Colonoscopy prep: make it easier

Sep 8, 2020 | Joey Keillor | @joeykeillor | Comments (17)

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Among the many discomforts of having a colonoscopy, people often say that the prep work before is the worst part. Below are a few tips can help make the process easier:

Two days beforehand. Start eating a low-fiber diet. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts and seeds.

The day before. Don’t eat any solid food. Stick to clear liquids, broth soups, and popsicles and gelatin that aren’t red or purple. The evening before your procedure, drink the first dose of your laxative preparation as directed.

The day of. Drink clear liquids only and stop drinking all liquids two hours before your scheduled report time. Take the second dose of your laxative preparation at the time instructed.

Throughout. Take your medications as directed. Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated, except two hours prior to your test.

It’s important that you drink all of the laxative preparation. If you find it difficult to do so because of the taste, try these tips:

Refrigerate the solution and drink it cold.
Suck on ice or a lemon or lime wedge.
Chew gum right before you drink each glass of the solution.
Drink the solution through a straw.

There are several colon-prep products that involve significantly less fluid that the standard prep. Brand names include Prepopik, Suprep and Plenvu. The main downside to these is that they are not recommended for those with heart, kidney or liver disease, which may prevent many older adults from using them. Plus, they are more expensive.

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luraew4 | @luraew4 | Dec 14, 2021

In reply to @ess77 "@loribmt and all...Hello, dear Lori. I've missed our chats. Missed you. I fell off the grid..." + (show)

I loved reading your above comments. I would enjoy reading a book about your care of your Mother with Alzheimer’s. I also cared for my Dad with Alzheimer’s while raising two toddlers we had adopted . What a rollercoaster and I can totally relate to your ups and downs.

quimbie | @quimbie | Dec 15, 2021

In reply to @luraew4 "What items do you eat to be your “light diet” sounds like great idea to me." + (show)

Being a bread person I had either slice of toast or an English muffin with little butter and 1/2 banana. Lunch some sliced baked chicken (small amount) with half piece of bread and dinner was jello. Does not hurt to be a little hungry and makes the process go smoother. I also cut my eating back a day or two before the procedure. I also started the prep 2 hours before I was told to. I like to be prepared for anything .

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Dec 15, 2021

In reply to @luraew4 "I loved reading your above comments. I would enjoy reading a book about your care of..." + (show)

@luraew4 and all…How did you do it with toddlers? This was in the '90s, i owned a gift/home decor/collectibles shop for 10 years, ran by myself. Had 5+ employees, buying trips from Jacksonville to Atlanta and New York, visited Mom on the way home from work, every day for 6 years in Assisted Living/Memory unit, until I had a melt-down. Total melt-down. Sold the business, broke my heart. My son flew in and helped me and contacted the other family, 2 brothers who had offered little help to me or Mom. What is it with brothers?

Actually, that's the reason I think I have the colonoscopies so often and the multiple growths, the forest of polyps as the doc said. I let most of my health issues wait until I was no longer helping Mom and had the shop. Also, waited longer until my son, who became disabled during that time, was under better care and pain control….then, I went to Mayo for help.

Wonder sometimes what would have happened, could I have improved my aging process, enjoyed my friends who were many at the time and we got together often until I couldn't due to Mom's needs and my health/reduction in energy…What a time. Roller-coasters were galore. Internal pain, emotional pain, and enormous stress all took their toll on me. No time to meet a life partner. Just no time for me.

Well, I've learned to accept what is and what was. Don't like it often, but it's past and over and we all did what we needed at the time. Now, I still do the same, but I'm putting my needs equal to my son's, almost. and, Mayo has indeed saved my life my sanity, given hope. What a gift!

I hope you came through your experience with your dad and are doing well now.

I'm finding this experience meeting on Connect is the best and biggest gift of all. What lovely folks I've met who have willingly and lovingly shared with me. guided me to good resources and helpful friendly sharing of themselves. What a great day!
Blessings to you. elizabeth

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Dec 16, 2021

In reply to @ess77 "@loribmt and all...Hello, dear Lori. I've missed our chats. Missed you. I fell off the grid..." + (show)

Hi Elizabeth, it’s great to see you here! I’ve missed you too! I’m not always in the groups where you post so sometimes I don’t see your replies. Tell you what, I’m going to send a PM to you so we can catch up. ☺️

petuniamom567 | @petuniamom567 | Dec 19, 2021

have to be careful with smaller, quicker preps. read ingredients. discovered when my husband used Plenvu that it had aspartame in it which i'm allergic to. i'll now read ingredients of all preps prescribed. often, allergies to artificial sweeteners aren't given to physicians because they're considered foods, not meds. discovered this when nurse tried to add aspartame to my medicine and allergy list. every one have fun with this procedure. part of the price of aging. but then we're lucky we have it.