New Colonoscopy Bowel Prep

[JudyJB]

Since they found a couple of polyps during my last colonoscopy three years ago, I was told I needed to get another one this November. I am flying out to Ohio to my son's house for Thanksgiving in a week or so, so I have a colonoscopy scheduled for Tuesday morning at 8:45 am. (Yuck.)

Anyway, they have prescribed a completely different bowel prep than that horrible gallon jug of stuff that always made me gag. This new one involved a couple of large bottles of Gatorade and some over-the-counter Dulcolax tablets and an 8.3 ounch bottle of MiraLAX. I have not tried it yet, but I have purchased the Dulcolax and MiraLAX and am taking it with me to Ohio. I will have to have my son stop at the grocery store after picking me up from the airport to buy the Gatorade.

I will let you know how it goes, but I think anything will be better than that horrible gallon jug of stuff! See the instructions, attached, as an image. If you want a Word version, let me know and give me your email. Don't know how to post a Word document or PDF on this site.

OK, I have weak internet so having problems getting this to load. Will try again later when the airwaves are not so busy.

[Bethers]

That was available when I had my last several years ago. Since a couple sips of Gatorade makes me gag it obviously wasn't one I could use. Good luck.

[JudyJB]

Here is best I can do right now:

Miralax-Gatorade Bowel Preparation Instructions

Bowel preparation before a colonoscopy actually starts days before, when you should stop taking certain medications or supplements. You need to follow your provider's instructions on using MiraLAX and Gatorade.

For Cleveland Clinic Patients: IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS, YOUR COLONOSCOPY WILL BE CANCELED.
Key instructions
• Your bowel must be empty so that your doctor can clearly view your colon. Follow all of the instructions in this handout EXACTLY as they are written.
• DO NOT eat any solid food the ENTIRE day before your colonoscopy. Drink only clear liquids.
Buy your bowel preparation at least five days before your colonoscopy. Purchase:
• Four Dulcolax® laxative tablets containing 5 mg of bisacodyl each (NOT Dulcolax stool softener).
• One 8.3-ounce bottle of MiraLAX® (238 grams) or generic equivalent.
• Two 32-ounce bottles of Gatorade®. (NOT RED).

Transportation on the day of your exam
A responsible person MUST BE PRESENT with you at check-in before your colonoscopy and MUST REMAIN in the endoscopy area until you are discharged. You are not allowed to drive, take a taxi or bus, or leave the Endoscopy Center alone. If you do not have a responsible driver (family member or friend) with you to take you home, your exam cannot be done with sedation and will be canceled.

Please bring a list of all of your current medications, including any over-the-counter medications, with you.
Medications

If you take insulin, medications for diabetes or blood thinners, you must call the doctor who orders those medications for instructions on altering the dosage before your colonoscopy. Blood thinners include Coumadin® (warfarin); Plavix®(clopidogrel); Ticlid® (ticlopidine hydrochloride); Agrylin® (anagrelide); Xarelto® (rivaroxaban); Pradaxa® (dabigatran); Eliquis® (apixaban); and Effient® (Prasugrel).
All other medications, including aspirin, should be taken the day of the exam with a sip of water.

Five days before your colonoscopy
• Do NOT take medicines that stop diarrhea, such as loperamide (Imodium®) or bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate®, Pepto-Bismol®).
• Do NOT take fiber supplements, such as Metamucil®, Citrucel®, or Perdiem®.
• Do NOT take products that contain iron, such as multivitamins (the label lists what is in the products).
• Do NOT take Vitamin E.

Three days before your colonoscopy
• Do NOT eat high-fiber foods, such as popcorn, beans, seeds (flax, sunflower, quinoa), multigrain bread, nuts, salad/vegetables, or fresh and dried fruit.
One day before your colonoscopy
• Only drink clear liquids the ENTIRE DAY before your colonoscopy. Do NOT eat any solid foods. Drink at least 8 ounces of clear liquids every hour after waking up. The chart shows what you can and cannot drink.
Clear Liquids
(No Red Liquids)

Gatorade®, Pedialyte® or Powerade®
Clear broth or bouillon
Coffee or tea (no milk or non-dairy creamer)
Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks
Kool-Aid® or other fruit-flavored drinks
Strained fruit juices (no pulp)
Jell-O®, Popsicles®, hard candy
Water

The bowel preparation solution will be consumed in two parts.
Mix 1/2 of MiraLAX bottle (119 grams) in each 32-ounce Gatorade bottle until dissolved. Keep cool in the refrigerator. DO NOT ADD ICE.

Part 1
At 5:00 PM on the evening before your colonoscopy, take four Dulcolax tablets. At 6:00 PM on the evening before your colonoscopy:
• Drink 32 ounces of the mixed solution by drinking an 8-ounce glass of bowel preparation every 15 minutes for a total of four glasses.
• Fifteen minutes later, drink an 8-ounce glass of clear liquid every 15 minutes for a total of two glasses.
• You may continue to drink clear liquids till midnight.

Part 2
Four and a half hours before your colonoscopy:
• Take the other 32-ounce bottle of mixed solution and drink an 8-ounce glass of bowel prep every 15 minutes for a total of four glasses.
• Fifteen minutes later, drink an 8-ounce glass of clear liquids every 15 minutes for a total of two glasses.
• You may continue to drink clear liquids up to three hours before your exa

[Pooker]

OMG - If I took that much "stuff" like that I'd have diarrhea for a month! The least little thing sets my body off and it gets worse the older I get!

Hope you get through this without too many problems. Hope you can enjoy your visit with family.

Evie

[Redetotry]

WOW, the prep would kill me!

[JudyJB]

Its better than the gallon of horrible tasting stuff that I had to take the last two times!! I could hardly gag it down.

The procedure is easy, but the prep is awful. BJ and Evie, what did you have to take when you had a colonoscopy??

[Redetotry]

Its better than the gallon of horrible tasting stuff that I had to take the last two times!! I could hardly gag it down.

The procedure is easy, but the prep is awful. BJ and Evie, what did you have to take when you had a colonoscopy??

I've never had one.