Q: Okay, so I have to have a colonoscopy (my 1st) at 7am tomorrow. I had to drink the Golytely, but got down barely half of the gallon. I just couldn't do it anymore. I tried, but I was getting sick on it. I called the Dr.'s office and they put me through to a nurse who conferred w/him. She got back on the line and said "Take 3 Dulcolax and he says you'll be fine". Well, I just did that...took a heck of a chance going that far away from the bathroom, but fortunately made it home okay. Does this sound right to you, though? 3 little, tiny over-the-counter pills to replace half of the gallon of Golytely? I'm scared that once I'm on the table, he'll have a hard time with the scope, because I couldn't drink the gallon, and I'll have to do this all over again. Well, I have done the fasting. It was clear liquids since midnight last night/into this morning. I started the Golytely at 1:45, but hadn't finished the whole half at 4:45. That's when I started getting really sick on it and called his office. I just have this sense of dread that I'm going to have to do this all over again, because these little pills aren't going to cut it. Sorry for the late responses..I leave here in about 5 hours to go, and just woke up. I hit the couch pretty hard, this stuff has wiped me out. I've heard the things about Versed, but I am that scared with this. Not so much that they'll find anything, but I'm just that general scared. I don't want to be on that table. I just wanted to avoid this at all costs. I thank everybody for their help. (No, he's not Gaelic, but he is a nice guy. He took very good care of me when I was hospitalized, given the generic 'colitis' diagnosis. I just don't want him or anybody else doing *that* to me.)
A: There are many ways to do a bowel prep. Combining certain techniques help instead of just using one technique. You could find out if you could use a Fleets Phospho-Soda or Mag Citrate... but I'm guessing it is too late in the afternoon to call back. Plus it might be contraindicated if you have taken half the golytely. Did the doc tell you if he wanted you to do an enema in the morning before you go? or to do one tonight and in the morning? Only do this if he told you to do it in your prep sheet. If you can't drink the whole golytely container, then concentrate on clear liquids for now. Make sure that there is nothing of substance in your liquids like pulp in OJ or pureed something inside of your liquids. This will give the doc a difficult time during the procedure. For the most part, as long as there isn't any large pieces or chunks that inhibit his view he should be able to see everything. There is an attachment at the end of the hose he can use to spray a little bit of liquid around to remove or move debris that might remain in the areas he is looking at. You should be ok for now. You will find out after the procedure tomorrow if there were any difficulties. Good luck, drink water.