Colonoscopy prep question

[sunflower007]

Can I choose which tye of colon prep to use? My doctor has me using prescription prep and I didn't realize it until now. I like the miralax and gatorade prep. Do GI doctors care which one you use? I will make sure my bowels are empty. I would call and ask them but they are closed on the weekend and most likely won't pick up the phone on Mondays and my colonoscopy is on Tuesday. The reason why I can't use the prescription prep is because I am cramping so much. Please, any help with this is despereately needed.

[DarknessEmbraced]

I've always used the prescription prep that was ordered. I'm sorry you're cramping badly!*hugs* If your colonoscopy is in the afternoon on Tuesday you could call your doctor's office to ask if you could use Gatorade and Miralax. Of course that's only if you don't start your prep until the afternoon. Good luck! I hope your prep and colonoscopy go well!*hugs*

[sunflower007]

Thank you so much for answering. Hugs right back to you.

The thing is, my GI is so busy that they most likely won't answer their phones on a Monday and by the time I can get into contact with them it will already be late afternoon, well past the time I should have started my colon prep. So long as my bowels are empty and clean as whistle, it shouldn't matter which one I use correct?

[heiders33]

Personally I think you can use whatever works for you. All that matters is that the colon is clean.

[Deann]

1. Leave a ms at dr office for them to call you explain when scope is.
2. Call the facility where the scope will be done and talk to an endoscopy nurse and let them know u r trying to check with your dr's office.
3. I can also personally recommend the efficacy of Miralax /Gatorade /Dulcolax.
I know about Monday phone lines but there's usually an opportunity for messages.

[Koreysue]

Perhaps you could go to the drs office in person and ask tomorrow morning. Might be more reliable than the phone.
Korey

[DBF]

Were you able to get an answer?
I usually request a specific prep from my doctor: Prepopik. I’ve done the Miralax too. I think as long as everything is cleaned out, things should be fine.
Good luck!

[tater]

My wife has done both. Her GI doc is miralax gatoraide method but the rectal surgeon was all by the books and gave her a prescription. She like the miralax gatoraide one the most but has gotten to the point that she uses water. She goes in Weds for a scope so the fun begins for her tomorrow afternoon. My assignment for the day is to stop off at the store on the way home to buy the ingredients for the cocktail.

[mobrouser]

I realize this is too late for the OP, but here's my situation. My colonoscopy is scheduled for the first week of December. I've been starting to feel a little antsy about it and I needed to know what day(s) to book off work so I just pulled out the prep sheet to see what the procedure and timing is.
Mine will be done by the surgeon who did my RHC and her form states " Purchase Bi-Peglyte from the pharmacy. ABSOLUTELY NO SUBSTITUTIONS."
So it appears that some doctors are very strict about which prep is used.

Hope your scopes went well Sunflower007 and tater!

mob

[Buyo]

I am basically in the exact same boat as the original poster.

For around 1 month: stomach pain that is not sever, but doesn't go away, bloody stool. Went to doctor, surgeon appointment scheduled and likely colonoscopy to follow.

I came to this place looking for answers and I basically got all of them here. I just wanted to thank you all for your stories and support to people like us.

[Utwo]

Mine will be done by the surgeon who did my RHC and her form states " Purchase Bi-Peglyte from the pharmacy. ABSOLUTELY NO SUBSTITUTIONS."

Once I compared minerals content and osmolarity of PegLyte and RestoraLax + Gatorade.
They were quite different.
I came to conclusion that PegLyte should be nicer to your colon.
Butt, butt, butt … RestoraLax + Gatorade just tastes much better.

My personal recommendation:
If you can consume prescribed volume of PegLyte it would ensure proper cleaning.
However if you have a choice between using only half of prescribed volume of PegLyte or full volume of RestoraLax + Gatorade, go for Gatorade.

This time I will switch back to PegLyte. I should have strong enough will power to consume the whole bottle.