The day before the colonoscopy procedure, you should not eat any solid foods. Instead consume only clear liquids like clear broth or bouillon, black coffee or tea, clear juice, sports drinks, popsicles, etc.
For procedures that are scheduled to start after 12 p.m., it is okay to drink clear liquids (black coffee or tea without sugar or milk, water, Seven-Up, ginger ale or apple juice) until 6 hours before the start time of the procedure. DO NOT EAT ANY SOLID FOOD AFTER MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE.
The FDA approved a colonoscopy prep tablet that may make it easier for patients as they prepare for a colorectal cancer screening procedure.
CLEAR LIQUIDS INCLUDE: water, chicken/beef/vegetable broth, flavored waters, apple juice, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, coffee, tea, Sprite, Gatorade, PowerAde, Mountain Dew, Coke/Pepsi, Rootbeer, and Slurpee's. DO NOT DRINK milk or use any dairy or non-dairy creamer in your coffee or tea.
What if I've taken all my preparation and am still passing solid stool on the day of my exam? In this case, your procedure will need to be rescheduled. You may be prescribed a different preparation for your next procedure. Please call the triage nurse to reschedule your procedure with a different preparation.
Clear broth or bone broth is also helpful in keeping nutrients in the body without solid food intake. These can be prepared with chicken broth powder, bouillon, or bought premade. Any broth is acceptable as long as it contains no noodles or solids.
If you are unable to finish the prep because you are too nauseous or can't tolerate any more of it, you should call your doctor's office right away to let them know. Depending on how much prep you were able to finish before you stopped, and how your stool looks, you may still be able to have your colonoscopy.
How long does it take a colonoscopy prep to clear bowels completely? It can take 12 to 16 hours for the bowels to completely clear.
How can you tell if your colon is clean and ready for a colonoscopy? Your stool after finishing your bowel prep agent can act as a guide. Your stool should be clear, yellow, light and liquid. The presence of dark particles or thick brown or black stool means you are not ready for colonoscopy.
Clear chicken broth, beef broth or consommé Do not drink anything red, blue or purple. Absolutely no dairy products. Absolutely no juices with pulp.
Many people may feel nauseous while drinking the bowel prep. To help with this, try mixing the MiraLAX powder with clear liquids you like drinking. If you feel like vomiting, you should drink slowly, and take a break. This means you should stop drinking the liquid for 30 to 45 minutes to let your stomach empty.
(examples: pop, tea, apple juice, Kool-Aid, clear broth, water, Jell-O and popsicles). The liquids should NOT be red. includes any solids or non-clear liquids. (Milk and cream are NOT clear liquids.)
Examples of clear liquids include broth or bouillon, Jell-O, clear juices, sports drinks such as Gatorade, sodas such as Sprite, 7-Up, or ginger ale, lemonade, Popsicles, coffee or tea and of course, water. Avoid red or purple colored liquids. You may use sugar, honey or lemon.
You can still have smooth soups with no bits (e.g. tomato, vegetable Bouillon), jelly, ice cream, Ambrosia custard, Complan drinks, Bovril and Oxo drinks, and water, clear juices, fizzy drinks, coffee and tea.
Studies have indicated that colonoscopies done during the morning hours have actually contributed to more accurate findings due to a number of varying factors. Although it might not be a thrill to wake up earlier than usual, it could just help your overall health.
Beginning four hours before your procedure, you should STOP drinking clear liquids. This means that you should not have anything to eat or drink beginning four hours before your procedure. After your procedure, you will be able to resume a normal diet, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.
After your nausea has decreased or stopped, you can start the bowel prep again, but you should drink it at a slower rate. Sometimes, drinking too much, too quickly is too much for your system to handle. Another tip is to make sure the prep is chilled. It helps to refrigerate the liquid prep.
Will I be up all night with colonoscopy prep? Probably not, if you start on time. While everyone's body is different, most people are able to complete their round of purging before going to sleep for the night.
You can start eating regular foods the next day.
Will this help me lose weight? This is a rough way to do it, but yes, you will have a very temporary weight loss of one to three pounds typically. But, just as with your bowel habits, these few pounds will return as well once you resume your normal diet.
A: It is normal to feel hungry whilst preparing for a colonoscopy, particularly in the liquid-only stage. It is important to follow the food intake plan in order to ensure that the prep is effective. Drinking sodas with a high sugar content can help to keep feelings of hunger at a minimum during this stage.