This can arguably be the worst part of the procedure – clearing out the bowel with laxative. Read on for some tips and tricks to help!
Why?
The bowel needs to be clear of any residual faeces so the lining can be completely seen. Bowel cancers and polyps can be very small and be hidden under sumps of solids or fluids, as seen in this picture. A good bowel preparation can make all the difference.
How?
You will be sent out specific instructions but here is an example of what to do:
Always take all of your regular medications, except diabetes tablets or insulin or blood thinners, where you need to get specific advice from us about taking these.
1. 3 days prior to your appointment: Start a low fibre diet and avoid foods with nuts, seeds and skins.
2. The day before your appointment:
- Have a low fibre breakfast
- Take 2 Bisacodyl laxative tablets
- Have only liquids for lunch (yoghurt, jelly, custard)
- Drink regular clear fluids (>10 standard glasses during the day)
- Make-up the laxative solution: you will get sachets of Glycoprep-C – dissolve each sachet in 1L of water (3L total)
- At 4pm start 2 of the 3L of Glycoprep-C.
- You should drink a glass every 5-10 minutes, aiming to drink approximately a litre an hour.
3. The day of the appointment:
- No food!
- Drink the final 1L of Glycoprep – starting 3 hours before your appointment time
- Do not drink any more fluids from 1 hour prior to your appointment time
What to expect?
Some people think this preparation is the worst part of the exam. It is designed to produce watery diarrhoea. For some people, it may occur very quickly after starting drinking (20-30 minutes) or may be many hours.
We are aiming that the output is yellow and liquid, a bit like urine.
5 top tips to help:
- Cool it down – warm cream is not nice, but ice-cream is delicious!
- Drink through a straw.
- Walking around the house a bit while undergoing the laxative treatment can help if you become nauseated.
- Don’t worry if you feel like you haven’t completely emptied – this is very common and often due to some liquid pooling in the bottom of the bowel. It can be easily removed with the suction through the camera.
- If you are concerned about finishing the preparation in time to travel to your appointment, you may commence the Glycoprep-C up to 4 hours prior to your appointment time.
- If you are having a Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy, or an anaesthetist administered anaesthetic, don’t drink anything 2 hours prior to your appointment time.
Examples of clear liquids:
Anything you can see through:
- Water
- Clear broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
- Coffee or tea (without milk)
- Ice
- Gelatin such as Jell-O (avoid red gelatin)