Question:
How do you get all that "clean you out" stuff drunk before a colonoscopy?

My mother had polyps removed from her colon years ago and requires routine colonoscopies. She had gastric bypass 2+ years ago and was scheduled for her colonoscopy last year. However, she was unable to get all that "stuff" in that is suppose to clean you out before you have this procedure done. Has anyone else run into this and have any suggestions? She has not gone back to try and re-schedule this since then. But i worry she may end up with future colon problems if she is unable to have this done.    — slynn33 (posted on June 14, 2007)

June 14, 2007
At one of the last support groups I went to, there was a lady who needed to do the same thing. She was only at 8-9 months out. She drank what she could and that seemed to work for what they needed to do. She should call the dr.s office and talk to them about the procedure and the WLS and see what they say. Good luck.
   — jammerz

June 14, 2007
fleet phospho soda, just a liitle bit makes you go go go. call the doc doing the colonscopy, with WLS so common they should be able to help.
   — bob-haller

June 14, 2007
That fleet soda is great. you mix it with gingerale and if i remember correctly 1 cup is enough. your insides will be clean in an hour tops.
   — marygriego

June 14, 2007
Where can you get Fleet Soda?
   — Navada L.

June 14, 2007
fleet phospho is probably in every drug store, our giant eagle pharmacy carries it. Its NOT prescription.
   — bob-haller

June 14, 2007
I was told by my GI doctor that if I needed to have one done they would give me some pills to take to do the job.
   — tdickson

June 15, 2007
There are a variety of methods used... I suggest finding out what she used for the unsuccessful clean-out and using that in conjuction with something else or ask the doctor for something more aggressive. I used the phosphosoda and it worked quite well for me. I know that there is some type of pill that can be used as well as colytely or golytely which is a powder that gets mixed into a large volume of water and when drunk causes watery diarrhea..... you drink until you are passing clear fluid. The powder contains an electrolyte mixture in addition to the stuff that makes you go to make sure that you don't become dehydrated or have imbalanced electrolytes. If her problem was not being able to handle the volume of fluids required, then she would probably be better off with fleet phospho-soda or magnesium citrate. You could probably even do a web search for "Fleet bowl prep" or "low volume colonoscopy prep" to see what other people are using. Best wishes.
   — mrsidknee

June 15, 2007
I just went through this - twice - one week apart. The first time they gave me Fleets Phospho Soda, drank it as instructed but I still was not cleaned out. So a week later they gave me the Colytely (try to avoid this at all costs, tastes like crap and you have to drink a gallon of it) but I was cleaned out. I think each person is different and each time can be different too as to what works best for them so have her follow the Drs. instructions to the letter and if unsure drink a little extra - not less. The worst thing for me is for both colonoscopies and the endoscopy that they decided to do at the last minute with the second colonoscopy found me anesthetic resistant and I was awake for all 3 tests. They gave me everything they could and I still would not go out. Not fun, at all! For what it is worth, I am 6 years post Open RNY on 6/21. Good luck to your mom. Blessings,
   — ALF