[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hello Caroline!

I hear you. Here's my experience (since '98 I've accrued a fair amnt). In NY they gave me a clear liquid, to be mixed w/ice tea, which I brought. It gave me serious diarrhea but I was still learning how to be proactive. I knew to go straight home and not to make plans for sev days after.

When I moved to Fla full time, the Imaging Center gave me an almost tasty white foamy pina colada thing to drink. I went home, had the diarrhea and awaited my same day report.

At 3 o'clock I got the call. They needed me to come back. The radiologist couldn't read my scans! Something about "bowel loops". My husband and I raced back to the center. I had to drink the stuff again. Go through the CT scan. To find out -- same -- can't read the scans. Need to drink more.........

At 5 o'clock the nurse came to tell me they are closing. She was very sorry but I had to come back the next day. NO WAY!!!!!!!!

I pleaded. I still remember, it was '99, the nurse's name was Sharon. I said, I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. The clear stuff always worked in NY. She called the hosp, next door, to ask if they had ORAL HYPAQUE. The Imaging Center had none. They did. She walked to the hosp and picked it up. Brought it to me.

I drank again. Did more CT scans!! AND THE RADIOLOGIST COULD READ MY SCANS.

Don't ask how much bathroom drama followed that hideous experience.

I was on the ev 8 wk CT scan schedule then I think. Eventually moved to ev 3 mnths. Yay! Now go annually.

Forgive my long explanation, please. And my digression.

Slowly, I got savvy. I noted that the amnt of ORAL HYPAQUE -- I had to have special ordered by my onc -- that my husband picked up at the hosp the day before my scans -- was always different. The instructions were always to drink the entire bottle.

So, I gathered the courage to drink the smallest amnt I was once given. Still diarrhea galore.

I cut that the next. And kept cutting till I was down to 2 tablespoons!

At the Center, they give me MORE, to mix w/ice tea that I bring. It fills 2 cups!!! I sip. I go to the bathroom. And I pour the rest down the sink.

And the diarrhea stopped. And the radiologists were always able to read my scans!

THEY SHOULD NOT, THOUGH THEY CONSISTENTLY INSIST, THAT ALL THAT THEY GIVE ME "MUST" BE TAKEN! THAT IT WON'T WORK OTHERWISE.

I BEG TO DIFFER.

I also take Prilosec and Benedryl (2) prior to my scans, the night before and with my first home drink of 2 teaspoons and 16 oz of ice tea.

Good luck, Caroline. Glad you remembered me, even if you couldn't find me. HERE I AM. ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU.

Let me know how you fare, please...

With love

Andi