Lyn had a very bad reaction to the colonscopy preparation drink with severe headache which took days to resolve. The Lavage solution has a strong artificial flavour. Usually you are recommended one pack of Picolax and one pack of ColonLYTELY. The Picolax is only available as Lemon but the ColonLYTELY can be obtained without flavour. You do need to discuss this issue with the nurse who advises you before the procedure. Each practice is different. It is wise to let staff know a month before that you do not want the lemon flavour and will order the plain ColonLYTELY yourself from your own chemist. Since you will not be using the Picolax it may be suggested that you use 3 packs of ColonLYTELY. I was quoted $4.00 each in 2019. You can discuss with your dietitian what very finely strained tolerated sweetened fruit juice you can flavour it with. You are welcome to share your experience with others here.
Joan, I recently had my 6th colonoscopy prep. I found it easy to get ColonLYTELY unflavoured. I rang the specialist rooms and was told to take it with me to hospital as I do the prep in hospital (having collapsed unconscious at home about 5 years ago). Unfortunately the specialist had written up different preparations so it wasn’t used.
In spite of my previous difficulties, I found this preparation difficult but I survived with the management provided. It was as follows:
4 pm Maxolon x 1
4.45 pm Laxatives x 3 (yellow but I don’t know what), 1 cup PICOPREP (WARM), 1 jug of GLYCOPREP (lemon 1 litre)
6 pm 1 bowl chicken broth, 1 bowl apple jelly (I think)
6.30 onwards bowel motions
7.30 mug of warm water
9.30 pm jug finished!
Overnight HEADACHE and nausea plus the shakes about 1 am. No sleep
1.30 am Ondansetron x 2 plus paracetamol x 2
Overnight I drank ~600 ml water
6 am Stemetil x 1, PICOPREP 1 cup
8 am bowl of apple jelly, my normal tablets (including paracetamol), Maxolon x 1
8.50 am 1 jug GLYCOPREP (lemon/lime flavour)
10.30 am STOP FLUIDS – I only managed about 500 ml of the GLYCOPREP
Nurses were happy with the result of the preparation by about 11.30 am
2.15 pm Colonoscopy
The differences with this experience were: Anti nauseants before the preparations, increased fluid intake other than the required PICOPREP and GLYCOPREP, paracetamol for the headache. Also staff were very supportive.
Tricia.
Every food-sensitive person who needs a colonscopy should read Tricia’s copy and print as well as my post so you can discuss with your doctor what prep you should use, and Tricia’s story of problems that may occur and how Tricia’s hospital team helped her. The ColonLYTELY contains Sodium Sulfate. As always you need to be assertive as a food sensitive person as most other people do not have bad reactions and so you are less likely to be taken seriously. Joan