@2VU0609 With CO2 we wouldn’t have the classic skits like Robin Williams’!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHZulL-eGnw
I had my first (LONG overdue) colonoscopy this past March using the Ducolax/Miralax Prep. Ate lightly two days before, liquids only the day before with Ducolax around noon and Miralax spread between two 32 oz. bottles of Gatorade between 6 and 8 PM. Was all done by ten and slept the night through. As everyone has noted, the procedure itself was nothing. I just never wanted to go through the prep, but that part turned out to be easy, too. I was just very hungry after the procedure. I don’t have to do it again for ten years. I’m hoping by that time they’ve invented a TSA-like scanner you just walk through, no prep, no drugs, no hassle. Right?
I had a small precancerous polyp removed a few years ago. It was a breeze. It was so much better than NOT having a precancerous polyp removed that it is almost not possible to describe.
Saving my life is only one reason to do it. Saving all of the trouble of a very unpleasant disease might be the BIG reason to have the colonoscopy.
Is the Ducolax/Miralax prep only 64 ounces of fluid now?
When I did that prep for my first one 6 years ago, I had to choke down a gallon of fluid. I still can’t stomach yellow gatorade after that experience.
I haven’t done it yet, but my instructions say 64 oz of clear liquid with the Miralax.
Anyone have a good suggestion for what liquid is most palatable?
Ice & Water. If that does not work, Gatorade.
And remember to KEEP DRINKING WATER, right up to the appointment. I didn’t, and the nurse said I was dehydrated. They had a difficult time getting the IV needle in me - had to use my hand, ouch. That was worse than the prep! She said it’s a mistake most people make, failing to drink enough water the last few hours before the test.
“And remember to KEEP DRINKING WATER, right up to the appointment.”
It depends on what your doc says. My instructions were NO liquids at all past a certain point.
As I said upthread, quickly chugging this stuff lukewarm was much better than sipping it cold. You can’t swallow a whole lot of cold liquid at once. It is disgusting either way, cold or not, so just do it quicker. 
I second what Maine Longhorn said about keeping hydrated. I had my last colonoscopy 2 years ago and they had a very difficult time finding a usable vein for the IV. It was very very uncomfortable and stressful. This was by far the worst part of the procedure. The nurses told me I could have (and should have) kept drinking water after I’d finished the prep stuff.
The Miralax was tasteless, couldn’t detect it in the Gatorade. My instructions also said no liquids once the prep was finished.
There is a very real risk of aspiration of the stomach contents, leading to aspiration pneumonia. My instructions said not to take anything at all by mouth (not even water) for 4 hours before the procedure. At the clinic they asked me specifically when the last thing I had anything to eat or drink.
However, I drank lots of liquids between the 2 doses of prep, even more than I was required to. Being well hydrated is important; you just don’t want to risk aspirating.
My instructions say no liquids after midnight.
They have trouble finding my veins when I go for blood work, so this should be interesting. I’ll try to drink as much as I can the day before the procedure.
It’s strange that the instructions on drinking differ.
@Nrdsb4 is a specialist in that, perhaps she can shed some light.
I see to remember my Dr. saying no red liquids.
I want to share my prep with you since I felt it was the best of the 3 different ones I have done. 2 days prior to test they had me drink 4 tablespoons of milk of magnesia the evening before bedtime. The day prior to test it was all clear liquids (I lived on yellow Gatorade), 6 exlax pills (2 in the am, 2 midday and 2 by 6pm) plus a 10oz bottle of magnesium citrate (lemon flavor). I was paranoid that I would not be properly prepped since I wasn’t constantly visiting the bathroom. However, I was squeaky clean. I realized that the milk of magnesia kicked it off well and the next day it was not as upsetting (putting it nicely) as previous prepping years.
According to the gastro, the prep is new. Previously, I had to swallow 32 pills in a day and the very first time I had it done I drank that nasty 64oz of whatever they forced me to drink.
Please ask your docs about the prep I mentioned.
Regarding hydration and ceasing hydration prior to procedure:
As far as I know, current guidelines state that clear liquids can be consumed up to 2 hours prior to administration of anesthesia. A blanket stance of “No liquid after midnight” is old school and does not take into consideration what time a person’s procedure is scheduled.
That said, not all doctors are going to agree with these guidelines. There are various conditions which could make the guidelines inappropriate for a given patient. Type of surgery, patient anatomy, certain illnesses and conditions, age, and specific drugs given to induce anesthesia can also impact these instructions.
Patients who have slow gastric emptying would benefit from more time between fluid consumption and procedures, as would obese patients or anyone who would be more prone to vomiting after administration of anesthesia. There are other circumstances that I won’t try to list. Point being, hopefully the doctor or anesthesia provider is looking at this from the perspective of each individual patient. HOWEVER: I’m guessing most docs have pre-printed instructions that do not take individual circumstances into consideration, so they will most certainly take a very conservative stance.
Regardless of instructions, spend a couple of days hydrating. The prep will really do a number on your hydration status, so if you can start out very well hydrated vs. dehydrated, you are ahead of the game. IV insertion certainly will be easier if your veins are big and juicy.
Yes, that is a common instruction. Most often tell their patients to avoid blue and purple liquids as well.
@Nrdsb4, thank you for the helpful information!
My preprinted instructions had blanks for the times, to be filled in by the office for each patient. It makes sense that the instructions would be individualized, particularly as everyone’s appointment is at a different time.
okay so this procedure has me a little frightened. my manager’s father died from a puncture during this procedure and my other co-worker just spent over a month in the hospital due to a puncture during the procedure. Co-worker still isn’t fully healed 2 months later. I have a very small department, so I am wondering how common these punctures are?