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I am caregiver for my paraplegic sibling. He needs a colonoscopy. He has no bowel or bladder control. So the prep day will be a challenge. Can you offer advice if you have been through this procedure. How do I keep him clean and not lose my mind?????

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I agree with many here, if he is over 75, and his prognosis for a long life does not exist. Why put him thru one?
And, my goodness you should not be the one doing that.
Is he on blood thinners? Have heart disease? These things would prevent a safe procedure.
Some drs just are not thinking 🤔
Best of luck.
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If it helps overcome any misguided feelings of self-reproach you might have about not being able to manage this, all the specialist sites for paraplegics, wheelchair users and other people with disabilities say "let the pros do it." I just checked.
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According to my present very fine gastroenterologist (when I asked him about the Quit Colonoscopy At 75 Rule), he weighs several factors in deciding whether a patient should have one over the age of 75. If they are over 75 and expected to live more than a certain number of years based on general health and family life expectancy, he will recommend the colonoscopy. He said that things can change very rapidly in the colon after age 75, and since I have multiple family members who have lived well into their 90s and one to age 100 and still going, he'd recommend a colonoscopy for me after age 75 if my general health remains good. He wants me to reach my maximum age potential, and I have a history of polyps that he's removed.

Me, I'm not so keen on living to 100.

I have the option to refuse.
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Please contact the Gastroenterologist for instructions: let the professionals run this show. Perhaps a nurse should be hired to care for your brother. https://vnacare.org/
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In addition to the responses here, I'd also ask the doctor why he thinks a colonoscopy is called for. "It's done routinely" isn't a reason in my opinion.
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AlvaDeer Jun 2023
I couldn't agree more.
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If your Mom is 94, how old is the sibling. They do not recommend colonoscopies after 75. The lining thins out and much easier to perforate it and that will cause a whole lot of different problems.
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anonymous1732518 Jun 2023
..or could encounter a gas bubble which a doctor and his assistant did when he did one on an elderly man. I'm still amazed the blast, (no pun) knocked both into a wall. Sadly the patient died.
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Tell the doctor that you can not do this at home.
Your brother can be admitted and the prep done.
BUT...I hate to ask...
I have a few questions.
How old is your brother? Is there a risk of colon cancer? the biggie question..What would his course of treatment be if he were diagnosed with cancer?
If he would elect to have surgery and go through treatment what would the prognosis actually be?
If the prognosis is poor or if he would elect to decline treatment why go through the testing?
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I don't know why your doctor wanted to saddle you with this problem. I think some doctors don't think things through. He should have this done in a hospital. This is too much.
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JoAnn29 Jun 2023
This is not the first post we have had where a doctor left it up to a family member to figure out how to do a prep on a disabled person. Doctors are clueless.
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They can do it in the hospital, and they should and must do it there. Your profile says that you also care for your 94 year-old mother. Make sure the doctor's office knows that, too, and that you can't ignore your mother for the duration of your brother's colonoscopy prep.
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My sister in law is developmentally disabled, has the capacity of a ten year old. There is no way that my husband would have had her have a routine colonoscopy because of the prep. She could not handle it and my husband was simply not capable of helping her get through the prep. She did the Cologard test.
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If you can't have this done in the hospital I would ask for Cologard as Cover suggested. I don't see how a doctor can suggest this for someone with ur siblings problem. I took pills and they worked pretty fast and no way to hold it. I had to take a series of pills 2x. I would refuse to do the prep.
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anonymous1732518 Jun 2023
There is even a new commercial for this, though I can't recall the song off hand, but do recall all four people standing on the step singing at the end.
I remember it now. "My Way"
I
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People with special needs may need prep done in hospital.

Discuss the situation with the Doctor that referred for colonoscopy.
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There’s an alternate method of prep, which was first described to me by my gastroenterologist’s nurse. It involves restricting diet in the days before. Stop solid foods, switch to soft food and liquids. That way there’s not so much bulk waste to flush out. I’ve used the method for a few colonoscopies. BUT you must ask his doctor if this method is right for him.

I don’t know why he needs a colonoscopy, but couldn’t something less invasive be tried first?? Like the poop check thing you put in the mail?
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anonymous1732518 Jun 2023
Cologuard
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I don’t think you should try to do this by yourself.

Do they expect you to do this for your brother? That would be going above and beyond helping!

Please ask them what they can provide to help your brother. Make sure that you say that you can’t possibly do this at home.
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Have them do the prep at the hospital.
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