Hints to make colonoscopy prep (with Golytely--or generic) a bit easier

This time last week I was in the midst of prep for everyone's favorite (not!) procedure--colonoscopy. I'd eaten lightly the day before (so there'd be less to clear out) and then had been surviving that day on clear liquids and was just finishing up the not-so-fun every-ten-minute downing of a glass of Golytely.

As you see, I survived it and so can you. Here are a few hints to make the prep go easier when your turn comes for this procedure:

I used a tall, thin glass for the chilled Golytely (premeasured and marked so I'd know how full to fill it each time). I drank the Golytely over the kitchen sink so as not to have to worry about cleaning up any little spills or splashes. The kitchen timer was very handy for notifying me when it was time for the next glassful.

Before taking the first swallow, I'd hyperventilate--breath in and out deeply several times--then take a deep breath, hold it and pour that stuff down my throat while swallowing as fast as possible. It didn't taste too bad until I breathed out. Then..blech. However, I'd quickly grab a second glass with lemonade flavored Crystal Light to rinse and spit (into the handy sink) and gargle. That worked amazingly well to clear away that Golytely taste.

The pharmacist told me that the laxative works better if you keep moving around. It took about an hour (during which all those cold fluids had me shivering) before I began to see any results. Which leads us to the next hint: your anal area won't get as sore if you've invested in a thick package of flushable moist wipes--generic is fine. You'll find them either near the baby diapers and wipes or the adult diapers and wipes. To further protect that sensitive area from digestive acids during the colon cleanout process, apply a layer of vaseline after cleaning up each time.

Drinking the Golytely wasn't my favorite thing to do but I liked that it did its job relatively quickly and the cleanout was done in time for me to get hours of sleep. When I had a colonoscopy 10 years ago, I had phospho-soda and that stuff kept me dashing to the bathroom almost all night. Definitely not fun.

Now--go ahead. You know you need to do it; call your doctor and get yourself scheduled for your colonoscopy. It could save your life!
As you see, I survived it and so can you. Here are a few hints to make the prep go easier when your turn comes for this procedure:

I used a tall, thin glass for the chilled Golytely (premeasured and marked so I'd know how full to fill it each time). I drank the Golytely over the kitchen sink so as not to have to worry about cleaning up any little spills or splashes. The kitchen timer was very handy for notifying me when it was time for the next glassful.

Before taking the first swallow, I'd hyperventilate--breath in and out deeply several times--then take a deep breath, hold it and pour that stuff down my throat while swallowing as fast as possible. It didn't taste too bad until I breathed out. Then..blech. However, I'd quickly grab a second glass with lemonade flavored Crystal Light to rinse and spit (into the handy sink) and gargle. That worked amazingly well to clear away that Golytely taste.

The pharmacist told me that the laxative works better if you keep moving around. It took about an hour (during which all those cold fluids had me shivering) before I began to see any results. Which leads us to the next hint: your anal area won't get as sore if you've invested in a thick package of flushable moist wipes--generic is fine. You'll find them either near the baby diapers and wipes or the adult diapers and wipes. To further protect that sensitive area from digestive acids during the colon cleanout process, apply a layer of vaseline after cleaning up each time.

Drinking the Golytely wasn't my favorite thing to do but I liked that it did its job relatively quickly and the cleanout was done in time for me to get hours of sleep. When I had a colonoscopy 10 years ago, I had phospho-soda and that stuff kept me dashing to the bathroom almost all night. Definitely not fun.

Now--go ahead. You know you need to do it; call your doctor and get yourself scheduled for your colonoscopy. It could save your life!