The Colon Club

Hi all -

I have no doubt this information is out there in this board, but I figured a direct post was more efficient.

I am having my 6th or 9th surgery (depending on what you count ) a week from today. It is a huge surgery to address several things, one of which is to "run" my entire colon to see if adhesions and/or scar tissue are contributing to my ongoing problems. So of course I have to do a course of bowel prep.

I was given a scrip for MoviPrep from my surgeon for this surgery. Turns out it is barely covered by my insurance, and will cost me $48. A lot for colon prep in my opinion. Awhile ago, my oncologist had me pick up GoLytely. We were going to check to see if cleaning me out and starting from scratch alleviated some of my pain and combo constipation/diarrhea. Between the holidays and other stuff going on, and knowing how devestating prep is for me, I just couldn't bring myself to do it as an experiment, so I still have the GoLytely stuff. I tend to have difficulty totally cleaning out, so bear that in mind. And I have yet to check with my surgeon to see if I can do the GoLytely instead of the MoviPrep, but I wanted to get real-world opinions on this.

I have never used either of these prep solutions. So my question is: has anyone tried both and has an opinion on which is easier/better to do? And why?

Or even if you have only used one of them, what was your experience?

Thanks for any help you all can give.

Jane

I've only used Golytely - twice. It's an awful lot of stuff to drink, but if you have trouble cleaning out, this might be a good prep for you. I've only used one other prep - it use to be over the counter but now is prescription only due to problems it can potentially cause for some people with their kidneys (can't remember the name off hand). The end result always seems about the same - you poop a lot until you're clean. The thing with the Golytely is that there is just so much to drink. Keeping it cold and using a straw helps get it down. Still - I couldn't drink the whole thing - either time I used it. But I was still really cleaned out. So if you have trouble cleaning out - this might be good, simply because there is so much to drink and flush through your colon.

Best of luck with your prep and your surgery. I'm so sorry you're having to have another surgery - I just hope it gives you some relief from the problems you've been having.

I personally like Osmoprep for my colonoscopies. I think it is like Movieprep in that it was expensive.

My surgeon used Phospho-Soda (over the counter) for my surgery. I think it may be off the market.

I have used both, and I have used Golytely (Worst product name ever) more than once. For me, hands down MoviPrep was better. Much less to drink, and it doesn't taste as awful as Golytely. I will grant you that we are talking about the lesser of two evils, but if it was me and you can afford it, spend the $48 for the MoviPrep.

John, I think OsmoPrep and MoviPrep are the same thing, with the former being in pill form. And yeah, the old standby, Fleet, is off the market since people weren't drinking the water with it they were supposed to and I guess it fried alot of livers.

My surgeon, who also does my colonoscopies, has me pour an entire bottle of Miralax in a 32 or 42 oz (I cannot remember which) bottle of Gatoraide and drink 8 oz every hour until gone. Cleans me out like a charm.

The only one I have used for prep is Miralax. Mix a whole bottle of Miralax with a 64oz btl of gatorade. Drink 8 oz every 15 min. It was easy, didn't cause any kind of cramping and got the job done. However I can't even look at yellow gatorade anymore.

Hi Jane! Searching for something better than the "Lytleys," I did MoviPrep for my last scope and OMG it was horrid. I actually vomited on the second-to-last pint full. Fortunately I had been running clear for a while so I was still able to get scoped (and the notes said the prep was good), but I do NOT recommend.

Best of luck to you! Doing prep makes me feel oddly lonely/isolated even with the hubz in the house, so check in on the boards for support if you need it! We ALL understand your [prep] pain.

Best!!

Hey, Brigita! Long time no talk. What made MoviPrep so horrid?

And Carolina Girl and jmarie, I don't think Miralax will work for me, as using it for its normal purposes does absolutely nothing for me.

Used the Golytely and the Miralax. Never again will I use the Golytely. Despite the fact that it worked well according to my GI doc, I was puking almost as much as I was crapping. To me, it tastes like diluted vomit in a cup so I'm not surprised at the response of my stomach to it. The Miralax/Gatorade prep was a breeze. No vomiting/cramping/horribleness.

I will also never do a *lytely prep again if it can be avoided; I intend to lobby my docs for the Miralax plus dulcolax prep which justsing described last year.
The last time I had to do a *lytely prep, I started puking less than halfway through, and some poor sweet gastroenterology resident from MSKCC stayed on the phone with me for nearly an hour talking me through it. They went ahead with my scope and the surgery the next day, so we both did our jobs, but there is no way I'll willingly drink that stuff ever again.
If I didn't have a loop of bowel in the hernia area, I'd be lobbying really hard to do a colostomy irrigation - which is another completely acceptable and NON-ORAL method of prep...and another virtue of having an ostomy.

janeandrea wrote:Hi all -
I have no doubt this information is out there in this board, but I figured a direct post was more efficient.

Yeah just search the forums for any product names or Prep titles etc...there will have been a LOT of discussion !!!!
the GoLytely instead of the MoviPrep, but I wanted to get real-world opinions on this.

I refuse to use any kind of "-lytely" or the older PhosFlo types orMoviPrep. The mag citrate based ones are generally easier on the patient and if you have access to cross border shopping, Pico Salax in Canada (and other areas) is the most humane, in my experience, & have used it a lot.

Thanks for any help you all can give.Jane

Cheers and good prepping
CRguy

janeandrea wrote:Hey, Brigita! Long time no talk. What made MoviPrep so horrid?

I might have been trying to keep to the directions as closely as possible instead of following my instincts (and gag reflex) and pacing myself, but I also think that the taste was much worse than the Lytelys despite the volume reduction. I really really really hope that the pills are back on the market by the next time I'm due for a scope.

Brigita, I think pills are already/still on the market - I think the OsmoPrep are the pills.

Are those better?

janeandrea wrote:Brigita, I think pills are already/still on the market - I think the OsmoPrep are the pills.
Are those better?

'Better' is relative.
Some docs (all of mine, unfortunately, included) don't feel that the pill preps produce a clean enough set of intestines for them to accurately evaluate.
Some people (me included) have a really tough time taking pills over a certain size, or over a certain number - I've got a gag reflex that's way over-exercised in proportion to my body when it comes to pills.
Mileage will vary.