For a colonoscopy to do a patient the most good, the individual's bowels should undergo a preparation the night before. The patient will have to follow a specific plan of action involving the use of laxatives to rid the colon of waste. This allows the doctor to have the ability to see clearly everything that is in the colon. This preparation will go much more smoothly if you prepare for it in advance.
Change of diet
In the days prior to your colonoscopy, you can make things considerably easier on yourself by avoiding foods that typically take a long time to digest. Meat, nuts and eggs are such foods. A high-fiber diet in the two to three days before the colonoscopy will allow your intestines time to recover from your normal diet. You may also desire to start on the liquid diet that a colonoscopy demands earlier than the traditional day before. This will make it so there is much less in your intestine that has to come out.
The bathroom
Remember that after you have taken the laxatives and ingested the fluids that will result in constant bowel movements, you will have to remain close to a bathroom. Rather than scramble for things such as toilet paper and baby wipes, you should have them readily available well beforehand. Damp washcloths will cause much less irritation than toilet paper. Have a supply at your disposal. You might wish to apply petroleum jelly to ease some of your discomfort, so have some in the bathroom. Make sure all family members know what you are going through so that no one occupies the bathroom just as you feel the urge to go.
Pain medications
There is a chance that the doctor may have to remove a polyp during your colonoscopy to inspect it more closely. This means that you should avoid pain medications that can precipitate bleeding for as long as a week before the procedure. Avoid aspirin products and pain medications such as Aleve, Advil, Motrin and Naprosyn. Tylenol is safe to take in the event of minor pain or a headache. If you normally do not have any Tylenol in the house, purchase some in case you need it. If you take an iron or fiber supplement, you should discontinue this a week in advance of your colonosocopy also.
Drinking the prep
Despite what anyone may tell you, there is no best way to drink the awful-tasting preparation liquid. The way to make this less unpleasant is not to focus on it at all beforehand and simply to drink it as fast as possible. Preps like Miralax combine with Gatorade to make a more palatable concoction. Make certain the Gatorade is either lemon-lime or the blue ice type and not the red. Red Gatorade and red Jello will make it difficult for the doctor to see during the procedure and must be avoided.
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