Foods you can eat after a colonoscopy include: – Clear liquids such as broth, juices, tea, and coffee without cream. – Bland foods like plain toast or crackers. – Bananas, applesauce, pudding and other soft fruit.
How long after a colonoscopy can you eat normally? In general, you can eat normally within a day after your colonoscopy. However, your physician may recommend a restricted diet, such as soft foods or low-residue foods that are gentle on your digestive system.
The best food to eat after a colonoscopy is anything that's easy to digest and gentle on your stomach. Think soft fruits, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, white toast, eggs…you get the idea!
Low-Fiber Foods
Another type of food that is recommended after a colonoscopy is low-fiber food. This includes foods like white bread, rice, and pasta. These foods are easy to digest and will not strain your system, which is essential during recovery.
Eat yogurt and kefir that is high in probiotics for several days after your colonoscopy. Make sure that the label says that there are billions of live cultures contained. Take a probiotic supplement in the morning on an empty stomach.
For your safety, do not drive, operate machinery, or power tools for at least 8 hours after getting sedation. Your doctor may tell you not to drive or operate machinery until the day after your test. Do not sign legal documents or make major decisions for at least 8 hours after getting sedation.
Foods you can eat after the procedure include: Scrambled eggs. Applesauce. White bread.
Once they are at home, patients should allow themselves at least 24 hours to rest and recover. It is common for our patients to experience some mild side effects following their colonoscopy. Some of these side effects are a reaction to the sedation, while others are directly related to the colonoscopy.
You may pass liquid and/or liquid stool after your colonoscopy but, within one to five days, your bowel movements should return to normal. If you've had a biopsy, it's normal to experience anal bleeding or bloody stool after the procedure. Delayed bleeding may also occur for up to two weeks afterward.
Foods to avoid after a colonoscopy include acidic fruits, fatty dairy, red meat, and raw fruit or vegetables. These can be harsh on the digestive tract and produce excess gas.
Staying hydrated is essential for recovering from any medical procedure, and it is especially important when dealing with post-colonoscopy discomfort. Make sure to drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks throughout the day, and avoid caffeine or alcohol, as they can dehydrate you further.
It is not unusual to experience some diarrhoea for a couple of days post procedure until the bowel returns to its normal function.
Doctors often advise their patients to continue with the liquid diet and “soft food” for a day or two after the procedure. Drinks with electrolytes are particularly recommended to regain energy and normal hydration status.
Eat: Soup or Broth
Chicken, vegetable, and bone broths are packed with the nutrients your body needs to recover and don't require your digestive system to work overtime.
For Breakfast You may have a light breakfast consisting of plain or vanilla yogurt, 2 slices of dry or buttered toast, coffee or tea (with a little cream or milk) and clear liquids. After Breakfast Start on a clear liquid diet. Clear liquids are those you can “see through”.
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.
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.
Colonoscopies Disrupt Your Microbiome
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients who took probiotics after their colonoscopy had a 30% decrease in the number of post-colonoscopy days of pain.
Colonoscopy Recovery: After the Procedure
The effects of the sedation could last up to a day, so you should not drive or operate any machinery until the following day. You may feel gassy or bloated for a while after the procedure because of the air that was injected into your intestine during the colonoscopy.
Members share meals that have worked for them when recovering from a colonoscopy: “A liquid diet, scrambled eggs and toast, and cream of wheat will be easier on your stomach.” “I usually try to stick with things I know settle well — water, chicken, homemade smoothie, mashed potatoes.”
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.