Ready to prep?
The following provides step-by-step instructions to cleanse your colon prior to your colonoscopy
Instructions for your bowel preparation
Achieving excellent bowel preparation ensures an optimal endoscopic examination of your colon. Read these instructions carefully to get the best results out of your colonoscopy.
Congratulations on scheduling your colonoscopy!
This important examination is a significant step in prioritizing your health. Bowel preparation is crucial for the procedure, and while it may seem challenging, it is essential for cleansing the bowel while adhering to a clear liquid diet. The following instructions will guide you through the preparation process, ensuring that you achieve optimal results for your doctor to perform a thorough examination of your colon. Your commitment to this preparation is commendable and will help ensure a successful procedure.
1. Obtain the prescribed bowel preparation material from your pharmacy in advance and read the medication instructions carefully.
2. If you have underlying constipation, start taking one or 2 capfuls of MiraLAX daily several days prior to the procedure in order to soften the stool and minimize the burden of stool in the colon to facilitate bowel preparation.
3. The day prior to colonoscopy, you will need to stay on clear liquid diet (breakfast, lunch and dinner—NO cheating) such as:
- Water, plain, carbonated or flavored.
- Fruit juices without pulp, such as apple or white grape juice.
- Fruit-flavored beverages, such as fruit punch or lemonade.
- Carbonated drinks, including dark sodas, such as cola and root beer.
- Gelatin without fruit.
- Tea or coffee without milk, cream or non-dairy creamer.
- Sports drinks.
- Clear, fat-free broth such as bouillon or consomme.
- Honey or sugar.
- Hard candy, such as lemon drops or peppermint rounds.
- Ice pops without milk, bits of fruit, seeds or nuts.
The rule of thumb is: If it is not going through the straw, you should not have it. Exceptions to this rule: You may have Jell-O and Italian ice (popsicle) and none of those will go through the straw. Another exception: Milk and high-fiber juice with pulps will go through the straw but should not be taken as that will increase the burden of stool in the colon.
4. Start drinking for bowel preparation material in the afternoon of the day prior to colonoscopy. Drink at your own pace, stop drinking when you are nauseated and resume it when the nausea improves to avoid vomiting the medication. Drink half of the bowel preparation material the afternoon prior to the colonoscopy day and drink the rest early morning on the day of colonoscopy. Please drink plenty of water while taking the bowel preparation material to avoid dehydration. Upon completing the bowel preparation, your stool should be free of debris but may have green or yellow color and should be transparent so you can read through it and see the bottom of the toilet bowl.
5. Do not eat any food (only drink water and the rest of your bowel preparation material) after midnight prior to colonoscopy.
6. Stop drinking water and the bowel preparation material 2 hours prior to colonoscopy to avoid aspiration pneumonia.
7. If you are on any blood thinner, please discuss that with your prescribing doctor several days prior to colonoscopy to avoid the risk of bleeding associated with the endoscopic interventions at the time of colonoscopy.
8. If you are diabetic, please discuss with your prescribing doctor regarding modification of the medication to avoid low blood sugar.
9. If you are on an injectable weight loss medication, please let the endoscopy team know as those medications will increase the risk of aspiration during sedation which could damage your lungs.
10. As you are being sedated, you cannot drive yourself back home. Please make sure you arrange for a ride.
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Any questions about your prep?
Call our office at (913) 535 - 0600 and we will help you through the process.
