Osmoprep and Colonoscopy
In looking through my traffic, I’ve discovered a number of people reading this blog with a search string like “osmoprep how long to work”.
I’m not a doctor or pharmacist. I’ve just used it once. However, I found that it took longer to work than I expected and I confess that I actually went on the Internet to ask the same question during the prep. So here’s my experience.
I did the prep version with 5 doses of 4 pills separated by 15 minutes each in the evening, and 3 doses of 4 pills 15 minutes apart four hours before my procedure. I found to my surprise that I didn’t experience any bowel movements until minutes after the last evening dose. I had spent an hour on the toilet waiting for the quick reaction that I remembered from other preps, but it just took a long time. In fact, I had to log off the Internet and climb on the toilet when it started. After that, the bowel movements were rather frequent and liquid for almost 2 hours, with a few more before bedtime.
In the morning, the movements didn’t start until the 3rd morning dose, and lasted about an hour and a half. I felt like I could have more all the way up to the colonoscopy itself, though there were only a few after the hour and a half.
I hope that this provides a service to those who are using the prep, and I apologize to regular readers for the semi-disgusting post.
Thank God that’s over … and OK
I had a colonoscopy done yesterday.
If you know my age, you realize that I’m a bit young for this. I have some personal history (some nasty flareups in college and about 5 years ago) and family history of colon cancer. After the last flare-up my doctor has put me on the “every few years” plan for the rest of my life.
The good news – nothing is wrong. No sign of cancer, polyps, anything unusual. My diverticulosis (a mild case) is about the same as last time. The doctor took some biopsies, and will let me know in two weeks if they are clean. If so, I get 4-5 years before the next one.
A few tips if you’re headed this way. If you have a choice and can swallow big salty pills, use the pill prep (Visicol or Osmoprep). They are much less painful and less bad tasting than the alternatives. Also, if given the opporunity to be sedated and/or completely knocked-out, DO IT. I’ve had 3 of these now with a greater degree of unconsciousness every time. Sleep through it if you can.
I missed work on Friday for this, but I’m just as happy. The prep left me feeling a bit depressed (at the loss of control involved) and a little weak from the all clear liquid diet. The anaesthesia left me only 80% there for 4-5 hours afterward which I slept off at home.
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