Colonoscopy Prep: nine Good Tips for the Night Before

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What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a procedure where a colonoscope (a thin, flexible tube) is inserted into the colon and guided all the way through to the cecum (where the colon begins and the small-scale bowel ends). To become to the colon, the colonoscope is inserted through the rectum. The colonoscope has a digital camera and light attached to the end that allows doctors to see whatsoever abnormalities. This is why a colonoscopy is often referred to every bit a direct visualization exam. This process may sound scary — but information technology isn't. In fact, information technology can save your life. Prior to the procedure, you will practice a bowel preparation to clear out the colon. "Prep" is essentially a laxative, which means you lot'll spend a lot of time on the toilet.

Colonoscopy prep is 1 of the near dreaded steps when it comes to colorectal cancer screening, just it's not optional. Y'all must clean out your colon and then the doctor can get a good wait at the inside!

We've asked colorectal cancer survivors and caregivers who undergo colonoscopy prep often for their "expert" tips on surviving prep night. Hither'south what they said:

1. Suit Your Diet a Few Days Before Prep Begins

Eating smaller portions and low-fiber foods a few days before you plan to practice colonoscopy prep tin aid the evening go smoothly.

What to Eat Before A Colonoscopy

What you cull to swallow and drink a few days prior to a colonoscopy can bear upon how "clean out" nighttime goes. Here's what our advocates recommend:

  • Digestive tea
  • Soups
  • Smoothies
  • Eggs
  • Rice
  • Salmon
  • Chicken
  • Steamed vegetables
  • Pasta
  • Lighter-colored foods

What Non to Consume Before Colonoscopy Prep

  • Nuts and seeds (including wraps and breads containing them)
  • Popcorn
  • Red meat
  • Fried, heavy foods
  • Raw vegetables
  • Corn, peas, apple skins, and other fiber-filled foods that are difficult to digest
  • Anything bright red in color

Decrease Repast Size

Several survivors say decreasing the size of their meals a few days earlier starting colonoscopy prep also makes information technology get easier and smoother.

2. Potable the Colonoscopy Prep Laxative Cold

There are several types of colonoscopy prep drinks available over the counter or by prescription, simply all of them crave you to swallow a relatively big volume. Unfortunately, this can crusade nausea and vomiting. If yous are struggling to drinkable your colonoscopy prep without throwing up, survivors recommend drinking the laxative cold – and through a straw – for the most pleasant feel.

"I put the prep drink in my large Tervis Ⓡ Tumbler with a straw. For some reason, drinking it with a straw helps me."

–Trish Lannon, stage III survivor

3. Choose Yummy Treats for the Liquid Diet

The day earlier a colonoscopy, patients must stick to a liquid diet – i.due east., no solid foods. What yous choose to eat and drinkable can make or intermission your colonoscopy prep experience.

Try These Drinks to Make Your Colonoscopy Prep Taste Meliorate

While you are on a liquid diet you tin add your prep to whatsoever of these treats. Remember to avert whatever liquids with red, orange, and purple dyes as these may look like traces of blood during the colonoscopy and can interfere with getting accurate results.

  • Organic low-sodium broth
  • Jell-OⓇ (not red, orangish, or purple)
  • Martinelli's Gilded MedalⓇ apple juice
  • White grape juice
  • Flavored sparkling h2o
  • 7-UPⓇ or SpriteⓇ
  • Blackness coffee (without creamer)
  • Gummy bears – pull out the red and regal ones, and suck the low-cal ones for a little treat
  • Crystal Low-calⓇ
  • GatoradeⓇ (not cherry-red, orange, or purple)
Colon Prep Shopping List

Electrolytes

Some survivors have also establish electrolyte drinks, such as PedialyteⓇ, can provide important hydration prior to the procedure.

"Pedialyte hydrates me meliorate than water. I go dehydrated very easily, and it makes for difficulty when putting in my 4 before the test. Pedialyte also at present comes in packets, and so you lot can mix it yourself."

–Kristen Keesen, stage III survivor

4. Bathroom Prep for Bowel Prep

Rolls of toilet paper

Once the colonoscopy prep laxative begins working, you'll spend a lot of time in the bath. Hither's what you'll need to brand it a good experience.

Wet Wipes

DUDE wipes Ⓡ and Grooming HⓇ wipes are two advocate favorites, but several brands produce medicated and not-medicated wet wipes.

Soft and Strong Toilet Paper

Double-ply, soft toilet paper volition be important as you prep for your colonoscopy. (And a critical must-have if you lot don't use moist wipes.) Several brands make "gentle" toilet paper with aloe that can convalesce itching and burning – something that is common when you're making frequent tips to the toilet.

Creams and Oils

Some survivors say creams and oils can help either prevent or soothe irritation. Favorites include:

  • VaselineⓇ
  • Coconut oil
  • Boudreaux'southward Barrel Paste®

Make sure the skin is completely dry before applying oils. Applying these bulwark creams/ointments to a wet site will trap the moisture inside, potentially causing the irritation to exist worse.

If your irritation continues, some notice that a absurd, wet washcloth or drawing a bathroom also helps with irritation.

Chargers and Light Reading

"Charge your phone and get a good book to read – you will exist in the bathroom a lot!"

–Amanda Houston, phase 2 survivor

Whether you lot program to be on your phone, laptop, or tablet, find your chargers before your laxative kicks in. Magazines like Across Bluish and videos with patient stories tin can remind y'all of the reason you're going through colonoscopy prep night and its importance!

Stretchy Pants

Elastic-waisted pants will be a lifesaver once the laxative begins working – you won't accept fourth dimension to mess with buttons!

5. Double Bank check What Fourth dimension to Start Your Prep

doctor instructions colonoscopy prep

Despite what the packaging or instructions on your colonoscopy prep product may say, always check with your doc's office and know what time they advise you to stop drinking liquids. This can impact your anesthesia during the colonoscopy.

Will I Be Up All Night with Colonoscopy Prep?

Double bank check your doctor'southward instructions for when to begin your prep and bump information technology up a few hours before, if possible. If you lot begin drinking the colonoscopy prep in the evening, start a few hours before to prevent running to the toilet all night. Each person's body is different – for some, it works correct abroad, and for others, it takes several hours. Give yourself plenty of time for the laxative to start working.

Your dr.'s office should indicate what fourth dimension to begin taking either pills or the laxative drink. Some colonoscopy preps are taken in one evening, others may be a "split up-dose" and taken between an evening and the following forenoon. If you lot recollect you can't potable your colonoscopy prep, a "split-dose" is a good pick because it tends to be more tolerable.

6. Suspension Upward Your Prep

Break upwards your prep beverage. Don't drink information technology all at one time! Drinking 32 ounces of anything can be daunting. But when you suspension up your prep over the course of an hour with four 8-ounce glasses, the mental stress of drinking "32 ounces" doesn't seem and then bad.

It is much easier to drinkable viii ounces every xv minutes over the course of an hour than to drink 32 ounces all at one time.

vii. Finish the Prep - All of It!

Information technology may exist tempting to end drinking all of the colonoscopy prep if your stools are running clear, but it's important to complete all of the steps.

It's not uncommon for the laxative to work right away and within the first few trips! Just, even if y'all start to "run clear," meaning your stools have turned liquid and are lighter in colour, it's of import to end the entire colonoscopy prep process.

Many bowel prep products include several drinks or pills to have - make certain to accept them all for a total cleanout and effective scope. If you're wanting to quit early on, just remind yourself the prep is the hardest part!

8. Ease Back Into Eating Solid Foods

After your colonoscopy, get easy on what yous swallow.

Y'all may exist starving subsequently your procedure (y'all likely oasis't eaten in over a day), just your gut may take a few days to feel normal again. Don't rush into a heavy, greasy meal - or you lot may regret it!

Some survivors say probiotics help the gut bounciness dorsum, and they avoid spicy foods for a few days if a polyp was removed.

A woman holds many rolls of toilet paper

9. Gloat… and Tell A Loved One

Practice self-care and be proud of yourself – you got screened! Don't forget to tell your family nearly your results!

Many patients leave a colonoscopy and get for a delicious and filling meal and a long nap. Yous won't exist able to drive or piece of work post-obit the process, so programme to take it easy for the balance of the day!

Considering colorectal cancer take chances is increased if you accept a family unit history of polyps AND/OR colorectal cancer, share your results with your family -- especially your children, parents, and siblings.

If the doctor removed colon polyps, or any signs of cancer, information technology may take a few days, up to a few weeks, before biopsy results come in.

Your doctor'southward part will follow-up with side by side steps and when your side by side colonoscopy should be scheduled.

Learn More than About Colorectal Cancer Screening

Download our free screening mini magazine for more information most colorectal cancer screening.

Additional Resources:

  • Colonoscopy Prep Chocolate Confined and Strawberry Smoothies
  • Anesthesia, Colonoscopy, and Co-Pays
  • Clear Liquids Before Colonoscopy — Really Necessary?
  • Tin Women Look for Get-go Colonoscopy?