Doctors, re:colonoscopies -The recommended preparation procedure is dangerous to many patients?

Question

I, 61, average male, 190, 6'+, decent health other than taking blood pressure medication, cholesterol breaking meds and little else recently had a colonoscopy. The preparation regimine I was directed to do included no food from 6:00 PM day one, clear liquids all day 2, 2 dukalax tabs at 8:00AM on day two, two more at 4:00PM, beginning at 4:00PM 350mg of Miralax in 4 l of water then NPO until after the procedure. Sounds simple enough but it is so dangerous that I will never do it again. By 9:30 PM day 2 I was so dehydrated that my BP dropped to 50+/30+, I was having extreme leg cramps, and seizures. I fell while trying to force abatement of a leg cramp, had a terrific bump on my head and a separated shoulder. In the ambulance and ER, over I was given 2 l of liquids intravenously. The next morning I went to the procedure (driven by someone else) even though I felt weak. My BP was 62/35 so they gave me 2 more l of liquids and it went up to 90+/60+, about average for me. This is ridiculous

Quite literally, I could have died from doctor's recommendations. No one should need to go through this! Stop this process! Give us an enema or have us take the Miralax while under care so that liquids can be given intravenously after our bodies have eliminated all the liquid in our GI track. What's wrong with you guys? Surely I am not smarter than all of you put together? This is an important procedure but someidiot developed the preparatory process IMIIO (In MY Informed Intelligent Opinion). Yes, I am considering a malparactice suit. Yes, I am mad.

I think that the qualified medical person that answered, Wendy V, has the most cogent answer thus far and actually took the time to read and understand everything. Thank you. TY others for your responses and I will answer some of your queries. I listed my BP average as 90+/60+ about. My actual readings on normal medication and food intake is from 95 to 110 over 60+ to 75. As all know this varies with time of day, stress levels, etc. before I started taking Lisinopril over a year ago my rest readings were running up to 140+ over 110+. That is why I take medication. My bllod sugar level going into the ER was 115, the next morining at intake it was 112, so okay. I am diagnosed pre diabetic, yes, but not on meds for that. Ralcoder, I taught statistics for a while! I did not indicate how many others had similar symptoms, the nurse added that. Learn to assimilate data, friend. The doctor had all my records on VA computer and gave me the directions after studying these. Cont

These are standard directions given to all people doing this procedure. I just don't want anyone else hurt by stupid medical practices. Okay, coffee drinker, to clarify my schedule. I was told nothing but clear liquids after 6:00PM the evening before the day before the morining procedure. I ate well, drank lots of club soda and went to bed. The next day I drank water as ordered and then at 6:00 PM (the day right before the procedure) I took the laxatives with water. Have you ever drank 64 oz of water in an hour? Even so, I drank another club soda sitting on the can. Still I got dehydrated. Clear enough? The Miralax works so quickly that it could be given two hours before the procedure and people would not need to be admited but seen as out patients just like for the procedure. It is an important procedure, but not if the prep kills you. I am asking doctors to look at this and make a reasonable change in procedures -- even if only within their practice.

Answer 1

What you have experienced, the dehydration and low blood sugar levels, happens to a lot of people having to go through the prep for the colonscopy.

Did you become dehydrated through the loose bowel motions? Or from lack of fluids?
You are supposed to drink a lot through out this ordeal to prevent dehydration. I don't mean to be rude saying that either.

You have a very low, but just within range, BP anyway before the dehydration occured.

Your everyday Doctor and GI specialist needs to know this important information for future reference. As you may need to have another colonoscopy at some time. But if they know just how bad it got last time they can put in place measures to prevent it happening again.

Let them know straight away if they suggest another colonoscopy.

I am sorry this has happened to you. It also occurs to the young and heathly. The prep is bad enough on it's own without becoming critically ill during it.

PS The prep is usual for starting 2 days before the scope. We can't admit everyone who is having it, as they are done in there hundreds everyday throught the country, and that's a lot of hospital beds to fill up with patients "Just in case." You do have a very valid point though.
We can't just use an enema because that only, if it works that is, cleans out the lower end of the colon and leaves all the rest behind. Making a scope impossible.
Having the prep the night before dosn't give it time to work on removing all the faecal matter in the road.

You have every right to be angry. Your GI or Doctor did not consider the precautions with you individually.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Sorry you had to go through that but is NOT the norm for most people and they do just fine.

Sounds to me like you started the prep work a day to soon but I need another cup of coffee to decipher the times and what you took.

Typically the evening before the test you start with the laxative not two days before. I think your prep was wrong and if done properly you probably would not have had the problems you did.

Answer 4

OK, I'll be devil's advocate here:

The procedure had an adverse effect on you - that's one patient. Who are the "many patients" who were also affected this way? You don't offer any evidence to support your claim that many are affected. How are we to know that you don't have some other underlying cause of your symptoms?

One data point does not make a trend.

Answer 5

no.

Answer 6

this procedure is extremely important for somebody your age.
not doing it is much more dangerous than the side effects of this preparation.

Answer 7

Why in the world are you on Blood Pressure meds. If your blood pressure is that low???