SULFA and SULFATES are NOT the same compound. The terms sound the same but they are NOT chemically related. SULFA (sulfonamide) is a medication used to treat many health conditions. SULFATE is a salt that is used as preservatives in wine, proceesed foods, condiments and medications. Individuals with SULFA allergy will not cross react to SULFATES. The terms sound the same but are NOT the same chemically.
A good rule of thumb is that a liquid is “clear” if you can see through it. Some examples of clear liquids include water, plain broth, Gatorade, and gelatin. Black coffee is also considered a clear liquid, but coffee with cream or milk is not. Liquids such as milk and orange juice are not clear liquids. Additionally, please remember that you should not drink anything red or purple, as this can be confused with blood. Although alcohol is a clear liquid, it can make you dehydrated. You should NOT drink alcohol while preparing for your test.
Some people find that it is easier to take the preparation if it is cold. You can place the preparation in the refrigerator or set it on top of ice to cool it. You should not put ice directly into the preparation as it will melt, dilute, and increase the total amount of fluid that you have to drink. It is important that you do not add anything to the preparation that contains sugar, as it will interfere with the proper function of the preparation.
Lots of diarrhea. Some may also feel abdominal fullness, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Most people have some or all of these symptoms. This is normal and should go away quickly. Do not be alarmed if you feel these symptoms. Plan to be home and near a bathroom.
YES. While some colons will be cleansed before all of the preparation are finished, this is highly variable. The odds of having a clean colon are best if you take all of the preparation. Failure to do so could result in a colon that is not clean enough, which increases the chance that something could be missed. In addition, if the colon is too dirty, you may have to reschedule your colonoscopy and repeat the preparation. Some insurance payers may not be willing to approve a second colonoscopy resulting from poor preparation.
Everyone is different. Some people will start moving their bowels within half an hour of taking the preparation, whereas other may have come close to finishing all of the preparation before their bowels start to move.
There are a few things you can do to encourage the preparation to start working. The first is to get up and walk around if possible. Being more active stimulates the colon and will aid the preparation. Next is to continue drinking clear liquids as long as you are not vomiting. Finally, you may use 2 Fleet’s enema to get the process started. If none of that is effective, please call our office or exchange for more suggestions.
You should try drinking the preparation more slowly. Slowing down is the most effective way to combat nausea. Second, cooling the preparation will help with nausea. Drinking the preparation through a straw will also decrease the degree to which you taste it and may help reduce nausea. If the nausea still persists, please call our office or exchange.
Most often YES. If you were able to consume at least 75% of the preparation and you are passing clear liquid bowel movements, then the preparation is likely adequate. If you are passing yellow or brown liquid stool, it still may be OK. If you are passing solid stool or if you were able to drink less than 50-75% of the preparation your procedure will likely need to be rescheduled. Please call our office or exchange to cancel.
Usually not. In some cases, the diarrhea that is caused by the preparation can secondarily irritate hemorrhoids. Using moist wipes (baby wipes) instead of toilet paper may help prevent irritation of hemorrhoids or your skin. If your skin is becoming irritated, you can use a moisture barrier such as petroleum jelly or over the counter Desitin or Preparation H to help protect it.
Within a couple of hours of finishing the preparation. However, people’s responses vary, and some will continue to pass liquid bowel movements right up until the time of the procedure. As long as what is coming out is pure liquid it usually is not a problem.
Depends. In most cases, eating solid food the day prior to the exam will result in left over solid material in the colon. However, some individuals may still want to proceed due to scheduling reasons. For those who choose to proceed with the prep, if you are passing clear liquid prior to your procedure, then you will likely be able to have it.
NO. Solid stool is a sign of insufficient preparation. If you are still passing solid stool up until the time of your procedure, it will likely have to be rescheduled. Please let us know by calling our office or exchange.
NO, it is safe to have a colonoscopy preparation and subsequent colonoscopy while you are having menstrual bleeding. It will not interfere with the exam.
NO, the timing of your preparation should be followed meticulously. Altering when you take your prep may have a significant impact on how clean your colon is at the time of your procedure
These are all safe preparations used to clean out the intestines before procedures such as colonoscopy or barium enema. They are all laxatives that work by drawing large amounts of water into the colon. This results in watery bowel movements. Clearing stool from the intestines helps your doctor to better examine the intestines during your procedure.