by Dr. Megan Taylor, ND, FABNG
If you have your first colonoscopy coming up, you're probably feeling a mix of curiosity, dread, and maybe a little anxiety. The good news? You're definitely not alone.
As it turns out, quite a few of us here at the clinic have recently gone through our very first (or 5th!) colonoscopies. We’ve swapped stories, compared notes, and shared the little tricks that made the process easier. While everyone's experience is a little different, we wanted to put together the tips we found most helpful in hopes that they make your prep a little smoother too.
Our Team's Favorite Colonoscopy Prep Hacks
Follow a low-fiber meal plan for a few days before prep begins.
Keep both sweet and salty clear liquids on hand for the “clear liquids” phase.
Buy extra broth—you'll probably appreciate something savory!
Use a heated blanket if all those cold drinks leave you chilled.
Chill your prep solution and drink it through a straw.
Ask your provider about anti-nausea medication if you know you struggle with drinking large volumes.
If you've struggled with prep before, ask your GI provider about lower-volume or tablet prep options.
Start using wet wipes (or a bidet) before things get uncomfortable.
Schedule a late-morning procedure when possible so you can do split-dose prep.
Start Thinking About Prep Before Prep Day
Most colonoscopy preparations actually start several days (sometimes up to a week) before your procedure with a low-fiber diet. This usually means avoiding raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fiber supplements.
Eating low fiber for several days can lead to constipation. If this occurs, consider using a gentle over-the-counter laxative, such as Miralax (polyethylene glycol or PEG) or magnesium citrate, during those low-fiber days to help keep things moving.
Some of our team members felt that having a meal plan already mapped out would have made life much easier, especially if you typically eat a high fiber diet! There are some excellent low-fiber meal ideas available from registered dietitians online. Plan ahead BEFORE you're hungry.
Clear Liquid Day: Plan for a Low-Key Day
The day before your colonoscopy, you'll usually switch to clear liquids only, including water, tea, coffee (without cream), clear juices, sports drinks, broth, popsicles, and Jell-O (just avoid anything red or purple).
One thing none of us fully appreciated beforehand was how low-energy we felt that day. It's surprisingly difficult to get enough calories from clear liquids alone, so try to keep your schedule light and give yourself permission to rest.
One tip many members of our team preferred was alternating between sweet and salty liquids throughout the day. After your third glass of apple juice, you'll be craving broth. After a few mugs of broth, something sweet sounds wonderful again.
Speaking of broth—it ended up being multiple of our team members’ favorite part of prep! They found warm chicken broth was incredibly comforting, and next time plan to stop by their favorite phở restaurant and buy a large container of their broth ahead of time. Many restaurants are happy to sell broth by itself without all of the fixings!
Also, dress warmly in layers and consider purchasing a heated blanket or pad to have on hand. Drinking cold fluids all day left many of us feeling quite chilled!
Let's Talk About the Prep Drink
This is the part everyone worries about.
There are several bowel prep options available, but most involve drinking a large volume of liquid that contains laxatives along with electrolytes to help prevent dehydration.
Many team members preferred the taste of the Mirilax/PEG-based prep options, like GoLytely. A few folks had been given the sodium-, potassium-, and magnesium-based SuPrep and disliked the taste.
Since Miralax/PEG itself is essentially tasteless, it can be flavored or mixed into approved clear liquids, making it much easier to drink the large volume.
A few additional tricks that can help:
Chill the prep before drinking.
Drink it through a straw.
Alternate sips with approved clear liquids.
Add approved clear flavorings, such as lemon or lime juice, powdered juice options like Crystal Light Lemonade, or other clear flavor enhancers, if your provider says they're okay.
If you're someone who gets nauseated easily—or you've struggled to finish bowel prep before—ask your provider about prescribing an anti-nausea medication ahead of time.
Also know that if you've had difficulty with high-volume preps in the past, it's worth asking your GI provider whether a lower-volume prep or tablet-based option may be appropriate for you.
If your schedule allows, consider booking a late-morning colonoscopy, which often allows for a split-dose prep. Drinking half the solution the evening before and the other half the morning of the procedure is often much easier than trying to drink everything at once.
Protect Your Skin
The prep will result in you having frequent watery bowel movements - this is the point of the “clean out”! But one piece of advice we wished we had sooner: use the wet wipes from the very beginning. Don't wait until things start getting uncomfortable! Your skin will thank you.
Unless you're lucky enough to have a bidet...in which case, use that!
After the Procedure
For many, the colonoscopy itself ended up being the easiest part. The anesthesia they typically provide - called propofol - feels a bit like taking the world's best nap. Most of us remembered falling asleep within seconds and waking up what felt like moments later, completely finished.
If you're nervous about anesthesia or have had a difficult experience in the past, don't hesitate to talk with your anesthesia team. While you'll usually meet them right before your procedure, you can also request to speak with someone ahead of time if you have concerns.
Your digestive system may be a little grumbly for a day or two afterward, so ease back into eating with simple, easy-to-digest foods and avoid greasy, fried, or spicy foods, or large amounts of raw vegetables, for the first day or two.
If your tummy feels unsettled, herbal teas with ginger, peppermint, chamomile, or fennel may help soothe any bloating and discomfort. Our “Tummy Tea”, available for sale in the clinic, would be a great option for this.
Our Biggest Takeaway
While these are the tips our team found most helpful, always follow the instructions provided by your own healthcare team. Different prep regimens have slightly different requirements, and your provider's instructions are the ones that matter most.
The best prep is the one that's done correctly. After all, the only thing worse than doing colonoscopy prep once, would be having to do it all over again because your colon wasn't clean enough. 😉
Have additional questions or concerns about getting a colonoscopy? I invite you to schedule a visit with one of our team members.
See you in clinic,
Dr. Taylor & the NN Team
Read Dr. Taylor’s full bio here!