Docs or recent colonoscopy victims ;^)

[masraum]

The missus has a colonoscopy on Tue midday. She got the stuff to drink and 2 pills that were prescribed for before the procedure, but didn't realize until last night that there are no instructions with the stuff to drink and the pills as to when to take them.

1 PEG-3350 Sodium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate and Potassium Chloride for Oral Solution. "Mix with water, add flavor packets, drink all." It doesn't say WHEN to drink it all.

When should she drink the salt water? Mon morning or a few hours later when it's closer to 24 hours out?

2 Bisacodyl 5mg. She's got 2 pills. "take with a full glass of water"

When should she take the bisacodyl, and should she take both together or the 2 at different times.

3 She's also supposed to fast, but when should she start? And can she drink water?

Any help is appreciated.

[BE911SC]

Don't ask here, ask her doctor! You'd think they would have provided instructions.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

Don't ask here, ask her doctor!

Will try Mon morning if we don't get a good answer, but Mon is a holiday, so they may not be in then. If that's the case, then we won't know until it's too late. Also, if she has to start fasting much more than 24 hours out, then even Mon morning will be too late. The prep is pretty standard and I know we have a bunch of Docs that hang around.

You'd think they would have provided instructions.

Yes, you would.

[masraum]

I found this which is the same stuff that she got and is instructions for a colonoscopy.

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/mpu/MiralaxGatoradePrep.pdf

[dennis in se pa]

I have had 3 already. Nothing but clear liquids the day before. Start drinking liquid mid afternoon. Drink all of it or until "it" is clear as water. Nothing day of procedure, until afterwards. This info is in lew of you being able to contact the doc and get their requirements. I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn last night.

[masraum]

Thanks Dennis, that essentially mirrors what I found online.

[$ Short]

The worst part is having to drink it. Hopefully the flavor packs have been improved on.

[Noah930]

Obvoiusly, if you can get ahold of your gastroenterologist (or one of the covering partners) this weekend, I would defer to their practice. Different doctors follow different procedures for bowel preps.

But, in general, start a clear liquid diet the day before the study. At least 24 hours--and give a couple hours cushion in case your CLS goes earlier than scheduled because someone before you got canceled. That means water, 7-Up, Gatorade, broth (but not anything chunky in soup), tea (but no milk), etc. The idea is that you don't want to ingest anything particulate.

Generally you start the bowel prep solution (whether it's the salt water concentrate you describe, or Golytely, or Fleets Phosphosoda) the afternoon/evening before the procedure. It may be easier to swallow if it's cold (tastes less salty). You should be pretty much done with it by bedtime.

I never prescribed the Biscodyl (a laxative) for any bowel prep when I was a resident, so I can't tell you from personal experience when you're supposed to take it. But it's a laxative. It usually works within an hour or so. And its effects are only for about 8 hours, tops. So I'd imagine your doctor wants you to take it the afternoon or evening beforehand to get things going and cleared out. You can take one tablet at a time. Space them out by a few hours.

After midnight, you'll pretty much be pooping liquid. So don't forget to stay hydrated. Heck, you might spend the night sitting on the can, it may be coming out of your behind so frequently. If you're otherwise decently healthy the electrolyte loss from this watery stool will probably not be a big deal. But if your health is a little more frail, then the electrolyte loss may not be inconsequential and you'll want to stay hydrated with something more replenishing than just H2O (i.e. Gatorade). Gastric emptying time of liquids is pretty rapid for most, so anything you drink before reporting to the endoscopy suite should be out of your stomach by the time you have your study.

Best of luck.

[masraum]

Thanks tons, that mirrors what I found online.