Has anyone had to deal with their loved one having to have a colonoscopy but being immobile?

I'd be asking why too. FIL's doc told us that they try not to do them after age 80 (he is 87) because of the high risks involved .Seems like a lot to put someone through who is already frail.

Again, some doctors amaze me, are they too busy, or are they incompetent. I would think the doctor would be aware of the situation and why he'd call for this prep at home is beyond me.

Why does this person need a colonoscopy?

This is a quote from a recent New York Times article:
"the United States Preventive Services Task Force reviewed years of research and recommended against routine screening for colorectal cancer in adults over age 75 and against any screening in those over 85."

The risks far outweigh the benefits of colonoscopies in the elderly. Why put a frail person through the trauma and humiliation of prepping for the colonoscopy and the possible delirium resulting from having the procedure?

Here is the link to the article http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/12/too-many-colonoscopies-in-the-elderly/

You might want to share it with your loved one's doctor. Ask questions. Find out why he/she thinks this is necessary. Unless there is a very good reason, consider refusing the procedure altogether. And get a second opinion if the doctor is insisting that it be done.

I would be asking the doctor who ordered this what his recommendation is on how they go about handling a problem like this. If he can't give you a reasonable and manageable answer then ask him to come do it for you! Idiot doctor's don't ever care or think about the trouble all this creates, just as long as they get paid!

I agree with the others on why do it? Ask the doctor what is the worst case scenario(s) they could find on the exam. With those results what would be the treatment? Decide if you would consider the treatment for the findings. If you would not consider the treatment, don't do the tests. I realize your brother is still young but if he has cancer is he going to want to go through radiation and/or chemo the prolong the inevitable? Once you answer these questions then make a decision on the test.

Does your brother want the colonscopy? If not, I would suggest you abide by his wishes. Have you contacted any MS associations to see what their recommendations are, if any? I had a routine colonscopy just 3 days ago and needed a 2-day prep. It was an awful experience, and at my age I don't think I'd do it again. (I'm 71.) Other than the MS, which is serious enough, it is a pretty grueling experience for anyone to go through.
God bless your brother and you.

To nsjmk77- Do you think that when someone has Cancer that the inevitable is death?! I know many survivors of Cancer. I know several who have healed themselves with a change in diet. I don't like the idea that just because someone is diagnosed with Cancer that that is all she wrote. Dang!

Saturn, my mom recently went 2 weeks before having a BM. I had to take her to the ER where they gave her lactulose (go figure!) and she went the very next day.
There was a little blood in her stool and some of the health care people involved were all up in arms, worried and all. But it didn't happen again. Sometimes, when I am constipated, there might be a bit of blood on the tp. It doesn't repeat and I've never worried about it.

I am also an RN and in school and in practice, we didn't really worry about blood unless it was obviously blood that had gone through the alimentary canal for some time, maybe from the stomach or upper intestine. But that blood isn't bright red and it has a terrible odor.

There are little cards with reagents that you can use to see if there is blood in the stool BEFORE you and he go through this ordeal to make sure there is something to investigate. A lot of times hemorrhoids or just overstretching and trauma related to the size of the BM after being constipated for so long can cause a little blood, But the thing is, if the blood is bright red, it is not from deep in the body but right inside or outside. If it doesn't repeat or doesn't show up on the little cards (ask the dr for an Rx to get some), then I would either talk to the dr about alternatives and/or get a second opinion!

It seems unnecessary unless there is good reason to suspect something going on. And from what you've said, I think there is more investigation that should be done before having to suffer the prep and aftermath of a colonoscopy.

I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. I would not put him through it.