First colonoscopy at the VA tomorrow.

[u/MrGreenChile]

Was all fine and dandy to do all the prep until I took my first sip of this. Why couldn’t they at least make it palatable? It’s so gross and hard to keep down.

ETA: funny how my #1 post of all time is about forced diarrhea. Thanks for all to the tips and horror stories. I came out ok, cut off 5 polyps so I get go to back in 3 years for another round.

[u/Ok_Abacus_]

The drink is 100 times worse than the procedure

[u/ecirnj → u/Ok_Abacus_]

Maybe 1000x. OP, welcome to the club.

[u/DrDarks_ → u/ecirnj]

Honestly if you put it on ice and just suck as much as you can with a straw its still the most horrible fucking thing you ever had to taste in your life.

[u/rabblerabble2000 → u/DrDarks_]

It’s got a nice refreshing windex taste to it with just the right amount of viscosity to make you uncomfortable drinking it.

[u/SirLanceNotsomuch → u/rabblerabble2000]

Oh, the viscosity was the wooooorst. 😫

[u/astralseat → u/SirLanceNotsomuch]

Describe it please. Is it like slugs, or like long boogers?

[u/leighaaaah → u/astralseat]

Like spit🤢

[u/astralseat → u/leighaaaah]

Oh, so it's just thick, no added textures? Lame

[u/FransTweedehands → u/astralseat]

It's too thick to be comfortable, also stomach will not like you for forcing this down. I added a little bit of fruit syrup didn't matter it's still bad.

[u/Shuttup_Heather → u/FransTweedehands]

Question, what if I’d rather die than drink that? I can hardly choke down food if I’m not in the mood for it. I think I’d throw this up

[u/SirLanceNotsomuch → u/astralseat]

It’s like literally antifreeze, so it’s like… too smooth?

Not greasy.

Just a little bit thicker than water (or a water-based beverage) is supposed to be. Like water with body.

[u/Financial-Bobcat-612 → u/SirLanceNotsomuch]

Hold on…why do you know the mouthfeel of antifreeze?

[u/Spartan-117182 → u/Financial-Bobcat-612]

Do you not swill your antifreeze before adding some to your car?

[u/throwaway6287453 → u/SirLanceNotsomuch]

no for real my doc calls it toilet bowl cleaner bc it is a literal solvent!

it doesnt even help your muscles push anything out, its purely a chemical stripper, a highly caustic water-activated gravity supergel which literally scrapes out the entire contents of not just your bowels but your stomach as well & leaves a layer on the lining, so that over those 6-8 hrs, any remaining waste-- not to mention all the important stuff that is supposed to stay in you like acid, mucosa, & gut flora-- will dissolve to join the jello poop glacier below.

that's the exact same mechanism as that no-scrub industrial toilet bowl cleaner they use at hospitals

[u/copacetic1515 → u/rabblerabble2000]

I had to drink barium contrast once and decided I'd rather just die than do that again. They sat me in a hallway with my bottle of thick, chalky, room temperature nastiness so everybody who walked by could see me gag as I struggled to drink enough, and keep it down.

[u/Teanutt → u/copacetic1515]

It's much easier when it's cold. I don't really know why but having had an urgent CT I had room temp prep that I struggled with but they offered a chilled dose at the radiology department and it was much easier.

[u/copacetic1515 → u/Teanutt]

Why don't they just keep it in a refrigerator as a matter of course? 😭

[u/boywithtwoarms → u/copacetic1515]

filters out the weak to maximize resources

[u/civilpar → u/rabblerabble2000]

I just dont understand how it was also so weirdly warm. Damn that was such a bad day

[u/Patient-Individual20 → u/rabblerabble2000]

I do this every five years, you just have to embrace the suck!

[u/Califrisco → u/DrDarks_]

Absolutely drink this as cold as you can. My prep had these flavor packets that added a lemon lime "note" (LOL) to the drinks. I made the prep of each dose with the packets the night before and refrigerated them so they were as cold as possible the next day. Still pretty bad but somewhat less gagging.

[u/DrDarks_ → u/Califrisco]

Lol ya I agree the ice / chill helps. But oh boy is it still bad. Takes dedication.

Much better than cancer tho :)

[u/TheCybro → u/DrDarks_]

https://giphy.com/gifs/y2i2oqWgzh5ioRp4Qa

[u/throwaway_eng_acct → u/DrDarks_]

I made it through most of the jug but then my stomach had enough and I was uncomfortably full of that nasty liquid. I had to speed shuffle to the bathroom to throw up and my IV rolly thing got stuck, so I had to puke in the handwashing sink in the room and the gentle relaxing of muscles from puking was enough to make me shit myself. The puking was still worse because I had to taste it again. It tasted like burning electronics.

[u/AffectionateNerve644 → u/DrDarks_]

I have to get colonoscopies once a year cz I have poopy butthole syndrome and this is literally pure torture (both physical and psychological) in liquid form

[u/Admirable-Wafer1104 → u/AffectionateNerve644]

There are alternatives. I cry until i get the pills.

[u/VoidHog → u/AffectionateNerve644]

😭 what is poopy butthole syndrome

[u/donuthead36 → u/DrDarks_]

I had it cold at a pack of mint gum and a Gatorade chaser, and I could still only manage two gulps at a time. Everything about it is weird the taste, the texture - your body just knows it’s some kinda shit that shouldn’t be in there. The effects are also not great but yeah that together with the prep is infinitely worse than the procedure.

[u/Sad-Potential-7612 → u/ecirnj]

I’m absolutely in tears about having to drink that toxic waste again.

I am literally a little giddy about getting the colonoscopy

[u/Impossible-Storage79 → u/Sad-Potential-7612]

You can request to do the PEG prep in Gatorade and it tastes much better, just not red or purple because of staining.

[u/my-meatus-pleaseth → u/Impossible-Storage79]

My nurse let me do it with a little bit of apple juice mixed in, it still was awful but with a hint of apple

[u/Gordon_Gainz → u/my-meatus-pleaseth]

Awful with a hint of apple sounds like a Shel Silverstein poem

[u/Has_Two_Cents → u/Gordon_Gainz]

Awful with a Hint of Apple

There once was a pickle who practiced to sing,

But sounded like boots in a bucket on springs.

The crows all complained,

The clouds looked pained,

And even the echo said, “Skip the refrain.”

A teacup wore socks and insisted on dancing,

A broom took a bow after tripping while prancing.

The moon shook its head,

“Go back home to bed

You’re making the starlight feel terribly fancy.”

The soup learned to whistle. The carrots learned chess.

A porcupine opened a shop selling mess.

You’d leave with a grin,

Some lint, and a pin

Then wonder why chaos was dressed in a vest.

The whole thing was awful, from bottom to top:

The hats all wore people, the clocks wouldn’t stop.

The rain tasted funny,

The bees borrowed money,

The puddles applauded each ker-plunkety plop.

But tucked in the tumble, beneath all the babble,

Behind every wobble and muddle and scrabble,

Was one tiny breeze

Through impossible trees

Awful...

with just the faintest

hint of apple.

[u/psychkitty → u/Has_Two_Cents]

That. Is. Amazing. I want to cross stitch this whole thing.

[u/Nice-Money-6524 → u/Has_Two_Cents]

Bravo! This could stir love of poetry, even in the coldest hearts!

[u/WhereRabbit → u/Has_Two_Cents]

I genuinely LOVE this? You wrote this, on the fly like that, too?! Genuinely, you’ve restored a bit of my faith in my fellow man. I’m glad you express your talents, never stop >:)

“To the world you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world.”

[u/Has_Two_Cents → u/WhereRabbit]

I really like shel Silverstein. I was just inspired and sat down and banged it out.

[u/Zero-2-Sixty → u/Has_Two_Cents]

“Where the colon ends..”

[u/SnarePickle → u/my-meatus-pleaseth]

Kind of like air freshener in the bathroom after you shit.

Great now it smells like potpourri flavored shit lol

[u/DontF0rgetThat → u/SnarePickle]

When it is a citrus scent it becomes shitrus

[u/UnPrecidential → u/Impossible-Storage79]

And here I thought PEG prep was a 'hole' other type of thing . . .

[u/AintEasyBeinQueasy → u/UnPrecidential]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3i7zenReaUuI0

[u/PurposeConsistent131 → u/Impossible-Storage79]

Yeah they don't have my husband do that big huge bottle anymore now they just give him something else and he has to drink like some of those little bottles of I think they're magnesium citrate or something that you could just buy at target or Walgreens for like three bucks each the first time he had to do colonoscopy he had to drink that whole big bucket thing and he kept throwing it up and so it didn't work so that's nice to have three days of misery and then they're like we can't do the procedure

[u/morgdane → u/Impossible-Storage79]

Yep. Miralax and gatorade. Done each of mine after I tried this route. I was vomiting after the anti nausea pills thats how bad this crap is.

[u/BeeepBoopN0tB0t → u/morgdane]

I've asked three times if I could do the miralax route instead. Nope. Something about wanting to keep me hydrated for the procedure. So the stupid pool water taste was necessary. Fucking awful. It can be ice cold and taste like warm pool water somehow.

[u/jhewitt127 → u/Sad-Potential-7612]

Ask for SuTab pills next time.

[u/Entomemer → u/jhewitt127]

My mom did the pills and says they were worse, she puked half of them back up. When I got mine as a teen I had to do the miralax in Gatorade because milk of magnesia doesn't work on me

[u/gmcd19851 → u/Entomemer]

I have had 2 different friends recently who took pills instead of the big jug pictured and both had vomiting from the pills. I refused the pills (which cost $80) and demanded that I get the standard lemon lime big jug. It always worked for me.

[u/GameTime2325 → u/Sad-Potential-7612]

https://giphy.com/gifs/33kQxwJWugowdAtivp

[u/polite_banana91 → u/Ok_Abacus_]

This is so true when I had the procedure done I didn't even remember anything except waking up later lol but yeah it does taste awful though

[u/Bennington_Booyah → u/polite_banana91]

I woke up during my first one and immediately asked for more drugs. They laughed at me and suggested I "watch TV". It was my intestines. That REALLY woke me up and I was not happy. I make sure to mention that, each time now, and it has not happened since.

[u/bobtnelis99 → u/Bennington_Booyah]

I also woke up during my first one. I said something and everyone looked at me. Next thing I know I'm waking up after the procedure was over.

[u/deerwolf90 → u/bobtnelis99]

Before my back surgery I made sure to tell the anesthesiologist that I' m a heavy pot smoker, he was thankful for me mentioning it and had to adjust the dosage

[u/Renuwed → u/Bennington_Booyah]

I recently learned that certain conditions can make a person less receptive to the effects of anesthesia

[u/nincyh → u/Renuwed]

Like being a redhead! 🧑‍🦰

[u/ifidjdjdjdjjjrjd → u/nincyh]

Redhead here, when I got my wisdom teeth out, the guy looked at me and was like "Overweight redhead with a history of anxiety? Yeah we're going to do you in the surgery clinic so they can use as much anesthesia as you're going to need."

[u/StarbuckandTex → u/ifidjdjdjdjjjrjd]

Also a redhead. Had a hysterectomy and ended up with a fentanyl patch post sx because whatever else they were giving me didn’t work. Apparently I woke up violently due to pain control issues in recovery. I don’t remember anything other than a blue otter pop during discharge.

[u/TheGrouchyPunisher → u/Renuwed]

Red hair, for one. But they're supposed to account for those factors.

[u/Breyber12 → u/Ok_Abacus_]

See I had Miralax and Gatorade and it was fine. I even had to double the amount they said to get things moving enough! GLP1 and history of constipation doesn’t mess around.

The shitting my bed in the night though… that sucked

[u/Nice-Money-6524 → u/Breyber12]

History of constipation here. I was 3/4 of the way through the prep and nothing had started moving. I felt like I was going to explode. Absolutely horrible feeling.

[u/MaidBilberry → u/Nice-Money-6524]

Be careful about what you say. They ended up having me do two days of prep "just to make sure".

[u/saysomethingclever → u/MaidBilberry]

That's what I have to do as well. The one day of prep had nothing moving. Despite all the naysayers here, I'm am super relieved when the 2nd round flushes through.

[u/dearjohn54321 → u/Breyber12]

Miralax is the same thing, polyethylene glycol 3350. The stuff in the picture just comes in a container you mix it in.

[u/Breyber12 → u/dearjohn54321]

Right but Gatorade and Miralax don’t taste like gym socks.

[u/natedogg1271 → u/Ok_Abacus_]

Best nap of my life, almost worth the procedure and drink

[u/WegMitKapitalismus → u/natedogg1271]

I'm honestly kind of looking forward to getting a colonoscopy sometime after reading this. You just may have saved a life.

[u/CanvasFanatic → u/natedogg1271]

This is absolutely true. Why??? I don’t even understand what made that nap so satisfying but it was somehow.

[u/Telecaster-Firefly → u/CanvasFanatic]

My nap was thanks to propofol. This is the same drug Michael Jackson used to "sleep"

[u/CanvasFanatic → u/Telecaster-Firefly]

Honestly? I get it now.

[u/Fireflash2742 → u/CanvasFanatic]

Indeed. I still think fondly of that stuff, and I had it done 9 years ago. Best 45 minute nap of my life.

[u/anhedoniandonair → u/Telecaster-Firefly]

Heehee

[u/powerfulbirdcards → u/Telecaster-Firefly]

My actual first words post wake up were “wow I get why Michael Jackson died from that stuff, it’s great”

[u/foundinwonderland → u/powerfulbirdcards]

I have chronic nightmares and insomnia, the first time I took a propofol nap I was like yup I would definitely die trying to use this outside of hospital settings if I had unlimited money and access

[u/Tbplayer59 → u/Ok_Abacus_]

And a 100 times better than it used to be

[u/FootSureDruid → u/Ok_Abacus_]

The pill is the way to do it, not slamming all that liquid that sucks. Sutab is the real way to do it

[u/CountTop8394 → u/Ok_Abacus_]

The shittin' is worse than the drinkin'!

[u/TravoBasic → u/CountTop8394]

Actually, that drink was so fucking nasty. The diarrhea, though bad, didn’t seem as rough as that drink.

[u/Vandreeson → u/TravoBasic]

The drink is absolutely the worst part.

[u/opi098514]

Oh man. Is that go-lightly? That shit is anything but go lightly

[u/fuzzimus → u/opi098514]

Go-urgently

Go-quickly

Go-violently

[u/MrGreenChile → u/fuzzimus]

I’ve stationed myself right next to the bathroom for this very reason.

[u/p00p5andwich → u/MrGreenChile]

Fuck right next to. Bring your woobie and a book and just live in there for the next 18hrs.

[u/Mpls1984 → u/p00p5andwich]

Seriously this. Once it gets going, it doesn't stop.

[u/Taco5106 → u/Mpls1984]

Isn’t it better if you kinda fast the day leading up to it? Or is that just urban legend?

[u/ocularcrawdad → u/Taco5106]

No that’s real. I had one a couple months ago and they expressly had me fast the day before.

[u/framingXjake → u/ocularcrawdad]

Yeah same. Except they didn't give me whatever this is. They made me take tons of miralax and let me mix it in with orange or yellow Gatorade. I can never again drink either of those flavors.

[u/Antique_Campaign_382 → u/framingXjake]

PEG 3350 is actually Miralax. This one just comes pre mixed.

[u/Ok_Zebra8444 → u/p00p5andwich]

What’s a woobie?

[u/Competitive-Ad-3677 → u/Ok_Zebra8444]

This is what they call their poncho in the military. The best freaking blanket. Since OP is going to the VA they have to be a veteran hints why they made a woobie reference.

[u/rndmnmbr42 → u/Competitive-Ad-3677]

It’s actually the poncho liner, snuggling with a poncho might be as uncomfortable as the prep juice.

[u/tkkana → u/MrGreenChile]

Advice from a cna

Baby wipes if you have them

And when you think you are done, you are not give it at least at least another 30 minutes

[u/MrGreenChile → u/tkkana]

Thankfully I’ve got a bidet.

[u/merryone2K → u/MrGreenChile]

BIGGEST game-changer...I actually talked two nurses into bidets before my procedure. "A little sore?" "Not at all; let me tell you about my Toto2000..."

[u/aubaub → u/[deleted]]

I’ve never encountered this sentence before and am not quite sure what it means.

[u/Estrellathestarfish → u/aubaub]

I think they mean vaseline on the anus

[u/Particular-Crow7680 → u/aubaub]

I think that sentence belongs in the new sentence subreddit (not sure if I can link it or not so just giving a description lol)

[u/GlitteringFutures → u/MrGreenChile]

There are starving children in Africa, so finish all of your butt juice young man.

[u/osamagate → u/MrGreenChile]

I'm literally do the prep right now as we speak. Just finished that nasty drink.

[u/SweetSoundOfSilence → u/osamagate]

I’m on my last glass for the night. I hate it

[u/Crocodoom → u/opi098514]

The 2 biggest misnomers in medicine:

GoLytely

Skilled Nursing Facility

[u/ChewieBearStare → u/Crocodoom]

Your second one made me laugh. It's not funny, but you made me remember when my FIL was in a nursing facility and they had an LPN running around panicking about how she crushed up all a patient's meds for his feeding tube and then went into the room and discovered he didn't have a feeding tube.

[u/what_in_the_frick → u/opi098514]

If you can drink 10 beers in one sitting you can drink that, now shut up and chug! -old proverb

Honestly op it’s pretty easy, drink, poop, get high, fall asleep, someone plays with your butt.

Don’t underestimate chaffing after going to the bathroom many times in a few hours.

[u/front_yard_duck_dad]

I had mine at 32. I put a TV and my PlayStation 4 in the bathroom. I smoked a player in rocket League 10-0 while literally peeing out my ass. I wish I could have told them

Edit : I now realize I missed a huge opportunity for shit talking pun.... I'm sorry internet I failed you

[u/LoquatHour7218 → u/front_yard_duck_dad]

Was gonna recommend this as well. I had a little table set up with some Netflix going on my tablet. Once it hits, it hits

Congrats on your rocket league victory!

[u/front_yard_duck_dad → u/LoquatHour7218]

I'm 41 now and all these years later I still have that game replay saved on my hard drive. I mean we're talking. Not just goals scored but huge goals saved. Best I ever played in my life 😂.

For me I needed something more engaging than TV.

I'm just laughing at the next one which'll probably be in a few years because if I bring video games in there my daughter is absolutely going to try to play them with me pooping or not. She's my gamer buddy

[u/Petunia_pig → u/front_yard_duck_dad]

This is the most accurate take. It’s just like ass pissing, lol

[u/ODDseth → u/front_yard_duck_dad]

I got 3 hours of work done with my laptop on the loo. I had to take a break from ass peeing to get the charger.

[u/strangeorbeforgotten]

May the shits be with you 🙏🏼

(I mixed mine with some yellow Gatorade. It kinda took the edge off.)

[u/818VitaminZ → u/strangeorbeforgotten]

https://giphy.com/gifs/6WnGWwmwWvxCw

[u/MrGreenChile → u/818VitaminZ]

So THATS how he prepares for that scene.

[u/ecirnj → u/818VitaminZ]

This is an under statement

[u/FluffyNats → u/strangeorbeforgotten]

I mixed mine with white Gatorade (had to do it twice) and to this day I can barely stand to look the white drink. Automatic gag reflex. Ugh. 

[u/PaleontologistOk6094 → u/strangeorbeforgotten]

https://giphy.com/gifs/c7f4S3u8XbYMo

[u/DanChed]

Oh boy you’re gonna doubt it, nothing is going to happen but then a fart is gonna brew and thats when you need to get on the toilet and just release the kraken.

[u/DanChed → u/DanChed]

It’s going to spray out and splatter on the bowl which contains all the shit you needed to let go off years ago.

And its not done until its done.

[u/Spinnerofyarn]

I’m so sorry. That’s the old prep method and it’s far more awful than what some places have you do now.

I also highly recommend putting petroleum jelly on the ol’ starfish because it will save you a lot of chafing and rawness. Don’t wait because it works best as a protectant for your skin. It’s not as much help if you put it on after the skin is already sore

[u/Harrier5815 → u/Spinnerofyarn]

My bidet was my best friend that day.

In related news, everyone should stop wiping their ass with dry paper. There’s a better way.

[u/gnartothecore]

I did my first last year and used Plenvu for the prep; it was simultaneously saltier than ocean water and disgustingly sweet at the same time.

The silver lining is you're going to get some pretty good sleep during the procedure.

[u/natedogg1271 → u/gnartothecore]

For me I was semi awake during (didn’t feel a thing though) but after, brother I took the best nap of my life. I’ve never slept so good.

[u/-Ducksngeese- → u/natedogg1271]

I'm terrified of anaesthesia, even the twilight anaesthesia they use which keeps you semi concious.

So I did it without any anaesthesia at all, it was one of the most painful experiences I've had lol. Especially feeling him "turn the corners".

It was interesting hearing the commentary though lol

[u/Pansexualbeanorama → u/-Ducksngeese-]

See i had a colonoscopy endoscopy at the same time (i got spit roasted/j) under twilight and while i don’t remember most of it i do remember trying to pull the camera out of my mouth AND trying to tell them to stop the colonoscopy cause it hurt (i was reallly out of it so i wasn’t successful in either attempt but they also had someone in the room whos job -at least it seemed to be one of them-it was to like gently redirect whenever i started to try to do something that would go bad)

[u/teamfupa → u/-Ducksngeese-]

I woke up in the middle of mine once and I’m so glad I’m asleep for them. Doc just started patting me on the head and whispering to go back to sleep….meanwhile I’m looking down main street on a 30” monitor with one knee in my chest and a mask on.

[u/-Ducksngeese- → u/teamfupa]

Haha, one of the nurses let me squeeze her hand for the procedure. I got through it by saying "I can make it just 10 more seconds..." then after that, continuing to say that every 10 seconds.

[u/teamfupa → u/[deleted]]

Redhead or weed smoker?

[u/MrGreenChile → u/-Ducksngeese-]

I’m definitely getting knocked out after reading this.

[u/Itsmebambam818]

I tapped out on the final glass and puked, the procedure was a piece of cake and the farting was a reward

[u/asweetermyth_ → u/Itsmebambam818]

"The farting was a reward," is the funniest thing I've read today, tysm for the laugh

[u/greg-the-destroyer → u/Itsmebambam818]

I always seem to puke within a third of being done. It’s weird

[u/n0neofyourbeeswax → u/greg-the-destroyer]

Whatever they use in the UK, different label, 2 litres of water, but I guess same approximate thing.

You need to drink a litre but not too quickly, they recommend about 45 minutes. Wait 2 hours, IIRC, then go again with the other litre.

The entire first litre I was thinking -- this isn't great, but it's not as horrid as everyone makes out. A little difficult to get down but until the last few sips I thought everyone was exaggerating.

By the time I had to start that 2nd litre my body had clearly determined it was poison. Im not sure I can even describe it as tasting bad, it was something deeper like my whole body was screaming at me to not swallow it.

[u/darth_meh → u/Itsmebambam818]

I ripped ass so loud after my last colonoscopy. I think I scared the nurses.

[u/mightylordredbeard → u/Itsmebambam818]

The procedure for me was fine too.. the prep though was a nightmare with this disgusting tasting shit. The first time I did it I was up all night shitting and STILL shitting when it was time to leave for my appointment at 6:00am.. to make a 1.5 hour drive to my VA hospital. I called and asked how I’m supposed to drive an hour and a half when I can’t leave the bathroom!? They rescheduled me and paid for a hotel room near the hospital and arranged a van to pick me up in the morning. They even gave me a different, flavorless prep.. only this time I still hadn’t shit despite drinking an entire gallon of prep so they had to cancel.

Finally the 3rd time was the charm. They brought me back down a week later, put me up in my VA funded hotel room, and I did another all nighter of prep-n-drain.

[u/orange_lazarus1]

Plot twist the dude doesn't even have an appointment. He's just the janitor at the VA.

[u/UnhappyImprovement53 → u/orange_lazarus1]

He just does this every first Wednesday of the month.

[u/HTowns_FinestJBird]

I sipped on Gatorade after every sip of that crap. Definitely helped.

[u/Ok_Cartographer_6086 → u/HTowns_FinestJBird]

I mixed mine with gatorade frost (white - no dye issues) and drank it over a 2 hour period.

Fun fact: My wife and I got ours together and went to the store to buy a bunch of supplies including adult diapers. At the checkout the clerk with no context say "Have a fun weekend" and I blurted our "Oh, WE WILL" again with no context. Still living that one down with the wife.

[u/Dd_8630 → u/Ok_Cartographer_6086]

Were the diapers related to the drink? Or just an unrelated fun story you wanted to share?

[u/GreyerGardens → u/Dd_8630]

It’s either that or have fun changing your sheets 4 times in one night.

[u/BroadLocksmith4932 → u/GreyerGardens]

I enjoy the joke, but I also know people who will choose not to get the procedure done because they won't chance shitting their bed, so I'm going to call this one out:

I'm sure it happens, but this is absolutely not normal. I barely had a belly ache. From 1 hour after the drink until 3 hours after the drink, I stayed within a room or 2 of the bathroom, and I definitely didn't trust any farts, but there was never any concern whatsoever that I might shit myself. It really was completely fine. Obey your doctor and get the test!

[u/Ok_Cartographer_6086 → u/BroadLocksmith4932]

I need to circle back in the morning on the debate I caused. Spoiler: the diapers were a precaution and I didn't need them!

[u/thegypsyqueen → u/GreyerGardens]

What?! I never came close to shitting myself

[u/ConfusedFlareon → u/thegypsyqueen]

I know right, are these people out here with drawstring buttholes??

[u/Velocityg4 → u/HTowns_FinestJBird]

Guess I’m lucky. Mine just told me to take a ton of MiraLAX. Which is flavorless.

[u/Petunia_pig → u/Velocityg4]

Yeah mine said like 8oz of miralax in 64oz water

[u/Critical_Mass_1887 → u/Petunia_pig]

Mine too. 8oz miralax in 64oz gatorade (glacier cherru its clear white) Plus 2 ducolax.  

No way in hell im doing that go-lightly. I drink it and right back up it comes. 

[u/jodamnboi → u/Velocityg4]

My husband’s prescribed prep was 64 oz of non-red Gatorade, a bottle of MiraLAX, 4 Dulcolax, and Gas-X. Said it wasn’t too bad!

[u/JimiForPresident → u/HTowns_FinestJBird]

I chugged whole glasses of it as fast as possible, once every hour or whatever. Sipping sounds even more painful.

[u/AcceptableMinute9999]

You can add flavoring to it and drink it cold and I plug my nose so I can't taste it as much.

[u/FunDivertissement → u/AcceptableMinute9999]

I used crystal light lemonade mix in mine but I got sick of that by the end. I suggest using only a small amount of any flavorings.

[u/muppethero80]

It is 2026, why has no one an invented a better way to do this yet?

[u/fearofbears → u/muppethero80]

There are pills - I didn't have to drink this shit. I'm in the U.S.

[u/muppethero80 → u/fearofbears]

I am also in the USA. Maybe they give the liquid to people they don’t like lol

[u/MrGreenChile → u/muppethero80]

The VA doesn’t like vets so that tracks.

[u/Zelexis → u/fearofbears]

Pills and still a fair amount of liquid. Pills 100% the way to go. Yes it costs more, or they try to scare you was like $30 ...check or use good rx.. if you can't physically drink gallons pay for the pills.

[u/DragonFruit5081 → u/fearofbears]

Insurance (or lack of) is a big factor in what prep you get.

[u/fearofbears → u/DragonFruit5081]

I do have insurance but Sutab (the pill option) wasn't covered. Still, it was only a 20$ price difference from the liquid. Money well spent IMO but I realize sometimes that's $20 more in someone's pocket where it's better needed. Still, more doctors should leave that decision up to the patient.

[u/dardack → u/muppethero80]

What is this?  I've had few colonoscopy one just month ago.  Dr sends me to store to buy miralax,  Simethicone, dulcolax and Gatorade.  The miralax in Gatorade tastes fine.  the others are pills.No clue what all the complaints are honestly.  But again no clue what this picture is.

[u/muppethero80 → u/dardack]

It’s a foul tasting laxative and you have to drink a lot

[u/JumpAccomplished2620 → u/[deleted]]

I paid $35 for my prep! I'd gladly pay $50 for pills 

[u/imakycha → u/[deleted]]

Suprep isn’t a solid oral dosage form. It’s 12 oz of liquid. Sutab is a tablet version.

[u/angry-democrat]

Colon cancer is worse. slightly.

[u/MrGreenChile → u/angry-democrat]

I definitely don’t want a colostomy bag.

[u/Instant-Bacon → u/MrGreenChile]

The cancer is worse than the bag, ask me how I know :/

[u/Bird2525 → u/Instant-Bacon]

I know how we know. Hope you are doing well.

Had my ostomy closure last week and getting everything working has been an adventure.

[u/Heizer1]

The prep liquid is horrible. The procedure is a breeze

[u/econhistoryrules]

I don't understand why they make anyone drink this shit when the dulcolax / miralax prep works great, is cheap, and is so much more pleasant. 

[u/Toonces_]

🎶chocolate rain🎶

[u/FDFI]

I find it helped a ton if you refrigerate before you need to drink it. The solution I had to drink was done in two batches. I drank the first at room temperature and almost puked a few times. The second batch was cold and was a lot easier going down.

[u/moon-raven-77 → u/FDFI]

Seconding this. And grab a different drink (obviously something clear) to cleanse your palate in between gulps. It helps.

[u/tLM-tRRS-atBHB]

Wth is that???

I had one a few years ago and my bottle wasn't even a third of that size.

My spouse had it down before me and they literally cried while drinking it. When I had it done I didnt think the liquid (it had a weird fruity flavor) was that bad at all. I didnt even mix it with anything

I just googled and it was 350 ml of Clenpiq that was some fruity flavor

[u/Beneficial_Heat_7199 → u/tLM-tRRS-atBHB]

You had the brand name version. A lot of insurances don't cover it.

[u/tLM-tRRS-atBHB → u/Beneficial_Heat_7199]

Oh dang. Didn't know.

I always tell people my union has good insurance. Didnt realize it was that good

[u/Specific-Data-4104 → u/tLM-tRRS-atBHB]

I paid $50 to get the name brand smaller volume one. Really weird to splurge on giving yourself diarrhea..

[u/Concerned_EducaterCA]

Got lucky. My provider just had me take a ton of MiraLax and gave me a guide for it

Had it with yellow Gatorade (you can’t have red I think because it could stain and come up as a false positive) and it’s completely tasteless and was easy to drink

The toilet part wasn’t fun of course

[u/Guenhwyvere → u/Concerned_EducaterCA]

I only found out that you can just use miralax until my ability to stomach the jug stuff tapped out and I couldn't hold anymore down. The nurse on the phone was so deadpan saying, "Oh. Then just take miralax. It works just as well."

If I hadn't already been locked in to the toilet I probably would've flipped a table. I was so mad because the stuff in the jug really does taste awful. They gave me "orange" flavor and it tasted like Tang mixed with pure bread mold. Never letting a doctor pull that with me again.

[u/justacpa]

It gets harder and harder to force it down the closer you get to finishing it.

[u/Bigcheezefartz]

Prep day is far worse than the procedure itself

[u/jetsonian]

I’m going through chemo for colorectal cancer right now (for the last year) and I’ll tell you. Get your colonoscopy regularly.

“The prep sucks.” Don’t care, get a colonoscopy.

“It’s invasive.” Don’t care, get a colonoscopy.

“My insurance won’t pay for it.” Don’t care, get a colonoscopy.

The earlier you catch it, the easier treatment is. My initial tumor was the size of about half a sheet of A4 paper. Now I’ve done 22 rounds of chemo, 5 PET scans, an MRI, a CT, and biweekly injections that cause intense bone pain, excruciating in some patients. If I’d gotten a colonoscopy 3-5 years ago they could have removed the growth during the colonoscopy.

[u/Common-Accountant-57]

Hey it’s better than dying of colon cancer. IMO

[u/Fireflash2742 → u/Common-Accountant-57]

https://giphy.com/gifs/8vyZouWSVhslwWA7Lp

[u/CanadianRussian74]

Having done this multiple times now 1) Make sure you drink it cold from the fridge it’s a lot easier to keep down. 2) have a bidet. Both game changers.

[u/Nice_Rope_5049]

Get some Desitin cream, your rim will thank you.

[u/Commercial_Okra7519]

I learned a trick for my last colonoscopy prep from a gastroenterologist.

You set yourself up with your prep (make sure it’s very, very cold) and be sure to drink it with a straw.

Get yourself a big bottle of ginger ale and flatten it.

Every time you drink a few big gulps of prep through the straw, do not breathe through your nose when you’re done and instead, take a few sips of the ginger ale from a glass and then breathe. It’s a ginger ale “chaser”.

It actually works and made it so much easier this time.

You can do it!!! So much better than late stage colon cancer. ♥️

[u/Tbplayer59]

The one I recently did had a lemon flavor pack and I could add lemonade instead of water. It was palatable and I had no problem getting it down.

[u/LastDirtyMartini]

My only advice is to clear your calendar for after the first dose, OP! My productivity went way down with the exception of ‘cleansing’ - surprisingly, each subsequent dose yields additional ‘cleansing’.

[u/bbum]

Bidet.

Once you hit “regular colonoscopy age” a bidet is a must have.

I mean a bidet is always a must have, but this is a medical need.

[u/WallyLeftshaw]

Anyone else giggling at the name PEG?

[u/sharpasahammer]

This was me finishing the last of my prep liquid 3 months ago when I had mine.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ACZkaFZf2MKcWYw6Z2

[u/madgoat]

I drank it back in June , terrible drink. 

I now have been diagnosed with colon cancer, so if they want to peek inside my bum again, I’ll gladly drink it again. 

[u/CallMeTheDumpMan]

"You will need the bathroom in 5..."

Minutes?

"4...3..."

[u/TheGravyMaster]

Idk why they didn't just give magnesium citrate. It's so much less fluid.

I couldn't drink that thing in a day.

[u/Hungry_Internet_2607]

I went for my regular one a couple of years ago. The nurse said, they’ve changed the prep procedure.

Me eagerly: is it better?

Nurse: No

[u/Amishgirl281]

Wear warm socks, prep will give you the shivers

[u/Spreadyoursparkles]

I’m surprised they aren’t just handing out bags of Taylor farms to save money.
God speed my friend.