Anxious About a Colonoscopy? Tips to Make Prep Easier

The Prep Timeline

Getting ready for your colonoscopy takes several days. Your physician will provide clear instructions. In general, you can anticipate a schedule like this:

Three to Four Days Before Exam Day

To help clean your colon, switch to lighter, low-fiber meals that leave your system quickly. These meals can include:

• Cooked, skinless vegetables
• Eggs
• Fruit without skin or seeds
• Lean meats, chicken and fish
• White bread, pasta and rice

Avoid foods that are hard to digest and add bulk to your stool. These include:

• Beans, broccoli, cabbage, corn and peas
• Fatty meat
• Nuts and seeds
• Popcorn
• Whole grains

One Day Before the Exam

For most colonoscopy preps, you will switch to an all-liquid diet. You can only drink clear liquids like:

• Apple or white grape juice
• Black coffee or tea
• Broth
• Ice pops
• Jell-O
• Soda
• Sports drinks

Avoid alcohol and any drinks with blue, purple or red dyes. They can discolor the lining of your intestines. Follow your physician’s instructions closely to know when you should stop drinking liquids before your exam.

The Night Before Your Exam

Your physician will prescribe a specific laxative treatment to ensure your colon is empty for the test. Carefully read through the steps of this process.

The treatment may be a pill, a laxative drink or a combination of the two. Most laxative treatments are completed in one evening. Some “split-dose” treatments are divided between the evening before and the morning of the procedure. Talk to your physician about which laxative treatment is right for you.

Plan to stay close to the bathroom. You will have frequent diarrhea for several hours. Bloating, cramping and nausea are also common.

Common Prep Problems and What to Do

Even though colonoscopy prep requires few steps, you may run into hurdles that make completing the process uncomfortable. Here are some common problems and how you can handle them.

• Chafing — Once you start the laxative treatment, you will make frequent trips to the bathroom with diarrhea. Using that much toilet paper can leave you with tender skin. Stock up on soft toilet tissue or wipes. And keep soothing creams and ointments (like Aquaphor or Vaseline) on hand.
• Dehydration — you lose a lot of fluid during colonoscopy prep. As a result, you may feel dizzy or overly thirsty. To avoid dehydration, drink at least one 8-ounce glass of water or other clear liquid every hour.
• Unpleasant taste — Laxative drinks are not the tastiest beverages. But you can make it easier to swallow. Chill the solution and drink it through a straw. Take small sips every 10 to 15 minutes or add a clear liquid to mask the taste.

Tips to Handle Colonoscopy Anxiety

Despite being prepared for the procedure, you may still feel nervous. That is normal, and there are things you can do to reduce your anxiety.

• Distract yourself — Engage in some of your favorite activities to get your mind off the prep and procedure. Listen to music, binge-watch your favorite TV show, pick up a book or work on a puzzle.
• Focus on the goal — A colonoscopy is a powerful tool that can help prevent colorectal cancer or detect early signs of disease. Concentrate on how the procedure is a proactive step to protecting your long-term health.
• Try relaxation techniques — Mindfulness techniques can help you stay calm. Try deep breathing, meditation or muscle relaxation.

What Can You Expect on Exam Day?

A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure that typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Have someone drive you to and from the clinic or hospital because you will be unable to drive after receiving IV sedation.

During the procedure — after you are asleep — your physician will insert a colonoscope through your rectum to the top part of your large intestine called the cecum. A colonoscope is a long, flexible camera that sends images of your colon to a screen.

Your physician will examine these images for polyps, bleeding or other abnormalities. If they see anything suspicious, they will remove the tissue and send it to the lab for analysis. Those results will help your physician decide if you need treatment.

What Happens After the Exam?

The IV sedation from the procedure usually wears off within 30 minutes. When you wake up, you will be groggy. It is also normal to feel some mild bloating or gas. Before you leave the clinic or hospital, your physician will talk with you about any next steps.

Rest and relax at home for the rest of the day. Do not drive, use heavy machinery, make important decisions or drink alcohol for 24 hours. If you are hungry, start with a light meal to ease yourself back into eating solid food. Avoid greasy food and stay hydrated.

Recovery from a colonoscopy is generally easy. But complications are possible. Contact your physician if you experience:

• Abdominal pain that does not improve even after passing gas
• Blood in your stool
• Fever over 100.4°F
• Inability to keep down fluids
• Inability to pass gas
• Nausea
• New or worsening belly pain

Seek emergency care if you:

• Bleed heavily from your rectum
• Faint or feel like you will pass out
• Have trouble breathing

“Preparing for a colonoscopy can feel like a chore,” Dr. Freeman says, “But it is an important step for protecting your health. Knowing what to expect and how to handle any procedure-related anxieties helps you proactively safeguard your well-being.”

Find Care at Catholic Health

Learn more about the Gastroenterology Services at Catholic Health.

Find a Catholic Health doctor near you. Or call 866-MY-LI-DOC (866-695-4362).