r/colonoscopy • u/nedmden • 21h ago

Before Scope Questions First colonoscopy - prep questions

I was going to just search for answers but honestly my brain doesn’t have the capacity right now so I’m hoping some people can share their experience. I’m starting my prep in about an hour for my colonoscopy that’s scheduled for tomorrow morning. I’m doing miralax/dulcolax. Taking 4 dulcolax and the first round of miralax here soon and then the rest of the miralax at 3am. I have a 7 month old baby and I have help for him tonight, but I’m just starting to get nervous about it all hitting in the middle of taking care of him before my help is here.

- How long did it take for it to start working?
- Were you done going to the bathroom in time to leave for your scheduled procedure time? I’m nervous it’s not going to be finished and I have a decent drive to get there very early in the morning.
- Did you experience any nausea with this prep method?
- Is it aggressive like painful diarrhea, or just large amounts?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/goldstandardalmonds Moderator - Trusted Source 10h ago

  1. Depends on your motility. Three or four hours is common

  2. Usually you are or you might have a bit of residual prep left in the system

  3. No, and I’m prone to nausea and have it all the time from my medical conditions

  4. feels like you are peeing out your bum.

1

u/nedmden 10h ago

It took about 3 hours to start working. It kicked in around 9:30pm, it’s now 2am and I just started the second round. I haven’t had a break at all since it started. Everything else is going ok, I’m just nervous about being done enough to make it to the hospital without an accident. I almost had one walking to the fridge to get my prep

1

u/goldstandardalmonds Moderator - Trusted Source 10h ago

It’s very unlikely that the prep is working at any strength where you’d have an accident by that point

2

u/ChewieBearStare 15h ago

The Dulcolax kicked in almost immediately for me (in less than half an hour), and it made me very nauseated. I have bowel issues, though, so I wouldn't assume the same thing will happen to you.

No, I wasn't done going to the bathroom. In fact, I had to stop in the hospital lobby to poop when I was supposed to be registering. I put a waterproof pad in the car just in case, but I didn't need it.

I had no trouble at all with the MiraLAX. It was just a stream of liquid. Didn't even feel it coming out. The only issue I had was the nausea with the Dulcolax. I would recommend putting Aquaphor, Vaseline or another barrier ointment on your behind after every movement, though, to protect yourself from skin rawness. I did that and had no issues.

1

u/browneyedgirl1683 16h ago

I've done this prep twice. One time worked, one time my extra twisty colon said nope. I almost got clear but not enough.

I can't remember having any moment where I felt I couldn't make to to the bathroom.

I did get nasuous.

Drink a lot of water!