Content warning: This is a column about colonoscopies. It’s not graphic, but if all things scatological bother you, click away now.
Colonoscopies are important! I’m having one tomorrow, so I’m on a clear liquid diet today.
Along with Pap smears, colonoscopies are one of the few preventive procedures we do with clear, unambiguous benefits. The procedure itself is usually painless, and you’re usually under some kind of anesthesia when you get it.
But the prep…
To get a good colonoscopy, your GI tract needs to be clear of… its usual contents. That means taking some radical laxatives the night before the procedure. That can be unpleasant and even painful. The laxative itself — usually polyethylene glycol — is not much fun to drink and there’s usually a lot of it. It seems that many practices are now recommending a somewhat more tolerable regimen than the “drink this gallon of antifreeze-like medicine the night before your procedure.” If you haven’t seen the more elaborate and less brutal regimen…
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It helps to have a low-fiber diet starting 2-3 days before the procedure. That’s easy: mostly avoid fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fiber products. Probably skipping whole grains is better, too.
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The day before the procedure, stick with clear liquids: water, fruit juice, coffee without creamer of any kind (sugar is okay), popsicles without any fruit bits BUT avoid anything with dark dyes, especially red or green.
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Chill the polyethelene glycol mixture. Most people feel it goes down much easier when it’s really cold.
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If you possibly can, I recommend you take advantage of a Premium Butt Shower Experience while you’re doing your prep.
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Don’t get too far away from the bathroom.
—2p
addendum 2025-03-10
My procedure went smoothly and was completed without complications.