3 Tips for Preparing for a Colonoscopy
If you need to get a colonoscopy, you are likely not looking forwards to going through the medical procedure or the process that you need to go through in order to get ready for the procedure in the first place. You probably know that you will need to take medications and eat foods that will allow your bowels to be cleared as much as possible. This will allow you to make sure that your doctor can easily see into every area of your colon so that any issues can be caught early.
If you do not prepare well enough, you will have to go through the entire process again because the doctor will not be able to see clearly enough. Here are some tips for preparing for a colonoscopy so that you are as effective as possible.
1. Split the Time You Prepare
Instead of prepping all day, sleeping, and then scheduling your colonoscopy for the early morning, consider prepping in the late afternoon and evening, sleeping, and then finishing your preparations the morning of the day of the procedure. This has been shown to be more effective and will be less uncomfortable for you. It will also allow you to get a break in the middle of the process of rushing to the bathroom due to the medications that you will be taking.
2. Start Early if You Have Constipation
If you have constipation, be sure that you are starting early with regards to your liquid and low fiber diet. You might need to reduce your fiber intake for a full week before your colonoscopy is scheduled and be on a liquid diet a few days earlier than most people. This will be annoying but it will allow you to make sure that you are entirely cleared out.
3. Add Kool Aid Powder to the Liquid Prep
If you are having a hard time stomaching the liquid preparation medication that you were given, consider adding Kool Aid powder to it. This will make it taste better. Just be sure that you are not using any powder that is red, blue, or purple because this could interfere with the colonoscopy.
For more information, talk services like Lincoln Surgical Group PC. They will likely be able to help you tailor your preparation efforts to fit your exact needs. This will help further reduce the chances that you have to come back.