We know that colonoscopy is the gold standard when it comes to colorectal cancer screening, and that everyone should have their first colonoscopy at age 45. The recommended age for one’s first colonoscopy was lowered in 2021 as a result of an uptick in diagnoses in younger people.
One thing seems universally true about colonoscopies, however. Everyone dreads the several-day “prep” phase, where you’re required to fast (except for clear liquids) and drink a solution that causes a complete emptying of the bowels in a relatively short time.
This might be why colonoscopies are the butt (pun intended) of so many jokes.
At Eisenman & Eisenman MD Advanced Gastro Consultants, we not only perform colonoscopies, but we provide education about why they’re so important and how you can make your prep as comfortable and undisruptive as possible.
A colonoscopy is such a valuable screening for patients because it’s both a preventive screening and a potential treatment in one procedure. If a polyp is found, your Eisenman & Eisenman MD Advanced Gastro Consultants provider can remove it right there and then.
It’s then tested for any abnormalities, and if one is found, we create a unique treatment plan that’s customized to you and you alone. We’re also there to address your concerns and questions, and simply offer support.
The colonoscopy procedure itself is quick and done while you’re mildly sedated, so you don’t experience discomfort. Your gastroenterologist inserts a long, bendable tube equipped with a small camera in your rectum to view your lower gastrointestinal tract. They can see what the camera sees, thanks to a video monitor that receives real-time images.
Since we know that colonoscopy prep is the thing that causes patients the most concern, we’ve compiled a list of steps you can take to make the process as tolerable and easy as possible.
We know that generally, fiber is good for us, but it lingers in our digestive tracts, so getting rid of it — sooner rather than later — can help prepare you better for a smoother colonoscopy procedure.
Emphasize eating things like white bread, pasta, rice, canned veggies with no skin or seeds, eggs, and cheese.
The day before your procedure, you should just be ingesting clear liquids and foods — think broth, black coffee, sports drinks, and things like jello and lemon or lime popsicles
This means sports drinks, popsicles, and jello that might be cherry, grape, or orange flavored.
Unfortunately, these colorings can be confused with blood or be indicators of an inflamed colon when you’re getting your screening.
With these, you don’t have to drink the volume of prep you had years ago.
But it’s also important you don’t try to down it all at once. The prep solution is designed to be drunk in two sessions. You should drink half of it the night before your colonoscopy, and the other half within about two hours. Then you should have the other half the morning of your procedure. Your goal should be to finish your second batch of prep approximately four hours before your procedure.
Making sure your prep solution is cold can help make it taste better, and using a straw while you drink helps you get it down with the least amount of “taste bud contact” possible.
You can also flavor your prep solution with a powdered lemonade packet if you like, if the flavoring that came with it is unappealing.
Because you will be expelling so much, make it the most comfortable experience it can be by getting very soft toilet paper, flushable wipes, and anything else that pampers you a bit.
Adhering to these practices will make it easy for your provider to evaluate your colon well and see clearly, so they can identify a polyp that needs to be removed.
You and your provider can be a great team when it comes to enhancing your colonoscopy experience.
Contact our Lake Worth office to make an appointment to learn more or schedule your colonoscopy at 561-753-7487.
