Halflytely colonoscopy prep and heart issues

[Madge270]

I'm scheduled to have a colonoscopy in five days. (This will be my fifth one, and I need one every three years.) I'm using the Halflytely prep because there's not as much liquid to drink as the old full-gallon Nulytely prep.  The Halflytely prep worked well for me five years ago, when I didn't have any heart issues. But now I have PVCs (not every day like two years ago, but I still get them) and in the last few months I've also  developed a pounding heart.  During those pounding episodesor palps, which occur several times a day and last for 30 minutes to an hour, my pulse is usually quite regular, no PVCs. Sometimes it's my regular pulse rate (about 74 beats a minute) and sometimes it's faster (up to about 110 beats a minute of hard pounding) depending upon whether I've climbed stairs, or done something else active. I can feel the pounding pulse in my chest, neck and head. I went to see my local doctor about it but didn't have the pounding while I was there. He said my heart sounded fine and he didn't think it was anything to worry about.  I do intend to check with my cardiologist when I have my next appointment in a few months.

The directions for the colonoscopy prep say that one of the side effects (although fairly rare) is a serious heart arrhythmia. So this time, I'm a little worried. Now that I sometimes have an arrhythmia, am I more likely to have a serious problem when drinking the Halfytely prep? Have any of you used it?  All you need to do is a take a bisacodyl (Dulcolax) tablet and later drink 1/2  gallon of liquid prep (same substance basically as the old Golytely or Nulytely gallon of awful tasting stuff).

I'd feel a lot better if I knew that my heart would be okay during the prep and colonoscopy procedure. Can anyone tell me what they experienced with the HalfLytely prep?

[Madge270]

One last question:  It's been two days since the colonoscopy, and I've had a lot of gas, even today. Also gurgling and aching in the pit of my stomach whenever my stomach is even a little empty, (which is most of the time).   Ever had that?  If so, will it go away soon?  Never had it the other times, yet I feel pretty good otherwise...just some heart pounding as I'd had before.

[Madge270]

The HalfLytely prep went okay on Monday, except for some heart racing and pounding before the actual cleaning out process began. Once it started, my heart was okay. Because I now have a redundant colon (a long, twisty loop), it took longer for the diarrhea to end. I was still running to the bathroom at midnight even though I began drinking the liquid prep at 4 pm. (In the past, I was done by 8 pm.)

Anyway, my fifth colonoscopy went well yesterday. I asked for demerol and an anti-nausea med instead of the newer one, because the newer one made me throw up afterward.  Demerol and Versed worked like a charm, and my heart apprently behaved, since the doctor didn't mention anything to my husband about it.  Slept through the whole thing. I do have a little gas/tenderness in my lower left side today, but that's where my twisty section is and the little bit of soreness should clear up soon.  The really good news is that there were NO  POLYPS!  I've had polyps removed three times in the past, so this was really wonderful. And I don't need another scope for five years.  

Again, thanks so much for your reassurance. I won't be afraid to use the HalfLytely prep again. So  nice to only have 8 cups to drink.

[Madge270]

Thanks for replying.  The doc has a PVCs himself and I really like him, but he is not a cardiologist. He does specialize in endoscopy, and is well regarded for colonoscopies. He did say they'll be watching my heart during the procedure, but I needed some reassurance about the HalfLytely prep itself the day before. I guess it's just that the heart pounding thing gets to me because I don't know whether it's my mitral valve or something else. Even though the PVCs are less frequent, now I have the hard palps each day. Again, thanks.

[itdood]

Ditto here.  Similar symptoms when I had my colonoscopy.  No problems at all.