I know of no alternatives in order to get the procedure done.  Even
the tiny "camera pill" requires this sort of prep.  I have not done
it, I'm sure others here have.  I think most feel it's the least
pleasant part of the procedure to be honest.

My FIL had two colonoscopies done a few years ago.  He had to consume
as near to 2 gallons as he could manage.  It didn't look like fun but
it's the only way I know of to give a clean, clear view of the colon.
He wasn't in pain from the Colyte - just hungry. :)

Been there, done that.  Just be prepared to "sit on the pot" a lot.  It
really cramped my stomach, hurt.  But it was bearable.  You have to be
cleaned out, so that the doctor can get a good clear view of the colon.
Good luck.
KathyA2

Hi,

Has anyone here done a colonoscopy prep that requires drinking a gallon of
something called "Colyte"?  This sounds pretty harsh to me.  I have already
put in my prescription for the dang stuff, and now I am thinking that
perhaps the stress of doing this is going to send me into one of my
year-long lupus flares.

If any of you have drunk a gallon of Colyte... let me know what your
experience was.  I am going to call the doc and see what my alternative
might be.

Mair

--

stingo2@earthlink.net
http://radio.weblogs.com/0114986/

<snip>

I've read there are pill alternatives:

http://www.diagnosishealth.com/wwwboard/messages/124.htm

"Posted by Graham on June 27, 2002 at 15:53:02:

In Reply to: Colonoscopy prep posted by Heather on June 26, 2002 at
16:32:31:

I used the pills for my last colonoscopy. They are basically the Fleets
stuff in pill form. No bad taste. You have to drink a lot of clear fluid
of your choice. I just drank water. You don't get as dehydrated as with
the other stuff. They are relatively new and you may have to ask for
them by name (visicol). They come with 40 pills, but you only have to
take 28 (14 at a time).

I have had six colonoscopies and two surgeries. In the big scheme, the
colonoscopy prep pills only makes things a tiny bit better. But these
days I will take a tiny bit better in a heartbeat. "

http://www.yafferuden.com/html/pill_prep_for_colonoscopy.html

"Pill Prep for Colonoscopy

Many have inquired about preparations other than the phospho-soda prep
that we have been using.  There is a prescription pill called Visicol
which requires the ingestion of 40 pills, 20 pills per session, over 2
two-hour periods, the evening before, and the morning of the procedure.

 One starts on clear liquids, anything one can read through, the
morning the day before the procedure.  One continues with clear liquids,
and starts taking the Visicol, 3 pills every 15 minutes with an 8 ounce
glass of water, for a total of 7 doses in 2 hours!  Note that the last
dose is only two pills, for a total of 20 pills during session number one.

This should be done at about 8 p.m. the night before the colonoscopy.

About 4 hours before leaving for the procedure, 20 more pills should be
taken in the same exact manner."

HTH!

-Sharon

A gallon?? Is that what the instructions say?  "Drink as much clear fluid as
you can" including clear fluids only for supper ie juices, black tea/coffee,
consomme, jello, popsicles, koolaid, soft drinks and water.  Gatorade is
recommended" (that stuff made me very ill 'nother test, so didn't drink it for
the last 2 tests,.

<http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=75252ac7.020902
0850.31cdaa44%40posting.google.com>

Hopefully your doctor is not having you use :  (to clean you out)
· GoLytely;.tastes like sh.t and almost impossible to get down
· Cal-Mag citrate ( I think it is the same as citrate of magnesium) like
drinking Draino
· Cherry Nu-lightly (a bit better, still horrible) don;t do it, ask the Doc
about Fleet Phosphosoda.
· Pills, expensive and not worth the effort

The best is Fleet Phosphosoda, comes in 1.5 oz bottle and you mix this with 8
oz Gingerale and it is drinkable;.tastes like salt water on the rocks.

[snip - read the rest if you wish] and
<http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=3d73e383%240%24
5271%2445beb828%40newscene.com>

Howard, a medic (on sci.med) who confirms what was posted.

I had the Fleet Phosphosoda the day before the test and CitroMag the morning of
the test. My friend did too.
The testing place sends the instructions. (maybe some places do an enema
instead of the Citro-Mag - I don't know).

PS after my test, I read that some people drink a gulp of their fav pop like
Coke before downing the prep (the day before ) to help with the taste.
J

Mair, I have had several colonoscopies. The Colyte, comes in two flavors,
fruit and plain. It will clean out your colon. Which is necessary for the
scope. Shouldn't cause you any problems except a sore butt from using the
bathroom so much.  Which is necessary to clean out your colon. The reason
you don't take pills with this procedure is because they would be visible in
your colon. You are NPO for this procedure, usually have a clear liquid diet
the day prior to the test. Good luck, hope everything comes out ok. Pun
intended. Hugs Wende

I had to have one when I was pregnant and I drank Citramag - you dont need a
perscription you just ask for it at the pharmasist counter.  It tastes like
really sweet orange pop - I have had 7 colonoscopys and this stuff works -
you dont have to drink the other crap.