Preparing for a colonoscopy isn’t typically categorized as an enjoyable experience, but it’s far from the worst thing in the world. However, sometimes colonoscopy preparation can seem more daunting than it needs to be because of how you approach the situation. Conversely, if you are smart about how you prepare for your colonoscopy, the process can become simpler and easier. In today’s blog, we share five steps for making your colonoscopy preparation easier.
How To Breeze Through Colonoscopy Prep
Here are five tips from our gastrointestinal team on how to make your colonoscopy prep less of a chore.
- Prepare For Your Prep – Although you don’t need to adjust your diet until a day before the colonoscopy, it’s less of a pain if you start preparing for the dietary adjustments ahead of time. Stock up on clear liquids, toilet paper and wet wipes, and make sure you read and understand the directions for drinking your laxatives at least a week in advance. If you have any questions or concerns, you’ll have no problem getting answers before you are expected to begin your prep. Start preparing for your prep at least a couple days in advance so you are ready when the day comes.
- Start Adjusting Your Diet – Some people like to have a big dinner the day before they start their colonoscopy prep since they’ll have some strict dietary restrictions the day before their colonoscopy, but that won’t make it any easier to stick to your colonoscopy guidelines. A couple days before your prep day, start reducing portion size and avoiding certain foods like fried foods, red meat or corn. Smaller portions of foods like soups, eggs, smoothies and chicken will help make prep day less of a shock to the system.
- Take The Day Off – Don’t try to work on your prep day, because you’ll just be uncomfortable and you can usually expect to spend more time than normal in the bathroom. If you add on the extra stress of work, the day can be especially uncomfortable. Take the day off, stay home, curl up with a good book or a new television series and drink the prep solution from the comfort of your home.
- Drink It Cold – The colonoscopy solution is similar to the solution expecting mothers drink before their gestational diabetes test in that it is hardly ever described as a tasty concoction. However, chilling the drink tends to tame the taste a bit, which most people find helpful. Put the solution in your refrigerator well in advance of your prep day so that it is cold and less flavorful when you need to drink it.
- Ask Questions And Share Concerns With Your Doctor – If you run into any trouble along the way, or if you have questions or concerns regarding your prep, reach out to your doctor. Our team of GI specialists would be more than happy to answer questions or explain the purpose of some of the prep guidelines. We can also give you some tips on what types of clear liquids most people reach for to help control feelings of hunger, or if you have questions about stool changes throughout the process. We’re here to make the prep day as comfortable as possible, so lean on us if you need us!
For more information about colonoscopy prep, or to schedule your upcoming colonoscopy, reach out to the team at Bhatti GI Consultants today at (953) 368-3800.
