Pouchoscopy enema prep?

shouldn't be necessary...call them and ask. they only ask me to stop eating after midnight and then to empty the pouch right before they start. they actually "flush" mine out during the procedure so no need to do one myself. i was under "twilight" so didn't really notice.

Like clz81 said, don't eat after midnight (or after dinner). If they insist on that Fleets enema, just do it about 1-1.5 hours before you leave. I don't think it should be a problem. But do call them and ask if you can forego it because of the drive.

kathy

I always do the Fleet enema thing before my scope. It works within a few minutes. Then I refill the enema bottle with tap water, and rinse until clear. They are only a few ounces, so it does not go very high. Basically, just rinses the pouch.

With a 2 hour drive, plus waiting room time, you probably won't be totally clean no matter what you do. That is because there will be bile coming down in that amount of time. But, if you have not had any solids since the day before, you will be clean enough. They rinse as they go during the procedure anyway.

Jan

I just got my annual letter from my surgeon's office for my scope and the instructions say to do the same fleet enema thing. Last time I didn't have to do anything and I must say there was too much stuff in my pouch to see a lot. (I was watching on the screen...ew) So I am going to do the enema this time. I have an hour and a half drive to my surgeon's office. These instructions say that if I'm coming from a distance to take the enemas 3-4 hours prior to the appointment. So that's my plan. Hope this helps!

Thank you all for the quick responses! You are a great help. I will probably just eat light the evening before, and be sure to leave a couple of hours in between the time I do the enema and when I'm supposed to leave.

The effect of the Fleet enema really doesn't last very long, as Jan says. You should be fine during the drive.

I've had MANY scopes, but never had to prep. Just nothing by mouth after midnight. I guess it depends on the doc.

I was allowed liquids til 4 hours before, then 2 fleets right before the test, at the hospital. There's no right or wrong; it's MD preference. Before my EUA, I was only required to be NPO after midnight.

My prep has always been liquid diet after lunch the day before and Fleet enema the morning of. The Fleet enema in the past tended to irritate my pouch and my GI has told me if that is the case, to use a warm tap water enema. However that may be also due to the amount of inflammation I have had. The impact of the Fleet enema in my case is that it produces semi-explosive watery bowel movements for 1.5 to 2 hours after being administered. Therefore, if I have to be at the office at 7:30 a.m. I will get up at 5 am to take the enema and also follow it with a tap water enema.

I think the only issue is the extent to which the Fleet could irritate your pouch. My GI told me that these enemas actually could cause minor irritation of the pouch and this is why he was OK with me substituting a tap water enema. My plan is to take the Fleet enema and do a follow up tap water enema at about the 1 hour mark after the Fleet.

I was also told no red-colored fluids like Gatorade or Vitamin Water that has red dyes in it, as this will coat the pouch red. It is best to take clear liquids.

I have my annual pouchoscopy tomorrow (June 21) so your thread is well timed as I am considering all these issues despite having had pouchoscopes almost annually for the past 21 years! I am hoping the pouch is in a little better shape this year and thus will handle the Fleet a little better, but we shall see.

Cleveland Clinic has me do a fleet prior to the pouchoscopy, and I have a 2-1/2, 3 hr. drive to get there, so similar situation. I take one fleet along with me on the trip, and use it in the bathroom prior to my appt. I just schedule about 15 extra minutes, and it works out fine. I can continue using the bathroom, if necessary, while waiting for the scope.

I have had several scopes of my pouch on a two year interval at Cleveland. The staff hands you one or two pediatric Fleet enemas for you to administer just before the exam. Or, if you prefer they will administer it for you. I do it myself.

The scope exam is interesting in that you are facing a large color monitor and you can see the inside of the pouch, any abnormalities, polyps and so forth. If you ask, the surgeon will generally conduct a visual tour for you pointing out the highlights. Be sure to ask for a view looking into the small intestine.

You can also view the taking of tissue samples as well as removing any polyps. The polyps seem to develop over staples.

It is a good show in full color. Just keep your eyes open.

Enjoy