Oddly, I don't mind the prep for my colonoscopies.  I have been taught how to irrigate my colostomy, so I just put my long irrigation bag on my skin barrier, attach the belt, drink the prep (can't remember the name but it's not GoLytely) and let it do it's stuff.  The prep tastes AWFUL - like salty diluted lemonade - and I HATE it something awful, but I do it because I have to.  The directions are to drink half of it the evening before, and the other half the morning of the colonoscopy.  As it works, I just stand over the toilet and let the bag empty.  No running to the loo for this old broad!!!  My next one is sometime in the first quarter of 2018.  Everything was clean as a whistle two years ago, so I expect the same this time.

Please know I sympathize with everybody.  I hate it, too, but have learned to have the anesthesia as it's too painful without it.  Still seems weird to have the doctor go in through my abdomen with his instrument(s), but having no rectum, there is no other access for him!!!!

Hi troops!

There are also different kinds of preps. The BEST one I found , and there is such a thing, was Pik -O -Prep. It costs a bit more, and you have to ask the doctor for the prescription and  it works the same. BUT you only drink a small quantity of the 'mix' ( 8 ounces) followed by about a pint of water. You do that twice at a certain interval ( depending on when your procedure is to be). I found it a lot easier to gag down a cup of the stuff followed by a lot of water.

I don't do any of that anymore... but I had a lot of experience before my surgery. 

My recent prep was the easiest I've ever done BUT still no fun ! All I had to do was couple  enemas night before and then again in the morning . Not much left to rinse out .

Hi, Dona!!!  Lucky you!!!  I often think that the prep for my colonoscopy is the worst part about having my colostomy.  That stuff is just awful!  I'm going to ask if I can add some flavoring to it to make it a bit more palatable because I just about gag to death every time I have to drink it.  Thank goodness I don't have to do it often because I'm afraid I would balk if I did!

Yup.. Its just me an my rectal stump now ( two words I had never thought to ever hear together!). No prep now for the annual flex sig. I just don't eat or drink so they can knock me out!

Oh I nearly lost it when I had to do full prep at my first pouchoscopy. Was Suprep, not awful but not great. Cherry Frost Gatorade and no dye cherry lollipops helped me through. Thank gods the nice WOTC Nurse gave me a high volume bag the weekend before as part of a smaller flange sample. Hope I can get my hands on another when I need to do prep again.

Also, don't eat Apple pie the three days before a prep. Oscar was still spitting chunks out the morning of the scope. The nurse seemed to have a hard time maintaining a straight face when I looked at the bag and said something about the Apple bits.

• Felicity, that could put you right off apples for awhile! Good luck with the upcoming 'events' ... I hope you get a solid date for  the surgery  soon.
• I had an illoscopy about nine months after I got my ostomy. But, no prep for that one either.( except fasting).
• I am not sure why this is making 'bullets' at the start of each paragraph? Humm....

Hmm, I am really curious now about why they made me drink the whole gallon of that prep crap (No pun intended...ok so it was just a bad pun).  Thought I would die. The output was so forceful that it removed the pouch a couple of times.  The downside of things right now. The doc came in and there has been no improvement yet. His parting shot was "I'll be in the hospital all weekend though, so will be here to help you."  Looks like I am staying longer than I thought. Had hoped to be home tomorrow. Oh, pouch output!     (More polite than saying s--t)

Posted by: Barbara

Hmm, I am really curious now about why they made me drink the whole gallon of that prep crap (No pun intended...ok so it was just a bad pun).  

That's awful. I don't know why anyone still needs to chug that stuff. There are way easier prep solutions that taste great and require only a cup (plus plain water at regular intervals) to do the trick.

Hopefully, you'll get answers soon, Barbara. 

Barbara and Eric ---  I have learned from the two of you that there are easier preps -- so being as I'm supposed to have a colonoscopy through my colostomy sometime in January or February next year, I'm definitely going to ask for an easier and less awful-tasting prep.  Thank you for the tips!!!!  

Well I have been through the clean out, both scopes, 4 days of no output, another bottle (only a pint) of cleansing laxatives, a small amount of output and I am still lying here in pain.  I am at the point where I wish they had taken my whole damn colon instead of parts.  Doc says the pain is from more inflamed diverticuli, inflamed polyps and colitis.  These are all in my remaining colon and my rump stump!! I am reaching the end of my rope and there is not enough left to tie a knot to hang onto. I just want it to stop!!!!!!!  Must be time for a good cry

Well I have been through the clean out, both scopes, 4 days of no output, another bottle (only a pint) of cleansing laxatives, a small amount of output and I am still lying here in pain.  I am at the point where I wish they had taken my whole damn colon instead of parts.  Doc says the pain is from more inflamed diverticuli, inflamed polyps and colitis.  These are all in my remaining colon and my rump stump!! I am reaching the end of my rope and there is not enough left to tie a knot to hang onto. I just want it to stop!!!!!!!  Must be time for a good cry

Barbara I'm sorry to hear that you are still in so much pain and nothing their doing seems to be helping . Is there a reason they can't or won't go in and take the rest of your colon or rump stump ? They took all my colon out in one surgery and then later most of my rump stump (not sure how much is left not much) . But at least it got rid of all the pain I was having and maybe it would help you .

Hi, Barbara!  Hope you're having a better day here with less pain.  Was just thinking that maybe it's time for a second opinion?  Perhaps you need to talk to another doctor.  Evidently the one you're working with is not as attuned to you and your pain as he should be.  Another set of eyes and ears might be your answer.  I don't know.  I'm just trying to wrack my brain trying to think of anything that might help you.

I had Stage 3-C Rectal Cancer, so my surgeon took my anus, rectum, and part of my colon.  Another surgeon (during the same surgery) did a complete hysterectomy.  (The two of them were very busy that morning!)  Anyway, I have had absolutely no pain of any kind since my surgery.  (Just before we went into the operating room, the anesthesiologist gave me an epidural in my back, so I never had any post-operative pain either.)  Everything healed up very nicely and I am very satisfied with the outcome.

I am praying for you, Barbara.  Praying that an answer is coming - something that will relieve your pain.  Please know we're all thinking about you and sending you our best thoughts.

Ann in Nebraska

WHOW, Barbara.

 I am really sorry you have such pain, and still no output.

 Since they said its the diverticula that is causing the pain, and than seems to be an ongoing condition, it might be time to figure out if you really need that bit of colon?

And they certainly need to figure out why your output has slowed.

Also, just throwing this out there, already enough on your plate, BUT. Would it be advisable ( IF YOU HAD ANOTHER SURGERY) , at the same time, have your ostomy relocated to a more typical spot ..not in your belly button? That seems to be causing a whole world of leaking problems.

Keep asking questions!

Hope you get relief from the pain soon.

Hi Barbara, Dona has a point here, more surgery not what ye want but it would like a fresh start. now you know more about an ostomy it could be better positioned. you have never had a proper chance with this. Don,t be afraid to have a D*M GOOD CRY let it out and then have a yarn with the staff about what to do xox

You must be reading my mail. Those are the exact same thoughts that I have had. Still waiting for the doctor to come in he is often late in the day on his surgery days.

Well my doctor came in and we had a long chat. And he told me that he is not comfortable taking anymore of my colon out at this point in time. He says that it's better to try some other things first and save this as a last resort. And then he told me that he's really good with surgery which he is has a great reputation however he is not all our red hot on different medications and so the second opinion thing is what's going through he is called in a consult tomorrow for me with GI people. And he says maybe they will be able to find something that will work better with c.diff. It appears that perhaps the c-diff superbug has once again morphed into something a bit stronger and doesn't seem to be responding to Vancomycin. Although I will say I'm glad I don't have to swallow any more of that vile liquid. I'll keep you posted tomorrow on what the GI folks have to say about it.

Posted by: Barbara

Well my doctor came in and we had a long chat. And he told me that he is not comfortable taking anymore of my colon out at this point in time. He says that it's better to try some other things first and save this as a last resort. And then he told me that he's really good with surgery which he is has a great reputation however he is not all our red hot on different medications and so the second opinion thing is what's going through he is called in a consult tomorrow for me with GI people. And he says maybe they will be able to find something that will work better with c.diff. It appears that perhaps the c-diff superbug has once again morphed into something a bit stronger and doesn't seem to be responding to Vancomycin. Although I will say I'm glad I don't have to swallow any more of that vile liquid. I'll keep you posted tomorrow on what the GI folks have to say about it.

I had c diff twice the second time for 11 months. What finally got rid of it was what is called " Pulsing Theraphy" . You see c diff is a spore that creates a shell or aromor . When you take antibiotics it grows this shell to protect it self from the medicine. Once it feels there is no medicine it sheds the shell. So with pulsing you take antibiotics for a few day then stop. Let the spore release its shell then attacked it again . There is a schedule I found on line where it tells you how to take to pills. Google " antibiotic pulsing for c diff" . I was at my wits ends and presented this to my doctor . He said go for it and it worked. He now does this for other patients. At last resort you can have a fecal transplant. That has been very successful also. Google " fecal transplant for c diff. 

Be well big hugs 🤗 

Here is some perhaps useful info on C.Diff treatment:

The antibiotic called Vancomycin is often prescribed for the treatment of Clostridium Difficile (C diff). 

When the gastrointestinal tract is intact (fully connected) taking vancomycin by mouth can be used to treat C Diff in the bowel. The vancomycin moves through the intestinal tract and comes into direct contact with the C Diff infection. 

In the case of an ileostomy, where the bowel is no longer connected to the mouth, oral vancomycin will not be effective. This is because vancomycin ingested orally does not move through the intestinal wall into the blood stream.  That means that the drug can only treat infections that it comes into direct contact with. 

If a patient has a C Diff infection in a section of rectum or bowel that is no longer connected to the mouth, it can be treated using a vancomycin enema. Vancomycin enema is not on pharmacy shelves, but it can be prepared by a specialist compounding pharmacy. 

After my colectomy/illeo surgery I had to use these horrible enemas ( four a day for ten days...yikes!!). I had tested positive for C.Diff  during my surgery. They first treated me  with oral metronidaazole ( antibiotic) which does go into the blood. That just made me throw up. 

Metronidazole is, I think, far less expensive than the Vancomycin.