Colonoscopies save lives by preventing colon cancer, but many people still remain reluctant to undergo the essential screening because they are nervous about the prep. Endeavor Health clinicians are working to educate patients, continue to raise awareness of the importance of lifesaving colonoscopies, and encourage those avoiding the test to reconsider.
“Apprehension about bowel preparation can be a significant barrier to having a colonoscopy, but we’ve come a long way and there are ways to adapt the prep and make it more palatable,” said David Jandura, MD, gastroenterologist with Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital.
Many patients are anxious about having to drink so much liquid, but there are now more concentrated versions that allow people to drink a much smaller quantity and still empty the colon, explained Dr. Jandura.
Bowel preps taste also better than in the past, and you can improve the flavor by chilling the solution, adding clear flavor powders like Crystal Light or sucking on lemon slices or hard candy, added Dr. Jandura.
For people who worry about excess bloating during the prep, he suggests asking your GI doctor about taking an over-the-counter product like Gas-X. For some patients who experience nausea, physicians may be able to prescribe a short course of anti-nausea medication before they begin the prep.
For patients who have had a bad experience with a previous bowel prep, there is a tablet option where patients can take two sets of multiple tablets with lots of water to clean out their colon the night before their screening. The tablet prep is not recommended for everyone and must be avoided for patients with kidney disease, said Dr. Jandura.
It’s important to note that thorough bowel preparation is very important to the patient’s safety during the exam and to the diagnostic quality of the screening which is designed to identify and/or remove even subtle polyps, explained Dr. Jandura.
Patients are advised to avoid seeds, nuts, large salads and roughage — foods that are generally healthy and good for the colon, but are tougher to clear, for a few days prior to a colonoscopy.
For patients with underlying constipation or those who had difficulty clearing their colon for a previous exam, a longer length of time of low fiber and low residue diet may be considered. Your GI doctor may also have you take some additional laxatives prior to the bowel prep to achieve the goal.
All patients will need to go on a clear liquid-only diet for 24 hours before their colonoscopy. The prep is split into two parts and the first half is started and finished the evening prior to the procedure. The second half is then completed dependent on what time of day your procedure is scheduled.
Another important point for patients scheduling a colonoscopy is to let their physicians know what kind of prescription medications they take, particularly blood thinners, antiplatelet medications, iron supplements, new diabetes and weight loss drugs.
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol for 24 hours before the screening is advised, and no alcohol should be consumed for the first day after the procedure.
“We encourage everyone to bring up any questions and concerns with their GI doctor. There are ways to improve your experience and we want to make sure everyone is on top of these vitally important screenings for colorectal cancer,” added Dr. Jandura.
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