Colonoscopy: More information

I completed my routine colonoscopy yesterday, the results were good.

I learned more about the procedure yesterday and thought I'd share that in case someone else was as confused by the description as I was.

The prep directions call for you to take some form of liquid or pills to stimulate your bowls to void the colon of everything. You have to fast for a day so you aren't adding to the task. I think that process is completely understood.

What confused me was the term "clear." The term clear is used in describing the output from your colon as you use the laxative cleansers. To me clear means water clear, I mean that you can see through, like from a tap. Not so. clear to the medical community means tan, light brown but free from suspended solids, water like. Well now that I have a better understanding I should be able in the future to better control the outcome of my part of the process.

Yesterday my output was like water, but it was dark brown in color and I could see what I would call suspended solids in the fluid. However it was running close to the time of the procedure and I was afraid to take anymore because my system gets unhappy with the laxative and will extend the time immeasurably. As a result the GI Guy rated my prep as poor. He knows what I've gone through and he went ahead an back flushed a lot and took longer than normal to get a good look. He was able to see all the way to the cecum and everything was normal. He did take a biopsy of the anastomosis (surgery resection joint) just to be sure because that is where the tumor recurred two and half years ago. I was grateful for his time and his attention to detail.

In the future however, I shall begin earlier so the night before I can take the third dose. The normal procedure calls for two doses, but I don't tolerate the bulk of material I have to ingest and get violently sick to my stomach. By reducing the dose but extending the time I made it without any ill effects but did not really get a good prep. Next time I'll have a plan for better carrying off my part of the procedure.

Colonoscopy Prep

Today, February 24, 2014 is a prep day for a colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow. I have been unsuccessful the last three times in getting a good prep. It is really frustrating. I tried back in August 2013. I got sick trying to consume the large amount of laxative and as a result did not get a thorough prep. When the GI Guy did the procedure he had to shorten it to a flex sig because there was too much fecal material above the surgical joint for him to continue. So, I rescheduled for October. This time I tried Miralax. I had to consume two bottles over the period of a day and drink copious amounts of water. I got so sick I couldn't stand it. I called and cancelled the appointment, I experienced explosive diarrhea and couldn't eat for three days I felt so bad. No more Miralax for me, regardless of what MD Anderson says.

Finally I rescheduled for tomorrow. This time I talked to the Dr.'s nurse and she gave me a sample of a prep I'd read about where the volume of fluid you have to take is reduced and you do it once the day before, then again about 4 hours before the procedure. I altered the process. I actually began on Sunday, two days before. The reason is I have experienced explosive diarrhea from time to time and it is uncontrollable. So I took a bottle of Magnesium Citrate on Sunday about 3 PM. I took one half, waited an hour and then consumed the remaining amount. I drank some water, but not as much as I should have. Bulk seems to make me sick. About 7 PM it started to work and it was about 3 AM before I was able to get much sleep. I did experience explosive diarrhea but I was prepared, I had purchased disposable adult diapers, I had adult wipes at each commode and my mind set was to weather the storm. I never got sick although I did experience some fairly severe abdominal cramps. I even got a warning system worked out, when my intestines would rumble big time, I'd best get up and get to the commode because something was going to happen. As a result I did go a lot, the explosive diarrhea stopped around three in the morning and I feel fine today.

My plan today is to follow the directions on the prep I have. It requires I drink 16oz of the prep followed by two 16 oz containers of water over the intervening hour. I'll do that this afternoon so if I end up with explosive results again I have time to let it run its course. I don't think I'll have the explosive action as I went a lot yesterday, so I'm hoping this will just be a final clean out. Depending on what goes on this afternoon I'll probably skip the early morning prep. Once clean, I should stay clean. Besides, I don't want to be experiencing cramping while the Dr. is trying to run the test.

I'm feeling pretty good about this. I'm comfortable, I had a plan, I handled the mess and my wife did not have to help me.