Advice On Prepping For Your Colonoscopy
posted on 09/24/2009
Colonoscopies are Essential for Cancer Screening
Colonoscopies are procedures that should be scheduled for everyone over the age of 50 to ensure that there are no pre-cancerous growths in the colon. They should also be scheduled for those individuals who are at risk or have a family history of colon cancer. However, many people are reluctant to schedule a colonoscopy because of the prep work that has to be done at home the night before the procedure.
The Prep Game
If you are scheduled to have a colonoscopy, then you will be asked to prepare for it by cleaning out your digestive track. Usually you will have to stop eating certain types of food three days before the procedure (usually red meat, tomatoes or any other "red" food). You will also be asked to stop eating all solid food 24 to 36 hours prior to the scheduled colonoscopy. From that point on, you are only allowed to drink clear liquids, such as chicken broth or bouillon, Jello, Popsicles, water, tea and black coffee.
Let the Drinking Begin!
The real preparation work begins around 5 p.m. the night before the procedure. Your doctor will have given you a prescription for a solution that will help clean out your colon and digestive track. There are several brands on the market, but they all work the same. Mixed with water and a flavoring agent of your choice, you will have approximately one gallon of a medicinal solution that you will have to drink that induces the cleansing action of your bowels so that all solid products are eliminated prior to the procedure. You will be asked to drink one 8-ounce glass of the solution every 20 to 30 minutes until you have consumed the entire bottle (or the amount directed by your doctor). Usually you will begin to have urges to go to the bathroom within an hour of drinking the first two or three glasses.
Many people find drinking the solution to be unpleasant, but here are some tips that can help get it down more easily.
Use a straw and put the straw, as far back in your throat as possible. This will keep you from tasting much of the solution.
If you don't like cold drinks, keep the solution at room temperature.Conversely, if you prefer cold drinks, keep the solution in the refrigerator.
Keep your favorite hard candy available to suck on immediately after drinking the solution. You can even keep the candy in your mouth while you are drinking the solution, as long as you don't swallow it.
Drink some warm tea after drinking the solution. Having warm tea will often help settle the stomach if you feel bloated.
Buy a box of baby wipes to keep in the bathroom.They are helpful in case you get a case of "adult" diaper rash.
Buy the softest toilet tissue you can find. You butt will appreciate it!
The actual colonoscopy itself is uneventful. You will be sedated while they do the procedure and then allowed to wake up in a recovery area. You will NOT remember a thing. And hopefully, you will not need another one for another 10 years!
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Asahd2 says:
(36d 18h 21min ago)
Thanks John, I'm going to get an appointment very soon for one.