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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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Have them do the prep at the hospital.
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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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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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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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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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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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People with special needs may need prep done in hospital.

Discuss the situation with the Doctor that referred for colonoscopy.
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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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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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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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