I finally got in to see my gastroenterologist (sp?). I was really impressed with him. He praised me to no end for being vegan!
I have been prescribed a complete colon flush using Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 3350) electrolyte solution. Apparently the magnesium citrate that my regular doctor suggested isn't nearly strong enough.
I'm really kind of scared of this stuff. It came in a big jug - 4 liters!. It's a powder that I have to mix w/ room temp. water and then chill until I'm ready. I have to block off 4-5 hours on my calendar for bathroom time for this process. :flush: The instructions say to drink 7-10 oz of the stuff every 10 minutes until stool is watery, clear, and free of all solid matter, or until it is gone. Rinse mouth w/ mouthwash after each glass to get rid of the taste.
Side effects that may go away after treatment include: nausea, bloating, stomach fullness or craps, vomiting, or rectal irritation.
Has anyone ever done this before? Does it suck as much as I think it's going to? I have no idea when I'm going to get the courage to do it, but I am pretty sure that when it's all over, I'll feel great.
:sick:
Oh, if you don't know, there's related threads to this:
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=40521&highlight=tummy
and
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=41512&highlight=tummy

one of the girls on my hall just had to do this..... i hate to say it, it's gonna be messy... and you may vomit from the taste :( she couldn't stand the taste so much that she had to take it in shot glasses to bypass her tongue... :(

i hope this all works out for you hun.

Libellula,
What were her results? How did she feel when it was all over? And what do you mean by messy? :worried:

Wow, Sally. I've never done this before, but it does sound rather uncomfortable. But hopefully once you're done, you will start feeling better. :) Good luck.

Doesnt castor oil do the same thing? I had to drink that stuff out to clean myself out for some sort of test on my kidneys once. Its not pleasant but once its over, its over.

Libellula,
What were her results? How did she feel when it was all over? And what do you mean by messy? :worried:

My mom did this one for a bunch of tests.

Warning graphic:

She ended up not being able to move off the tiolet for hours because she had no control over her bowels. She asked for more tissue, came to the door to get it, and (in that time) went all over the floor. She was sick, diaherria in the tiolet and vomitting in a bucket at the same time.

You will really need someone home with you during this - someone you trust to see you in the bathroom (as you may end up needing help while in there). Also, you may want to get Puffs tissues (the ones with lotion) for wiping or baby wipes. You will also need vaseline for later (to soothe enfamed bottom). If you just use regular tissue, you will be bloody raw by the time it's over.

I'm so sorry to hear about your tummy problems Sally. I don't have any experience, but I hope you're feeling better soon. I think that having someone there to help you is a good idea too. Be sure to stay hydrated ( if you're allowed to have anything else to drink) and take care of yourself :hug:

sally: what Krista said

she felt so... bad... the day after that all of us were happy that her mom had come down to stay with her..

:cry:

So who wants to come over and help me? Seriously. My husband has seen me at my worst, but this seems worse than worst. Plus, it's pretty rare to get us both home at the same time for any period of time.

I guess I shouldn't do this when it's just me and my son home, huh? Oh man. F***, sh**, what am I going to do?

Sally, I know you're not looking forward to this, but it's important to weigh a day or two of misery versus how it can help in teh long run. And no matter how bad it sounds, it's at least better to go into it prepared. So don't despair!

I'm not clear whether this is supposed to be therapeutic or still part of the diagnostic process?

:cry:

So who wants to come over and help me? Seriously. My husband has seen me at my worst, but this seems worse than worst. Plus, it's pretty rare to get us both home at the same time for any period of time.

I guess I shouldn't do this when it's just me and my son home, huh? Oh man. F***, sh**, what am I going to do?

If I lived closer to you, I would (having already been through it with my mom).

Your husband will have to suck it up and take a day off work. Simple as that. :)

:cry:

So who wants to come over and help me? Seriously. My husband has seen me at my worst, but this seems worse than worst. Plus, it's pretty rare to get us both home at the same time for any period of time.

I guess I shouldn't do this when it's just me and my son home, huh? Oh man. F***, sh**, what am I going to do?

Aww, I'd come and help you if I could. When I had food poisoning and lived in the bathroom for a week I would have been a mess if I didn't have help from my husband.

My husband has the week of Thanksgiving off, so I'm going to wait to do it until then I guess. Thanks Krista, you rock. :up:

I'm not clear whether this is supposed to be therapeutic or still part of the diagnostic process?
I guess it's a little of both. My doctor wants to try this to see how I feel w/ an empty colon, and to see if it stays clear or not.

Did he recommend a gear-up diet for you? My mom had a week-long diet to follow, but that may have been due to her other health problems and not specifically for this.

(My mom also went through a number of xrays and weird tests after she did this treatment.)

Oh, and when it's over, you will be dehydrated FOR DAYS. It's very important that you get back on the fluids as soon as you are allowed. Start back on easy to digest foods as much as you can; I know my mom was sick for days afterwards (and her medical problems reduce what foods she could eat).

Good luck!

Yeah, the diet part is supposed to help. My dad just did this a few weeks ago. He said that it wasn't pretty. ((shudder)), but he was glad that he had tapered down what he was eating little by little.

I wasn't told of any kind of diet. :worried: My doctor didn't really make it sound like this was a big deal at all. Hmm.
I am planning to do it on November 21, so hopefully I'll be in full working order by November 24 - Thanksgiving. Or if I'm not better, will this be a great excuse to either a) skip family festivities revolving around a dead turkey carcass, or b) accidentally throw up on the snobby omni SIL
Kidding, kidding... :p

Good luck with that Sally!

Is that you in your avatar btw?

I wasn't told of any kind of diet. :worried: My doctor didn't really make it sound like this was a big deal at all. Hmm.
I am planning to do it on November 21, so hopefully I'll be in full working order by November 24 - Thanksgiving. Or if I'm not better, will this be a great excuse to either a) skip family festivities revolving around a dead turkey carcass, or b) accidentally throw up on the snobby omni SIL
Kidding, kidding... :p

Don't be worried. In my mom's case, she endured a week of tests and treatments all during this period, so that may have been the reason for her special diet.

Personally, I really like option B and I think you should seriously consider it. This maybe your only opportunity.

ooh! i like option B too :)

Good luck with that Sally!

Is that you in your avatar btw?

Yes, that's me! :D

:lol: I can just picture it now. If only all 3 snobby omni SILs could be there. I want to share vomit with all of them :devil:

Yes, that's me! :D

:boobies: :trick:

:boobies: :trick:
Thanks, i just posted the full size in the photo album for you :smoke:

Hey guys, today is the day. I just drank my first 8 oz. It doesn't taste very good.

Today wasn't a good day to do this. My husband is sooooo crabby already, and isn't very sympathetic.

Time to drink the next 8 oz....

3 - 8 oz. glasses downed. So far I feel really queasy, but no bathroom visits yet. I'll try to keep posting, but if you don't hear from me for a while, you know why! :flush: