[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.