Insider Tips and Trick for Colonoscopy
Ella, a 19-year-old Colorado college student, who went on a Caribbean beach vacation, returned home with an unwanted souvenir: salmonella poisoning. She recovered, but has been dealing with an unpleasant side effect: weeks and weeks of chronic diarrhea.
Her doctor was concerned, so she ordered a colonoscopy. While most of us don't have to deal with the dreaded colonoscopy prep process until we reach age 50, Ella had to learn some helpful techniques a little early in life.
Like a good patient, Ella dutifully stopped by the pharmacy to pick up her gallon jug of prep solution (she said it reminded her of a container of antifreeze). It was intimidating to think about drinking all of that God-awful solution.
We brainstormed with GI doctors and nurses who have helped many a patient get through the prep phase. While it's never fun, these medical experts point out that colorectal cancer is the second cause of death in the US (lung cancer is the first), and it is highly preventable if you catch it early. When you are in midst of the worst of it, keep the goal in mind, they advise. It's worth a few hours in the bathroom if you are able to avoid getting cancer. And, if all goes well, you won't have to do it again for five to ten years.
Here are their insider tips:
Plan ahead, earlier than you think you need to.
Request time off at work the day before and the day of the procedure.
Find someone to give you a ride both ways or accompany you on public transportation.
Check with your doctor about which of your normal medications you need to stop and when.
Three days before your procedure, stop eating nuts, seeds and popcorn (they stay in your stomach longer than other foods).
Buy your supplies at least three days before your appointment.
You can have clear liquids, anything that is see-through when held up to the light.
Favorite liquid-diet staples include: apple juice, ginger ale, white grape juice, broth, bouillon, tea, popsicles, hard candy (lemon drops).
Be very wary of food coloring. If you have any red, purple and orange colors in your food or drink, your doctor may cancel your colonoscopy because these food dyes can be mistaken for bleeding in your colon. Even some chicken broth has orange dye in it. So be mindful of labels, and don't risk it. Truly clear, like water, is the safest choice. If you have questions, don't be shy about checking it out with your GI doctor.
Make sure you have two, wide smoothie straws on hand (we will explain later).
Start thinking about a delicious meal you'd like to eat once you get home. You will be starving, and glad you socked away a special reward ahead of time. (Ella got mac n cheese from Panera Bread, a good mild choice).
Don't forget to throw some soothing wipes and hydrocortisone cream into the cart. You will spend a lot of time in the bathroom and your backside may get irritated.
Once the prep and laxatives start working you will literally need to be within a few feet of the toilet most of the day before your colonoscopy. Don't plan to work in the garden or binge watch Netflix in the living room. You will be stuck in the bathroom. So maybe buy a good book or fun magazine to take your mind off things. Or queue up some podcasts.
Always study the paper directions your GI doctor sent you in the mail. Every doctor has a slightly different system, so consider those instructions to be your colonoscopy bible.
In general, you start a clear liquid diet two days before your colonoscopy appointment.
Next, you mix the powder prep solution and drink one glass every 15 minutes. Most people feel the prep tastes a little better if refrigerated, but it can make you feel cold when you have to drink so much of it.
Our medical experts and experienced GI patients highly recommend the two-fisted prep method:
You will have a glass of prep and a glass of something else that is more tasty as a chaser.
The prep tends to make you feel nauseated and like you might vomit. If you drink it through a straw, less of the unpleasant taste hits your tastebuds.
Then, if you quickly take a sip of the good drink (like ginger ale), you can wash the bad taste out of your mouth.
You will be tempted to guzzle the whole gallon jug of prep just to get it over with, but that will make you throw up and you'll have to start over again. So go slow. Use your straw.
**Part two
The second part of the pre-colonoscopy phase is swallowing a powerful laxative called mag citrate. This is the part where the medicine helps you "run clear." You will notice the brown fluid turning the color of water. There should be no particles in the fluid. As the doctor says, "What you pass should look like what you drink."
This is the part where you will hit the wall, but don't give up. You will be hungry, sore and grouchy. Remember your healthy goals and realize it's only temporary, only a few hours of your life.
**Midnight
Your doctor may ask you to stop eating and drinking (they call this NPO) at midnight before the colonoscopy or at least two hours before (check the paper instructions or call to clarify).
There's a good reason for this. When they put you under sedation, they want your stomach empty so you don't vomit or choke.
It's very important to comply with their orders for NPO. If you don't, they will cancel it and you'll do the prep all over again.
Before you leave, you should be running clear. If you aren't call the GI center and they will advise you.
Do not eat any hard candy the day of the procedure.
Double check which of your routine meds are ok to take the day of the colonoscopy.
Wear clothes that are easy to change out of when they give you a gown.
Bring your ID and insurance card.
Bring a list of current medications you take.
They will start an IV in your arm for the sedation medications.
The anesthesiologist usually uses propofol, which has the ability to make you forget what happened. You will feel relaxed and not too woozy when you're done and able to go home.
The doctor will put a tube called a scope into your digestive tract. It has a light, a camera and surgical tools on the end.
They are looking for signs of cancer, bleeding and benign polyps.
Most people have a few benign polyps, which the doctor will remove. One-third of men and 1/4 of women have them.
If the doctor finds a polyp, it may get sent for a biopsy, so you'll wait a few days for the result.
Removing polyps is an effective way to prevent colon cancer.
The nurses will keep you under observation for about 30 minutes and then you can go.
When the results come back, the doctor will tell you if you are good to go for 5 years or 10 years.
Go home and enjoy your delicious reward meal, you earned it!
<Please note: patient's name was changed in this article to protect privacy.>