First Colonoscopy with a Colostomy - Seeking Advice and Stories

Hi all. I am getting my first colonoscopy on Friday with my colostomy. I am doing the 2-day Sutab preparation. How horrible is this going to be? My normal output can be already be liquidy. Am I going to turn into a raisin with all this liquid being sucked out of me? I'm dreading this. Any encouragement maybe even funny stories would be very helpful at this point. You think I wouldn't mind it given the fact that I deal with a colostomy on a daily basis. It's just the prep that absolutely plays a mind game on me.

Hello! I’ve not had the same situation, but pretty close.

I had my colon removed, underwent ileorectal anastomosis. Stool was always liquid/watery, and I was going about 10X day. The need for rectum/anus removal came and I also needed Sutab prep for my rectum to be clear. 
TBH, I only took the first 12 pills. My stool was clear pretty much after I took it, so I knew 12 more would potentially make me very sick. I’ve never had good luck with the preps, as far as nausea/vomitting. 
I suggest warming up some chicken broth with some salt and sip it. So you don’t deplete electrolytes. I am not a doctor, though, so do what you think you need to do.

Best of luck 🍀 

That's a bummer,

 

The camera doesn't hurt, it's the crew that's the killer. 😂

Hi Anne—I was wondering if I would need both sets of pills. I'm going to see how things are after the first set.

Appreciate the response!

You take/drink the stuff and wait. A little while later, your stomach will start to make noise. A few minutes later, it'll be like someone pouring warm coffee into your bag every 15-30 minutes. You won't sleep much, if any. You'll go in for the procedure and get prepped. They'll wheel you into the room and give you the LaLa medicine. You'll wake up in recovery, go home, and eat. It really isn't that big of a deal. Take a bag change with you in case the doctor wants to take the one you have off. Mine was done with the bag on. The procedure takes maybe 15 minutes.

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Take what your doctor says, don’t judge for yourself. You’d hate to have to do it again if a shortened dose doesn’t clean you out enough. Taking all those pills will be much easier than drinking “the mix”. 

Very true. The mix is hell in liquid form!

Hi Nini, drink lots of clear liquids, green tea, water, Sprite.

Good luck; the prep is worse than the procedure itself. You won't be in pain, and won't remember anything.