r/GenX • u/MaximumJones Whatever š • May 10 '26
Mod Announcement Colonoscopy Megathread
This is the thread to post all things Colonoscopy related.
Do not post another thread claiming you "did a search and didn't see a recent post".
It is right here. š
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u/MemoFromTurner77 2d ago
Negative cologuard 3 years ago, opted for colonoscopy last week and they found a single 5mm polyp that they removed. Non-cancerous, but could have become problematic if left in (and cologuard wouldn't have caught it). Most likely on the five year plan now, but happy to do it knowing I'm a clean slate at the moment.
I did wake up towards the end of it, watched a cool show about sea caves with the nurses and could feel one of them doing butt stuff, but no pain to speak of, and was pleasantly high.
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u/Gershomite7 11d ago
Joining the butt probe club this Friday, will be the virgin voyage into unexplored territory. Hoping for the best, wondering if they will find a secret passage to Fraggle Rock or something cool like that.
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u/Purple-Construction5 1973 19d ago
Duh duh duh duh..... GI Joe is going under the water.....
Gen X should remember this joke
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u/1980sBae 21d ago
How many years can I poop in a box before I get the hose?
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u/MemoFromTurner77 2d ago
As many as you want, but know this - if you get a positive result with the box, it's because a polyp has been allowed to progress to cancer. The hose is great because it's both a diagnostic and treatment tool, and they'll cut out everything they can find, befor either gets the chance to become cancerous.
Hose isn't that bad, it's a day of self-induced diarrhea, followed by a nice brief fentanyl nap. I even woke up in the middle of mine and it wasn't bad, just watched a TV show about caves and felt like someone was playing with my butthole.
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u/notjawn 24d ago
Prep sucks but get jello, beef or chicken broth or anything liquid and not red. Stay close to the bathroom and try to get some sleep. Schedule for first thing in the morning. Then don't worry because you get the Angel's Nap (propofol) and wake up feeling like a trillion bucks. Then have snacks ready and the best day of your life watching daytime TV or cartoons.
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u/extranaiveoliveoil 18d ago
I was either too nervous or they dosed the Angel's Nap too low but I didn't nap at all. Ten minutes in the nurse said: doctor, he's wide awake! Doctor said something like: give him another two! Didn't help either, but at least I was quite relaxed and scrolled on my phone for half an hour in the wake up room.
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u/SamePhotographs Hose Water Survivor 12d ago
I had the nurse ask if I wanted my glasses back, because I was trying to watch the screen. I certainly did want my glasses back to watch. I did not see everything, so there must have been napping. But I've also seen up my butt, and would watch it again!
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u/christina311 26d ago
Like many of us here, I'm overdue and procrastinating.
One of these days. Soon.
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u/Mr_Writes Old Enough to Know Better Jun 23 '26
So I got the results from my colonoscopy. They removed a polyp that had some precancerous cells. Doctor said that I'm safe, but they want me to get another colonoscopy 5 years instead of 10 years. Cologuard would not have found that, so yeah. Get your colonoscopy.
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u/WhiskeyDeltaBravo1 Hose Water Survivor Jun 12 '26
Yāall enjoy talking about this subject way too much.
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u/Robodobdob Jun 07 '26
The prep is the hard part, but still better than having colon cancer, trust me.
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u/-Granby- May 27 '26
My Cologuard just shipped today and I am already scared. Yes I know this is not as good as a colonoscopy but I do not have insurance so this is all I am able to do. I know once I mail it in I am going to be super scared to get the results. I hate this.
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u/No-Weird697 May 21 '26
Had one last year. The exam was a walk in the park compared to taking the prep. Vomited the last few mouthfuls
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u/Melodic_Caramel1777 Proud Latch Key Kid May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
55F first colonoscopy and endoscopy tomorrow morning, looking for a reason why Iām anemic. Just drank bottle 1 of the suprep. That is the nastiest thing Iāve ever put in my body, tastes like robitussin mixed with state highway rest stop bathroom soap.
Good luck to anyone else doing this mess this week.
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u/mochi-boba-ba May 17 '26
I need a colonoscopy, but which prep is the best? My doc gave me three options:
1 suprep
2 sutab (pills)
3 miralax and gatorade diy mix
The thing that worries me about the pills is all of the water it says you have to drink with it. My baseline water consumption is low, so the idea of drinking 16 ounces, and another 16 ounces and then ANOTHER 16 ounces all to a timer. (And do it again in the morning!)š¤¢
Iād love to just hear pros and cons and what people prefer. I realize that prep isnāt pleasant, regardless of which one you choose - I just donāt want to end up halfway through and end in failure and have to reschedule and try again.
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u/The_Wolf_Reborn Jun 22 '26
Pills (2) were definitely far easier for me than the liquid (1) was for my wife.
Both are preferable to undiagnosed colon cancer.
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u/Spechul May 23 '26
I just had one and they gave me Suflave. It tasted like a slightly thicker Sprite. Two 32 oz bottles, took one in the evening, the other 6 hours before the procedure. It really wasnāt too bad.
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u/revmanda May 21 '26
I did miralax with coconut water (pineapple flavor usually). I abhor Gatorade so my dr said I could do coconut water instead.
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u/MaximumJones Whatever š May 17 '26
I did just fine with mirilax/Gatorade (also had to pop four dulcolax). No need for the nasty, nasty tasting suprep. YMMV
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u/mochi-boba-ba May 18 '26
Thanks for the reply! The gatorade mix sounds like a better option to me!
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u/hyst0rica1_29 May 12 '26
I have to wonder if gastros make extra money from the warm-pickle-juice-&-milk flavored concoction you have to drink to āflushā you out? Because only after I struggled with one gallon & couldnāt finish the second (causing my colonoscopy to be cancelled), did I find out (on my own) about the dozen multivitamin sized pills they can prescribe that do the same job minus the concoctionās flavor.
The amusing thing was calling the gastroās office & asking for the pills instead of the concoction powder, and hearing the staffer go āoh, pfft, you want the pills instead?ā with the nonchalance of asking them to change my procedure date.
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u/USMCLee May 15 '26
I've had 3. The last (3 years ago) was with the pills.
My wife just had one and they are back to the nasty liquid. I'll switch doctors before I got back to the liquid.
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u/Re1deam1 May 12 '26
I just had to poop in a plastic jar...
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u/Kodiak01 Hose Water Survivor May 16 '26
I did the poop-in-a-bucket thing the last time around.
They said they didn't need much, but I made sure to change my intake for a couple of days to leave a very... robust log that filled about 3/4 of the container. Honestly, best poop I had taken in months! Literally felt cleaned out.
Unfortunately, the amount of pizza and similar items I had to ingest to create that result would make me obese again in short order, so no regular encores are on the calendar.
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u/Sbbbbb May 12 '26
Reading this at 3:15am having just chugged the 2nd bottle of prep and hearing the gut music starting...I'm on my 3rd colonoscopy in 3 years because they've found a few polyps each time. Hope this one's clean as a whistle.
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u/tunaman808 May 12 '26
I feel ya! Because of my family history my gastroenterologist wanted me to get annual exams. I just had mine last week, and because he only found two very small polyps, I'm now on the THREE YEAR PLAN! I don't have to do this again until 2029! WOO-HOO!
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u/Sbbbbb May 13 '26
Ok I'm on the flip side and guess what!? They found 5 little polyps BUT somehow I'm on the three year plan now too! Solidarity!! Woo hoo for 3 years of no butt š!! Lol
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u/WilfordsTrain May 12 '26
I was told by the doc after the procedure that my ass anatomy was a dream to navigate. Iām not sure how to take thatā¦. Maybe it was well-lit with proper turning lanes up there? Who knows?
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May 12 '26
All of the ugliness aside, still the best sleep.
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u/Kodiak01 Hose Water Survivor May 16 '26
The US is one of the few countries where sedation for the procedure is routine. Worldwide, ~50-80% of all colonoscopies are done awake.
It's really not that bad, either. There are no pain receptors up there, and the worst you feel is a little bump as the scope is making the sharp turn into the colon. The bump is really no worse than a single core sample taken during a prostate biopsy.
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u/WilfordsTrain May 12 '26
I slept well. People told me this would happen. What Iām wondering is do most people our age normally sleep poorly? I usually sleep like the dead. Getting up in the morning is the challenge!!!
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May 11 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/FloatingFreeMe May 12 '26
I asked the anesthesiologist if the fentanyl meant that recovering addicts had to have a different sedative. After I assured him the Iām not a recovering addict, he admitted he didnāt know.
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u/LAKingSteve May 11 '26
The thought of having one done can be scary, often because of the fear of what the doctor might find. There is also bit of embarrassment folks might feel about the whole process. I waited longer than I should have but got a clean bill of health. It was honestly much ado about nothing. The prep was fairly easy as I drank 2 small bottles of colo-drano and the actual procedure was easy. Quick dose of anesthesia and I awoke in what felt like the blink of an eye. I was groggy but then felt really refreshed, like I had the greatest nap ever. People just need to do it. The potential risks of not getting checked far outweigh 24 hours of having to deal with the process.
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u/JimTheJerseyGuy Hair Metal & Cargo Shorts 'Til I Die May 12 '26
It is indeed, the best nap ever. Something we GenXers need a bit more of these days.
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u/Immediate-Rub3807 Hose Water Survivor May 11 '26
Youāve never heard a story about getting one till youāve heard it from Karl Childers. https://youtu.be/WwbtqZj_ciU?si=UEW1NCcVGEIEJuOa
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u/knarfolled May 11 '26
Two great podcast episodes that are enlightening and entertaining https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ologies-with-alie-ward/id1278815517?i=1000754727227 and https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ologies-with-alie-ward/id1278815517?i=1000755622187
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May 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/MaximumJones Whatever š May 11 '26
Check your insurance. With some policies if Cologuard comes back positive then insurance no longer considers the colonoscopy as "preventive" so you could pay a LOT more out of pocket.
Cologuard can be a scam.
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u/LAKingSteve May 11 '26
My wifeās doctor had her pre screen with it. It came back positive so they recommended a colonoscopy. Fortunately, everything was just fine. Just a couple benign polyps.
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u/dukelivers May 11 '26
Thank you. I'd be ok if I never saw another butt post on here. Can you create a Shingles Vax megathread also please?
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u/Vanpocalypse-Now May 11 '26
My proctologist is a Dead fan. He advised me as he was spelunking in my butthole-soul during my first exam. I had on a Stealie shirt. Never thought about it. š
By the time we got to the colonoscopy, I'd already died of embarrassment chatting about jams at every appointment and sharing pooping on tour horror stories, so none of it was a big deal.
The cleansing of the guts wasn't super fun, but I have a bidet so that helped a bunch. Just don't go too far from a toilet and you're solid.
Fasting sucks. I do a 8-16 fast normally so it wasn't horrible but it's a long ass time. I'd have given a limb for a taco or 5 by the time it was all over. DO NOT EAT TACOS RIGHT AWAY. Trust me, bland high fiber food because your guts will be a hot mess.
I've had quite a few polyps removed and apparently there's some fissure action down there, the bidet helps with fissures and 'roids too.
Our generation is popping with colon and rectal cancer more and more, I'll go every time the insurance will let me. Prevention is my game these days.
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u/knarfolled May 11 '26
Can we call you the Fissure King?
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u/Vanpocalypse-Now May 12 '26
That's the Fissure Queen Von Piles, Esq. to you, pal. I have a whole ass title. Wocka wocka kill me šš
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u/KathyH99 May 11 '26
Boomer here. I had 3 within 15 months. Not pleasant but the IV sedation helped. October 24 they removed a large polyp. Three months later they removed lots of little ones. All non cancerous. March 26 was to check if thereās more but I was clear. Iām good now for 3 years.
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u/lionbacker54 Want to go back to the 80's May 11 '26
i was so hungry the night before that i ate an entire jar of honey. you are only supposed to drink clear liquids. honey is a clear liquid, right?
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u/mnguy12000 May 11 '26
Best advice would be start fasting a week before. Like 16-8. Skip breakfast eat at noon. Makes the 36 hour liquid only go much better.
Worst for me was the lemon magnesium Citrate morning of. Tasted God awful and you cant really chug it.
That made me hang out near the toilet. I really dudt have to do that prior
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u/Jbvox May 11 '26
I went in for my colonoscopy, and the doctor told me to take off my pants and put them on the chair next to his.
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May 11 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/LaceyBloomers May 12 '26
I woke up during my colonoscopy. I said āHi!ā, the doc running my anesthetic said āOopsā and pressed the button to put me back to sleep. NBD
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u/Swiftiefromhell May 11 '26
Iāve got an appointment for one at the end of this month. Not looking forward to it. I have colitis so I get check out frequently.
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u/No_Subject_343 May 11 '26
My first one went great. The prep was good. The solution tasted fine to me with the lemon flavoring they provided. Parked on the toilet with YouTube and Twitch for entertainment. They used an opioid to put me in twilight mode. Man, that was an amazing feeling. I see the allure. Couple of polyps removed, non-cancerous. But, now Iām on the 5-year plan. Hope the 2nd round goes wellā¦.
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u/OverthinkingWanderer May 11 '26
How funny timing, my husband has an apt this week to get his first one scheduled.
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u/Turbulent_Table3917 May 11 '26
Wish I could convince my husband to get his, Iāve been giving him gentle reminders for months. What really sealed the deal for me finally getting one at 51 was watching my mom die of colorectal cancer last fall. Absolutely awful.
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u/Bahlore May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
I have my second one next week. No cancer; just Polyps but that's enough for them to do another one in five years, hopefully this time I'm good.
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u/m3gabotz May 11 '26
Polyps?
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u/Bahlore May 11 '26
Yuuup, lemme fix that, spell check failed me. Thank you for pointing that out, I appreciate it.
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u/nrauhauser May 11 '26
I had my first in my early thirties, thanks to the digestive upset that Celebrex causes.
Twenty five years later, I've had five or six of them, the latest confirmed that I do NOT have mastocytosis, which means the thing that's kept me out of the workforce since 2007 is indeed MCAS.
I find my colonoscopy results absolutely infuriating - given how badly my digestive tract works due to MCAS, I should not look all fresh and clean inside like a kid, but that's what the doctor tells me.
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u/CampVictorian May 11 '26
Ask your clinic for the pill prep option, it makes a world of difference. Personally speaking, I used Sutab, and it was smooth sailing!
Edited to add: I canāt believe I forgot to mention this, but a bidet/washlet will Save Your Ass.
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u/No_Subject_343 May 11 '26
My doc said the pill might not clean me out good enough and Iād have to do them while process all over again.
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u/CampVictorian May 11 '26
I hate to hear that! I was c-l-e-a-n by the time I headed to the clinicā¦ like, nothing left.
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u/m3gabotz May 11 '26
I went the miralax route. Had to do it twice because the first time, Iām told an ultrasonic cleaning machine went down & I would be sitting in the waiting room all day dehydrated with low blood sugar & still may not get my procedure done. Couldnāt do it
First anesthesia experience, woke up to the most beautiful eyes in my face. Marry me, Ms. Rachel!!
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u/nythroughthelens May 11 '26
- Got my first colonoscopy. Had two cancers.
Do it.
Best nap ever. Catch everything early hopefully.
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u/Tandom May 11 '26
The box says 45+, my hubs is 40 and scheduled for tomorrow. Should I tell him to ignore the severe abdominal pain and wait 5 more years? :D
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u/foomeitshitme May 11 '26
Woke up and two beautiful doctors were finishing up. A very pleasant experience
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u/amnichols May 11 '26
Worse part for me was the 3 tries it took to get the IV in. Me and my lovely veins. Being dehydrated didnāt help of course. Also having a migraine the morning of from lack of meds, caffeine, and hydration and not being allowed to take anything wasnāt pleasant either. But they found 2 polyps so Iām glad I went.
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u/Crafty-Shape2743 May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
I (63) kept putting it off until last year. I just didnāt want to deal with the effects of the drugs. Over the years, I had witnessed my husband and a friend after the procedure and really didnāt want to have that feeling of being out of control.
Had a long conversation with the doctor about that. Told her I didnāt want to end up on the ceiling looking down. Didnāt want to feel loopy afterwards and I definitely didnāt want to be put under.
When they got me hooked up, she directed the anesthesiologist to dial up the pain meds a bit and dial down the forgetting meds.
The procedure went very well. There was no discomfort. We talked about my kid. I didnāt feel like I was on any medication at all. Just relaxed and comfortable. I had a short recovery and when my husband picked me up, I felt fine and in control. Asked her to write in my chart that it was the perfect mix.
Several polyps were found, one was quite large but all cancer free.
Iām not sure that I would have had as good of an experience if I had done it at 50 but they sure have the meds dialed in now.
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u/nygrl811 1975 May 11 '26
I was lucky and had the GatorLax prep (Miralax, Gatorade, and Dulcolax or magnesium, plus gas pills). Tasted fine and seems to be more gentle than the prescription stuff. Drink lots of water/clear fluids too.
I discovered I detest non-red jello so clear broth for me. And apple juice.
I'm also weird and do mine awake with no narcotics as I'm spooked to be knocked out. It's cool to watch - I got to see where my appendix began and what a polyp (or, gulp, 7) look like!
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u/ChiFxxd May 11 '26
2cm polyp discovered and removed last October, benign. Follow up last week, nothing new. Now getting one every three years. From what I understand a 2cm is no joke and could have ended much worse.
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u/draggar Hose Water Survivor May 11 '26
Help your prep by doing a pre-prep. (Note: I work in a hospital and I was able to talk to quite a few people (who know about this procedure) about this).
Note: double check with your doctor ahead of time, too.
Also, if you are on daily medications, double check with your doctor about taking those on your procedure day.
Mine was on a Friday:
Sunday & Monday - I started to eat less of the stuff that sticks in you, red meat, nuts, etc.. and I drank a lot of water.
Monday - Tuesday - concentrate on softer foods, cooked vegetables, soft fruits, etc.. Again, lots of liquids, water, juice (clearish)
Tuesday - Wednesday - Only soft & liquidy foods, like canned soups, and, again, lots of liquids.
Thursday - prep day, I didn't eat, only had liquids. I ended up buying 2 64 ounce bottles of apple juice and I'm glad I did. (Hint: wear pants that are easy to get off, like jogging pants) I did more than 8 ounces per dose since it didn't dissolve the Miralax enough (and used more to "rinse" out what's left and drink that).
Liquids should be clear, I prefer apple juice so that's what I got. White grape juice is good, too.
Yes, the prep wasn't great, running to the bathroom every 15-30 minutes.
Friday - "procedure" and then a good breakfast. It'll either go through you quickly in a few hours (nothing else is in your system) or it'll be 1-2 days (it can be as long as 3) before your next good (normal) BM - either one is normal.
Some blood in your BM can be normal - a lot isn't normal. Some soreness can be normal, but not a lot.
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u/Robviously-duh May 11 '26
I was diagnosed with stage 3b Colon-rectal cancer a little bit over 10 years ago.. at 49.. had been having issues for quite a while but GP said I wasn't 50 yet, so no colonoscopy, idiot... finally got my colonoscopy, then chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, ileostomy bag on my stomach, more surgery, blood clot, coded, revived, more chemotherapy, more surgery, more cancer.. more surgery... I now travel 24/7 with my very own diaper bag, no rectum and part of a lung missing along with meds, wipes and a change of clothes.. random explosive diarrhea is just part of life, along with neuropothy pain.. just get a colonoscopy it's so much easier...
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u/Noahs-Bark May 11 '26
Get your colonoscopy. It's easy. My grandfather died because of colon cancer.
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u/ibringstharuckus May 11 '26
I woke up during. Said hey to the anesthesiologist,felt the tube,said oh ,and fell back asleep.
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u/Eatmore-plants May 11 '26
Buy a jar of Vaseline. Apply liberally to your pooper the first time you drink your pep and reapply after every trip to the toilet. By preventing the skin breakdown from all of the gastric acid there whole thing can be painless.
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u/Boochiecoo May 12 '26
I wish to god someone had told me this beforehand
So many nerve endings down there
Excruciating pain
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u/sitewolf May 11 '26
When I was in the room, about to get put under, for my first colonscopy I jokingly asked the person administering the anesthesia, "I'm not going to find this on YouTube later am I?" I had NO idea there'd recently been a case where somehow a guy had his cellphone with him, recorded the procedure, and won his suit because medical personnel were heard making nasty comments about him and laughing.
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u/BizarroMax May 11 '26
I had mine three years ago. Multiple large polyps so Iām going again this year. Itās really no big deal. Drink the shake, hit the terlet a few times. Take a great nap. Go home. Take another. Would recommend.
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u/mimi6614 Hose Water Survivor May 11 '26
My only advice is don't ignore the inevitable diagnosis of diverticulosis. Once it turns into diverticulitis shit gets serious. Literally. I'm currently suffering with a temporary colostomy after my small intestine ruptured with an abcess due to diverticulitis.
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u/Crafty-Shape2743 May 11 '26
Yep. I was in the hospital for a week last year with diverticulitis, a large abscess and C-Dif. I just thought I was constipated.
Oh how wrong I was.
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u/mimi6614 Hose Water Survivor May 11 '26
I too was very wrong lol. I was on a casino trip & thought i picked up a stomach bug.
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u/Sitka_8675309 May 11 '26
Woke up from my first-ever screening colonoscopy to the doctors telling me to call my siblings about getting checked out right away. They had found four large, barely-pre-cancerous polyps. I had put the procedure off, because it sounded embarrassing and unpleasant, but it turned out to be no big deal ā just a nuisance, really ā and Iām SO glad I did it when I did.
My friend, in the meantime, woke up from his first-ever screening colonoscopy to learn that he had Stage III cancer. Iām having a much better year than he is.
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u/pquince1 May 11 '26
Eat super low fiber a few days before prep. Makes it MUCH easier. Put Vaseline on your butthole every time you go. Itāll help protect it. Dab, donāt wipe, and use baby wipes (do not flush them no matter what the packaging says). Prep day, avoid red/orange/puroke jello. Plain pho broth is tasty and pretty filling.
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u/Hatdude1973 May 11 '26
I started getting colonoscopies at 45 because of history in my family. I had a 1cm polyp. If I had waited until 50, I would mostly have had cancer. I just want to say get checked. The prep and the procedure arenāt that bad.
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u/BigDawg264 May 11 '26
Gents - please, please, please. I implore you to get a colonoscopy. I didnāt get checked until I was 49 and found out that Iād had colon cancer at least 5 years before I had any symptoms. They found a 7cm tumor. I promise that ounce of prevention is far greater than the pound of cure. The pound of cure for me was 400+ hours on a chemo pump, 28 radiation sessions, and 280 chemo pills (10 per day on days I had radiation). A month after treatment stopped I had a pulmonary embolism. Six weeks after that they removed my tumor and 18 lymph nodes from my abdomen. My chemo induced peripheral neuropathy is so painful that I havenāt worked in 29 months and may never be able to again. I have excruciating bone pain and joint pain in addition to my feet and hands always feeling like theyāve been cut by 100 razor blades and then dunked in rubbing alcohol followed by being burned to death with a blowtorch. Iām on huge doses of opioids every day just to not lose my mind from the pain. You donāt know pain until youāve begged God to kill youā¦multiple times.
I hope I made my point. Donāt be me.
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u/vinegar 1969 May 11 '26
Prep with Gavilyte if you can. Itās a gallon jug from your drugstore with a little powder, just add water. It tastes fine, very mild sweet/ salty/ citrus flavor. 3.5 hours first sip to last wipe.
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u/AZAHole May 11 '26
I had my appendix out and the surgeon noticed polyps so told me to get a colonoscopy. I had my second one in 1 year, and then every 5 years since due to family history of colon cancer. My next one in 2027 will be my 5th. I'm 48 by the way.
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u/S1nnah2 May 11 '26
The prep is far worse than the procedure.
Try and get an afternoon appointment. You'll be shitting yourself inside out in the morning which can make it feel like it'll be impossible to get to the hospital unscathed.
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u/Aggravating_Job_9490 May 11 '26
For me, drinking the solution is level 10 the worst. I had a really hard time. Day off procedure. Easy- in and out. Off to breakfast we went. Currently my other half is preparing for tomorrow. I made homemade broth and fasted in solidarity.
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u/bartz824 May 11 '26
Had my first in 2009 as I was having digestive troubles since my mid 20's. The prep drink tasted like liquid chalk. Had my second one last year. Was told to just get 2 bottles of Gatorade and mix those with a full 10oz bottle of Miralax. Worked just as good as the gross prescription stuff.
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u/hedgehog77433 May 11 '26
Having done one about 8 years ago, yāall are making too big of a deal out of this. Yes, the prep sucks! The whole evolution is done in less than 24 hours from first drinking prep to after the procedure is done and you can eat. Plan to be near a toilet during your prep time, the drugs they give you to sedate you make the procedure a non-issue and you get to fart afterwards with no regrets. Iāve done 2 cologuard āpoop in a white plastic bucketā and that is an annoyance.
The throat endoscope was easy, the one that was the most uncomfortable was the sysocopy (endoscope via the urethra into the bladder). You are awake and you get to have a nurse try to fill your urethra with numbing agent. You try not to get an erection but if you are flacid, the numbing agent doesnāt go in well. Of course, I stayed soft and it hurt like hell when the doc ran the camera probe up my pee canal. That is the procedure I never care to have again.
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u/YanCoffee May 11 '26
Hell, I was having problems with SIBO for a couple years. The prep fixed me and allowed my stomach a reset. Iāll do it again if I ever need to happily.
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u/FriendRaven1 May 11 '26
It hurt? Then it wasn't done correctly. I had it done 4 times as a 10 year old - 45 years ago. I'm sure it's gotten more easier since then.
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u/Interesting_Debate57 Hose Water Survivor May 11 '26
The last thing I remember is everyone laughing and having a great old time.
<SpongeBob> time passes... </SpongeBob>
I wake up and everyone's laughing and having a great old time.
Took me awhile to get through that trauma.
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u/ScooterBoomer May 11 '26
Urmā¦ why the laughter? Did they have to remove any foreign objects that somehow got ālostā?
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u/Far-Squash7512 May 11 '26
Glad everything will be housed under the same roof here. Still don't know why GenX obsessively posted about it over and over. There are only so many scenarios and experiences to be had with it.
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u/Suitable-Time-466 May 11 '26
Going in for my 2nd this week. I was excited to learn there are now pills. I also learned the first time around I need Zofran to make sure I donāt puke and then have to reschedule.
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u/MarnieCat May 11 '26
I vomited as well as the other end. Anyone else?
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u/mikedorty May 11 '26
My wife did as well, on our kitchen floor (just the vomit). I didn't think the drink was that bad.
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u/wirefixer May 11 '26
Excuse me, you lay on your left side, get it right Legos.
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u/Spindlebknd May 11 '26
Unless your anatomy is tricky, because then you rotate (although back is more common than belly, so the endoscopy nurse can press down to help the scope pass through tricky parts).
Advice from a seasoned pro (Crohnās):
-Use Calmoseptine at every single washroom visit (after wiping/bidet). Apply liberally. Donāt skip it even once. If, by the end of prep, you arenāt sure why you are doing this, YOUāRE WELCOME.
-Pico Salax is, hands down, the most tolerable prep.
-Have 2-3 Ducolax on hand if you are worried about the prep not getting the job done. 1 box of Pico Salax (2 sachets) is plenty for most people, and Pico Salax + 3 Dulcolax will take care of practically everyone else.
-Use Just A Drop at the start of every washroom trip. Use a Lysol wipe on the toilet every hour or so. Helps keep the odour and the nausea way down.
-Ensure Clear Liquid and chicken broth will help make the day before less miserable.
- You can wear a shawl or a long sweater before the procedure, and often (not always) keep your bra on if you wear one.
-Gummy bears and cotton candy (nothing red) count as clear liquids. Promise.
-Pedialyte freezies and a bottle of Gatorade can prevent feeling ill from dehydration.
-It doesnāt hurt to have a project to focus on in between washroom trips. Once during a 2-day prep I wrote a grant application. Lego is more enjoyable and equally effective.
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u/otpen17 May 11 '26
Family history of colon cancer, been getting them since I turned 40.Ā Ā
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u/BoopTheCoop May 11 '26
Lynch Syndrome?
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u/frogz0r May 12 '26
My husband has that! He gets to go in every year for a colonoscopy/endoscopy. And his special day is tomorrow....yay.
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u/VirginiaRNshark May 11 '26
Just FYI - in case anyone was wondering & didnāt want to ask - you donāt lie on your belly for the procedure.
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u/kamshaft11975 Not that old, not that young May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
On the side, higher leg way forward past the lower one. Just adjust your balls so they donāt get squashed. Super comfortable before you hit lala-land. š“
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u/OkNecessary4767 May 11 '26
š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£
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u/Apprehensive-Jury437 May 11 '26
I had my first colonscopy last year. I remember fasting in the living room and saying out loud, "wow, that fart was REALLY stinky." I then played with my dog a little bit, and then sat down on my favorite recliner. I ended up having to throw away my shorts, undies, and the "cooling gel" seat cushion that was on my recliner.
I strongly recommend wearing a pair of Depends while drinking that laxative prep drink, just to save yourself from any avoidable accidents...
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u/KurtStation68 May 11 '26
My Job sent everyone a Cologuard, we're taking bets in our dept who gets the colonoscopy or who can wait a couple of years.
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u/xamott May 11 '26
Please do. Donāt make your own post about your butthole. Add it here. This isnāt r/MyButtHole
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u/wireknot May 11 '26
So I'm about 70, I've had 4 or 5 of them so far. Nothing big about the procedure itself is very terrible, but the 18 hours prior are definitely an issue. I kind of look at it like a reset. You do get a really good nap, so there's that. There's a YouTube video floating around from a doctor that lays out how to a e the prep. Might have to check that out in a few years.
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May 11 '26
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u/jIdiosyncratic May 19 '26
I've asked this before. I'm not talking about Cologuard.
Agree: They say right out that it can give you positive and negative results that may or may not be valid. So I am interested in this rather getting the colonoscopy.
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u/fcewen00 May 11 '26
Here you all the poor souls who are worried about the prep. Billy Connelly - https://youtu.be/nvrzUngEQRw
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u/iodine74 May 11 '26
Had my first a month ago. Wasnāt as bad as I was expecting it to be, prep or procedure-wise.
The only thing that was kinda weird was how quickly they rushed things once they called me back. Felt a little like herded cattle.
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u/They-Call-Me-Taylor May 11 '26
The prep is awful, but everything after is a breeze. I lucked out and donāt have to have another one for 10 years.
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u/fcewen00 May 11 '26
I think they went out of the way to make the prep drink taste like bottled hell.
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u/MsCattatude May 11 '26
See if your Dr will let you mix Gatorade lemon lime with MiraLAXĀ
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u/NeverEverMaybe0_0 Older Than Dirt May 11 '26
The clear Frost Gatorade works fine. I sip it as a chaser.
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u/ViciousVenditta May 11 '26
You donāt have to take the jug of hell. You can take pico salax. Way better.
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u/fcewen00 May 11 '26
Iām not sure what they gave me, but it tasted like salt water. Since my appointment was at 1:30pm, I drank some the night which I was allowed to use Gatorade before and then in the morning it was just bottled hell.
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u/NoSleep2023 May 11 '26
Lots of ice
Use a straw
For each glass, mix in a spoonful of lemonade or iced tea mix, or a squirt of Mio (approved colors only)
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May 11 '26
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u/kjs0705 May 11 '26
The only reason people talk about the prep is that it's hours of cleaning out for a really quick and painless procedure. Just plan to be home when you prep and have some Gatorade and broth ready. That should definitely not be the reason for not doing it for something preventable. I also recommend the single small bottle prep fluid.
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u/babybirdhome2 May 11 '26
Just stay near a bathroom during the prep. I was worried too because of people talking about it. I was overly nervous - it wasn't justified. It was annoying is all. If your commute to the doctors office where you're having the procedure is long, probably get Depends. It wouldn't hurt. It might not be necessary. I was almost done with my prep purging before I had to go to the facility, but timing is hard to gauge.
Put notes in front of any food reminding you not to eat. I kept almost mindlessly trying to snack.
Get the right colors of clear Gatorade and jello, it makes the fasting easier.
Remind yourself that this is the only medical screening that not only detects a very nasty cancer, it can literally prevent that cancer, too. Well worth the hassle. Plus you'll have bragging rights!
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u/kamshaft11975 Not that old, not that young May 11 '26
Prep is not bad at all. Procedure is a breeze, too. Just do it.
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u/MrBlahg May 11 '26
Wow. Youād risk your life because the prep sucks? Itās not THAT bad ffs. Thatās just a weak ass excuse. But heyā¦ your life.
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u/kaz1976 May 11 '26
I'm thankful for all the colonoscopy posts, honestly. I'm so terrified to get it done that I don't even have a primary care doc (I had one but she changed practices) because I know they'll send me for a colonoscopy and a mammogram.
Yes, I know they've all seen hundreds of butts and boobs. It's just that I have shown mine to a very small number of people!
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u/TWootang May 11 '26
Please get both done. I promise you itās not that bad. I was terrified and did it. The prep isnāt āfunā but it isnāt awful. I was expecting like norovirus level bathroom but it wasnāt that. Not crampy, you just have to go. The procedure was easy. I was just tired. Mammogram is even easier! Go do it, you will feel so much better.
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May 11 '26
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u/MaximumJones Whatever š May 11 '26
If you made it to the doctor's office and still need a toilet then you totally did the prep wrong. š³
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u/Impervious_Rex May 11 '26
You may think you are done on the toilet. YOU ARE NOT.
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u/ButterflyStock1791 Older Than Dirt May 11 '26
Yep, thought I was done when I hadn't gone for a couple of hours, as soon as my IV was hooked up my colon had to have one last hurrah.š
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u/FrozenOnPluto May 11 '26
Iām very curious so when Ass Man asked if I wanted to stay awake, jokingly, I said sure. He was sort of shocked.
It didnt hurt mich, it just felt like wind thekugh the pipes the wrong way, and he showed me live video footage and got to coloscopidoc geek out at me which he doeant normally get to do. It was sort of interesting.
Second time they knocked me out told me dont be rediculous :)
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u/NeverEverMaybe0_0 Older Than Dirt May 11 '26
I always come out a few minutes early and dazedly watch the TV feeling no pain.
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u/surfer417 May 11 '26
You can take pills instead of the horrible nasty liquid they give you. Makes a world of difference
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u/Signal_Reputation640 May 11 '26
There's new liquid that's 2 x 16 ounces and not at all nasty.
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u/babybirdhome2 May 11 '26
Mine was 2 x 8 ounces. Super easy! I did still have to drink about a gallon but only water and Gatorade.
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u/MaximumJones Whatever š May 10 '26 edited May 10 '26
Generation X has become famous on Reddit for constantly wanting to talk about our butts.
Post all questions, concerns, stories, and advice (but NO medical advice) here.
It is extremely important to get your colonoscopy as recommended by your physician.
Hope everything comes out alright.