Colonoscopy Prep

[JW88]

I know that many gluten-intolerant/celiac patients undergo the often-uncomfortable and much-unanticipated colonoscopy prep. I'm sure you all look forward to it about as much as you look forward to having your toenails pried off with tweezers. Maybe there's a more comfortable way to prep that won't make you dread it so much:

I was scheduled for a colonoscopy next Friday. It wasn't that I needed one...my doctor said, "Well, you're going in for an endoscope and you're going to be 'out' anyway, so you might as well have one." I scheduled it, but thought about this and decided that if I really don't NEED one, then why would I put myself through the agony to have one? So, I cancelled my colonoscopy. But not until I'd done a ton of research.

Did you know that you could do a colonic vs. a laxative prep? A colonic is much more comfortable, takes about an hour, and doesn't have all the negative side-effects (and potentially fatal ones) of a laxative prep. Think about it: No more 2-day prep. No more pooping and/or vomiting for hours. No more extreme discomfort. No liquid diet for 1-2 days prior. You can go from start-of-prep to end-of-colonoscopy in about two hours. And everybody I talked to said it wasn't the colonoscopy they dreaded - it was the prep!

I'll admit that I have not had a colonic, yet, but I am going to...for the simple reason that I think it would improve my health and energy level because I have mild diverticulitis. Someone who follows a more holistic and naturopathic approach to health recommended colonics to me, and I've been doing some research. I actually found a humorous You Tube video of a guy who recorded his first colonic...and it looks like there are lots of such videos on You Tube. Take a look yourself.

I'm not saying colonics are without possible pitfalls, but from my initial research, colonics seem to have far fewer pitfalls and side effects than laxative preps. Of course, you want to do your research and find someone who is certified in colonics, and follow a few recommendations about how to prep and recover from a colonic (don't eat before you have one, and take a probiotic supplement afterward to help restore the bacterial balance in your colon -- doesn't that sound much better than what you have to go through with a laxative prep?). The worst side effect of a colonic appears to be extra flatulence for 48 hours afterward. Some people said they felt nauseous for several hours, but it sounds like that isn't very common and could also be caused from the extra gassiness. So, if you fart, the nausea might not be so bad. Still, nausea beats actual puking any day in my book. I'll take a few hours of nausea rather than vomit once.

At any rate, consider colonics as a friendlier form of colon prep for a colonoscopy, especially if you put off getting screened because of the prep. I will INSIST on a colonic when I do finally schedule a colonoscopy, even if I have to go to a different physician to get one before the scope.

Oh, and when I called my doctor to cancel my colonoscopy this morning, I asked her why they didn't use colonics. At first, she said she didn't know what a colonic was, had never heard of it, and asked me what it entailed. After talking a few minutes, she admitted that several of their patients use colonics as a colon prep and refuse the laxative prep. I found it odd that she felt the need to lie. Why lie about something like that unless you're trying to hide something?

Just one more thing to consider.

Happy scoping!

[dilettantesteph]

I am going for a colonoscopy in a couple of months. I haven't heard of the laxatives making people vomit. Could you explain that more?

[JW88]

I am going for a colonoscopy in a couple of months. I haven't heard of the laxatives making people vomit. Could you explain that more?

Some people have a very bad reaction to the laxatives. My dad never vomited, but my mom dry-heaved. I guess it's not uncommon for people to become extremely nauseous with the laxatives and throw up. Some people puke several times for hours. When I was doing my research, I kept reading people's accounts of how the prep made them very sick. Miralax is supposedly a much friendlier prep than the old phosphosoda, so I was surprised when I started reading review after review of people who became VERY ill while doing the Miralax prep. OsmoPrep is the pill prep, but it can cause Renal failure in those susceptible to kidney problems. But even with its improved functionality as far as the prep is concerned, people still reported becoming quite ill with it. One guy became woozy, began throwing up, and then had a seizure and had to be rushed to the hospital. Another lady passed out and almost died (she actually heard the emergency personnel say "We're losing her!" while she was in and out of consciousness) and will have problems with her kidneys for the rest of her life. Still another review said they had a heart attack.

At any rate, we digress from the vomiting. Diarrhea is obviously the worst side effect, but apparently nausea and/or vomiting is a common side effect, too. The serious side effects mentioned above are rare, but I'd hate to be the one that has one of those!

Still, many people don't experience any ill side effects other than discomfort with the laxative prep. Again, those seem to be pretty rare, too, based on my research. I'd say 1 out of 5 reviews said "No problems." 4 out of 5 had bad to severe problems. Those aren't bettin' odds in my book.

If you have the ability to try a colonic prep vs. the laxative prep, I'd recommend you look into it. I mean, sheez! If colonics are just as effective as laxatives to prep the colon, and they're really that much more comfortable and help you avoid the 1-2 day liquid diet, I think they're worth looking into as a viable colonoscopy prep.

Good luck, and I hope everything goes well.

[JW88]

Oh, and the old Phosphosoda/Fleet preps were the worst. I guess people simply couldn't get them down and barfed 'em right back up. Very yucky - the taste, the consistency, everything.

Here's my advice if you are set on doing a laxative prep: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Probably 2-3 days before your prep, start drinking a ton of fluids/water. Eat very light and simple foods. No meats. Lots of brothy soups and rice. Eat foods foods that aren't bulky and are easily digestable. NO FAST FOOD! NO FRIED FOOD! Go easy on the dairy. The people who did this reported having much easier laxative preps than those who didn't. (Obviously, the day before your prep will be strictly clearn liquids).

[dilettantesteph]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea.

[JW88]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea.

You're welcome.

I continued my colonics research today and found another site where someone stated that doctors who perform colonoscopies are happy with how well colonics clean out the colon before the procedure. One person said that he chose the colonic prep, but that his doctor never offered it as an option - he had to figure it out on his own - but his doc was pleased with the results, anyway. Still, it seems that more and more conscientious doctors are turning toward colonics as a prep, simply because they're just as effective and are much friendlier to the patient's body.

Good luck!!! May the force be with you!

[JW88]

I also learned today that people who have the worst side effects from a colonic are those who can't relax during the process and are very stressed over it. I guess the tension puts undue stress on the colon, and that's why people can feel nauseous afterward. The more you relax before and during the colonic, the easier the recovery.

I'm looking forward to having one done. Everything I've read and seen thus far sounds very positive. This is definitely the way I'm gonna go for my prep when I get a colonoscopy!

[sbj]

Thanks for the info. Since I have to go through one of these every single damn year I guess I will ask my gastro next time if this option is available. I am wondering: Is the colonic something that is performed at the colonoscopy center just prior, or could you posibly have the colonic procedure done elsewhere?

[JW88]

Thanks for the info. Since I have to go through one of these every single damn year I guess I will ask my gastro next time if this option is available. I am wondering: Is the colonic something that is performed at the colonoscopy center just prior. or could you posibly have the colonic procedure done elsewhere?

More than likely you'll have to get it done elsewhere, but some are fortunate enough to find doctors who perform the colonic and then go right into the colonoscopy. My dream is that someday, all docs who perform colonoscopies will also perform colonics and the lax prep will be a thing of the past, where it SHOULD be.

Beware of asking your doc if a colonic is an option, though. Mine lied about even knowing what it was when I inquired about it, only to admit later that they did know what it was and that many of their patients forego the lax prep for colonics instead. She said they actually tell her she doesn't even need to explain the laxative prep because they're going to prep with a colonic. In other words, they INSIST on the colonic. And based on what I was told and what I've read, doctors seem to have no problem conducting a colonoscopy on someone who's had a colonic vs. lax prep. From what I can tell, they can't even tell a difference, although I think I read something where one doctor preferred the results of the colonic prep.

[Leiana]

More than likely you'll have to get it done elsewhere, but some are fortunate enough to find doctors who perform the colonic and then go right into the colonoscopy. My dream is that someday, all docs who perform colonoscopies will also perform colonics and the lax prep will be a thing of the past, where it SHOULD be.

Beware of asking your doc if a colonic is an option, though. Mine lied about even knowing what it was when I inquired about it, only to admit later that they did know what it was and that many of their patients forego the lax prep for colonics instead. She said they actually tell her she doesn't even need to explain the laxative prep because they're going to prep with a colonic. In other words, they INSIST on the colonic. And based on what I was told and what I've read, doctors seem to have no problem conducting a colonoscopy on someone who's had a colonic vs. lax prep. From what I can tell, they can't even tell a difference, although I think I read something where one doctor preferred the results of the colonic prep.

[Leiana]

wow

thank you thank you for this info.....just in time. i have a gastro appt today and i know the dr is going to order this colon test. i have been putting it off for 10 YEARS cause of the prep with citrate of magnesia and/ or go litely prep. i get sooooooooo horribly sick. screaming from the cramping, throwing up, bleeding, sweating, heart paps. i lost lots of weight and know i have to have this done. i will mention it to him..what good it will do i dont know. i rather go thru child birth again than to go thru this prep. i heard that you should also drink tons of water and make sure your bowels are working good before the prep too. thanks again. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;) ;) ;)

[JW88]

wow

thank you thank you for this info.....just in time. i have a gastro appt today and i know the dr is going to order this colon test. i have been putting it off for 10 YEARS cause of the prep with citrate of magnesia and/ or go litely prep. i get sooooooooo horribly sick. screaming from the cramping, throwing up, bleeding, sweating, heart paps. i lost lots of weight and know i have to have this done. i will mention it to him..what good it will do i dont know. i rather go thru child birth again than to go thru this prep. i heard that you should also drink tons of water and make sure your bowels are working good before the prep too. thanks again. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;) ;) ;)

Leiana:

I completely agree with you. I have dreaded the colonoscopy for years for the simple reason that I didn't want to do the prep. I'm so glad I learned about this little "secret" that so many doctors don't share with their patients. In my experience, though, doctors aren't big fans of natural remedies. My dad worked in the pharmaceutical business for decades, and I just don't hold a very high opinion of the medical practitioners who seem to want to prescribe a pill for everything rather than get to the root problem. I've heard it said many times that there's no money to be made when a doctor can't prescribe a medicine. And by telling doctors that you'll do the colonic vs. take their vile solution, they don't make any money. Doctors work hand-in-hand with pharmaceutical companies, and there's lots of politics involved. Big pharma can't make money off docs who opt for naturopathic or body-friendly procedures. I think that's why my doc tried to play stupid about colonics when I inquired. I have lost all faith in the medical profession. I've had to self-diagnose every single ailment that's afflicted me in the past few years, even after docs had spent years testing me and re-testing, taking thousands of my dollars. And like I said earlier, now that I've self-diagnosed myself and am finally getting properly treated for my ailments, the symptoms were so obvious to be laughable. I sit here now and think, "How did they miss that? That should have been so obvious to a doctor!" Docs kept pumping me full of meds and looking for brain tumors and writing things off as "just stress," among other things. Turns out that I was allergic to gluten and needed TMJ treatment (those were the two big diagnoses). I dropped the gluten and am about 6 months away from completing my TMJ treatment. Cured! It just convinces me even more that docs aren't looking for a cure - they're looking for an excuse to run more tests and prescribe more medicine.

But I digress! Sorry for the soapbox speech. Back to colonics:

Do a google search for "colonics" and you'll find a wealth of information. I found lots of videos, too. One video was for a news story on how colonics are being used more and more for colonoscopy prep, and then a bunch of You Tube videos were of the actual colonic, recorded mostly by the patients. I found a very humorous one that made me laugh out loud -- I wish I had the link or could direct you to it, but you might come across it on your search. That's how I found it.

There's still a "prep" to having a colonic, but it's nowhere near (NOWHERE NEAR - not even on the same planet!) as bad as the prep for a colonoscopy. I think I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but basically, for some people, the prep consists of what they normally do, anyway: Lots of water for 2-3 days before, lots of fruits and veggies, a little exercise - like, say, a walk or a bike ride -, and no eating or drinking for a couple hours before the colonic (this last is purely for comfort during the procedure only).

But you'll learn all this and more from an Internet search, and also from talking to a "hydrotherapist" in your area.

[JW88]

wow

thank you thank you for this info.....just in time. i have a gastro appt today and i know the dr is going to order this colon test. i have been putting it off for 10 YEARS cause of the prep with citrate of magnesia and/ or go litely prep. i get sooooooooo horribly sick. screaming from the cramping, throwing up, bleeding, sweating, heart paps. i lost lots of weight and know i have to have this done. i will mention it to him..what good it will do i dont know. i rather go thru child birth again than to go thru this prep. i heard that you should also drink tons of water and make sure your bowels are working good before the prep too. thanks again. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;) ;) ;)

Oh, and I'm curious to know how your appt goes today and what your doc says about using the colonic. Hopefully he/she will be receptive to the idea and won't discourage you from getting one, as my doc tried to do with me before admitting that so many other of their patients have them and they work fine for the prep.

You know, I'd fast for two days if it meant I didn't have to do a traditional laxative prep.

[Hydrokube]

Intesting stuff on colonics, I may try one for my next colo. I had very little time to research (4 days) for this one so I just went with doctors orders. I'm going to do it tomorrow and I'm on the clear liquids right now, here are my observations right now:

Note that I am drinking juice and tea and water, that's it. So far I'm 74 or so ounces of juice down. Juices are apple juice and white grape (with apple).

1. Hunger isn't as bad as I thought, but it still sucks

2. Gas was horrible after all the juice, take it slow!

3. Apple juice cleaned out my bowels after the first 64 ounces, then the gas mostly went away

4. I feel like I'm dreaming/heavy brain fog

Basically, my bowels have been nearly cleansed just from apple juice. Now I am able to pass gas without diarrhea, so thank heavens. I start MoviPrep at 5pm so we'll see how that goes, I'll update everyone then. I'm really hoping that using juice instead of the coffees/jello/yogurts that many people use will help the process go much more smoothly. Right now I'm in a kind of zen state when I'm hungry but it's not bad and my gas is making the full exit without stool so I'm feeling good overall!

[joellen]

Brand new, but saw this topic and thought I would respond.

When I had a much delayed colonoscopy, my doctor gave me some pills called Visicol. It was not a bad prep. The afternoon before your procedure, you start taking the pills, and as I recall, plenty of fluids. Although there are perhaps 50 pills in all, I didn't take them all. It was not uncomfortable and did not make me sick. Basically, the water you take in helps to flush everything out.

I could tell by evening that I was pretty much cleaned out, and just didn't take any more of the pills. I always think they overkill on those instructions most of the time anyway. I was allowed clear fluids, jello, clear juice, etc.

I haven't looked into colonics, but I have to say that there are other preps besides the awful stuff you drink. I've never had them, and don't intend to either! I don't know why they don't prescribe the tablets more often, it's so much easier.

[Hydrokube]

First night ever with a laxative prep for colonic, and it was horrible. I'm underweight and I think that all of the laxative really messed me up. I had to go about every 10-20 minutes until 11pm and I started at 5pm, then i woke up every 2 hours needing to go again, and had more this morning.

Next time I'm definitely asking about a colonic! It sounds like a walk through the park compared to the ass-chafing nightmare I endured last night.

[Leiana]

Oh, and I'm curious to know how your appt goes today and what your doc says about using the colonic. Hopefully he/she will be receptive to the idea and won't discourage you from getting one, as my doc tried to do with me before admitting that so many other of their patients have them and they work fine for the prep.

You know, I'd fast for two days if it meant I didn't have to do a traditional laxative prep.

HI

thanks for the reply. lol lol ya me too i would fast all week than go for that prep. well one good thing about the gastro drs. appt i had is that he actually listen to me. YOOOOHOOOOOO. lol lol i told him how sick the prep makes me and he said he does not want to do a colon test until i get more stabalized. i asked him about the colonic thing and really did not comment except that there is a new prep where you take like 20 pills ( like i think it was joellen said in previous post) and i should be fine. he is 99% sure i am celiac but who knows with these false or negative results ya know. he took about 6 vials of blood and tommorow i go for a upper gi and next week a abdomen ct scan!!!!!!!!!.. no coloncope or endoscope yet. thank god!!!!!! but i will still try and keep working on the gluten free diet. i going just begun so i really dont know what i am doing. i do know it cost way toooooooo much and after losing job last year i dont know how to afford it. when shopping at wholefoods and it cost $100 just for a few things. this will not work. but will investigate the 20 pill thingy too now that i have time to do it. one more week and then i am done with tests. :P :P

[JW88]

The Visicol JoEllen referred to and the 20-pill prep are the same thing. Actually, they're supposedly not marketing it under the name Visicol, anymore, as it is now called OsmoPrep. That's the pill prep I referred to earlier in this thread.

HOWEVER, there is what's called a Black Box warning on this prep. It has been known to cause kidney failure and death in patients. If you have a weakened immune system, or have kidney problems, are older, or have any other seemingly benign problems, this prep could kill you or cause you to be required to have dialysis for the rest of your life. I agree, this prep sounds much friendlier than the other preps you have to drink, but I don't want to take the chance I'd be one of those patients who has problems with it. After reading some reviews about it, people said they suffered not only kidney failure, but seizures, tremors, vomiting, fainting, among other things.

Apparently, the danger with this pill is the power of it to deplete the body of electrolytes. I guess it's pretty potent.

The only good thing is that if you really super-duper hydrate and eat lightly for 2-3 days prior to the prep, you might not have these problems. But DANG! That's an awful lot of discomfort and potential agony to go through if you could just get a 30-45 minute colonic and be done with it.

So, I've scheduled my first colonic - it'll be the first week of June. I had a long conversation with the hydrotherapist yesterday, and she said that the majority of people tolerate colonics very well and that the most common reaction is, "This isn't as bad as I made it out to be in my head." She said that most people actually find the colonic very relaxing. She said that if you have a lot of toxins in your system (from smoking, drinking, eating fast food, eating lots of sugary foods, etc.), the after-effects will be more pronounced --- includes tiredness, headache, even some nausea. But I guess vomiting is extremely rare, because nowhere have I found that anyone has experienced it as a side effect. The more organically and healthier you eat, the faster you rebound from a colonic -- many are back to full strength immediately.

Do your own research, though. My goal is simply to let you know there are other, more friendly options out there for you to use.

[joellen]

Based on my own experience, I think the prep is pretty safe if you are in fairly good health. I think for anyone that has an unstable health status, none of the preps could be considered safe. Of course, one of the the requirements is that you drink plenty of fluids. I didn't have to stop eating solid foods until the afternoon before the test. The good thing is that it didn't take that long, and it didn't make me feel bad; no cramping, no nausea. I don't that any of the preps are easy.