While it's hardly a procedure that most people look forward to, colonoscopy is a powerful tool for examining the health of a patient's colon and rectum. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, colonoscopies are used to screen patients for early signs of colorectal cancer as well as to diagnose intestinal problems like abdominal pain and bleeding. Most patients will need to modify their diets before a colonoscopy in order to ensure a successful procedure.
Importance of Diet
According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, sticking to your prescribed pre-colonoscopy diet is essential in ensuring your colon is empty during the procedure. If stool is left in your colon, your doctor will be unable to survey all areas of the colon, and the procedure will be less effective. In some cases, you may need to reschedule your colonoscopy for another time, a major inconvenience considering the preparation necessary.
Day Before
According to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, you should follow a clear liquid diet beginning after breakfast on the day before your scheduled colonoscopy. Acceptable clear liquids include options like water, broth, juice, plain tea or coffee and sports drinks. You may also eat solidified liquids like gelatin and popsicles. Do not drink or eat any liquids that are purple or dark red. According to the Ochsner Health System, you should aim to drink at least 64 ounces of liquid on the day before your procedure. Do not add milk, cream or any other nonclear liquids to your drinks; it is permissible, however, to add salt or sugar. Do not drink any alcohol.
Day Of
Your diet will be even more limited on the day of your procedure. Depending on your doctor's orders, you will need to abstain even from drinking clear liquids for period of time before your colonoscopy; Brigham and Women's Hospital, for instance, requires no liquids for eight to 10 hours before the colonoscopy, while Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center only requires no liquids for two hours before the procedure. Your doctor will explain the requirements for your facility.
Bowel Preparation
To ensure a clean colon, you will also need to take a bowel preparation in addition to following your modified diet. The bowel preparation will assist in removing all solid and liquid material from your intestines before your colonoscopy. Your doctor will write you a prescription for the bowel preparation.
After the Procedure
While an all-liquid diet is monotonous, you only need to follow it for a short period of time. According to the Cleveland Clinic, unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you can resume your normal diet without delay once you've completed your colonoscopy.
