Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

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AussieAssCancer
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat May 21, 2016 10:16 am

Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby AussieAssCancer » Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:12 am

I’m 51 mins away from my first mouthful of Moviprep and I almost gagged when mixing it up.

This will be my third (or fourth - I can’t remember) prep and I would rather have surgery a 100x over than go through another Bowel prep!

The smell makes me think of sweaty jock straps and the aftermath like the Ganges river, with the old razor blade in the date for the final cherry on the sundae.

At least this time I intend to vaso up so it may be more palatable.

To make matters worse my scope isn’t til 3pm (we’ll thats when I have to get there anyways) so it’s going to be a lonnnnnng ass day tomorrow!

Anyways - rant over LOL
Dx Oct '15 w/ Stage 3c RC/ CEA 8
Nov '15 - Jan '16: 3x FOLFOX and 5wks Chemoradiation w/ Xeloda
March '16: ULAR w/ temp ileostomy
Complete pathological response incl 0/12 nodes
May - Aug '16: 9x FOLFOX (dropped Oxaliplatin for final Rd due to neuropathy)
Clear CT scans in April ‘16 (NED), Dec ‘16, Aug ‘17, Feb ‘18, March ‘19, Feb ‘20
Feb '17: Ileostomy reversed
CEA Post Surgery: ALWAYS 2

Blog: kickingrectalcancerintheassblog
https://kickingrectalcancerintheassblog.wordpress.com/

KimT
Posts: 695
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:53 pm

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby KimT » Wed Feb 21, 2018 6:36 am

I do the miralax prep. 238g of miralax in 64 oz Gatorade and 4 dulcolax tablets. The gentlest on my guts and I don’t mind the Gatorade. They have a cherry flavor that is white that I like to use.

And I will only do my colonoscopies when I can be the first case of the day. When they ask me what day works for me, I say any day where I can be first.
2/10 dx colon cancer
right hemicolectomy 3/19/10
Stage 2a 0/43 nodes
Lynch syndrome
3/14/10 colon resection/ removal of metal clips
Nov 11 dx ovarian cancer

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susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby susie0915 » Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:54 am

I have done the miralax prep, go lytely, and suprep. The worst is probably the go lytely, and the suprep is bad but isn't as much to drink. I miralax prep is the most tolerable, but none of them are fun. Especially without most of your rectum. Good luck
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

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Maggie Nell
Posts: 1150
Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 1:57 am
Location: Central Highlands, Victoria, Oz

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby Maggie Nell » Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:54 pm

GoLYTELY....really?

As in Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffanys? :lol: :lol:

So maaaate, what was the verdict? Did they find any nuggets up your jacksie or have you got the all-clear?

Intensely curious and invasive nosy-parkers want to know.
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.

rockhound
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:00 pm

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby rockhound » Wed Feb 21, 2018 4:01 pm

susie0915 wrote:I have done the miralax prep, go lytely, and suprep. The worst is probably the go lytely, and the suprep is bad but isn't as much to drink. I miralax prep is the most tolerable, but none of them are fun. Especially without most of your rectum. Good luck


I did the golytely for my colonoscopy a month back; did not think it was that bad, other than sitting on the toilet from 6-11 pm. Guessing that would have occurred with any of them perhaps? Golytely worked though- the GI doctor who did the scope commented on how clean everything was :)
45 yr old male
Diagnosed December 2016, age 41
Stage 1/IIA rectal cancer - T2/3N0M0 via MRI (MRI indicates stage 1; onc/surgeon = stage 2a)
Lynch syndrome, MSH6 mutation, MSI
2 to 3/2017 Xeloda + Radiation
5/10/17 - Robotic LAR with temp. loop illeostomy, 0/20 lymph nodes
6 to 7/2017 - Six cycles Folfox @ full strength
9/20/17 - Ileostomy takedown
10/17 - CT, NED
5/18 - CT, NED
11/18 - CT, NED
5/19 - CT, NED..moving to yearly CT scans
5/20 - CT, NED
5/21 - CT, NED (4 yr. scan)

AussieAssCancer
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat May 21, 2016 10:16 am

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby AussieAssCancer » Wed Feb 21, 2018 5:02 pm

Haha I’m with Maggie - what an innappropriate name of GoLytely! They may as well call it ass-waterfall :shock:

I’m at the back end <boom tish> of the second Litre of prep and I’m pleased to say that this prep has far and away been the easiest.

Scope is the afternoon butt rest assured Maggie, I’ll let you know what the nugget situation is. I’m obviously hoping that it’s something similar to the current predicament facing KFC in the UK LOL
Dx Oct '15 w/ Stage 3c RC/ CEA 8
Nov '15 - Jan '16: 3x FOLFOX and 5wks Chemoradiation w/ Xeloda
March '16: ULAR w/ temp ileostomy
Complete pathological response incl 0/12 nodes
May - Aug '16: 9x FOLFOX (dropped Oxaliplatin for final Rd due to neuropathy)
Clear CT scans in April ‘16 (NED), Dec ‘16, Aug ‘17, Feb ‘18, March ‘19, Feb ‘20
Feb '17: Ileostomy reversed
CEA Post Surgery: ALWAYS 2

Blog: kickingrectalcancerintheassblog
https://kickingrectalcancerintheassblog.wordpress.com/

AppleTree
Posts: 267
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:16 am

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby AppleTree » Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:07 pm

I have found it easiest with NO fast food or processed foods for 3 days prior. 24 hours prior...only soup BROTH, clear drinks. And when it comes to drinking the stuff...I time how much I have to drink in 15 minute increments and drink through a wide straw. I think I must have tried every prep, including one that just seemed like salt water in Austria (ugh). Not sure I have a "favorite" but for sure it is not the one that I did in Austria!
Best of luck. Wishing you a clean, clear scope!
Diag Feb 5, 2016 Age 45
3 cm tumor 5 cm from verge
Radiation + Xeloda pills - 3000mg 5x week
3/14 - 4/16 - 25 sessions
Shrank just over 50% L nodes 0/13
Remove rectum with temp Ileo 6/17
Reversal 7/20 due to infection
Acute hepatitis August. Chemo cancelled
June to September 2016 - 58 days in hospital

2017
6/16, MRI shadow in lung
Pet - 6.6mm Met in Upper R lobe
7/30 VAT surgery Mass General/Boston
8/24 port
8/30 - 4/28 Folfox. 12 rounds
2018
June CT shows new lung Mets.
July/Oct PETs...CLEAR!

CAGirl
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 4:55 pm

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby CAGirl » Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:41 pm

I had my one-year anniversary colonoscopy today and yesterday was REALLY tough for me. Worse than in the past. I couldn't tolerate jello, chicken broth, coconut water, apple juice -- everything made me gag. I got really low blood sugar and headache-y and threw up BEFORE I even started the Gavilyte. I felt like I was dying, I swear. Not sure if the chemo made me less tolerant of having an empty stomach -- or maybe some of it was psychosomatic because of PTSD from last year's colonoscopy, but DANG, don't know if I'll be able to do it again.
Good news is doc saw NOTHING suspicious today. No sign of Crohn's inflammation OR polyps or anything. He is, however, doing some biopsies to look for microscopic inflammation. Orders say next colonoscopy is in two years -- but shouldn't it be one? I will ask my oncologist. Do you guys think the Magnesium Citrate is as effective? And anyone do modified, low-residue diet prep? I'd hate to miss anything by not doing a thorough cleanout.
Dx 2/2017, age 45, 2 kids: 6 yrs & 3 yrs
History of Crohn's disease - dx in 1997; in remission, thus no colonoscopy in over 10 years
Anemia dx 11/16: GI doc assured me "the likelihood of colon cancer" was "very low".
Stage 3C - T3N2b
8/64 lymph nodes; clear margins surgery 3/17
12 cycles of Folfox 4/17-9/17
3-month CT scan midway through chemo, no changes
2-3-mo CT scan post chemo 11/17 slightly larger lung nod (incr. from 7mm to 8 or 9mm)
CT scan 3/18 - NED
clear CT scan 1/2019 NED

AussieAssCancer
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat May 21, 2016 10:16 am

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby AussieAssCancer » Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:02 am

Hi CAGirl,

Sorry you had such a rough prep, but stoked that you got the all clear though.

I’ve only used the one prep, the only thing that’s different is the flavour so I couldn’t comment on others sorry.

This prep I made a conscious effort to start on the clear fluids earlier than required and I think that helped a lot.

Like you I got the all clear! Next scope in a year and then if that’s clean, an FOBT in 2 and then another scope in 3.

And on an even happier note, I’m absolutely stuffed having gorged myself once I got home LOL

Geoff
Dx Oct '15 w/ Stage 3c RC/ CEA 8
Nov '15 - Jan '16: 3x FOLFOX and 5wks Chemoradiation w/ Xeloda
March '16: ULAR w/ temp ileostomy
Complete pathological response incl 0/12 nodes
May - Aug '16: 9x FOLFOX (dropped Oxaliplatin for final Rd due to neuropathy)
Clear CT scans in April ‘16 (NED), Dec ‘16, Aug ‘17, Feb ‘18, March ‘19, Feb ‘20
Feb '17: Ileostomy reversed
CEA Post Surgery: ALWAYS 2

Blog: kickingrectalcancerintheassblog
https://kickingrectalcancerintheassblog.wordpress.com/

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Maggie Nell
Posts: 1150
Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 1:57 am
Location: Central Highlands, Victoria, Oz

Re: Bowel prep - Does it ever get easier?!?!

Postby Maggie Nell » Thu Feb 22, 2018 12:22 pm

Well!! Talk about burying the lead, Geoffster :roll:

Good to hear that ye olde colon is as clean as a whistle and there's no lurking Larrylings.

Congrats to you too, CAgirl.


For our inner Gladiator pinecones being easier to catch than bunny wabbits
http://flavias.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/ ... paper.html

:mrgreen:
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.


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