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!
posted by Mama Bird at 7:32 PM
49 Comments:
Thanks for the tips! I'm drinking mine right now. Time to move!
i'm also doing it right now...i don't think i'm going to be able to finish it all. this is really horrible stuff. thanks for the tip of the second glass to kill the taste-im using apple juice!
I just did this for the first time a week ago. The unflavored Golytely was dispensed by the pharmacy. A couple fo hints that were helpful to me:
1) flavor each 8 oz dose with 1/8 tsp of Crytal Light lemonade powder.
2) Chug the stuff like cheap beer at a frat party.
3) Apply the vaseline liberally before you start going and after each episode.
4) While not the most pleasant experience, it's not nearly as bad as some people have made it out to be. Relax, you'll be fine.
I'm drinking mine right now also. I keep spitting it up but I might try the tips. Thanks!
I'm drinking mine right now also. I keep spitting it up but I might try the tips. Thanks!
Isn't bad till you drink a gallon of the stuff... Seems to get saltier as you drink.
I am finding it hard after the first 2 litres, my stomach feels full and is resisting adding more Golytely to the problem.
I mixed plain old sugar with the Golytely and it seems to taste ok. Good tip about the getting cold, i turned the heat up to counter that and it worked well.
One thing is for sure, after enough of this golytely you don't feel hungry anymore.
WHEN YOUR BOWELS START MOVING TAKE YOUR GLASS TIMER AND GOLYTELY TO THE BATHROOM AND SIT ON THE TOILET.SAVES DASHING AND WIPING IRRITATION. A % D OINYMENT (NOT CREME)WORKS BETTER THAN VASEOLINE.
I sure hope you're right. My husband is on liquids today and will start the GoLytely at 5 pm. His is the 2-stage prep, with half the jug tonight and the rest at 4 am (5 hrs before departure). His doc said to mix lemon-flavored Crystal Light in the big jug and chill it. I worry for him, though. I had a colonoscopy 2 yrs ago and had to use the phospho-soda, which was truly dreadful. I was up all night with runs/nausea and finally vomited at 3 am. No hope keeping anything else down, so I quit. Fortunately, the prep worked anyway. Glad they've switched to something else--phospho-soda can ruin your kidneys if you don't retain enough fluids. And, who can do that?
I can't believe no one has posted about chicken broth. I am a genius. If you put like 3/4 cup golytely and 1/4 cup chicken soup (that dilution for any amount) and heat it up, it is like drinking one of those soup at hand things. it's really not bad at all and doesn't get your gag reflex b/c chicken soup is salty anyways. its totally perfect and i'm so glad i decided to experiment with this disgusting crap. enjoy!
Thanks for the broth tip it was a huge help. I'm not sure I would have made it through with out it.
I'm having my colonoscopy tomorrow, had one several years ago. I'm doing the Nulytely with lemon-lime flavor packet. I've had six 8-oz glasses so far. I think I found a good idea. I have a glass of Sun Drop soda (like Mt. Dew). I take a drink of that, hold my breath, drink the Nulytely then drink some more Sun Drop...then take a breath. Since Sun Drop is lemon-limey flavor and I have it just before & after the nasty stuff, it is hiding the gross taste. If that doesn't keep working, I will try the trick I used last time. This may sound crazy but I just couldn't get that taste out of my mouth so I got some Nacho Doritos and licked them after each drink. That was pretty good but what worked better was a chicken bullion cube. I pretended I was eathing those Chicken in a Biscuit snack crackers. I'm serious. I just licked the bullion cube then drank the stuff. That worked really good. So that is my back up plan if the Sun Drop idea doesn't work through my next 10 glasses!
well, I have my colonoscopy sept 2nd, so I start drinking the GoLytely at 6pm on Sept 1st.....never had one before, but my wife had one a few years back. I didnt feel a thing....grin. I had to laugh at the name, Go Lightly....someone at Braintree had to have a sense of humor....grin. Well, in two weeks, I start the chug and splatting......
keep smilin, and thanks for the heads up info.
olehippy13
former vietnam medic
lifelong falcon fan
the chicken broth suggestion was genius - i used beef broth - 3/4 solution, 1/4 broth - it was the easiest thing ever..
First off, thanks for all the tips here. Based on the advice, here's what worked for me:
mix stuff day before using luke-warm water and shake; it should all dissolve
chill in refrigerator
mark a glass with an 8 oz. line
The drill:
swish and swallow crystal light lemonade
take 2-4 deep breaths
holding breath, chug the 8 oz.
swig crystal lite and swish around mouth and swallow
resume breathing
Once the action began, I took the jug of evil stuff in a cooler, the glass, and crystal light to the bathroom along with a couple of magazines (New Yorkers if you have them; the cartoons help and there's lots of reading).
A&D ointment liberally applied was a big help.
Chicken broth was a good drink when I could hang around the kitchen.
My previous time involved Phospho Soda. I found this time less vile, less violent. Dinner the night before the day-of-liquid-diet was soup; maybe that helped. Maybe it's the different chemistry.
You can do it!
After the first sip, it somehow reminded me of my reaction to drinking tequila...
So, I thought I'd try sucking a slice of lemon beforehand, and it is working a treat.
I have 400ml glasses filled. I'll suck on the lemon wedge, knock back the liquid, and then quickly wash my mouth out with some diluted apple juice.
I figured the salt would have been unnecessary!
OMG, if only I had read this blog last night. I struggled through the first part of this prep. This morning though, the prep seems to be going down much better. I am using the chicken broth and the swish and spit juice methods.
As a nursing instructor, I will make sure to teach the students this trick. Thanks everyone and good luck with your procedures!
Prepping in Iowa!
Just finished my second bottle this morning and getting ready for procedure at 11am. I like to call this stuff, "Tincture of Tattered Ass!" However, Golytely is MUCH better than the old stuff.... Sleeping is tricky after the big jug-place a towel on the bed just in case you have "gas" which turns out more unpleasant than usual...
well i drank my half gallon over a hour ago and i havent even passed gas yet ,but i feel like a watermelon
It's even worse when, like me, you have to drink not one but TWO jugs of the yucky Golytely and stay on a clear liquid diet for 84 hours. I'm starving! But the prep is the worst, the procedure is not so bad, especially if you get the good drugs!
Thank you all for the tips... At 26 yrs old I never imagined I would be prepping for a colonoscopy but you gotta do what you gotta do right? Anyways thanks to a few posters I'm doing the swish and spit with lemon lime gatorade... While not perfect it is helping immensely. Has anyone tried mixing it with Jello? Not sure if would work but just a thought...
I have my colonoscopy in the morning and have about 4 8oz glasses of the Golytely to go! Did throw up, so, I called my pharmacist and he told me to take a one hour break. Feels like heaven! Will have to start and finish this time around!!! Think I'll try the chicken broth!
The chicken broth idea is great. . .unbelieveable but it is tolerable this way. THANKS SO MUCH!
My suggestions are basically the same as others, with a few embellishments! Here we go (GET IT???? GO! Ha Ha!)
Yes, mix and chill the night before BUT an hour before starting have several thoroughly cleaned bottles from bottles water ready with their caps. Pre-pour your GoLytely in the proper amount, cap them up, and toss half of them into the freezer. Each time you take one out, put another in so they are as cold as possible, but not frozen! Trust me . . this really makes a difference. The cold diminishes the taste! Also, enjoy a good "stomping" of the gallon jug. It is a psychological trap and you don't need to be looking at it for four hours!
Also, consider this: Don't flavor all it all at once. Take the bottle out, ind have some flavors handy to add and change 'em up just for fun. Yeah, they all tast like crap but I think its worse when its all the same. I have used the MIO Liquid Water Enhancer from KRAFT and those work with a few drops and no calories! I just drop in the drops and shake and gulp!If you have not tried MIO go to http://kraftbrands.com/mio.
There is also a generic one called Splash that is the same concept. You will like them with or without a colonoscopy in your future!
I also have prepared some bottles with low or no sodium broths. Don't use the full sodium broth because it is alrady too salty tasting. Of course, I don't put these in the freezer. Just before I need to take it, I nuke it for 20seconds. Don't make it hot, just warm so you can gulp, not sip!
I think the days before the prep are actually so very important for your comfort. If you are contemplating changing your eating habits, this is a good time to start! Cut out all red meets,at least temporarily, ten days out. Eat frequent, light, easy to digest meals or protein drinks the week before the procedure, and during the one or two days before your liquid diet drink fresh fruit smoothies at least for two meals and have cream soup for the other two. By clear liquid day you are half-way there. I think going from regular eating to, clear liquids, cold-turkey, is much harder, at least it is for me! Prepping for a colonoscopy can be the easiest way to jump-start that diet or lose the last 5-10 stubborrn pounds you might be carrying around!
My favorite bathroom accoutrements and distractions include the new Hawaiian baby wipes
from Huggies Natural Care, Baby A&D or Burt's Bees, because you don't need the fishy smell of regular A&D on top of everything else, and my IPAD with a funny movie or IPOD with a good Audiobook!
Plan on having some residual gas to pass after the procedure and don't be embarrassed to pass as much as you can right there in the recovery room. Everyone is doing it!! Things get moved around a lot and pockets of gas form. Stay on your right side immediately after the colonoscopy, while in recovery. Move around and walk as soon as you can. If you are a yoga fan, try Googling fpr gas-relief yoga strategies!
My favorite post-colonoscopy activity? I get home as soon as I can and take a long, warm, and luxurious bubble bath, making good use of the trapped gas by adding freely to the bubbles! The warmth of the bath and the free, private, environment for passing of gas really help you relax and relieve any gas cramps you might have after the procedure.
So, as you can see, even colonoscopy can have silver linings! If colonoscopy prep/ procedure is the scariest or worst thing in your life that you must endure, then you must be the luckiest and most blessed person on Earth!
Ok all, I've started my prep. It's not the taste that is horrible to me, it's the smell. All of the tips were good but, what is working for me is, drinking a sip of pickle juice then, drinking it thru a straw, then swoosh more pickle juice & swallow.
I am a 10 year survivor of colorectal cancer. So..I've had more colonoscopies than I can count. Literally. I've used Lemon-Lime flavored GoLytely and NuLytely, (I've not had another Lemon-Lime Gatorade in 10 years now) Phospho soda ~~ both plain in water and "Lemon and Ginger Flavored" ~~ mixed with Ginger Ale and fresh squeezed lemon (I've not had another Ginger Ale in 10 years) and most recently, "The Pills". All 36 of them. I've had colonoscopies at 1 week apart (April 12 and April 19 2002), and at 2 days apart (Feb. 14 ~~ yes Valentine's Day ~~ and Feb 16, 2003). Since I'm coming up on my 10 yr. check, I'll remember these pearls of wisdom you have shared. And since whether or not they will work for me yet remains to be seen, I still thank you in advance for at least trying.
~~ John.
Colorectal Cancer is
a Pain in the ass!
!!!!!!!!!!THE CHICKEN BROTH IDEA IS GENIUS. I HAD NO PROBLEMS!!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I mixed 2 big serving spoon fulls of chicken broth in each 8 oz. It tasted like soup going down. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ended up doing a combo of tips. For the Go Lytely I used Crystal light lemon for the first 3 cups. Then for the next 3, I added a quarter cup of chicken stock and heated in the microwave for 1 min. I only drank about 1.5L of the 4L and I was clear after only 4 cups.
The other trick is to ensure you eat very lightly the day before, this way you need less Go Lytely to make you lighter!! The key is stop drinking the stuff once your last 3 runs in the toilet look identical.
As a side, note, how can 1 gallon of liquid fit inside a stomach a little larger than your fist?
I was trying to save calories during this high sugar juice and jello option day before starting the GoLytely in late afternoon using a Jello Brand clear gelatin mix packaged for kids to make their own jello from their favorite juice.
I chose the lowest sugar clear liquid juice I could find and the the 'jigglers' directions - felt like I was eating SOMETHING solid! I also made veggie and chicken broth jigglers - NOT recommended.
The best advice I've heard is the bullion cube in the Golytely. I used a crystal lite type mix and it was aweful mixing the sweet into the salt :(
Good luck all who read these blog entries and suffer through this! The peace of mind afterward was well worth it! I was even able to watch in full color, and was with it the entire time. I had them call hubby in and now at 57 he's convinced it probably is something he will live through and as finally agreed to do it when we're on vacation nex month. YEAH!
I wanted to add to the blog entry I just sent about the Jello fruit juice jigglers.
I just contacted Mayo Clinic's pharmacy, as my father said what he was prescribed to drink, instead of Golytely, was much more palatable. It's called "Moviprep". Our pharmasist hadn't tasted Golytely, and stated that the Moviprep was also thick and reminded her of salt, fish and lemon all at once, but the advantage is drinking 1/2 the liquid for the same pricetag! The company's name that distributes it is Salix.
Tried it chilled and had a difficult time getting it down. Next tried the chicken broth tip. Tasted much better, but honestly I figured my sodium level would be sky high so decided against that option. I found that taking several deep breaths before injesting this god awful concoction helped, but what made it better was adding Kool Aid powder to each glass!! Now I can down a whole cup at a time and not feel as if I'm fixing to regurgitate! Called the pharmacist and they said there are no contraindications to using Kool Aid, but if your diabetic be sure to use sugar free powdered drink mix.
I had a cup of the broth cubes boiled on stand by before hand and just kept heating it up. IT WORKS also you will get cold. I marked the bottle after each 8oz with the start time and a time on the mid way ( This was to give me hope of when I would be able to finish it.) I finally ended up camping out in the bathroom alternating between the warm bath tub and the toilet. HAVE WIPES AND Vaseline
TIME FRAMES at least for me.
-9am light breakfast mix Jug GoLYTELY with warm tap water and refridge.
- liquids the rest of the day (my doc said clear liquids but coffee and diet coke or pop was ok)
-6pm 8 oz every 10 min
-630pm the first rush started and every 5 min after
-715pm (half way point in the jug) alternating between bath and toilet at this point Im not paying attention to the time Im just trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
-8pm jug done ( Im warm in the tube and have my chicken broth to help with the taste) My stomach look bigger in the mirror and Im just waiting for the waves to end.
-9pm Im having a diet coke and the waves are farther apart, I am no longer held hostage in my own bathroom. More like on probation.
-930 waves farther apart and Ive got a little trust in my body back
-11pm Im sore but its pretty much over however( I do not trust my poop air separator)
-8am next day no more fluids
-9am go in to app
-10am proced.
No, no. You’re going about this all wrong. Instead of focusing on how to swallow a gallon of this vile swill - focus rather on how to swallow less. Far less. The purpose of prep is to cleanse the colon for close examination, but as soon as the bowel movements run clear and free of fecal matter; you’re done. Try this next time: 5 days before your procedure, go on a strict clear liquid diet. Once your pipeline is relatively poop-free, it only takes a quart or more of GoLytely to flush out the system.
I will definitely try that next time. I am doing my cleanse for surgery and not a colonoscopy, but will be more informed now when the colonoscopy comes up. I would have wanted to try the broth trick, but unfortunately I flavored my "nasty juice" before I read the tip. Orange flavored beef broth sounds worse than the stuff alone. I will, however, share some sage advice that has indeed helped me, that I gleened from my oldest son back when he was little, and suffering from the stomach flu....... " you should never assume its a fart."
I'm nervous mine is coming up on the 7th plan on using all these tips and tricks thanx
Another tip is to drink half the day before and half the morning OF the colonoscopy. My instructions actually state that. The last one I had 5 years ago called for me to drink it all in one sitting and I just could not do it.
THE CHICKEN BROTH SAVED ME !!! THANX TO ALL FOR THAT SUGGESTION. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE CARBONATED BEVERAGE TO RINSE THE MOUTH AFTERWARD WORKED WELL. UH OH-- THERE GOES THE TIMER AGAIN. BYE.
I just completed mine. started at 6:30 pm . its about 11pm.It wasnt to bad cold and i chased it with a sip or two of cold apple juice.That took away the bad taste it leaves in your mouth.I wastold to do the complete jug or I might have to come back.I dint want to repeat this so I did as instructed.A lot of good help on this site.No one at the va hospital mention the wipes. thanks
Definitely try the chicken soup! It worked wonderful for me. I, also, drank it mixed with Crystal Light Lemonade in each glass. Get it very cold, drink thru a straw put way back in your mouth, think about something else, and start drinking it fast. Between this and the chicken soup, it went fine. Definitely the prep is much worse than the actual procedure. You can do it!!!
Thank you all for making me laugh! Feel a bit better knowing I'm not the only one being held hostage by my toilet. Colonoscopy at noon tomorrow, my dad died of colon cancer.
I kept a half piece of gum on hand, chewed it immediately after each glass..Helped the awful taste a lot. Also, yes the smell I couldn't stand it....And the more you 'go' the mote IT smells just like the drink, there is no escaping it.....
At 25, I never thought I'd be on my third colonoscopy. After a failed attempt at my first prep last year I sought out the best approach.... And I found it! Chill your gallon the night before and buy yourself some margarita mix. In the blender, mix your golytely with margarita mix and ice. Have yourself a cocktail every ten minutes ;) the saltiness is expected with the margarita flavor. This worked wonderfully for me. Hope it can help you!
I have my prep tomorrow HELP. Do you dilute the golytely even if you are going to mix it with chicken broth?
I have been doing these for years but have a HORRIBLE time getting this down. I am usually crying and gagging. The chicken broth sounds like a great idea.
Get no salt chicken broth. Only need small amount each glass to make drinkable.
Oh my Lord!!! You have saved my life!!! Chicken broth is the only way to go!!!
Thanks for the tips. I used the mint after each glass. The hard candy was just right to get rid of the taste. 8am tomorrow is my big day. Hope all turns out OK.By the way I just licked the mint, didn't eat it.
I am so glad I found this page - thanks for all the tips. I used tangerine flavored gatorade to swish around in my mouth before drinking the awful seaweed water, and I stopped 2 or 3 times each 8 oz cup to swish again, or at least smell the gatorade instead of the golytely. The straw did seem to make it more tolerable than just drinking especially putting the straw further back on my tongue. After each 8 oz the Mountain Dew swishing worked really well. The gatorade kind of has that salty taste to it to begin with so kind of confuses the taste buds, but still getting down the last 2 or 3 sips always made me feel like gagging - the carbonation of the Mt Dew kind of helps lift that saltiness off the tongue after the 8 oz is gone. Started reading Divergent and that helped me keep my mind off my misery. Thanks again for the tips. I still have half of the awful stuff to get down in the morning and am thinking of trying the broth method - but heating up this seaweed stuff just doesn't sound appealing at the moment. . .(c;'
Okay, i see as thoigh the chicken broth worka so i went and got some yesterday bc i have one tomorrow also i wanted to try it. But mine comes with a lemon flavor pack do i mix that in as well?
The chicken broth was ok but it's the pickle juice that is so unique to our taste buds that's what really masks it. I couldn't down it with anything other than that and believe it or not it took away the vomiting sensation due to so much liquid being ingested at once.
Pickle juice + hold you nose plugged when drinking the COLE LIQUID.
it's gotta be cold. Don't be silly. Anyways ... good luck to you all. I know this sucked for me to get down
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