Colonoscopy Prep
#4 Essential Guides
A colonoscopy is a medical test for your large intestine (colon) and rectum. Your doctor inserts a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end into your rectum to look deep inside your colon. They are looking for Polyps which are small growths that can turn into cancer later on. Finding and removing them early is important.
The standard age to get your colonoscopy is 45, earlier if you have family history.
The day before the test is usually the hardest part. You must completely empty out your colon so the doctor can actually see without waste getting in the way. Follow your doctors’ orders for pre-procedure guidelines and food rules. Clear liquids only means that you have to be able to see through it when you hold it up to the light. No milk or cream in your coffee. You cannot have anything red or purple or blue. (These colors can look like blood on the camera). No alcohol.
You can have plain water, clear sports drinks (yellow, green, clear), apple juice, white grape juice, white cranberry juice, black coffee, plain tea, clear broth (chicken, beef, vegetable), Jello (lemon, lime) clear hard candies, popsicles (yellow, green).
If you don’t follow the food rules, your procedure may be canceled and must be re-scheduled. You will have to do the fasting and drink the miserable prep all over again. It is NOT worth it to cheat.
You will take a heavy-duty laxative prescribed by your doctor to flush out your system. It usually tastes like thick, salty, metallic ocean water, and there is an ungodly amount of it. Cancel your plans and stay near the bathroom all day. You are going to be on the toilet a lot. It is not going to be a normal bowel movement. It will be explosive diarrhea.
My first colonoscopy prep had me drinking a gallon of the worst tasting drink imaginable. I gagged getting it down. Then next couple colonoscopies had me drink Suprep. Still not tasting good but there is less liquid and was a bit easier to swallow. I’ve been told that now there are pills, like 24 of them at one time, split into two sittings but my Gastroenterologist will not prescribe those for me.
Some tips for getting the prep down….
· COLD, room temperature is miserable
· Use a wide straw and suck it down quickly
· Hold your nose
· Use a chaser – have a lemon wedge handy and suck on it immediately after
If you feel like you are going to vomit: Stop immediately. Walk away from the jug. Take a 30 to 45-minute break. Walk around, sip some plain water, and let your stomach empty a bit. It is much better to finish the prep an hour late than to throw it up and ruin the entire process.
It usually takes anywhere from 1 to 4 hours for the laxative to start working, but when it does, it happens fast. Eventually, what comes out will transition from brown liquid to a clear, yellowish tint (it will look a lot like urine). That clear yellow is the finish line. It means you are cleaned out.
You may want to prepare your bathroom in advance. Have wet wipes handy because wiping with dry toilet paper 40 times may irritate your skin. (Use the trash and not the toilet. Now is not the time to clog your plumbing) It is OK to coat your anal area with Vaseline or diaper rash ointment.
A few side notes: Dress for speed and comfort. You won’t have time for buttons, belts or tight clothes. Have a phone, tablet, book, magazine in the bathroom for entertainment. Keep water handy as you must stay hydrated.
On the day of the procedure, you will go to a clinic or hospital for the test. You must bring someone to drive you home. The whole thing takes about 30 to 60 minutes. You will be asleep and won’t feel any pain.