The key for preparing for your colonoscopy is to start early. About a week before your colonoscopy, pick up your bowel preparation or ensure it will be delivered to you in time, read the instructions from your doctor's office, plan what food you will eat the day prior to the colonoscopy, and arrange for your transportation. This will give you ample time to prepare and contact the office if you have any questions or issues. Do not wait until the day before your colonoscopy, as it may not be possible to make any changes at that time.
Recent recommendations from the major gastroenterology societies include limiting dietary modifications to the day before your colonoscopy. This includes the use of low-residue and low-fiber foods or full liquids. Your gastroenterologist will select the best dietary options for you to optimize and improve your bowel preparation. Another new recommendation is using smaller volume bowel preparations in a split dose regimen. This can include using newer 2-liter bowel preparations instead of 4-liter preparations. Bowel preps consisting of tablets are also available. However, the choice of the bowel preparation must include safety issues, medical history, current medication use, and how adequate were previous bowel preparations for prior colonoscopies. These are all issues to review with your gastroenterologist.
Do not drink or take all the bowel prep tablets at once unless specifically instructed to do so by your gastroenterologist. Most of the bowel preps used now are prescribed as split-dose, and you take one half of the bowel preparation initially, followed by the other half later which will be included in the instructions you will receive from your doctor's office. Be sure to finish the bowel prep solution at least two to four hours before the start of your colonoscopy. Some people prefer to chill the liquid bowel preps to improve taste and use a straw to drink the prep quickly. A good bowel preparation will help to ensure you have a high-quality colonoscopy exam, and polyps can be easily seen and removed.
Most colonoscopy procedures take about 30 minutes in total to complete. During the procedure you are sedated and asleep under anesthesia. The sedation used now tends to wear off quickly and you are awake after your procedure, but it is not safe to drive, so you will need to arrange transportation home.
The new recommendations with less dietary restrictions and lower volume bowel preparations or tablets hopefully make the prep more comfortable. The good news is if you have a normal colonoscopy exam, you may not require another colonoscopy for 10 years.