# Any recent changes in colonoscopy prep? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 20, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811 "2024-05-20T15:17:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/1 "2024-05-20T15:17:20Z")
I’m going in for another colonoscopy, and wondering if the prep has changed since my last one. In 2018 or so, I had to swallow a lot of vile-tasting goop the night before, and I’m curious if they’ve found a way to reduce the quantity or make it more palatable or anything. Anyone have a recent one? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/2 "2024-05-20T15:26:03Z")
I did- and instead of drinking a gallon or even a quart of that vile tasting stuff, I asked for Sutab which is 2 does of 12 pills each followed by 3 16 oz containers of water. Much easier for me. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/3 "2024-05-20T16:41:01Z")
And there is another liquid alternative, a bit less yucky, and about 1/3 as much ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/4 "2024-05-20T16:50:54Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I did- and instead of drinking a gallon or even a quart of that vile tasting stuff, I asked for Sutab which is 2 does of 12 pills each followed by 3 16 oz containers of water. Much easier for me. I used Suprep the first time five years ago, and then the generic equivalent about six months ago. Both required a similar amount of water after, though the doctor suggested, as I remember, Gatorade to mask the taste. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/5 "2024-05-20T16:53:40Z")
I recently did it with Suprep, which is still a foul tasting liquid, but is a _much_ smaller quantity to drink. The night before add the contents of the small bottle to a supplied measuring cup, and then add water to bring it up to 16 ounces. Drink that, and then drink 32 ounces of additional water over the next hour. In the morning do the same routine with the second bottle. 20 of the 32 ounces I had to drink were clear Gatorade, to try and get the taste out of my mouth. It was bad, but at least I didn’t have to drink a gallon of the stuff. I recently saw the article below that talks about a “low residue” prep compared to a traditional prep. Basically eat potatoes and meat the day before, and then do the purge, instead of a fasting day. I asked the doctor about a low residue prep, and he said they just moved to the “low volume” prep, give them time to catch up! > **[The evidence is clear: A liquid-only diet before a colonoscopy is unnecessary](https://www.statnews.com/2024/03/19/colonoscopy-preparation-liquid-only-diet-data-gastroenterologists/)** > > The pre-colonoscopy liquid diet is unnecessary and harder on the patient. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/6 "2024-05-20T16:53:45Z")
It’s easier now than before, yes. Only advice I can give is to make sure they give you enough sedative. I had a colonoscopy where they didn’t give enough and as a result I felt the tube poking and prodding very painfully in my colon but I couldn’t do or say anything. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/7 "2024-05-20T17:29:53Z")
I’ve had a few colonoscopies over the past 5 years—the first found cancer, which seems to have been successfully treated, as the followups have found only non-cancerous polyps. The first couple used Suprep, which I found doable but vile. The last couple used Sutab, the pills mentioned above, which I found much easier to take. There are a lot of other colonoscopy discussions we’ve had. I think the most recent is [Ugh, do I REALLY have to schedule ANOTHER colonoscopy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304). ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/8 "2024-05-20T17:32:29Z")
I had one in 2020 and not doing it again unless I have symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/9 "2024-05-20T17:41:53Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > It’s easier now than before, yes. > > Only advice I can give is to make sure they give you enough sedative. I had a colonoscopy where they didn’t give enough and as a result I felt the tube poking and prodding very painfully in my colon but I couldn’t do or say anything. Or go without sedative. Then you can chat with the doctor as he does his thing. I don’t find it very painful, and i like that i can drive myself home and get on with my day. I think different doctors have different opinions re appropriate prep, and the prep varies widely right now, depending on your doctor. Mine had a very rigid regimen that included drinking gallons of grossness. I used a long plastic straw to transport the stuff past my tongue, so i didn’t really have to taste it. If you have strong feelings about the prep, or any other aspect of a colonoscopy, it’s worth discussing this in advance. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/10 "2024-05-20T17:45:28Z")
Yes, this is definitely the biggest change. I had to ask the doctor for it specifically, and he was fine with changing from suprep to sutab. Pills instead of vile liquid is definitely the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/11 "2024-05-20T17:45:47Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > I had one in 2020 and not doing it again unless I have symptoms. My understanding, as a non-medical professional, is that if you actually have symptoms, you’re _way_ past the point where a few polyps can be easily treated during the colonoscopy. In general, it’s a diagnostic procedure. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/12 "2024-05-20T18:04:01Z")
I had to ask , also. The staff was all " Your insurance might not cover it" . I didn’t care - the price without insurance was about $200 and it was worth it to me. Turns out that not only did my insurance cover it, there wasn’t even a copay. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/13 "2024-05-20T18:07:36Z")
Years ago, I was talking to the nurse while awaiting the actual procedure and we both wondered why they don’t just take whatever nastiness they’re dissolving into suprep and give it to you in pill form. It’s so obvious that there must have been some chemical or physical problem they had to resolve. Unless maybe they were concerned that people wouldn’t drink enough water after taking the pills? I imagine that would cause some problems. At least with suprep, you’re getting a fair amount of liquid at the same time (although you still have to drink a ton after that). Before suprep, there was something even worse and more voluminous, but I can’t remember what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/14 "2024-05-20T18:11:27Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > 20 of the 32 ounces I had to drink were clear Gatorade, to try and get the taste out of my mouth. It was bad, but at least I didn’t have to drink a gallon of the stuff. I used Suprep as well. While I can’t say I enjoyed drinking it, it wasn’t terrible. I thought the issue was that it was sickly sweet more than anything. The real issue I had was that I was stupid when selecting the rest of the clear liquids to have on hand. I got a shitload of white grape juice. The Suprep was grape. Altogether _too much grape_, but by the time I discovered my problem, it was late, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/15 "2024-05-20T18:12:13Z")
I had the procedure the Monday before Thanksgiving, so I spent the previous day (Sunday) sipping chicken broth and eating green Jello and getting hungry from all of the talk on TV about what food to make for Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/16 "2024-05-20T20:21:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > is that if you actually have symptoms, you’re _way_ past the point where a few polyps can be easily treated during the colonoscopy. Yes, the symptoms are bleeding, unendurable pain, death-like symptoms, and death. I’ll take the anal probe instead. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/17 "2024-05-20T20:26:41Z")
I had one about a year and a half ago, and the prep was just some specific (yet massive) quantity of Miralax and liquids at specific intervals before the procedure. Honestly the most onerous part was having to actually drink quarts of Miralax + liquid (I did Gatorade) at set intervals. There’s only so much liquid a stomach can hold! ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/18 "2024-05-20T23:19:14Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > … Before suprep, there was something even worse and more voluminous, but I can’t remember what it was. [Polyethylene glycol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_glycol#Medical_uses)? I was given a gallon for my first prep, to be consumed in one-cup doses — and when it came to the last one I was reacting pretty much like [this clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRAoikn-SLs) (from _Bell, Book and Candle_). ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/19 "2024-05-20T23:44:07Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/W2gABYTmXos/hqdefault.jpg "The Colorectal Surgeon Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2gABYTmXos) ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811/20 "2024-05-21T00:09:39Z")
I did not mean actual cancer symptoms. I meant any change in my routine even if it is slight. It’s just not something that is easy for me to organize. They won’t let me Uber to the appointment and I have no one to take me. That’s the biggest hurdle. I am 66 and if it’s my time to go I am fine with that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-recent-changes-in-colonoscopy-prep/1001811.md?page=2)