Colonoscopy prep fail. Please help!

[Anonymous]

My colonoscopy for this morning was cancelled because I wasn't cleaned out enough. I followed their directions to the letter: low fiber diet the week before, liquid diet the day before, drank all the damn Golytly (half at night, half the morning of) and it didn't work well enough. The Golytly was so awful I only made it through by telling myself I wouldn't have to do it again any time soon. But when the nurse talked about rescheduling, she indicated that it was probably my only option, except this time I'd have to do a day or two of Miralax first? She was vague and disinterested in discussing other options.

So, help me, what are my options? I am happy to pay out of pocket for a prep that will work (and not make me gag for 12 hours straight), and happy to find a different provider who will prescribe it if this one won't. But I don't know what to ask for. My husband previously did one that was a couple of pills and then a ton of Miralax and Gatorade.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Email the doctor about it. You shouldn't have to re-do the same thing if it didn't even work!

[Anonymous]

Unless you are at risk, do the mail in test.

[Anonymous]

I have used Suprep for all my colonoscopys and it worked well...tastes very bad but they are relatively small amounts (two 16oz bottles).

There is also Suprep pills (OOP $40) butI havent tried them

[Anonymous]

How did they determine you weren't completely cleaned out?

My friend had the unfortunate experience of throwing up the dratted liquid all night (she tried to contact their office without success to let them know), then being placed under in the morning, explored, etc, only to be told the results were inconclusive because she wasn't cleaned out enough, and she'd have to redo the entire thing soon.

Consider yourself lucky you escaped general anesthesia.

There are many people who don't do well with the prep, and research is ongoing to find better ways of exploring intestines. Contact the doctor to discuss a different prep.

[Anonymous]

My last prep consisted of one large bottle of flavorless Miralax, mixed with a non-red/pink beverage. I also scheduled my procedure for the afternoon so that I could start my prep the morning of. No problems being completely cleared out by procedure time.

DH just did this same prep. Worked like a charm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have used Suprep for all my colonoscopys and it worked well...tastes very bad but they are relatively small amounts (two 16oz bottles).

There is also Suprep pills (OOP $40) butI havent tried them

Ask for the pills!!!

[Anonymous]

I don't understand who decided you were not cleaned out enough. Did you start the procedure then doc said reschedule?? or Did you decide it yourself??

Regardless, this is something you need to ask your doctor, not DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are at risk, do the mail in test.

Exactly. Cologuard or something like it. How old are you and do you have a hisotry of colon cancer in your family? Otherwise, no way in hell would I do a colonoscopy when there are other options.

[Anonymous]

Try suprep. I used that as directed for mine along with a clear liquid diet the day before and my doctor kept mentioning how clean I was, like it was unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are at risk, do the mail in test.

Exactly. Cologuard or something like it. How old are you and do you have a hisotry of colon cancer in your family? Otherwise, no way in hell would I do a colonoscopy when there are other options.

90% accurate good enough for you? I'd rather be 100% w/ a couple days of discomfort. Personal choice I guess.

[Anonymous]

Someone just posted on here how a friend or neighbor just died of colon cancer and he said he had done the poop in a box thing and it missed his cancer. Poop in a box won't catch precancerous polyps as I understand it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did they determine you weren't completely cleaned out?

My friend had the unfortunate experience of throwing up the dratted liquid all night (she tried to contact their office without success to let them know), then being placed under in the morning, explored, etc, only to be told the results were inconclusive because she wasn't cleaned out enough, and she'd have to redo the entire thing soon.

Consider yourself lucky you escaped general anesthesia.

There are many people who don't do well with the prep, and research is ongoing to find better ways of exploring intestines. Contact the doctor to discuss a different prep.

Sorry for the TMI, but the nurse asked about my poop when I arrived and said if it was anything except clear or yellow I needed to use the bathroom and let her look at it. It was kind of embarrassing, but I am glad I didn't go through with a useless procedure. She also got a second opinion from the charge nurse.

The problem with contacting the doctor directly is that I tried to get in touch with her before the procedure (about timing of migraine meds) and she never responded. Unless the person who does scheduling is adept at discussing options, I'm feeling like there isn't a good way to get information from them about what will work better. Hence my idea to try to figure it out on my own and then make a specific request when I call to schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did they determine you weren't completely cleaned out?

My friend had the unfortunate experience of throwing up the dratted liquid all night (she tried to contact their office without success to let them know), then being placed under in the morning, explored, etc, only to be told the results were inconclusive because she wasn't cleaned out enough, and she'd have to redo the entire thing soon.

Consider yourself lucky you escaped general anesthesia.

There are many people who don't do well with the prep, and research is ongoing to find better ways of exploring intestines. Contact the doctor to discuss a different prep.

Sorry for the TMI, but the nurse asked about my poop when I arrived and said if it was anything except clear or yellow I needed to use the bathroom and let her look at it. It was kind of embarrassing, but I am glad I didn't go through with a useless procedure. She also got a second opinion from the charge nurse.

The problem with contacting the doctor directly is that I tried to get in touch with her before the procedure (about timing of migraine meds) and she never responded. Unless the person who does scheduling is adept at discussing options, I'm feeling like there isn't a good way to get information from them about what will work better. Hence my idea to try to figure it out on my own and then make a specific request when I call to schedule.

Go find another doctor. During initial consultation, your doctor should've given you different options and the recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are at risk, do the mail in test.

Exactly. Cologuard or something like it. How old are you and do you have a hisotry of colon cancer in your family? Otherwise, no way in hell would I do a colonoscopy when there are other options.

90% accurate good enough for you? I'd rather be 100% w/ a couple days of discomfort. Personal choice I guess.

This is OP. I was going to use cologuard, but then read that the stats weren't great, and also found out that I'd be responsible for the cost of a "diagnostic" colonoscopy if it had a suspicious finding. Though I am back to considering it again.