Hi Dr Gandolfo I’m a new stoma patient (APR surgery Feb 2024) Would you suggest I could be awake for next colonoscopy via stoma? It’s reassuring to see surgeons face and hear his explanation during the process.
@@shywolf4Mix the colonoscopy prep with water. However for hunger you can drink Gatorade or juice, as long as your drink is not red or orange colored which may look like blood during the colonoscopy. Pineapple, apple, white grape juice are examples.
I just did mine for the first time this past Saturday. I did mine awake. Wasn’t as bad as I thought it was gonna be. Just lots of pressure at certain times. Got to watch the screen and see everything that was going on.
I had sedation for my first. Bad reaction during procedure.. Next time I had nothing. Bad reaction. Third time, good old gas and air (Entonox). Brilliant.
PREP TIP! USE A&D OINTMENT AND SILVER DIMETHICONE SKIN WIPES AT START OF PREP Before your skin breaks down from the diarrhea. The idea is to prevent skin breakdown that can be very painful when you “poop” or pee during the prep.
@@precisionGIso it’s only 24 pills? Years ago I had a tablet prep - I got upto 56 tablets then was nearly vomiting. It was a long time ago, I think it was meant to be 65 tablets 🤢
How was your procedure? How did you feel after taking the first 12 pills? Do you have to take the second dose of pills 5 hours before procedure? Overall how was the anesthesia, procedure go? Thank you in advance.
@@laniesider2586 Taking the pills was completely fine. It took about 45 minutes or so for them to kick in. Taking them slowly (every 4-5 minutes) is key to not feeling nauseous I think. Yes I had to take the other 12 5 hours before the procedure. The anesthesia was fine and it was over and done in no time. I had 2 benign polyps that they removed which is normal. They recommend 3 years for my next one. I might stay awake for the next one b/c it was so easy. Good luck 👍🏻
@@CathieG wow glad everything went well for you, did you drink anything else besides water? If you take your second dose 5 hours before surgery, how many hours before surgery they recommend you to stop drinking any liquids?
@@laniesider2586 They have you stop all liquids two hours b4 your appointment. They give you a huge instruction sheet to follow with all of the times for everything. I took the pills with mostly water although I sipped a little on apple juice and Gatorade to change it up a little. Do u have your appointment scheduled? It’s really not that bad. The worst part is being on the toilet after the pills. 😁 I recommend it for anyone to see what’s going on. 👍🏻
@@CathieG thank you and I agree with you to find out what’s going on in there. I’m just nervous, never been put to sleep before lol. Also nervous about the prep pills if it’s going to make me sick? Im planning on taking the pills 5 minutes apart so I won’t feel like throwing up. If I take it to fast I’m definitely see my self getting sick. I saw my gastroenterologist two days ago, she told me to let her know when I’m ready to schedule. Called the office to schedule appointment, waiting to hear back from doctors office when I’m scheduled to have it done. I’m preparing myself lol. Thank you for the information, I feel a little better after hearing from someone like you that it wasn’t bad at all. I now feel like I have the courage to go through with it. Hopefully they can get me in asap so I can get this over with. Thank you for your reply ♥️.
My instructions from my Doc were a bit different. The day before my procedure at NOON take one pill every minute while sipping water until done. Drink another 16 oz of water. At 6pm repeat with the second bottle. Fingers crossed!
I wish I had found this video before my last colonoscopy. I was given Sutab and I followed the directions and I was mildly nauseous on the first round but very nauseous after the second round. With the end result I was alternating between either sitting on my can and or my knees. Without a doubt the worst prep of the 4 previous colonoscopy. Pro Tip: Get a Bidet. You will thank me later.
I thought that liquid was like drinking metal! Only way i got through it was a tip i read somewhere to suck a lemon immediately after each sip. That worked but I'll never forget drinking liquid metal. Im having my second one soon and make sure i get surtab.
The pills were great! Quick, no muss or fuss. No solid foods but chicken broth, lemon jello. My doc never talked about not eating certain foods before. Yogurt is dairy yet they say no dairy??? Wish I knew about the ointments/wipes to prevent the bum burn.
Why did I get the liquid…. I’m pissed it’s the night before and I threw up it sucks. Heard there was a better method but I didn’t look into it is too late on Sunday night.
I threw up 30 minutes after the first dose but I am going to be brave and move on with the 2nd dose but will go slower than the 2 minutes in between. If I ever do it again, I will ask for some zofran prior to taking it. Update, I got nauseated with the second dose also but no vomiting. Next time I will do the miralax with lemonade but thank God l’m clear for another 10 years Good willing.
The SUTAB is essentially three salts that will pull water from your system and with the water you drink create the flushing experience. Look up SUTAB and it is well explained. His suggestion of slowing down the water and pills should make this more tolerable. I have always drank a lot, but not 64 or more in the few hours of the evening. I’m counting on the spaced out sipping of water to be more tolerable than the Miralax dissolved in something.
I had zero issues. I took one every 2 or so minutes for the first dose and for the second it was more like popcorn or potato chips snacking( I was watching football too so I was distracted 😂) no aftertaste, no nausea or vomiting...I highly recommend sutab.
Allow me to beg the difference: I absolutely hate Sutab. I really struggled with the second dose. Why would a GI doc recommends tablets instead of liquid prep? Tablets need to be dissolved whereas liquid does not. Why are you guys pushing for the tablets? It IS NOT more tolerable. I’d prefer Suprep. Plus, why should I pay $60 ($50 with drug coupon) for the prep med when this is for a preventative procedure? Something stinky smells here. I’m really suspecting kickbacks from the drug company to the medical providers.
I did Sutab for my last colonoscopy a month or so ago. It was so much better than the nasty liquid. Sutab is not a joy ride, either, but it is so much better. I still had nausea but it was not as bad. I had many more trips to the bathroom and got pretty raw but I can solve that next time with lotion wipes. It was also more expensive. However, I was able to finish the prep completely which I could never do with the liquid which made for a more successful procedure. Overall, I will do the pills in the future, unless something even better comes along before then. If you have put off colonoscopies because of that nasty, salty liquid, do yourself a favor. Schedule the colonoscopy and ask for the pills as the prep.
That 3 to 4 day low fiber diet prior to the test made my last colonscopy prep the easiest one I have ever had. Much less stress for my body to deal with.
Ha! When I picked up my SuTab Script from the Doctor’s Office, the Secretary told me they wanted me to do the low fiber diet for 2 weeks instead of a week because it’s going to be my first.
Thank you very much for your videos (I also watched the video on the liquid prep). I hate drinking water, but this was no problem to do. Yes, sutab is highly recommended. I had zero problems or complaints. To anyone on the fence about getting a colonoscopy, this med is a game changer. I'll be getting mine done in a few hours after dodging it for 2years. Now, the hard part is over and if I have to ever do this again, no worries because sutab is excellent.
I did Sutab this time (2 days ago) and followed all instructions to a "T" and my doctor told me after my procedure that it didn't clean me out as well as he would have liked. Just my experience. The pill prep is much easier to tolerate than the gallon of "dirty sweat socks water" that I had to drink the first time, but it still made me throw up. I was proud of myself for completing the prep this time, as I only got half of the gallon of solution down before I started throwing up with my first colonoscopy, but then was disappointed to hear it wasn't completely effective 🙁 Still happy I had the procedure because he removed 2 polyps. Biopsy isn't back yet.
Just starting mine hope it works tried mirolax one I'm Aug * didn't clear didn't even go dr canceled when I told him. It was hell@ fingers crossed I have severe constipation so hoping it comes out !@
Just did this prep for my colonoscopy and found that it was much better to schedule the procedure as early in the morning as possible so that you’re not up all night on the toilet. I made the mistake of scheduling the procedure at 9:00am and was up literally all night. I started the 1st prep at 6 pm and the 2nd prep at 1 am. Time constraints were dictated by the prep/ Dr instructions so I ended up not getting any sleep 😢. Sadly this made for a miserable night.
I am 81 yrs old, took the pills in my 60's and my early 70's,now they said I can't take the pills because of my age!! WHY??? I did so well on the pills and really cleaned out,I literally get sick taking the liquid prep,even the small bottles!!
(Pill Prep wasn't invented yet.) THREE things: 1) Got Prep Rx from pharmacy & my beverages for ME set aside & ready. Didn't run around last minute, crazed & anxious; 2) I cleaned my bathroom & made it nice; ditto, my resting & bed areas. Had nice music. I set the prep & companion liquids on a tray for a casual, hygienic, easy to clean, lo-fi vibe; 3) I had To/From rides; & friend as check-in buddy. I told a couple friends & boss ahead because it was a family based diagnosis that prompted me to be smart and Deal with It. First time: My imagination hearing other people's angst? Different galaxy. Reality? Easy peasy. Common Sense: Eased up food solids a couple days ahead, including fruit/veg: ate lighter meals & not late; hydrated a little more. Chill liquids. Had 2 or 3 options to drink alternately (so 1 flavor isn't a Prep-flavor forever); a straw helped me. Drank prep 30-45 min, then extra liquids. To accommodate 2nd dose? Scheduled procedure late a.m./early p.m. To be on time & relaxed: I preferred taxi to MD; friend pick me up. Nurses were terrific. It wasn't exactly a Spa day, but they were so kind. I rested at MD a little after, then released. DID NOT drive myself home. Pleasantly slight buzzed, not psychedelic. (Sorry, campers.) Felt good, enough to take friend to lunch, then I went home to rest. (Not necessary, maybe not advised---it worked for me.) Friend made sure I landed safe; & I called her before bed to check-in. I was glad I took next day off after to rest, and DID. Didn't hurt, just felt a wee bit fragile; then lay low weekend. My test results in a couple days were fine. Repeated 3 yrs b/c of family history---happily cleared again. To me: If it means getting early diagnosis & crucial info by getting a Colonoscopy?? I'll volunteer for the colonoscopy. My experience was good--and, still, it's a little nerve wracking. I found my preparation & slowing down helped.
I don't know the name, but I was given pills. My husband got a gallon of the nasty stuff to drink. I'll keep the pills, but don't want to get a colonoscopy any more frequent then I'm stuck getting. 😅
I'm doing my colon prep tomorrow and will be going in for my Colonoscopy on the following morning. I'll be using this product and your video was extremely informative and helpful. I'm nervous but I know I can do this. Thank you for posting this video!
👉🏾Thank you, Doc! You eased my anxiety about going through this! The instructions on the box seemed a little confusing. Probably because I didn’t really want to do it. Once again, thank you! 🙄🙄🙄
Thanks heaps for this info. Not sure if this prep is available in my country yet but will investigate. That nasty liquid you have to drink normally is simply revolting. Its so sweet and has terrible flavours. For someone like me who doesnt each sugar, except in a coffee, they are hell!
I'm getting both liquid and pills for this Thursdays scope. Having both upper and lower done together, first time. Have done the lower twice before and it's nothing. The upper is a bit more worrying simply because they're in my mouth. But not looking forward to the prep. Just want to get this done and over with...
I had a prep in 2007 that was multiple pills and it worked awesome. I have heard they stopped using those pills but I'm thrilled have gone back to pill form prep. I had RNY gastric bypass and attempting to drink a gallon of GoLightly was a disaster. Thanks for this video...I may go have another colonoscopy.
My doctor uses Sutab but he starts the prep at 10 am & the second round of pills at 6 pm. It did not keep me up much after 11 pm with this prep. I know ppl who do 2 ducolax tabs & a whole bottle of Miralax dissolved in 60 oz water. My gf who is an RN used that method & worked just fine. The Sutab is too expensive- ran me $140 !! There are cheaper methods without the nasty Liquid preps
I never had the liquids but recently used the pills and the process was simple with no bad side effects. Within about 30 min I started going to bathroom and this lasted around 3hrs. The colonoscopy itself was easy. Once you receive the anesthesia you are quickly out like a light and when you wake up you have no idea that the procedure was done. The fasting was not a big deal because I frequently practice intermittent fasting. In general, I think fasting and prep will be the worst part of the procedure for most people.
My thoughts precisely. The actual procedure is a non-event because they put you out and you wake up fairly alert with no sensation that anything had been inserted anywhere. Taking the prep is the more difficult thing. By our age, everyone knows how to go to the toilet and you just go more often that is your normal. The not eating prior to the prep is more mental than actual. After a little bit you get over the feeling you’re going to dry up and blow away because you haven’t engorged yourself as you normally do. It’s one day. And that one day’s effort might save your life. You will survive until you can again stuff things into your mouth.
My prep tip is to eat lightly the day before prep day. Nothing too dense or fatty. Then switch to liquid only the morning of prep. My Dr gave me a OTC laxative pill and then powder and gatorade prep it did not even taste that bad. Because i ate light i did not have much to clear out and i had no cramps . i got a A++ on my colonoscopy
Have done both- Suprep is gross. Sutab was a breeze. This is about the only common cancer with a simple screening that can easily save your life. You can even have a cancerous polyp- not just a polyp, a cancerous one- and there's a good chance it'll be cured, done, gone, goodbye, right there on the table that day. I cannot stress enough how unbelievably foolish it is to avoid a colonoscopy because of the inconvenience and "ick" factor. Not to be raw, but I have watched two people, young people, die from colon cancer. I watched it at close range. You don't want to go through that. Not ever. Not ever. Not ever. I implore you. Not. Ever.
I had a disgusting drink for mine. It was like drinking jet fuel. I could only drink half of the second dose, I was starting to vomit. I would gladly take 24 pills with water instead of that horrible drink.
I hope Sutab works much better than Dulcolax pills. My doc prescribed 4 Dulcolax pills with a MiraLAX chaser, but that cocktail didn't work at all and they had to cancel my colonoscopy. All that suffering for nothing.
Thanks, Dr. Gandolfo! Just had a colonoscopy yesterday with Miralax prep - extended because of 'torturous and redundant colon' - so two days of prep (three doses) before the procedure. This prep worked well (9 out of 9), only because I took Dulcolax (saw another of your videos about taking Dulcolax with Miralax, which was so helpful!), but it was extremely uncomfortable and nauseating on the third and last dose of Miralax prep (without Dulcolax) about 10 hours before the procedure, even with an anti-nausea drug, so throwing up and major, crushing headache. I don't have to have another colonoscopy for five years (thank heaven), but am already looking for a prep that is easier to endure. After watching this video, Sutab seems like a good way to go except for the size. Pills that big get stuck in my throat and that's a lot of pills. Can I crush them to get them down? Or do they make smaller pills? Also, what is the prep procedure with Sutab for someone who previously had to do an extended prep?
I would have appreciated him telling us who should avoid the pills due to their health conditions. People with kidney issues for example, have to be careful with which prep they use.
Thank you for this. I have two go every 3 years and the last prep they gave me made me gag, felt like i was drinking the ocean! I hope i can try pills next time
I had three colonoscopies with three different MDs and none of them would order the pills. All three said it would not clean out my bowels as well as the liquid.
There is no talk about how much bowel movement one will have...explosive, mild?....how many hours will this diarrhea last? Can I go to bed after explosive releases and sleep comfortably, or will I be constantly be awaken by intolerable colon distress?
Wish I had known that I could have slowed down taking the pills! I violently threw up 🤮 several times 😮. I did like the idea of taking pills instead of drinking the liquid stuff. Just couldn’t keep from throwing up 🤮
My doc gave me no diet prep but I decided myself that I was gonna stay away from solid foods. I ate liquid breakfast and soup for lunch and dinner for two days before my prep day and ate nothing on prep day. The liquid was disgusting and I got it all down but everything went right thru easly.
Ok your half way there. Now all they need to find is a pill for the procedure. I don't get it. I would drink swamp water. Rather then the procedure. Til then no way.
The procedure is a piece of cake! You arrive, they set you up, give you a relaxer and then inject the night night fluid and the next thing you know you're waking up in recovery wondering how you got your clothes on already. I usually ask the wife repeated questions because I'm out of it. Something along the lines of 'how did it go? Did they find anything??' a good, oh, five times so my wife gets tired of repeating it. The prep if by FAR the worst part...get through that, you're golden.....
@@jlilly8144 yep! Just did it. Kaiser team was incredibly kind, funny, reassuring, nurturing etc and over like nothing. 😊😊. I slept for 24 hrs right after I stuffed my face with food tho, so prepare for THAT to happen possibly.
@@CamilleGG451 Oh yeah lol. Last time I did it I was so hungry before the procedure I told my wife we're going to get something to eat afterwards. Took me to a breakfast place and I was out, head down almost in the food, lol. She said it was so embarrassing lol. So I'm gonna wait till I wake up a bit this time. Tough part is this ones in the afternoon. The other two were morning apts. Gonna be harder I think....
@@jlilly8144 Oh no! 😆 Well, funny you should say that about the food: after I ate two different entrees (!) I was eating a few cookies, and on the last cookie I briefly dreamed while I was still chewing!! Eeeyikes!!! So, people- be careful when eating afterwards! That was scary. I swallowed that and we decided ok, time for beddy-byes and don't even remember my head hitting the pillow! I woke up and sort of laughed cuz I said I feel like (a female) Homer Simpson. 🤣🤣 Good luck with your upcoming one!! (Just remember how yummy food is afterwards! 😄)
I'm watching this trying to drink the liquid prep (two-bottle) crap. Even that costs me $80.00 out of pocket on social security and Medicaid. They said the pills would be around $300.00. How much did you spend on the prep?
I'm 67 and have never had a colonscopy. A stool blood test twice a year is better than a colonoscopy to remove polips! If you have a positive stool test then a colonoscopy may actually be useful. These so called routine screanings are dangerous and cause death. If you get killed by a negative colonoscopy exactly what good was it?! Be an informed consumer and do screanings that are harmless and easy. Gastroenterologists do lots of colonoscopies to make lots of money! If you are the rare death from sepsus was it worth that risk?!! You decide if you have colon cancer in your family history then do the safe screaning. Save the nasty one for after blood is found in your stool test. Our system kills patients everyday doing a presumably safe test that went bad.
You need to ask for it. I have a stomach that throws up at practically nothing and I told my dr there was no way I would be able to keep that liquid prep down. He gave me the pills, hopefully it will go ok. They were a little expensive but I don't paying some money to not be barfing.
@@Breeze3444 Sorry I just saw this. I used the pillls for prep and it was just fine. Drink the water more slowly to avoid nausea, I would definitely use these again for the next colonoscopy in 5 years
@@88rampitup88 I paid $70 but had a coupon from the dr that would have brought it down to $40. I used the pills with success and will use again. I just know I can't do the other liquid prep so to me it is worth the money. The whole procedure was no problem and I am really glad to have the peace of mind~ I have to go again in 5 years because of the small polyps they found but next time I won't be worried at all. The prep isn't the best day but the procedure itself you are completely knocked out for so it really wasn't a bad experience.
I know what u mean but I get it done people that are health have been found to have cancer but caught early enough to cut away so I hate it too but try the pills if u can take them hear not bad dint k ow yet good luck
My mom said never to because of the prep. She had colon cancer. Surgery was ruff to say the least. She had a foot long incision. Not a pleasant experience for her but I learned a lot during that entire experience. I’ve had two colonoscopies and coming up on my third in about two weeks. Her brother also had colon cancer so I’m not taking any chances. Please reconsider. The prep isn’t fun but surgery is much much harder. ✌🏼
I hate them. But I've done 4. Not doing it and potentially getting cancer doesn't get you out of it. It just means potentially you get to have a colonoscopy + surgery + radiation + chemo.
I am telling you (for someone who absolutely loathes the dr office and all things medical) that it is NOT a difficult test at all and then you have peace of mind knowing you don't have this cancer. It is VERY treatable if caught early so I hope you will reconsider. The prep using the pills wasn't bad at all (as long as you can swallow pills and drink water you're good) then the next day the actual procedure is so easy because you are completely asleep! My brother in law and his daughter both have stage 4 and it has been a very rough road for them both. I hope this encourages you to go for it!
I had gastric bypass a while before I had a coloniscopy and was very familiar with a liquid diet. I used my protein shakes during the week before my prep, in hopes it would go smoothly. I had a GALLON jug of solution to drink along with all the additional water. Hopefully the next one I'll get pills. Just have your reading materials, a device for streaming, and a good supply of TP in the bathroom. You're gonna spend a long while in there. The actual procedure is a breeze. Good luck ❤
ok can t find this any where, I have an 11 30am colonoscopy. I have to travel on the highway 2 hours to get there. it says to drink first bottle at 5pm night before. Then it says to drink the 2nd bottle at 7 30am day of colonoscopy. I have to be on the road by 9 30am to get there on time. How long will I have to run to the bathroom before its safe to go on the highway with no accidents. Thinking about doing a double prep the day before would that be ok. 2nd question some of the u tube videos say I can eat orange jello some say no you can t, which is it
A few years ago I couldn’t handle the mag citrate prep so my doctor called in pills. But they also tasted very strongly of the mag citrate. Do these SuTab have a strong taste? I’m getting a colonoscopy because my mom had colon cancer three years ago(though mom’s had a kidney transplant 16 years ago, and her nephrologist said with being on anti-rejection meds so long, it was only a matter of WHEN she got cancer, not if she got it, and thinks that was the cause), so my GI said I needed a colonoscopy. I can’t stomach the mag citrate prep so I’ve been putting it off.
@@PaulHainesNJ thank you, Paul. I truly appreciate your feedback! (Also, I learned today that there is a Mirilax prep. I’ve had Miralax before, it’s fairly tasteless, but man, both of these are a lot of fluid. Though I guess you need that. Lol)
@@precisionGI Doc then why does my doctor say to the the whole 12 pills in 20 minutes but your saying you can take the whole 12 pills in a hour are sure it won’t effect anyhow and just with water right I’m nervous I got appointment in 2 weeks from now
