What type of laxative could I take to prepare my bowels for a virtual colonoscopy?
Is there a tablet or type of medication I can take for a virtual colonoscopy? I just finished Chemotherapy and 35 Radiation treatments for head and neck cancer. I have not had a bowel movement in 5 days.
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No Physician-Patient Relationship
You understand and agree that use of the Website does not in any way create or establish a physician-patient privilege or physician-patient relationship between you and any Medical Professional Member. You should recognize that the information provided on the Website (including past questions and answers and articles posted on the site) is provided for your general information. These materials should not be relied on as medical advice and reading and reviewing them is not a substitute for direct consultation with a medical professional about a specific medical problem.
Without limiting the foregoing, you understand and agree that submitting a Free Question or receiving an answer to a Free Question does not in any way create or establish an physician-patient relationship between you and any Medical Professional Member, or between you and us. The information and answers provided in response to Free Questions is intended to be generic medical information, not medical advice, and is based upon the very limited information provided by you in a Free Question. Specific medical advice can only be given with full knowledge of all of the facts and circumstances of your situation. If you are currently being treated by a doctor, that doctor is the best person to give you advice about a medical case or medical matter. Under no circumstances should the information obtained on this site be used to make decisions about the quality of service provided by a doctor or about the proper course of a medical matter.
A virtual colonoscopy prep can be the same prep as a regular colonoscopy. This may include golytely, Miralax based, or citroma based. The prep will also depend if you have any history of kidney disease.
Supplies
You will need to purchase ALL the following laxatives (in addition to the Omnipaque) before starting the preparation. The laxatives should be available at your local pharmacy. You do not need a prescription for the laxatives.
– One 10oz. bottle of magnesium citrate (commonly sold as Citroma). This is NOT the same as “Milk of Magnesia.”
– Four 5mg bisacodyl oral tablets (commonly sold as Carter’s Little Pills or Dulcolax).
– One 10mg bisacodyl suppository (commonly sold as Dulcolax, Fleet Bisacodyl, or Magic Bullet). DO NOT keep this in your pocket or anywhere warm – it will melt and become unusable.
On the day before the virtual colonoscopy:
– No solid food all day.
– Drink clear liquids only (i.e., water, tea, coffee, juice, soda, broth, jello, etc.).
– Drink 8 oz of water (about 1 glass) at least every hour (try to never be thirsty). Over the course of the day, drink at least 2 quarts of liquids.