Essential Steps to Prepare for Your Colonoscopy
Posted on: 11 July 2019
Colonoscopies are vital diagnostic tools for gastroenterologists. In addition to screening for diseases such as cancer, they can help to identify coeliac disease, Crohn's disease and more. If you're attending a colonoscopy clinic soon, you'll need to prepare for the procedure.
Completing your bowel prep
Your doctor will send out some bowel prep sachets to use in the days before your procedure. In many cases, this means using a laxative such as Picolax. Such laxatives can be incredibly potent and powerful, so you need to plan your bowel prep in advance.
Depending on the medication you take, your bowel prep is likely to start working around eight hours after drinking it. You'll need to remain very close to a toilet, so consider taking the day off work if necessary. Some people find that they feel sore afterwards, so consider buying some petroleum jelly to soothe any painful areas.
Changing your diet
Your doctor may also recommend changing your diet to a lighter low-fibre version of your current regime. For example, vegetables, pasta, fruit without the skin and lean protein. Avoid items such as beans and legumes, fruit with the skin and fatty or sugary foods. Modifying your diet makes it easier for you to use your bowel prep comfortably.
On the day before your procedure, you may be instructed to switch to clear liquids. This means avoiding all solid food and drinking drinks such as rehydrating sports drinks and clear fruit juices. It's important to adhere to this, as anything that remains in your bowel may obstruct the colonoscopy camera and prevent your doctor from grabbing a good image. Additionally, it may prevent them from getting a biopsy from your colon, which means you'll need to repeat the procedure in the future.
Make your transport arrangements
If you require light sedation during the procedure, it's unlikely that you'll be safe to drive yourself home afterwards. You should be able to leave the hospital, but you shouldn't drive. Try to arrange for a friend or family member to collect you or accompany you to the procedure. Arranging this in advance helps you feel less stressed and gives you a chance to go home and rest while the sedating drugs wear off.
Colonoscopies are usually quite fast procedures, and they can tell you a lot about your health. When you follow your doctor's instructions and prepare for what's ahead, you should find that everything goes to plan.
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