Colonoscopy With Lapband

[czcnhl 0]

Has anyone gotten a colonoscopy since they've had their band? My question concerns the colonoscopy prep. My doctor has prescribed Osmoprep which are pretty large pills. You take four of these pills every 15 minutes. In all you take 32 pills. I wonder if anyone has taken these and if there is a problem with the band. I am nervous about taking all these pills with the small pouch. I asked my bariatric surgeon and she didn't seem overly concerned, but I thought I would see if anyone has actually used this prep rather than the liquid prep. I would rather take the pills any day if I can avoid that awful liquid, but if that is preferable, I will go that route.

[bdz1017 0]

No, but I have chrones disease and was wondering what will happen when I do. I spoke to my GI and I will take Cristal Lite with some laxative you take over the counter and it will prep you just fine. The laxitive has not taste and the crista lite is light colored (not red). I took it this way before and it great and does work so why are you taking pills?

[Cocoabean 430]

I had my first on Dec. 19. I wish I could have used the pills. I did a thing called "Moviprep"...I had to drink a liter of the stuff over an hour and then 16 oz after that, and as much in between as I could. 4 hours later I had to repeat the process.

With my band I can drink freely, but I tell you, it was A LOT of liquid to slam down. I can swallow pills as large as a multi-Vitamin without issues, except for first thing in the morning. I'd suggest not tossing all four in your mouth at once. Also, find out if they can be broken up into smaller pieces.

[Jachut 487]

I always do picolax and colonlytely which is liquid. Theres no reason why you MUST take the pills, just ask to do a liquid prep instead.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Osmoprep was taken off the market because of serious side effects.

I've had 2 colonoscopies since being banded. The first time I tried to the Osmoprep pills - as you know, they're huge, and you have to swallow a lot of them, so it was hard to get them down. I didn't have much fill in my band at the time. When I had a colonscopy last year, I was given the option of 2 preps:

1) Drink a huge vat of GoLytely (which I'd tried in the past and it made me puke)

2) Take dulcolax the night before, then before the procedure, have a colonic

irrigation (they put a hose up your butt and flush you out).

I chose the colonic irrigation. It didn't hurt, but it cost me $60 (not covered by insurance)and it didn't clean me out well enough, so I was sent home with 2 bottles of magnesium citrate to swallow and told to come back in late afternoon for another try. I gagged getting the mag citrate down but it worked well enough so that the doc could do the scope when I went back. I've heard other patients say that the irrigation worked fine and some say they had the same experience as me. So, I would ask your gastroenterologist what your prep options are and make it clear that whatever you do must not endanger your band.

[czcnhl 0]

Thanks for all the good advice. I think I will talk to my gastroenterologist again and see if they think I should be concerned about taking the pills with the band. I have done the liquid in the past and really do hate it so I prefer pills if they won't be an issue with my band. Thanks again for all the great responses. I really do appreciate it.