine out.I take a lot of medication an I take shots for diabetic
so I took everything with me so I could take it as soon as I was done.if you are a diabetic please tell the nurse.they will try to get you in first.but please don,t cancel.good luck if I can do it I know you can because I,m a big baby.
 Gerry 10
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Neta G.Yale
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call your doctor or his nurse and express your concerns to them. I don't know much about fleet so I can't give you any advice about it. I am sure you will do fine with the prep and the test but inorder to avoid the anxiety I think it would be a good idea for you to talk to someone in the medical field. Good Luck with the test!
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this is going to sound stupid, but trust me on this!!! you should be totally happy you have been having bad D and you haven't been eating much. lemme tell you why. that was my situation last year when i was going through my prep, and i was pretty scared myself. but since there wasn't a lot to pass, it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. just make sure you have a clear path to the bathroom. really, it was a lot of running (and i mean running!) to the bathroom, but the actual event in the bathroom was easier than any of the trips i had been taking for the weeks leading up to that! i had feelings of urgency, but minimal cramping and discomfort that way, and the.....er....end result was so liquidy there was no strain or stress (except for the running. did i mention there was lots of running!?)
i understand prep is especially bad for those who had been eating really well, normal foods right up 'til the day before prep. since you've been "prepping" for weeks, you're ahead of the game, Kel!
and i drank my prep with Gatorade 'cause i knew the flavor would be really strong. there's nothing i can do to help you make that part of the prep easier- frankly, the Gatorade helped, but the stuff still tastes nasty. i'm quite a baby when it comes to consuming stuff that tastes bad, but i acted dramatic and humored myself and drank it anyway.
it's not too bad, really, Kelly. besides, it's better than not doing it and still going through all that suffering you've been going through for months and months, right????
hang in there. i'll send you positive thoughts on Tuesday!
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Kelly, go for the Gatorade. I tend to listen to professionals, and your nurse recommended it. Also, Jen said she took it and it didn't seem to bother her (except for the lousy taste). If it will make you feel better about the procedure, then by all means give it a try.
But please, honey, please don't worry. When it's all over, you're gonna look back and say, "what the hell was the big deal anyway?!?"
{{{{{Smooches}}}}
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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