Why I Hate That Colonoscopy Test

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Why I Hate That Colonoscopy Test

November 26, 2007 by Katherine Coble

The prep stuff was the most horrible thing I’ve ever had to drink. It hurt immensely.
There has not been a day that I haven’t been sick since the test a week ago. Thanksgiving was okay until about 5pm. Then I just gave out.
I’ve thrown up more in the week since I had the test than I did in the 5 months before the test.
The test shows that “everything is fine”. Which is what the nurse said when I called her on Wednesday to ask about not feeling well. She actually said “The test shows that everything is normal so you should feel okay.”
I haven’t felt like doing any blogging for a week. I still don’t feel like doing any blogging, but I can’t stand having this page sit empty.
I’m tired all the time. Not ‘sleepy’ tired. Pass-out-like-a-dead-man tired.
Did I mention that the MoviPrep stuff is nasty? It is.

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Posted in Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse | 31 Comments

31 Responses

on November 26, 2007 at 3:46 pm | Reply Slartibartfast

Bless yer heart. When I told Lintilla what you were having done, she gave me the same look people give when they hear the word “Tequilla”.

The worst thing about it: not only is the stuff nasty, you have to drink so MUCH of it.

Bless yer heart.
on November 26, 2007 at 4:25 pm | Reply Lydia

Don’t you just love some nurses? I loved it when the nurse told me that lying in bed 24/7 with crippling nausea wanting to die was “normal.” I was sick for about a week after my colonoscopy. I felt very run down and devoid of energy. As I was able to start eating more, I felt better. What I don’t get is that a small woman has to drink the same amount of stuff a 400-pound man would. You would think they could adjust the dosage for the patient. Just try to stay hydrated at the very least. Hang in there!
on November 26, 2007 at 4:36 pm | Reply Katherine Coble

Lydia,

You sound like you and I had the same reaction to this thing. I swear I thought I was losing my mind.
on November 26, 2007 at 4:38 pm | Reply Katherine Coble

Oh, and as for the drink stuff–I could only make it 75% of the way through it. (There were 8-8oz drinks. I drank 6. The 7th ended up being puked back up and that was it. No more for me.)

Even though I only made it 75% of the way through, it “did the job” as it were.
on November 26, 2007 at 6:31 pm | Reply badbadivy

My grandma had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM after her colonoscopy. Weird. I sure hope you get to feeling better soon, that’s horrid, man. Oh, and my mom couldn’t drink it all either, she puked it all back up. So you’re not alone. I so never want a colonoscopy.

Oh, and you’ve been tagged.

http://www.shakhammer.com/2007/11/anyone-for-a-ga.html
on November 26, 2007 at 11:23 pm | Reply Ginger

That really sucks, Kat. I’m praying for you.
on November 27, 2007 at 6:59 pm | Reply sistasmiff

One of the doctors where I work was discussing “Go Lightly” (or whatever its called) today. She’s Canadian and she said when she first came here in the 90′s, she was shocked that they make people drink that stuff here before. She said in Canada they do the Enema thing and it’s certainly a lot quicker and easier than the aforementioned yuck.
on November 27, 2007 at 9:14 pm | Reply Holiday Grinch

hmmm…could it be the drug(s) used to sedate you that have this effect? the drinky stuff is nasty, but doesn’t stay in your system (as you know).
on December 7, 2007 at 8:14 pm | Reply andrea

Not looking forward to this in January with moviprep. Last time I took Phosfor(sp) soda and could only take half the dose(before constant vomiting and cramps took over) so they wouldn’t do the procedure. I couldn’t even keep water down so they had to give me a prescription anti-nausea drug. After 4 days, I was okay. My dr. couldn’t explain why little me and a 300 pound guy take the same stuff. Another person on the web suggests ice cold lemonade in between glasses of the prep and biting onto quarters of an ice cold lime to stop nausea. I will try it.
- on November 19, 2009 at 10:40 am | Reply sam
  
  The reason a 300 lb man and a 100 lb woman take the same amount is the colon is the about the same size on both people. or within 5 percent. all u are doing is flushing out the same amount of tissue in your body,
  
  look at this example.
  how much bigger is the brain of a 7 ft basketball star compared to the brain of 5 ft computer nerd.
on December 13, 2007 at 9:18 pm | Reply doc

Clear liquid diet is part of colonoscopy preparation prior to colonoscopy. People don’t realize frequently that clear liquids doesn’t have to be just water, soda and gatorade etc, but some clear liquid products can provide some nutrition too.
on August 7, 2008 at 8:46 pm | Reply Mesoangry

I know how important this procedure is considering the last time I had it they found polyps and removed them. In addition to that my granny died from Colon Cancer and one uncle die by the age of 49 with it. My mother has had half of her colon removed and so has my uncle. I know its important I just hate what I have to go through to get it done. The only reason I even went in the first place is because of the new procedure called M2A of course my doctor did not feel that the procedure was correct for me due to my history. I really believe that they want to just make more money by having me go into the hospital cause she can bill more. This is me speaking in anger of course I know she wants to do what is best for me. Its just that I know their has to be a better way. Like let us do a soup that is high sodium type of miso. I was suppose to start this @ five started seven and now it almost nine and I had drank less than 20 ounces
on November 23, 2009 at 10:44 pm | Reply Michelle Best

Hello everyone,
I’m new here. Looking for anyone who had a bad experience with Pico-Salex. My mom did. I had to take her to Emergency twice because of what that stuff did to her.
Beware! and I am not kidding!
M.
on March 5, 2010 at 7:45 am | Reply Rodman

I’m doing second set of Moviprep now. Chill it. pour it into a plastic bottle instead of a glass. try to keep it away from your tongue. 2-3 swallows, then rinse your mouth out with ice cold ginger ale. this might dull your taste buds. when that 8 oz is done, chase it with black coffee.
on April 30, 2010 at 6:47 pm | Reply jan

Jan

I just had a colonoscopy today. The moviprep was disgusting. I finished the first half in the evening and had to get up at 3am to do the second. I was gagging the entire time and could not even finish half of it. Fortunately it worked well enough. It is now 7pm, I had the procedure at 1pm. I ate and 3 hours later I vomitted. It is a horrible ordeal but worth it to find that everything is ok.
on June 22, 2010 at 1:13 pm | Reply Filmvediziizle

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on July 1, 2010 at 12:11 am | Reply mzdiallo

I didn’t really have a bad reaction to the drink. I read lots of forums and just knew it would be the worst thing to ever happen to me. I did, however, gag a lot while drinking, but realized that while it taste much worse at room temp it is way easier to gulp down really fast. I do believe i got a cold because now I’m experiencing flu-like symptoms. BTW, my test results were all normal.
on August 6, 2010 at 11:31 pm | Reply Ckent

I had a colonoscopy this past Tuesday. I told the doctor I was not going to drink that crap this time, she gave me some pills instead. Well, I hurt so bad that night after the test and was running fever. I called the doctor the next and she got me to come back in for a CT Scan. I really didn’t feel like going back in but did anyway. Well they didn’t find anything so she put me on some medicine. Well, I did eat something light and took the first dose. Well, that night I was sick it was coming out both ends, plus still hurting where I wasn’t before the test. I called them back the next day and she said it had to be a virus. Well it’s Friday and still sick and hurting and feel horrible. They did take 3 polyps. So what could be my problem?
on May 20, 2011 at 10:46 am | Reply Burnmark

I have been resisting this test for about 6 odd years now. Everything about this degrading procedure seems AWFUL. The worst part of it is when youre already vomiting everything up and have CONFIRMED liver issues and gallstones and that’s what your seeing a GI for in the first place it always seems like this is the FIRST test they wanna do as if they’re being paid by the colonoscopy companies. Then when you give them very logical reasons for why your refusing and question their reasoning behing wanting to put you through this 9th circle of hell, next thing you know your dropped as a paitient and deemed “untreatable” and “uncooperative”. Sickening, but true.
- on April 29, 2012 at 8:25 am | Reply Sjbirkin
  
  Oh my god this happened to me but was still having so much trouble I had to go back and I’m doing the Moviprep now. This is the worst I’ve ever felt. I feel sick, dizzy, tired, bloated and everytime I try and drink the stuff I’m gagging. Hate it!!
on July 16, 2011 at 11:55 am | Reply laura

consider the possible alternative of not doing it.
on October 6, 2011 at 11:42 am | Reply JIll

I had my first colonoscopy 2 days ago. It was a horrible experience – the Moviprep is the most revolting solution on the planet – I only drank the first liter which I had to chase with Sprite after each sip to not vomit – I fought the need to vomit all day and finally threw up at 8:00 that evening. I was supposed to drink the other liter at 4am the next morning but I didn’t do it – turned out both liters don’t seem to be necessary since they went ahead with the procedure. After the procedure I vomited as soon as I got home about 4 times in a row then half an hour later vomited again 4 times in a row. Didn’t eat that entire day, I tried but one bite made me gag- the next day I ate one piece of toast. I still feel very sick and very tired. The churning and cramping in my stomach is still going on which the nurse says in normal – why don’t they tell you that it will feel like a hurricaine in your stomach for days after the procedure.

For me they couldn’t complete the procedure because my colon was too inflamed, they think it is colits caused by my diverticulitis which they put me on Asacol for.

I wonder what is making me this sick – the Propofyl of the Movieprep?

Anyways, I will never do another one of these prep mixtures again – there has to be alternatives –

Hang in there everyone – thanks for your posts, it’s good to know your not the only one going through this!! Reading these posts helps me so much!!
- on October 26, 2011 at 8:56 am | Reply corinne dupont
  
  please write back and let me know how you are doing—I had a colonoscopy yesterday afternoon about 3pm—I had a protein shake and a little peanut butter on bread last night and slept well—This morning I am nauseous and feel so weak—-how long did it take to begin feeling normal?
  - on October 26, 2011 at 10:52 am Katherine Coble
    
    Honestly, it took me about 2 weeks before I felt right.
    
    Pardon the brevity and the typos. This was sent from my iPhone.
on March 5, 2012 at 9:00 pm | Reply Karen

I have had 2 colonoscopies and have to get my 3rd one soon. I can honestly say that the prep was not so bad..I had the half lightly. I put my little Longaberger juice glass in the freezer and then filled the little glass about 8 times. It was not such i big glass and the taste of the stuff was not to ba..I just chugged down each little glass and then chilled the glass each time for the next drink.In between glasses I went outside and visited with my neighbor and this took my mind off it. after about the 3rd glass it started to work (the two laxative pills taken before the drink probably helped get it startd) I di not get the sick feeling with the movements like you get with the stomach flu, just the urge to go and it passed. The only problem I had this last time is that after the procedure I had a little nausea when I came home but slept and did not puke. I liked the half lightly..better than the phoso soda I had the first time that was so salty and do not think it leaned out as good as the latter. I think if you think positive while drinking the crap and compare it with a nice chilled drink like a slush you can get it own better. Did not think it taste too bad especially if you drink fast..it is only 8 little glasses
on April 15, 2012 at 6:54 pm | Reply Lori

Does the sick feeling post colonoscopy pass? I had mine two days ago and I feel like my stomach shrunk. I have little appetite still and feel sick when I try to eat much of anything. I also have low energy. I didn’t feel sick when I ate before the colonoscopy so I’m hoping this is just an unfortunate side effect – that passes soon.
- on April 15, 2012 at 7:30 pm | Reply Katherine Coble
  
  In my case it took about 8 days.
  
  Pardon the brevity and the typos. This was sent from my iPhone.
  - on April 15, 2012 at 7:37 pm Lori
    
    Wow. That sounds like a long time, but it’s good to hear it passes. I have travel this week, so I was hoping for a shorter window. Thanks for the quick reply!
- on April 29, 2012 at 8:29 am | Reply Sjbirkin
  
  I’m having my first one tomorrow and I have work on Tuesday, will I not be able to go? I’ve never felt this bad in my life and I’m only half way through the moviprep….this is horrible, I knew there was a reason I refused for so long. Don’t know how I’m going to get through the second lot!!
  - on April 29, 2012 at 8:55 am Lori
    
    I was able to work the next day – actually later the same day (but from home due to the grogginess). My appetite was low for about a week after, but it’s returned. I was also tender after the test and the nurse told me it was from the doctor pressing on me to guide the scope. Overall, my post colonoscopy issues appear to be resolved. I wondered how I’d do the second round of prep because I was still “going” when I got up to do it, but the 2nd round was much better for me. Best of luck to you!
on May 21, 2012 at 9:20 pm | Reply Martha

I was supposed to have a colonoscopy a week ago. I took the horrible poison of Movi Prep. I went very little and did not take the second dosage. They couldn’t do the colonoscopy. Now, a week later I still have terrible bloating and stomach aches. I went to my primary care physician and he sent me for a sonogram to check the gall bladder. I will never,ever take that poison again.