Grastrogafin horror stories

[drax83]

I just had my first AND last experience with an evil prep called grastrografin. For a CT. virtual colonoscopy last Friday. In all my life, I admit that even the first sip of this in water, made me almost throw up. Not only that, I cut my doses down by a quarter, and mixed in some barley water, for the 48 hours I was on diet. I spent the second evening into the morning going to loo, very low with worry no food. Its insane that the pharmsutical companies can't replace this with something less than cleaning fluid for a prep.

Horror stories abound on sites, where patients gave it 1 star. Not surprising some scans could not go ahead because patients were still at home experiencing horrible effects. A few patients had to go to A&E over more serious complications. Like me, many suffered still 2-3 days after with depression, tiredness, soft stools for a further 2 to 3 days ruining work schedules and home life. This was called by one poster as "The devil's Urine"!!

The radiologists may like this to get images, but usually you get CO2 pumped up your bottom too, it's actually Very uncomfortable. I would like to here from others how they coped with this wicked substance? 😳😳

[Hidden]

Hi drax I had this too tasted like aniseed made me retch !! Glad it was only a small amount . It actually never started to work until after I had the scan nearly never made it to the hospital toilet and had bad Diarrhea for over a week very sly !!! So my scan was limited cos I was full of poo 💩🤣🤣🤣x

[drax83 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Pansy, nice to here from you. Yes anaseed or liquorice awful smell alone, it's vile, it's strong, some people have some quite amazing names for this stuff. Most I can't mention here. 😱, it seems to effect every one differently, which is why it needs nerfing so it's not so strong. Hope you keeping OK. 👍

[Hidden in reply to drax83]

I’m ok drax sounds like you’ve had an experience you won’t forget 🤣 I won’t be drinking any Pernod anytime soon ! I could taste that for days after . Couldn’t go out of the house for a week. X

[Superzob]

I almost passed out in the shower on the third day, as I was so dehydrated! After I had phoned 111, my doctor advised me that the instruction to drink water is actually counter-productive, as you really need an isotonic drink.

I find instructions for the use of these products rather disingenuous, because they make light of the side effects, and you wonder whether you're making a fuss about nothing. I actually took Imodium so that I could get to the hospital; they should advise that this is OK, provided your stools are running clear.

The problem with all this is that reactions are so individual: yours is one extreme, and some people are completely unaffected by it. I guess they have to use it as it contains a contrast dye which makes it easier to see blood vessels, but they do need to be more honest in their information sheet. I wrote to the hospital along those lines, but I don't expect much joy

[drax83 in reply to Superzob]

Sorry to here of your experience. Well, I have had quite a few scans with contrast, (that's just the contrast given by cannula for 10 seconds not a pre prep) to keep an eye on a small cyst on my right kidney since 2016. I'm so used now, to drinking plenty of water, lemonade and tea, but of course not all at same time. That stuff is seriously in need of being recreated. Your right that information is not always clear, I found the diet instructions for the two and a half days before, was filled with confusing types of food types. It seems mixing it with a cordial or sugary drink is best, but surprised that fizzy drinks were still there on the second day. I had two bowls of smooth soup with one water bisquit. I have a Gerd problem, so I need some light solid to stop acid after 2 days fasting.

I think you did a good job telling the hospital, because even I nearly did it, but to be honest not in a fit state quite yet to get into it. Today since Friday ct job, is the first decent day with solid stools. Stay near a toilet as suggested in leaflet, is a bit difficult after 7pm. I think for this particular scan with a bloody gas pipe stuck up your ass, it would be better for it to be undertaken within hospital instead of the outpatients way. Is a Isotonic drink like an electrolyte drink.?? 🤔

[Superzob in reply to drax83]

Yes, as far as I'm aware isotonic and electrolyte drinks are practically identical (though someone on this forum will probably tell me off for loose terminology!). I was advised Dioralyte or Lucozade Sport; I now keep a stock for when the IBS is bad.

Do let the hospital know of your experience in writing when you've sufficiently recovered. Some years ago, I went for a second sigmoidoscopy but, unbeknown to me, they had changed the procedure and gave me an enema. When I got back to the car, I couldn't sit in the driver's seat because of the wind pain and overran my parking time limit with frequent visits to the hospital toilet to get the air out. I wrote of my experience to the consultant, and he wrote back agreeing that the information provided didn't properly explain the procedure and would be revised - so it does work sometimes!