I know it’s a pain to arrange transportation, though the clinic I used allowed me to take an Uber to the appointment, but not for going home. (For that, there was a former patient who they trusted for this.) I think in another thread, some people talked about having the procedure done without anesthesia, in which case, there was no requirement that you had to get someone to drive you.
In all seriousness, consider doing it without sedation. The recovery from the actual procedure consists of wiping excess lube off your ass and getting dressed. All the rest, including restrictions on driving or taking Uber, are due to sedation.
I gather that some people find it more uncomfortable than others. But i can only say that i found it vastly less uncomfortable than having an IUD inserted, and you don’t even have an option of sedation for the IUD.
You may be able to sustitute one of the at-home fecal tests (e.g. Cologuard)
I’ve had several upper endoscopies and one lower endoscopy (aka colonoscopy). I noticed recently on my doctor’s internet portal that they are maybe going to do my next one as a virtual endoscopy using CT scans. I had never heard of that before.
Yes I have done those Cologuard tests.
I don’t think I could do it without sedation. Too much anxiety.
But that’s good to know!
Never heard of that before either. I wonder how it’s done?
Now you all KNEW I’d show up, didn’tcha!!!
The newest prep regimens, as far as I understand, are SuTab (which is a tablet version of SuPrep) and SuFlave (which, despite the name, is a PEG-based moderate-volume prep, NOT a sodium-sulfate prep).
I know people who’ve been fine with SuTab; in my case, the results were… violent. I went back to ClenPiq this last time. I’ve personally never done a PEG-based prep.
In addition to these options, there are as noted non-colonoscopy screening tools such as Cologuard. No experience with those, as I’m don’t have a risk profile that lets me do so.
SuPrep is about 16 ounces to drink, I think (6 ounces, diluted in 10 ounces of water). ClenPiq is about 5-6 ounces, NOT dissolved. In both cases of course you do need to drink a fair bit of liquid afterward but it can be whatever you like that meets the instructions. Each is taken the night before AND the morning of the procedure.
The older preps all tend to be PEG (polyethyline glycol)-based, sometimes with other stuff such as Dulcolax. I’m on record as saying that anyone who prescribes those without at least putting some thought into it is being wilfully cruel (but I do admit, there may well be cases where they truly are the best choice).
I’ve seen a lot of rumblings about a less-strict day-before diet. That’s not something I try to challenge, given my own personal risk - and I’ve evolved tricks to make that day pretty tolerable (stay up late the night before, sleep as long as possible, have tasty broth to drink, etc.).
That is a major frustration, I know!
I’m lucky that I have family (husband, son, housemate) here to accompany me; in 20 years that may not be true (and I suspect it’ll still be an issue for me!). My doc’s office says they can refer people to a medical transportation service, for people in your situation; no clue how much that costs.
I’m actually travelling to Chicago in a few months to take a friend for hers (it’s an excuse for me to ride the train, plus visit her and various family members). If you’re in the DC area, PM me and I’ll drive you!!
Thank you. That is a kind offer.
I am in the Pittsburgh area at the moment. Plan to possibly move to Winchester, Virginia after I retire in a year. I know your area a bit!
I do have some cousins in the local area but their lives are a bit busy and I hate to impose. In 2020 I had to be at the location by 6 AM (45 minutes from my home) and wasn’t done until mid afternoon. My cousin had to be available in the area the whole time. She could leave the hospital but had to give them her cell phone number.
It’s just so much to organize for someone who has lost everyone and doesn’t have immediate family to attend to your needs.
I just can’t understand why they won’t allow me to use Uber. It’s not like I will be driving.
For now I will keep doing the cologuard if my doctor recommends.
That’s exactly what I had for my first a few months ago. 4 Dulcolax, and then 64oz of Gatorade mixed with an entire bottle of Miralax, 8 oz at a time every hour. The sheer volume of liquid was, let’s say, the 2nd worst thing about the whole prep.
The prep was definitely a challenge. If I ever do this again I will ask for pills.
I can actually see their argument. Firstly, if you are impaired, you will not be able to protect yourself in the rare instance you get an Uber (or cab) driver who is… willing to take advantage of a situation. Secondly, they want someone who won’t just drop you off and let you stagger inside to, maybe, experience a bad reaction a half hour later. Again, rare, but they’re covering their, um, asses.
Overkill in both cases, but I do actually understand it.
If you do move to Winchester, that’s within my “100 miles of DC” limit :).
When you explain it like that it does make sense. Never thought that far into it.
It’s been interesting reading everyone’s experiences as well.
I’ll keep you in mind when I move to Winchester lol. Thank you for your kindness.
I had forgotten about the Dulcolax, actually.
I’ve had two colonoscopies: the first with SuPrep and the second with SuTab. The SuPrep worked great. I would never use the SuTab again. I think the guidance on the timing was way off, likely because of the variable time it takes the pills to dissolve in one’s stomach. I was still having explosive diarrhea even after the procedure, although thankfully I was clear enough for them to do it. I have a relative in which this was not the case and so they had to go back for a repeat colonoscopy after a failed prep with SuTab.
As for Cologuard, I’m sure the insurance companies like it because it’s cheaper for them. But I’ve read that there are a significant number of false positives, and if you get a positive result, they have to do a colonoscopy anyway. Except then it’s medical treatment due to a potential problem instead of being a diagnostic screening…which results in the patient sometimes being on the hook for some or all of the costs, depending on the insurance plan’s coverage and deductibles.
So I’d rather just have the colonoscopy right off the bat, and let them fix any problems they find then and there.
My advice is to follow whatever instructions you receive from the doctor, especially with regard to the limited diet in the days prior.
And wait, it wasn’t every hour for the Miralax like I said. It was something like every 15 minutes or something. Gah!
Yeah, they just gave me a valium the first one.
Now they want to sedate me. Hey what is that short grey dude doing ther…
It’s a real pisser (or maybe a crock o’ shit) that the pills aren’t covered by (my) insurance. $200 for laxatives?! But it did make the prep much easier. I had no cramps or other discomfort and my um, output, was clear by the time I went to bed. Still had to take the rest of them the next day but by that time I was basically pooping water.
Not being able to drive oneself home is a huge issue. I should have had a colonoscopy years ago but never seriously considered it due to lack of transportation. I now live near some family but it still feels like a big ask. I shudder to think of all the people who forgo important medical treatment because of a stupid issue like this.