Colonoscopy
I have to get one (which I am extremely unhappy about) and can't eat anything but clear liquids from 10am Monday until after the procedure on Tuesday (which is at 11am). How do I not starve to death in this time period? I mean I can't just down chicken broth all day because I'll take in like 60,000 mg of sodium.
Anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Reason: 5/5/08 set as sticky for a week; 5/12/08 unstickied.
Fruit juices actually do have a fair number of calories...try to find some cherry or raspberry juice if you can, it's wonderful. To give your stomach the feeling of something more substantial you can make it into popsicles (not as good as grains and protein but you really wouldn't want to have to repeat your colonoscopy over a day's worth of food).
Edit: Sorry, apparently they need to be clear.
Check with your doctor on that because I was told not to drink any juices that are red colored, only apple and white grape. Go ahead and drink all the chicken broth you want. Yes it's a lot of sodium, but it's just one day. It won't kill you. Maybe ask if you can drink those protein fortified waters. They didn't have those out yet when I had mine done.
I did get pretty hungry but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I pretty much forgot all about it once the prep started working and I was in unimaginable pain from it. I have not heard of that happening to anyone else though, even from people who used the exact same prep and have the same condition I have, so I think it was just me. Seriously they had better come up with a different way to do it by the time I am in my 50's or I just won't be getting them, because I seriously thought I was going to die. Compared to that the actual procedure was absolutely fine. Afterwards I felt a little sleepy but otherwise great, and I ate a ton. I couldn't even tell anything had been done.
Don't worry about the sodium or the calories Monday. Make lots of jello in advance and have soup broth and clear pale juices on hand. The hospital or doctor should have given you a list of things it's ok to eat/drink. Buy a package of high-quality soft toilet paper - trust me on this one!
Feel free to message me about it, I've had many different preps and types of scopes.
Jello saved me, also fruit juices (juicy juice brand apple juice is delish). Also I had some low sodium chicken broth and like the post above, I wouldn't worry too much about sodium for that day.
The procedure isn't bad, the only bad part I thought was drinking all that prep drink stuff. I chose pineapple flavoring and haven't craved pineapple since :).
I was told not to drink any red juices or eat any red jello. I think they don't want your colon dyed. The procedure is nothing to worry about but the prep drink is hideous! I don't know why they bother to offer flavors. NOTHING can mask that horrible undertaste!
It tastes kind of like Sprite with salt in it. When they add "fruit flavour" it tastes like Sprite with salt and sugar. Some types you have to sip, but some are ok to drink fast. If chugging is allowed, try plugging your nose and get as much down as possible before you can taste it. Drinking from a glass rather than a bottle will let you take more in per gulp. If you can't chug, I find it helps to alternate with sips of ginger ale (helps taste and cramps). Drinking extra fluid also helps make sure the prep works properly. Check your instructions, but you can usually stop drinking the stuff when you are passing only clear fluid.
If you have more than one bathroom, designate one as yours for the day. No husband or kids allowed. This way it's sure to be available when you need it. I had to do the prep once on a Sunday and I had two roommates and only one bathroom between the three of us...
I drank a lot of apple juice & went shopping inorder to get my mind off the hunger. It's really not so bad though--just one day & by the time you have to drink down the prep drink, then you will be thankful that you didn't have too much in your stomach & digestive tract! My suggestion is to eat lightly a couple days beforehand to make the *ahem* bathroom episodes go a lot faster. I did it that way and I didn't even have to finish the entire prep drink because I was so cleared out. Eww, sorry...that was probably too much information!
Each of us can do with out food for a number of days. A colonoscopy is a very important checkup, especially if you're over 50. I had one last week, following my Dr.'s instructions to the T and had no problems. The only thing I consumed along with their prescribed Magnesium Citrate and Glycol was "water". No problema! I felt very good. It was like a mini-fast. I have fasted for 7 days before with only water. It is a fantastic experience! I don't suggest you do this without a Dr's approval but when your body stops processing foods it is a wonderful feeling. Come on everyone, you can't do without food for one day? If you can't, I'd examine how important your health is to you.
So far I have Jello (lime and lemon) made, chicken and beef broth packets, and popsicles. And I plan on drinking tons of water, tea, and coffee.
The instructions say I can eat 2 pieces of toast with jelly Monday morning before 10 am and then nothing until tuesday after the procedure (its at 11).
Clear soda is fine with most preps. Call your pharmacist if you're not sure, but it should say somewhere in your instructions or on the prep's packaging.
Try to drink more useful liquids than water. You need electrolytes and calories that you'll get with pop, juice, tea, broth, and jello. Oh, and remember not to eat the red or purple popsicles!
Good luck tomorrow and Tuesday. I hope that everything is alright. Remember that the prep is the worst part and you'll be fine.
I have had two colonoscopies and the prep will give you plenty of calories - or you will be allowed to have plenty. There are several different preps but they all have clear juices or gatorade not red or purple as part of the prep. I had a hard time getting down the last of mine, let alone think about eating!!!!
Oh, it is not all that bad in the scope of medical things. If they give you Versed, it really is an amnesia drug - even if you feel fine don't do anything important the rest of the day!!!
I'm 51 yrs. old my I'm really scare because some of my Polyps where precancerous, what should I think, I'm suppose to go back to see the doctor on the 23 on this month? My stomach looks bloated. Does anyone have the same problem that I have? I'm 51 and I look like I'm 8 to 9 months pregnant!
To bjmassey -- your post seems buried on this thread here but it looks to be a separate set of real concerns for you.
If I've understood it correctly, you have undergone a colonoscopy and the biopsy indicated the polyps were cancerous and you are scheduled to revisit the doctor on the 23rd of this month?
Severe bloating could be part of your colon issues at the moment. As you have already been told by your doctor that the polyps were cancerous s/he will discuss with you the 23rd the options for further (if any) treatment that may be required.
If you are feeling particularly anxious and concerned about your symptoms, why not see if you can see your doctor sooner? It is completely understandable that you are depressed and very concerned about how bloated you are. It is also very important that your doctor be made aware of the bloating that you have as it could be more a symptom of issues with the ovaries (at age 51 it is worth a look).
While going from a size 14/16 to 20 is certainly not making you feel any better right now, try to keep in mind that you have done something far more important than achieve a certain dress size -- you are taking care of your health. Just make a follow-up appointment with your doctor as soon as you can and let us know how you are. Best wishes.
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