Colonic for Colonoscopy Prep?

I'm going in for a routine colonoscopy in the next month or two. I've heard from various sources that some gastroenterologists find it okay or even prefer it if their patients prep by getting a colonic rather than chugging laxatives. I was wondering if any forum members (preferably with medical training) have a take on this.

I had my first colonoscopy a few years ago, and had a colonic two days before. Then I avoided solid food after that so when I had to take the golightly, there wasnt a whole lot to come out and it made the whole prep easier. I wouldn't forego the prep pills or golightly because you had a colonic but I found its a good first step and makes the rest of the prep much easier.

For my two colonscopies I had a colonic the day before as well as drinking a reduced amount of the Golytly (wrong name!) The doctor praised how clean I was, and I didn't tell him of my prep.

Danbury Hospital, in Danbury, Ct. offers their colonoscopy patients a choice......oral laxative (YUK!) or a colonic just before their colonoscopy. They do it in the hospital. Google it, looks like it's been pretty successful for them.

Vapor

I have done home colonics before my last several colonoscopyies, with excellent results - including comments by the Dr. (who did not know about my prep choice) that I was exceptionally well cleaned out.

Kevin,

I used colonics prior to my last colonoscopy and then had it done without sedation. I've posted in several forums about it. The Optimal Health Network also covers some of the issues that you might want to consider with the other suggestions.

I scheduled a colonic in the afternoon, 24 hours before, and another the morning of my colonoscopy which was scheduled at 1:30pm. I had begun the clear liquid diet the night before my first colonic. It is critical to assure that nothing solid is coming down the digestive tract from above the large intestine.

I took a good cleansing enema before bed and then had the colonic as scheduled. The colon hydrotherapist knew of my plan and filled me several times to the cecum. She had prepped other patients this way and had finally gotten positive feedback from doctors. I made sure to keep my electrolytes balanced.

I had the second colonic in the early morning, again with several fills to the cecum (110 oz). There was about 2 hours between the colonic and the colonoscopy to allow my colon to dry.

The colonoscopy wasn't overly uncomfortable without sedation. The only discomfort was in the first bend during insertion of the scope. I was alert and talked with the gastroenterologist throughout. The whole process lasted about 20 minutes and I didn't need assistance and walked to my car and drove home.

The nurse who attended me said she and the doctor were skeptical that I would be able to deal with the discomfort. She made a comment about how bad the oral prep usually is and I told her after the fact about the colonics. She said she was likely to consider a similar arrangement for her own procedure that was coming up.

For those who routinely use enemas for health or play, the scope isn't much different than a long colon tube and the enemas or colonics are rather enjoyable. The only embarrassment was the passing of gas afterward. The staff understands. It was more convenient for them also as it relates to sedation and being able to communicate with the patient during the procedure.

What is the discomfort level of the colonic like, compared to the colonoscopy itself (or compared to oral prep)? I've had one done with sedation, and it was quite uncomfortable, but tolerable.

To All;

I am in the medical field.

In the very near future some form of colonic will be preferred to be had before colonoscopy. It is a better prep and certainly so far the returns say colonic better than the oral prep (golightly).

And I believe it was a Gastroenterologist in CT that started this process.

Now it is up to the hospitals and surgery centers to have the people and equipment on hand and will insurance companies pay for it?

BEND OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The CC.

What I would do, if it were me:

Take enemas until clear, then, once you get a clear return, begin the prep your doctor gives you.

How exposed are you during the process? Do they massage your abdomen like they show in that Italian video of a colonic on youtube? Looks like it could be fun or potentially embarrassing!

As a colon cancer survivor I get scoped evey 3 yrs. I'v done enemas 'til clear with poor results, because the small bowel content came down into the ascending colon. I've done the Dr. R'd oral prep. with mixed results. My last scope I did all the oral prep and the large quantity of Nulytely got stuck in my transverse causing severe discomfort. I followed up with a tap water enema which brought down everything at once, but the Nulytely kept working on me all night. The gastro. said I was fairly clean but could have been better. I think one has to starve for 2 days, take the oral preps and do a finish up enema. And your butt will be sore. I did all of mine with sedation and no problem. As a medical sales rep. I've gotten to watch about 50 colonoscopies and you are always covered, with just the butt visable to the gastro. Everything is up on a TV screen. By far the worst part of the proceedure is the prep. Years ago they put you in ths hosp. for 2 days so they knew you had no food and nursing did enemas 'til clear. Insurance co's. screamed and the top-down preps. began. In addition the enemas 'til clear left what the gastros called a "wet bowel", which meant they had to ride the suction button on the scope continously. Thus, we have what is the standard today. Have fun

Jim