Colonoscopy prep not working? This doctor shows you how to fix it!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Dr. Fred Gandolfo, a board certified gastroenterologist, shares important tips about how to save your colonoscopy prep. The bowel prep can be tough...learn what to do when you can't drink the prep due to the bad taste, or the prep just isn't working to make you poop, or you just threw up all the prep!
0:23 Why a good clean-out is important
1:34 What to do when the prep tastes disgusting and you just can't drink it!
4:07 What to do when the prep doesn't work. You drank the prep but you're not pooping clear!
8:30 How do you know you are clean enough? What does the toilet look like?
9:45 What to do if you drank the prep and vomited. Oh no!
12:50 What to do a few hours before your colonoscopy if you're not cleaned out fully.
LINK TO THE FREE EBOOK "EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR FIRST COLONOSCOPY"---- ebook.retrofle...
The ebook covers all of the above, as well as:
-what lifestyle factors can cause colon cancer and colon polyps
-what are the RISKS of colonoscopy
-what are the ALTERNATIVE TESTS to colonoscopy
-how the colonoscopy anesthesia and sedation works
-when you need to repeat a colonoscopy
-how to select a good doctor to do your colonoscopy
-how to EAT TO PREVENT COLON CANCER
-and much more!
Located in Long Island, NY? Visit Dr. Gandolfo's medical practice here precisiondiges...
Follow Dr. Gandolfo on Instagram: / frederick_gandolfo_md
Check out my gastro podcast! realgidoc.start.page/
My prep took a while to work. It was the gallon prep and drank it in 10 - 15 minute intervals. I started at 5:00pm (my procedure was in the afternoon). It took a few hours before it started working. I noticed even after going 10 times that it still wasn’t clear. A couple more hours and maybe 5 more trips to the bathroom it was still cloudy. No stool just cloudy yellow liquid. Since I suffer from constipation at time I decided to take some mag citrate as well. By this time it’s around midnight (12 hours before my procedure). I finally had clearer results at 1:00am. Went to bed. Used the restroom a couple times during the night. Still not completely clear. Finally around 10:00 am the morning of I was having completely clear liquid bowel movements. Next time I would probably start a day before the prep with some laxatives because of my constipation issues. Because I was definitely barely able to complete the procedure. My doctor said I did a great job and I was so happy to be done! Hopefully this helps someone out there!
everyone everyone should watch this.
Dr. Gandolfo is very clear on all points for colonoscopy prep.
no pun intended 😅
Really helpful...particularly with specifying very clear signs/thresholds for successful prep. I was surprised that it matters so much to have very clear vs. nearly clear 'output'. Thanks for this video.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for the advice it has really helped me.
Glad it helped!
This is just the calm, empathetic, reassuring video I needed right before prep. So much contradictory info on the internet, and even in the info my doctor’s office sent me. Your clarity on the goals of the prep is very helpful.
I have to say I was stunned when you talked about calling your doctor and waking them late at night... in this day and age of big health care - good luck getting any human on the phone. I called my office at 3pm after having no affect after the first dose at 1pm, but I did have extreme bloating and stomach pain. It is now 9pm and still nothing after the 2nd dose and still no return call from my doctors office. No idea what to do now
i was just thinking this as a public patient in Australia i have never ever been able to speak to a doctor on the phone regarding a colonoscopy problem- ever !!!
100% right
Thanks, Ive just had an unsuccessful Colonoscopy due to the right side of my bowel being covered in dark stools, I was on a low res diet for 5 days and had Plenvu followed instructions to the letter. Passed clear water, really disappointed. now will take senna and citramag
Prep worked but gave me bad headaches each time I drank the prep. Also I get migraines from carbs so all ingested was bone broth and was extremely hungry. Overall it was a horrible experience.
Sorry to hear that!
Spoke with the receptionist at my clinic on Monday, first ever colonoscopy booked for January 21st 12:30 PM. 2 weeks after my 36th birthday. Due to chronic constipation I’m doing a double prep (8L) using Peglyte. Liquids only starting 2 days before, 2 dulcolax 2 days before, 3 x 2L doses of Peglyte the day before as well as 2 more dulcolax, then thx final 2 litres at 7AM, 5 1/2 hours before my procedure. My family has a nasty history of colonic polyps, colon cancer, and chronic constipation. This better work the first time so I can finally get answers. I’m scared to death
Great info to have. Especially if you are one of those patients who are concerned that it won't work! Tyvm! Saving this video for my upcoming colonostomy Dec 6th 2024
I was told to use Miralax (14 dose bottle) with 2-28 Oz bottles Gatorade cold.
Make sure you put a towel on your bed! Trust me on that.
Thank you for the informative video. I was wondering if it is okay to mix miralax with hot liquids, such as green tea or clear chicken broth? I have gastroparesis and have noticed that it is easier to tolerate larger volume of liquids if they are hot, rather than cold. I wasn't sure if temperature of a liquid will affect the absorbtion. Thank you very much.
Going in for mine tomorrow morning. Listen -
Call the number on your prep sheet and ask if it's ok (given your circumstances) to take fewer Dulcolax tablets.
Most everyone I've asked mentioned ~8/10 or extreme stomach cramping after taking 4 Dulcolax tabs (20mg Bisacodyl)
When I asked, the nurse told me it was perfectly fine to take 3 or even 2 of these tablets, provided I've been diligent with the rest of the prep requirements.
As long as you get the OK from someone in your gastro dept to do this, please save yourself some of the struggle and be sure to drink a lot of water even prior to chugging the 4L of prep solution.
Best of luck y'all!
My drs office doesn't give the prep drink and i have to do my own prep but i have slow bowel movements and i have to go on a 2 to 3 day liquid diet for my colonoscopy this Friday and i have mirlax senna and magnesium citrate
Iam in horrible cancer pain but my family dr insisted on a colonoscopy. My chemo nerve damage is unbearable even at max dose of gabapentin. My osteoperosis is hurting worse after zometa. I had breast cancer and it spread to my spine. The family doctor said if I dont do the colon check I could die from colon cancer. Well Iam already dying for gods sake. Iam 69 yrs old. I wonder why bother worrying about a colon cancer when breast cancer is already going to kill me. What turnip truck did my family dr fall off of. Iam almost 70. Good lord. I hope I can manage it, but my cancer pain feels too painful to go do that. Its hard just walking in my house. 😮
I think it's ok to tell your doctor that you are respectfully declining their medical advice on this issue. Your comfort and mental health are important. I'm very sorry for what you're going through.
🫂
❤❤
So sorry for what you are going through.❤️
I had a colonoscopy done in 2018. I did the prep. And it did not work until 4 hours before I had to get the test done.
I was told by my VA nurse to start in the morning day prior and day of and the color is still brownish yellow! Im a big man and have been fasting for 2 days! My procedure is at 1300. This sux!
Do they put you to sleep during?
@@boydazzzyou are sedated and I would say that is the best part imo
In my prep last night I had 4 dulcolax, a bottle of miralax mixed with 64 oz of Gatorade followed up with magnesium citrate, unfortunately the magnesium made me vomit, but the prep was already working at that point. When I tried sleeping at 1:30 am and woke up at 6:30 am. I was a bit worried that it was kind of dark orange again. I went a few times after that and it was lightening up and I felt done by 7:30 am. So I had the colonoscopy and the doctor said it was adequate but not perfect. I think next time I would prefer the suprep or sutab methods instead.
What about severe cramping stabbing sharp pains? I still did the prep but wow. It was the vomiting that cancelled it. 😢
I have gastroparesis …. The prep doesn’t ever seem to work fully and even doing it a day early didn’t work in time for my colonoscopy. Any suggestions?
What if you get a headache during the fasting part of the prep? Can you take meds for your headache?
Tylenol or aspirin only. No ibuprofen
I have to start mine a week ahead.
I have been impacted for 3 years and I'm suffering
I feel ya. I don't know if I am impacted or have something more serious going on. But it's total hell!
I was severely impacted and it was a total nightmare. Just spent the last four days once it broke loose going to the bathroom almost nonstop. It’s disgusting.
Y@@TamiFowler1I'm severely impacted also. What did you take? Did you have any cramping? I thought Doculax was a stimulant. I'm scared of cramping. I don't wanna be in a fetal position.
@ MiraLAX, milk of magnesia, and some stool softeners. And lots of water, of course.
@ I had cramping until stuff started moving finally
Thank you for all of the tips!
On Long Island in New York
I drink apple juice with the other stuff. I start a week before and try to cute thing out. I cut drink apple juice it goes right through me. So it the best thing to drink for a colonoscopy.
SO helpful!
Your right, enemas do suck. But if you are a patient like me just trying to get a diagnosis of why I can't poop or pass gas for the past 8 months or longer... Then a person is to the point that they are begging for an enema to work and begging to get a colonoscopy. I am looking so forward to drinking the nasty prep just to get relief for the first time in a long time. 🤷♀️
I am about doing the prep because I wonder if I will clean out in time for the Colonoscopy. I was on the diarrhea side and now I'm in the constipated end. And If I'm either way I am not comfortable. Getting this Colonoscopy I don't believe I will come out of it alive.
Had 5 preps nothing works need help
Hi great video, I've wanted to do a colon cleansing. This might work for me. I once ate something that did the same thing if I took a sip of soda or water in 5 minutes. I was sitting on the toilet shooting out more water than anything else. I had to take Imodium and to stop it. But now in life has changed things. I now have a hard time defecating pushing the stool out. I've tried fiber eating lite foods but it seems like I have to use laxatives and or prune juice. To make me go but when I do that you know how it comes out . But it does something that saids it time to go or you'll crap your pants . Lol I remember when I had the feeling to go I would just go. Now I mark on the calendar each time I go and how much. By the third day I use the lax and prune juice to make myself go. 😮
Doctor/nurses never said aything about this, like to have dulcomax on hand if prep doesnt work.
Any advantage using liquid vs the pills? Or should I ask are the pills less safe or less effective than the liquid?
They both work. It’s patient and doctor preference.
@@precisionGIInsurance and the cost of the prep can play a huge part in the choice, too. Our insurance wouldn’t pay for the pills. There is a coupon out to help with the cost of the pills, but at this time, no pharmacies have been able to get the coupon to be honored. I don't understand the process behind manufacture coupons, but apparently whoever is in charge of honoring the different drug coupons is not in service. It’s not just for one drug, one manufacturer, or one pharmacy, either. All of the different pharmacies that we contacted told us that they have not been able to get any of the manufacturer's coupons to work for the past couple of weeks. The pills would cost $200-ish. With the coupon, I think the patient's cost was going to be $50-ish. Since the insurance wouldn’t cover them, I have no idea what the copay would be for someone who’s insurance did cover the pills. While the pill option sounds great, paying $200 for them is a…uhm…hard pill to swallow.
I have only used the pills for my past 2 colonoscopy and they worked great. This time I'm told my insurance will not cover it and they want over$200 for the tablets! So I'm praying I can drink the liquid ($0) without throwing up, as I've always had a strong gag reflex.
I've done both. The pills are way better than the liquid stuff. Just drink lots of water and a laxitive if things aren't moving enough or not clear.
I loved the pills.
My prep was the Golytely, because that's the only one Medicare would pay for. My dr gave some of the same helpful hints as Dr Gandolfo and it made a huge difference. After the 4 dulcolax, I started the prep, which had been refrigerated all day. It seemed to mitigate the brutal salty taste some. Then I used a straw, placing it back in my mouth to try to keep that junk off of my tongue, and took small but rapid sips and when I got the rhythm going by using my tongue, was able to take 20-30 sips without a problem. Was still nasty, but much less so than the last time I used it.
I had a colonoscopy last Friday. I used the Golytely prep. It was awful and I won't use it again. I have to go back in 5 years and I'm making sure I do the prep this dr recommends. I love Gatorade, so that should not be a problem.
The magnesium citrate is really cheap, like $4 per bottle at Walmart
I added. Crystal light. Tea flavor
Thanks for the video I was wondering can I get colononics to clean colon a day before
I did the prep started off with the 2 pills of Ducolax 4 hours later was working fast but threw up right until the morning of the procedure. Nausea and throwing up acid for a week after nausea continued. I hadn’t eaten much prior due to some family news. Maybe this is why. However bad experience and still need to get this done. HELP ANY Advice? thank you 🙏
What about for the painful cramping?
Yes, or bad cramping from constipation in general. Gas X does little.
I have never had a colonoscopy before at age 35 but I have chronic constipation issues and I have had to use Dulcolax as well as restoralax on the same day. I find that if I start getting severe cramping from the Dulcolax after my system lets loose, I sit in a warm bath and gently rock my hips to get my stomach moving a little bit. Using the doctor Ho pain patches on my abdomen also really helps. Good luck
Do people that have had distal RNY gastric bypass need to do anything different for their colonoscopy?
Fasted 2 days before followed prep to a T. stuff still coming out. Nuclear option. Epsom salt. On top of prep!
Some of these preps are hard on the system. 😮
Don't start the prep before the day of....Start to take the prep 2 days before the op. Mix miralax with liquids 2 days before. Take durolax 2 days before. Don't wait 24 hours, start 2 days before. Another doctor vid said to take 4 ducolax at one time.
I'm a high normal pooper, and just did plenvu for my 3rd colonoscopy. It was gross, but it kicked in 45 minutes later.
What is plenvu?
@@proud2bktsmama It's a powder that you mix with water. It comes in 2 part dose. First dose is supposed to be mango, the 2nd fruit punch. Most disgusting prep I've ever had.
Sounds like the GoLytely we use in the US.
On LI!! 😘
I drank all the drink forced it down, I cleaned out extensively all the way to clear, I only ate yellow jello the whole day, next morning I go procedure was a failure, could not see my colon, I’m so upset.
I was thinking of using Mirolax, magnesium, and chocolate laxative.
I’m thinking this, I was cleaned out the night before, but overnight my colon was covered again, even though I did not eat anything, stool filled my colon again. Now I have to do this torcher all over again.
Help! I just don’t drink a lot, never have and I have a colonoscopy next month so this is going to be brutal. Was going to take the pills, but I also know I will gag on them and I have a very sensitive stomach and people get sick from them. Am I better off doing the Dulcolax and MiraLAX Because I know I won’t be able to drink that mix and now I’m worried about the pills. I’m not normally a baby. I’ve been through a lot medically in my life, but this is just something I know is going to be a huge struggle.
@chloenkitty
I mentioned it in a comment today, sort by newest firt - Call the number on your prep sheet and ask if you can take fewer Dulcolax tablets to lessen the cramping. It's not going to be fun either way, but you can save yourself some pain so long as you clear it with someone at your gastro center first.
How did it go?
hope you doing okay! how was the process?? Share how did it go i am a fellow emetophobia person i hate feeling nauseous which i experience very much everyday
I channel my college days and chug the 8 oz doses like they are a Miller pony!
Thanks
Put in fridge over night and use straw and chaser saved me.
I said dont take a laxatives before starting the 3350
I am retired and my insurance Medicare Advantage wanted me to pay$167.00 co pay to get the pills instead the 4 liter bottle full of liquid.
Insurance companies doing what they do best 😕
I've found that the headaches, which I also get during prep, are probably due to dehydration. They aren't pleasant but they are temporary.
Here's how constipated I am:
My doctor prescribed an extended bowel prep. I did Miralax for 5 days. Today I took FOUR Dulcolax pills plus another swig of Miralax. The result: A series of normal bowel movements, all solid, nothing close to diarrhea. My colonoscopy is tomorrow. I think we'll have to reschedule it until we figure this out. The doctor told me to start the Dulcolax at 3 PM, and it's now 8 PM. It's too late to do anything about it.
I'm going through this too.
I'm in so much pain
@@joannajamerson35
I'm sorry you're having trouble.
Depending on your colonoscopy appointment, the prep may be working against your normal bodily rhythms. I normally go to the bathroom in the late morning, an hour or two after breakfast and coffee. No matter how many laxatives I take, I can't make myself go to the bathroom at 8 PM!
And as I feared, after going through all that, my colonoscopy appointment was canceled due to bowel prep failure.
@stevenlitvintchouk3131 my last one too today I'm trying pill prep hopefully it works
Did the Doculax make u cramp?
@@choseylover24 Nope. It relieved my constipation, but nowhere near enough to clean out my colon. Not even close.
My advice .. and I’m a total hypochondriac. .. so I thought it’d never work and or they’d find something awful. For me I thought it took a bit to kick in. I kept looking at the clock. I’d say.. don’t do that. Just do what you might normally do. Aside from eating obviously. I just mindlessly played a game on my iPad. Took my mind off it, and before I knew it… bam. And what they never mention ..l because it’s not about the prep itself, but the pre-work they do before the procedure, set you up with that IV line so they can also push the knock out drugs. (Mine used propofol … and omg love the stuff.) but before that, they couldn’t find a vein. Two techs tried. Failed. I got nervous thinking this whole thing would be a bust and I’d have to do it again, I freaked out,, and then I needed oxygen just to settle down. Everything turned out fine and a third one got the vein. She was a nurse who was an absolute expert, got calmed down .. wheeled me in.. I was done in what felt like a flash, they yanked 7 polyps.. all less than 2mm. Because of the number .. instead of 10 years to return.. it’s 7. My prep was the myralax plus 2 dulcalax pills. Lime Gatorade. I didn’t mind it at all
My prep was very salty. I don't why I drank it still
you want people make prep that taste good i dont care how long you put that crap in the frig it still taste like shit you wouldnt think it would be that hard to make something to taste better
It is absolutely disgusting… 🤮 I’m so surprised they can’t make it taste better
It isn't only the taste but it drying my mouth out . Then it making me sick and weak is making me not want to do this.
My stomach couldn’t handle the magnesium citrate, I have severe stomach issues and took 2 Zofran and still very very sick, had to abort at 8 pm because my stomach had severe stabbing pain and jello, broth, water, nothing would stop the severe stomach pain so I had to drink a protein shake and ice cream to stop the pain. So it was a waste and not able to do endo and colonoscopy. 😢I give up!!! My father died from colon cancer younger than me but since I had oral surgery mess up my mouth and have not been able to eat solid food for into the 6th year, my stomach, bowls and general health have gone downhill and I’m so weak and sick 24-7. I can’t function. I told this to the dr. But she insisted I do m.c. the day before. Jesus why can’t doctors LISTEN to the patient, I knew I couldn’t handle that stuff and called a week before because there was no instructions on how to prep. 🤷♀️ I was ignored until 2 days before. I’m soooooo sick for nothing and pissed!!! Don’t know what to do now. Obviously I will not be there at 6 am tomorrow!!!!
I'm afraid of going through what you did. I keep questioning should I do this or not. I am scared of having stomach pain. I have diverticulitis and I wonder if the prep will make it worse the stomach pain. I wish I could be left alone instead of prolonging more suffering.
I did sutab, started 8 days before, fasted two days before…super easy. I don’t know why people find this hard.
i tried all of this shit and nothing works.
Try prep next time!
I started the first part of the peg prep at 5 pm and finished it around 6:45 pm. I felt full in my belly shortly after finishing and sat on the toilet but couldn't make a bowel movement. So I drank a few more glasses of water while walking laps around the house. A couple hours went by and still nothing but a bubbly stomach. I was thinking about administering an enema after around 5 hours went by. Right as I had that thought I felt the pressure drop in my stomach. I ran to the restroom and released everything I've ever put into my body for 20 minutes, or so I thought...
Without giving anymore TMI it took about 5 hours for the prep to move through my digestive tract for some reason. I'm 5'9 148 lb M so IDK why it took so long to pass.