Prep question

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Dori W
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 2:30 pm
Facebook Username: Dori Woodhouse

Prep question

Postby Dori W » Mon Apr 17, 2017 3:48 pm

Hi!

I am so seldom on here anymore. I was on quite a bit until a few years ago, mostly under another, similar name, but I irretrievably lost my old login credentials...too much info? I will get to the point.

For my next colonoscopy, still a few months out, I am going to be expected to drink 3 (THREE!!) bottles of magnesium citrate, followed by a massive amount of miralax. I can handle the miralax, but I don't think I can possibly down three bottles of magnesium citrate. I thought I was going to die when I had to drink two for my last scope. Unfortunately, two was not enough for a good prep, so my doctor said I would have to drink three the next time.

I've used the same mag citrate/miralax prep ever since my diagnosis in 2008, and I love my doctor, but I swear I will fire her and find another doctor before I do this prep! However, I superstitiously feel like keeping the same doctor is good luck, so I am torn.

So, what prep can you all recommend that doesn't involve so much of the mag citrate? I'm thinking if I can propose an alternative to my doctor, she might accept it. Otherwise, gah...

I continue to do well. I was diagnosed stage 3c in 2008 and I haven't had a recurrence, so I don't have anything to complain about! They've found polyps during my last two scopes, so I am currently on a three year plan.

I'm sending you all my very best wishes.

Dori
Diagnosed stage 3C signet ring colon cancer in May, 2008
14 out of 18 positive lymph nodes
Final treatment in November, 2008
NED ever since
I used to have an account under "Dori," but I've lost access to it.
You can view my old posts here: search.php?author_id=1446&sr=posts

Buckeye
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:02 pm

Re: Prep question

Postby Buckeye » Mon Apr 17, 2017 4:12 pm

Ask for suprep. You will need a script for it. It comes with 2 small bottles that you mix with 12 ounces of what ever you want. Then continue to drink plenty of liquids throughout the day . You do one bottle in the afternoon then the other 8 hours later. It tastes like salty cherry cough syrup. It works though. I did the same prep you have to do once and thought I was going to throw up. good luck.
Dx 10/20/15 stage 1 T1N0M0 1.3cmx1.1cmx1cm low grade ( well to moderately differentiated) Rectal cancer age 47
Loving Husband and father of two girls age 19 & 15 Sole income provider
CEA <0.5
CT, MRI and PET show no metastatic spread
LAR Laparoscopic TME 11/30/15 with Illo
Pathology clean no lymph node or vascular involvement. Confirmed Stage1
No chemo/rad cancer free now and forever.
Illo reversal 01/26/16

Ron50
Posts: 699
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:04 pm

Re: Prep question

Postby Ron50 » Mon Apr 17, 2017 4:13 pm

Hi Dori,
I have just had scope no 11. I started on pico ,went to fleet prep (too dangerous to kidneys , works on osmossis ) next I had colo caps ,Epsom salt capsules that did not work. Next was go lytely, cleaned me out but had 7 litres of it. Moviprep is a two pack that makes 1 litre of prep followed by half a litre of water. You take it the night before and again another litre in the morning. I drank extra water after the prep each time and it cleared me out well. I have yet to find a prep that tastes anything but revolting. I was stage 3c in jan 1998. After my previous two clear scopes they put me out to three yearly scopes . I protested but it stood. Last week they removed four polyps between 4 and 11 mm. The largest one has me a bit worried as they are not supposed to get that large in three years. I am awaiting pathology tests. Good luck with the scope , Ron.
dx 1/98
st 3 c 6 nodes
48 sessions 5Fu/levamisole
no recurrence cea <.5
numerous l/t side effects of chemo

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Prep question

Postby Lee » Mon Apr 17, 2017 4:30 pm

Fleet prep is the worst for me. Miralax seems to work best for me. On one of my prep solution, I was throwing it up as fast as I could get it down. (Fleet). Body said no more. I'm not even sure if they prescribe Fleet anymore for prep. As someone else pointed out, hard on the kidneys.

Something that has helped me, a day (or two) prior to prep day, I eas easy to digest type foods. Thus on prep I don't always have to take all of the solution. I have a colostomy, and when my outpur is a certain color, I'm done prep.

Good luck,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

peanut_8
Posts: 2340
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 1:31 pm

Re: Prep question

Postby peanut_8 » Mon Apr 17, 2017 4:34 pm

I like the miralax/dulcolax/gatorade prep the best. No prescription needed.
My surgeon prefers it also. Here's a link http://www.baylorendoscopycenter.com/Do ... ep-ALL.pdf

Best Wishes,
peanut
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

tarheelmom
Posts: 168
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2016 5:55 pm

Re: Prep question

Postby tarheelmom » Mon Apr 17, 2017 5:04 pm

I'm getting queasy just thinking about my upcoming prep/scope. I did ok on the golytely(gagging but no vomiting) but found the miralax/ducolax/gatorade horrific (lots of vomiting) so I think everyone is different.
52 y at dx, mom to 4
DX: RC on 2/22/2016
Stage I, T2N0M0, 0/32 LN
23 mm x 7 mm moderately differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma
3 cm from anal verge
4/12/16: ULAR, TME, & temp ileostomy
6/14/16: ileo reversal

Dori W
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 2:30 pm
Facebook Username: Dori Woodhouse

Re: Prep question

Postby Dori W » Mon Apr 17, 2017 6:40 pm

Thanks everybody! That gives me some ideas.

Hi, Lee! I remember you from when I was first on here years ago. You were always super helpful and I really appreciate it.

Ron, I hope that pathology report comes back okay! Thanks for your input. It's awesome that you are 20 years out from your diagnosis, although I recall reading that you have had a lot of health challenges along the way. Sending you my best wishes!
Diagnosed stage 3C signet ring colon cancer in May, 2008
14 out of 18 positive lymph nodes
Final treatment in November, 2008
NED ever since
I used to have an account under "Dori," but I've lost access to it.
You can view my old posts here: search.php?author_id=1446&sr=posts

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Prep question

Postby Lee » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:27 pm

Dori W wrote:Hi, Lee! I remember you from when I was first on here years ago. You were always super helpful and I really appreciate it.


Waving my hand HI right back at you and thank you.

All the best with your up coming scope.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Prep question

Postby Aqx99 » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:38 pm

I used Suprep when prepping for my colonoscopy. From what my parents have told me, they wish they had used it for theirs. It tastes like salty Dimetapp, but it is a lot less to drink than some other preps. I chugged the mixed dose, then another 16 ounces from the same cup and finished with a bottle of Gatorade to cleanse my palate. I didn't end up running to the bathroom all night long, like I've heard other preps can do. Once a dose took effect I was on the toilet for about an hour, then it was over. I'm hoping I get the same stuff for my surgery prep.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

User avatar
kellywin
Posts: 492
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:46 pm
Location: Northern CA

Re: Prep question

Postby kellywin » Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:00 pm

I'll add my 2 cents for Suprep. It's easy, definitely a lot like cherry cough syrup - but I had a spoon of lemon sorbet right after and it cuts the heavy cherry taste. It's a small amount at one sitting, so you can just chug it and go. It's a 2 part and works really fast, so it's over with quickly and I was able to have a "normal" afternoon.
Kelly, mom 14 yo girl
Dx 11/15/12 Rectal Cancer @ age 40
Stage IIIC
5.5 weeks Xeloda & Radiation - complete 2/5/13
Colectomy 3/12/13, 7 of 14 nodes positive - no ileo
4/24/13-8/20/13 - 5 rounds Xelox, 1 Xeloda only

texazgal
Posts: 161
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:40 pm
Location: central Texas

Re: Prep question

Postby texazgal » Sun Apr 23, 2017 1:43 pm

I used some kind of pill for my last prep. It was easy and worked well, though there were about 30 of them to take over about 12 hours. No nasty drinks, just water or clear soft drinks.
DX rectal cancer Aug 04
Surgery Sept 04, perm ostomy, "BarbieButt" Sept 23, 04.
June 2019 stage 3 esophageal cancer
Aug. 2019 28 radiations, 5 chemo
Nov. PET shows original tumor and mets resolved, 2 new mets in liver and bone.
May 2020 port installed, started Folfox hope to do 12 rounds, cure not expected
Keytruda April 2021 8 rounds
scan showed small growth in tumors
Paclitaxol started summer 2021.
Scan July 30, 2021 showed small decrease in size of tumors in liver and bone


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