For those of you who have done this, did you fast exactly as stated?

If you cheated by how much?  Beverages only or food too?

This time I'm doing it as I should, only water for 12 hours (I'll see though, it's possible I may need medication).  If I had to get this done more often I think I might ask the doctor about how closely I need to follow it.

My husband tried to cheat it a bit, by eating his meal (he didn't go overnight) about 30 min late.  The clinic made him wait.  I was surprised, I thought for 30min they would let it go.

I haven't cheated, but I have eaten right up to the last possible second - lol! Fortunately for me, I don't like to eat first thing in the morning, so on the rare occasion that I've had to do this, I have a large meal and then try to make it an early night. I get up, go to the clinic, and then have breakfast afterwards.    

Somegal, I'm not really a big breakfast eater, but I have to eat something to avoid feeling sick and dizzy.

For me, to go 12 hours ideally I would eat a larger lunch at 11 and then eat dinner very late (assuming I wasn't running around too much during the day) but for some reason the clinic isn't open at 11pm :)

LOL - I can't imagine why! 

What I hate even more is when you fast and then take the bowel clearing drugs-I spend the whole night on the toilet

For a bowel scope

This too shall end Chemgal-

you could always think of it as a religous fast

My tip for fasting - get the first appointment in the morning, if at all possible.

That way you just have to wait for brekky!

I was once scheduled, after fasting, for a hospital operation early in the morning.

By the time the doctor got to me it was late afternoon - and I was sooo hungry that I had this huge head-ache.

When I saw the anaesthetist I interrupted his little talk with, "I'm not allergic to penicillin -but I do have the worst head-ache of my life - just knock me out, the sooner the better!"

He grinned and said, "You won't have that head-ache when you wake up"............

And he was right.

I had a cholesterol / triglyceride test go wonky because of a cup of unsweetened mint tea.  Had the test re-done 2 days latter having had nothing but water and the test came out normal.

Like you chem gal, I can't skip meals.  I get light headed and nauseous with an eventual headache.  I always get my bloodwork done first thing in the morning.  The lab opens at seven.  And not even chewing gum is allowed beforehand.  (Thank goodness they let me brush my teeth!)

Tabitha, I wouldn't fast for religious reasons, as I get no religious experience out of doing this!  It isn't as awful as some medical things, that's for sure.

Rowan, interesting about the mint, I can see it though, as it is a stimulant.  Maybe you really do have to avoid everything for 12 hours.  I still think they are overly strict though :)  If I were to cheat it, I would be curious to see if roobis tea would affec the results.  It's like an ultrasound.  They get you to drink way more water than what's really neccessary and then want you to empty your bladder 'just a little'.  When I had that done, my mom had me drink less water than they said to and it worked just fine.  Also, why plain water?  I had drinking large amounts of plain water.  I don't need much, some flavour crystals or lime or lemon juice makes water so much better (for the ultrasound, for a fast I could see that messing with the results).

I was surprised to hear how difficult fasting can be for some people.  I wonder what the differences in body chemistry are that ground this difficulty?

It never used to be difficult for me Jim Kenney . . . I was able to fast no problem at all, and feel fine.  But I noticed the last time I fasted I felt a little woozy in the morning while awaiting my blood test.

I know each lab is different, but here when fasting for triglycerides/cholesterol our instructions are to having absolutely NOTHING - not even water!  I've heard of others who could have clear water.  But they won't even take your blood here if you've had water.

One of my husband's doctors told him that when having these tests he should avoid alcohol for at least 3 days before the test as that can make quite a difference.

Good luck with your tests chemgal . . . sounds like a wise new doctor!

Been there, done that . . . that is absolutely the worse preparation for a test !

Yeah, here they tell you not to swallow anything when you brush your teeth !

Jim, there was quite a while where I had issues with nausea every single morning.  For me, I think that's part of the issue still.  The worst part today was the crowded waiting room.  Someone reeked of smoke, and they were running a bit late.  When I stood up it the smell got to me and caused me to start gagging.  I'm all better now though!

Good girl, chemgal . . . hope you had breaky and something good to drink :)