Colonoscopy

Hi - I had rny on 5/28/07, only lost 70 pounds, am currently 170 pds. 

My question is my primary care physician is insisting that I get a colonscopy (I'm 52 years old).  Does having the rny surgery affect me having this test?
Deb

No, and if you're over 50, you should have one anyway. I had one at 50, and had my rny at 49. I told the doctor I had RNY (and he was affiliated with the same group as my bariatric doc); they gave me a special prep just for bariatric surgical patients. I had to take some pills and didn't have to drink the half gallon or gallon of the salty stuff. So just let them know you've had gastric bypass and you have a pouch, not a stomach. You still have a colon, however, and this is an important test.

Thanks, Eileen. This is a great piece of information!

Eileen,

Were the pills you were given the huge Osmoprep pills, or something else?

My mother had colon cancer and I tend to develop polyps, so I have to have frequent colonoscopies.  I cannot do the liquid prep and getting the big Osmoprep pills through my stoma is almost impossible, so if there's some other prep, I'd love to know about it.

Thanks,
Jean

No, they were smaller pills, and for the life of me, I can't remember the name. I had to take them for a couple hours and then drink ginger ale, then take a couple more and some more ginger ale.

My brother (who did not have WLS) had to drink a smaller solution that he could buy over the counter at Walgreens. He said it tasted nasty, but it could be mixed with pop, like ginger ale.

Debbie,

I just had one on Tuesday. I asked about taking pills instead of drinking 2 liters of yucky stuff. The doctor said he doesn't prescribe pills, prefers the liquid.

Knowing my husband had the procedure a couple of months ago and used the pills, I asked questions.  I was told that the pills have caused problems, specifically ONE heart attack, so this group switched to the Moviprep. Who knows, maybe a coincidence?

Several people in my group have had the test recently and used the pills. Different doctors, different protocol.

No.

But i didn't use the "go lightly" or half lightly. I did this instead:

1 day clear liquids, no red. I used Nectars for my protein.

next day, upon rising, 1.5 oz bottle of Fleet Phosphp Soda in water. You can put it in somethign else, but why? 8 oz, down the hatch, drink water all day.

12 hours later, repeat. One place had me stop drinking 12 hrs before scope. Bad idea, as I was too dehydrated to walk. Other place let me drink water up to 2 hrs before. MUCH better. Next one due is 2010, will go to the 2nd place.

When I had my done last year, I took 4 sm pills and then mixed a bottle of Miralax with 1/ 2 gallon of lemon crystol lite.  Had to drink it for four hours.  It wasn't too bad
val