Is this EXCESSIVE for colonoscopy prep? (sore, doctor, ears, medicine)
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I had an appt yesterday at the office where I am to have a colonoscopy. First off, I never knew anyone who had to schedule (and pay for) a visit with the GI doc prior to the colonoscopy. Everyone I know just showed up for the procedure.
So during this appt I was given my prep instructions. Again, I have never known anyone who had to go through all of this! (and no, there is nothing "special" about me. This is a routine, first time colonoscopy).
1 week prior to procedure: restrictions on what foods can be eaten (nothing with nuts or seeds of any kind, including tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and a whole list too long to include here.
Entire day before procedure: NO FOOD, only clear liquids. (not just after midnight, the ENTIRE day before)
Bowel prep day before prodedure: 4 Dulcolax at 9 a.m.; 10 oz Magnesium Citrate at 10 a.m.; GoLightly (gallon of Rx stuff) at 2 p.m.
Day of procedure: Fleet enema 2 hours before procedure.
I have had 2 and I had to see the doctor first. I can't imagine any dictor doing one on a patient they had never seen before! Your restrictions are more detailed than mine were, I started the day before. Maybe you have some indications that require m ore cautiin?
I am having one next Sunday, I have had several before. You do have to see your doctor first, and get your appointment fixed and your written instructions..but you pay after the exam is over. The instructions are:
1. Begin preparation twelve hours before the exam.
2. Starting the night prior to the exam only liquids with no residuals.
3. 12 hours before you have to start drinking 4 litres of Klean Prep (you should finish all of this in 4-6 hours)
4. Take an enema of clear water in the morning
5. If you are having sedation, someone must pick you up after the procedure.
As far as you having to go ahead of time for an initial appointment, many times it depends on your current health and the reason you are having it done.
Consider yourself lucky! I had to have that and on the same day I had to have an upper endoscopy and a couple weeks later I had to have a pill cam done. When the pill cam didn't turn out how they wanted, I had to have ANOTHER pill cam!
My husband is a few years older than me, and when he had his, his regular doctor gave him the name of a GI doc for the colonoscopy. He didn't have to meet with the GI doc ahead of time. Others have told me they simply got referred by their general doctor.
Then hub only had to do the GoLightly stuff. No mag cit, no enema, no week of food restrictions.
I am so dreading this. Maybe I'm just looking for excuses to bail.
(KIDDING! No lectures about colon health needed. I've listened to Katie Couric!)
Your prep is almost verbatim of mine a few months ago. It's the new guidelines. Your husband's simpler prep is now considered not effective enough for visualization of the colon.
Yep that's about what I had to go through too. The liquid stuff I had to drink (the gallon one) the night before was brutal . 1 cup every 15 mins for 4 hours or something .. And once that kicked in Ohhhhhh boy. The min I got the cup down I couldnt get off the toilet for the 15 mins till the next cup. By the end by butt was sore and hurting I could hardly wipe!
obviously it depends on the doctor. I have heard the preparations have gotten a little more detailed but I have never heard of them as detailed and restricted as yours. Hubby has had 2, both times he did meet with the doctor first...
Like I said, it depends on the health of the patient and if there are any other problems going on. I had Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia. I had no problem meeting with the physician first because he needed to learn my history.
I used to work in Internal Medicine and we referred people to GI all the time. They have patient specific guidelines on whether or not you need an eval first or if you can just be scheduled for the colonoscopy.
I had many small underlying conditions so there was no way I was doing it without seeing the dr first. I wanted to go over with him an issue I had in the past with anesthesia for an upper endoscopy.
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