Please help me prepare for my colonoscopy.

[Disneyland1084]

I know, not a very pleasant topic to talk about on the Disboards. I'm 44, and getting one this month on the 24th. I already talked to a medical assistant from the hospital I'm getting it done at. She went over the preparation with me, and I already have the preparation kit I drink the day before. I believe I'll be starting clear liquids a day or two before. It's all in my notes at home. I asked her what foods I can eat in the days leading up to it. She suggested potatoes and rice. For all you Disers who've had one, or experience helping others prepare for one, what food did you eat the days leading up to it? For example, if I have white rice, is it better to cook it on the stove, or would the microwaveable ones be ok? Any suggestions or experiences of your own would be appreciated. The medical assistant suggested I call my GI doctor 's office directly and see if they have any certain food suggestions since some vary. I'm going to make that call soon, but first want to see what other Disers have done. Thanks.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

They didn't tell me to alter my diet at all until the day of the prep (the day before the procedure) that was just clear liquids / jello. So I ate normally up until the point that I was supposed to not eat.

Make sure the special drink is nice and cold!

 

[Chili327]

They didn't tell me to alter my diet at all until the day of the prep (the day before the procedure) that was just clear liquids / jello. So I ate normally up until the point that I was supposed to not eat.

Make sure the special drink is nice and cold!

This!

 

[Disneyland1084]

They didn't tell me to alter my diet at all until the day of the prep (the day before the procedure) that was just clear liquids / jello.

What clear liquids did you drink? I've read it can be water, sparkly water, sodas, etc...Should coke be ok?

 

[LuvOrlando]

I never had to prep that far in advance so maybe you are having issues where they are concerned with not triggering spasms or something. If so I find a smoothie with banana and yogurt plus blueberries and ice very soothing, assuming you can have dairy if not just bananas and a soft no pits or bits fruit like mango with ice might be nice.

When I have to drink that stuff I make it cold and I gulp it to get as much down as I can before that taste registers and I keep chicken broth next to me to get rid of the taste in between gulps. Biggest advice, do not sip it and do not taste it first just to see before the drinking, just down the hatch chug as quick as you can then brush your teeth.

 

[disneychrista]

For 2-3 days before the procedure there were foods that I was told to avoid. No fruit or veggies with skins, no seeds or nuts, No whole grains. Only cooked fruits & veggies. Lean meats. No fatty or fried foods.

 

[Grankm21]

Same here, no special diet until the day before. The day before I drank clear Gatorade, chicken broth and ate some lemon jello. The nurse had also suggested lemon flavored crystal light in water. She said absolutely nothing red in color. Here is the best tip I was given by the nurse…put a lemon head candy under your tongue when you drink the prep stuff. This is what I did and somehow it completely masked the horrible taste. I tried to take a sip without a lemon head under my tongue and I started gagging.

 

[georgina]

I know, not a very pleasant topic to talk about on the Disboards. I'm 44, and getting one this month on the 24th. I already talked to a medical assistant from the hospital I'm getting it done at. She went over the preparation with me, and I already have the preparation kit I drink the day before. I believe I'll be starting clear liquids a day or two before. It's all in my notes at home. I asked her what foods I can eat in the days leading up to it. She suggested potatoes and rice. For all you Disers who've had one, or experience helping others prepare for one, what food did you eat the days leading up to it? For example, if I have white rice, is it better to cook it on the stove, or would the microwaveable ones be ok? Any suggestions or experiences of your own would be appreciated. The medical assistant suggested I call my GI doctor 's office directly and see if they have any certain food suggestions since some vary. I'm going to make that call soon, but first want to see what other Disers have done. Thanks.

A website that has a lot of tips about what to eat/what not to eat is fightcolorectalcancer.org

 

[Mommb]

What clear liquids did you drink? I've read it can be water, sparkly water, sodas, etc...Should coke be ok?

The purpose of the clear liquids is to make it easier to see any polyps in the colon. Because Coca-Cola is colored brown, it would not be considered clear. Clear or light yellow sodas, such as Sprite or Mountain Dew, would be better.

 

[kyton]

No orange or red foods, no seedy or whole grain foods in the lead up. Chicken noodle soup with all the “bits” strained out is good as is chicken broth. White rice and mashed potato as well as steamed white fish / chicken. It’s so there is no residual colour in your bowel to mask any problems.

Be close to a toilet on prep day. My husband swears by his bidet. Stops you from getting a sore butt in his opinion. My FIL had bowel cancer so my husband has been having regular colonoscopies since we were 35 - we are now 53 so we’ve got the routine down pat.

 

[Danicat77]

Drink lots of water for a couple of days before-this helps. Good luck!

 

[sam_gordon]

They should have given you materials on what they want you to eat and when. Like others, I don't recall anything special until the day before the procedure, maybe slightly limiting two days out.

Simply go by what they say.

And no, Coca Cola is NOT a "clear" liquid.

 

[Lewisc]

44 sounds young for routine screening. You may have different prep procedures for your specific issues.

Chicken broth, Gatorade and jello are popular.

 

[nycdisneygal]

I actually ate pretty normally until the day before the prep. Went out for a great meal that sunday night ( colonoscopy was tuesday afternoon). Day of prep I had a busy day at work and wasnt to start the prep until after 5 pm. I was allowed dairy and icfe cream until 5pm so I had coffee with vanilla ice cream that afternoon. While prepping I distracted myself by just watching movies on TV. One thing that was soothing was instead of all gatorade with the miralax (that was my office prep) someone suggested bone broth. So one of the cups was warm bone broth with miralax. Definitely helped...good luck!!

 

[Disneyland1084]

Be close to a toilet on prep day. My husband swears by his bidet. Stops you from getting a sore butt in his opinion. My FIL had bowel cancer so my husband has been having regular colonoscopies since we were 35 - we are now 53 so we’ve got the routine down pat.

Oh absolutely! I've had blood in my stool for a few months. Sometimes bright red, sometimes maroon colored. The GI doctor did a quick exam when I was in the office back in April and said it was most likely hemorrhoids, but am getting a colonoscopy to rule out colorectal cancer.

 

[Hisgirl]

I stop eating heavy foods like meat for about three days prior just to make things easier on prep day. On the day before your procedure, you only do liquids. yes, Coke is a clear liquid as is tea, but no milk or cream. Gatorade, sprite, broth, jello, these are all fine. Google for many ideas.
For example...I have one coming up on a Monday at noon.
So starting on Thursday, I will eat light, no meats. And on Sunday, only liquids. Maybe some broth or jello. That evening around 5pm, I'll mix up the first prep, drink it down, and follow with lots of liquids...about 32 oz.

The first prep hits you about an hour or 90 minutes later and you'll race to the bathroom for lots of diarrhea. It comes out fast so stay close. Make sure you have some butt paste stuff on hand, even vaseline. you'll be so glad for it!

This will continue for an hour or so then settle down. I'll get some sleep then mix the 2nd prep about six hours before I leave for my procedure, so 5:30am. Then I follow with more liquids.

The last time I did one, cutting back meats and eating a much lighter diet made a HUGE difference. And...don't laugh, but I wore an adult diaper during the lava flow time. It's hard running to the potty!

I typically get nauseous so my doctor prescribes anti nausea meds. It's good to have it on hand in case you need it, as I once vomited up all the prep and liquids. Maybe ask your doc for this to have if you need it.

 

[AMW86]

Low-fat, low-fiber makes the prep a bit easier. Look up a low residue diet

 

[sasywtch]

I didn't do anything special before the day I had to start the prep and do clear liquids. I end up getting sick with an empty stomach as I have hypoglycemia (?sp). I also had a caffeine withdrawal headache this time as I normally drink a lot of coffee. The nurse told me at the procedure time I could have drank plain coffee. I'm still not sure about that but I read that others drank Mountain Dew to get their caffeine.

 

[disneychrista]

44 sounds young for routine screening. You may have different prep procedures for your specific issues..

Not really. 45 is the new benchmark to start screenings.

 

[disneychrista]

And...don't laugh, but I wore an adult diaper during the lava flow time. It's hard running to the potty!

I totally plan to next time. From about 30 minutes after I took the stool softener until after I arrived to the out patient clinic for the procedure I had little to no control.