Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

I have to take a nasty prescription prep called Golytely, which has all the electrolytes in it. You mix it with 4 liters of water and can only add something like Kool-aid (non-red) powder to flavor it.

I just drink broth and eat sugar free Jell-O (no red colors) for the hours I can't eat. I could drink sodas but I don't like them.

I've been through several colonoscopies and a month-long hospitalization, ending with surgery to have my sigmoid colon removed, without ever going off Atkins. That was really hard to do in the hospital, with everybody against Atkins.

Sunny!

[sevenoclk]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Thanks for all the replies. I will look into Smart Water. It sounds like the perfect solution. I'm sure I will gag on the taste, however.

I can't imagine going through a month long hospitalization on Atkins! When I had my last (3rd) child, the hospital had a menu more like a hotel room service. You could order off it and could have b'fast any time of day. It was nice.

I'll let all of you know just how miserable/hungry I am! Also, I expect a fake whoosh, too!

[Momtofour]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

I am having my first colonoscopy in December. I was wondering about the solution also. I think I am getting the Golytely that a pp described. Hopefully that will be all right. My grandmother died of colon cancer at 47 also. My father always has polyps removed, so it is just time to get checked out.

[dreamof145]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

It is difficult, but it is possible to stick as closely to plan as possible. You have to prioritize and make choices. I chose water. I also have had "3" hospital stays of 4-5 days since starting Atkins. It required me to do my homework, talk to the dietician and double-check what they brought me, but it was worth the work. Plan the stay and you will do okay. Congratulations Sunny on your hospital stays. Sounds like you did great.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Thanks for all the replies. I will look into Smart Water. It sounds like the perfect solution. I'm sure I will gag on the taste, however.

I can't imagine going through a month long hospitalization on Atkins! When I had my last (3rd) child, the hospital had a menu more like a hotel room service. You could order off it and could have b'fast any time of day. It was nice.

I'll let all of you know just how miserable/hungry I am! Also, I expect a fake whoosh, too!

The best they could come up with was scrambled eggs and two strips of bacon every morning and I had 14 lunches and dinners in a row of a baked chicken breast with the skin left on and green beans. I had to fight to get a little pat of butter to season the green beans with. After I complained loudly, they did bake a pork chop and serve me some stewed squash or canned (yuck) spinach once in a while. I continually sent back bread, pastries, potatoes, cereal, pizza and sweetened apple sauce. Sometimes, I just refused to eat when they brought fish sticks and starchy foods. When I went in the hospital I weighed 203 pounds. I wanted so bad to get into the 190's for the first time in 10 years. I'm stubborn!

Sunny!

[Hoping]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

To be honest, I wouldn't worry as much about atkins because it is far more important that you get this test done than for you to lose weight. However, I would avoid sugar.
I didn't drink any gatorade or anything of that sort when I had my colonoscopy. I don't know how anyone can drink anything aside from water when your body is being "cleansed" that way. I had to take phosphate soda and just gulped it down and drank water. I wasn't on atkins back then.
Good luck with the colonoscopy

[Momtofour]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

I just checked and I'm supposed to take Fleet Phospho-soda. Is this sugar free? I want to know in advance so I can request a sugar free alternative if I need to.
Thanks.

[sevenoclk]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

I don't know that any of the medication / laxatives have sugar. I think the area you must be careful with is what they tell you to eat/drink before the procedure and what they tell you to add to the laxative. Atleast, that's my problem!

Good luck!

[Atkid]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

I have read that there is a pill you can take and follow with liquids rather than using the old way of drinking the nasty stuff. I am going to look around in my mags and locate the name for you.

Eta....Found it.....check out this link...
http://www.tabletprep.com/

Maybe you could ask your doctor about it so you can forego the gatorade. It can be taken with plain water.

[Aya]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Hey Seven!
How're you feeling as the countdown approaches? Hope you're taking it easy and not worrying too much, it's going to be over before you know it! And you'll feel so good that you've had this procedure done and put your mind at rest. It's a good reminder to all of us to be proactive about our health in any way we can.
Have a good weekend!

[sevenoclk]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Thanks, Aya!

I am just worried about being so hungry!!

I talked with the doctor's office and I DO NOT have to mix the solution with Gatorade. They only suggest that to mask the taste. I can drink a lot of water, instead (no problem).

I don't expect, and neither do the doctors, that they will find anything abnormal. I am pretty sure i just have IBS and this is going to rule out all else.

How are you doing? Feeling any better?

[Aya]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Hi Seven,


Yes, thanks to your great advice! Took a few days but now everything seems to be getting into a routine Makes me really grateful for these boards because we're all going through similar stuff and it's great to actually find that out!
Let us know how you're doing. I bet after Monday you'll have beaten your plateau issue if you haven't already and will feel super-motivated for a new week.

[sevenoclk]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Thanks. I just went to the store to buy all the laxatives, sugar free jello and broth.

Can't wait .....

I'll check back in with you on Tuesday!

[sevenoclk]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Well, I had the colonoscopy. The prep was gross. I hated drinking all the stuff. However, I remained true to Atkins in the prep (no sugar) and in the fasting. I checked my ketostix and they showed ketosis throughout. The hunger was brutal. Pretty much ZERO calories for 48 hours. I lost several pounds. I'm sure most of it will return once I begin to eat again. I'm still a bit loopy, but the procedure went well and they did not find anything. I just have IBS.

Thanks!

[Atkid]

Re: Help with Colonscopy (prep involves Gatorade, lots of sugar, etc.)

Sorry to hear you have IBS, but happy it is not something much worse. Good job with keeping in ketosis through the whole of it. Hope at least some of your weightloss sticks to make it all worth while.