When Do You Know Your System Is Clear to Prepare for Colonoscopy

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Preparing for your colonoscopy will not just ensure a smooth and successful process just aid yous feel relaxed and calm going into it. Typical preparatory instructions include arranging for a ride home after the procedure, stopping certain medications, and cleaning out your bowels, often with a prescription liquid laxative. While the latter may seem unpleasant, it'south an important step that, if skipped, could delay your colonoscopy.

Location

Part of preparing for a colonoscopy is knowing where to go and what you can expect to see once you're there.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete and is commonly performed in an outpatient endoscopy center or hospital in a colonoscopy procedure room.

Yous will be walked or brought there on a gurney. The room may incorporate large overhead lights, a long and flexible tube (called a colonoscope) connected to a video monitor, and other contrasted medical devices located on metal trays.

You will lay down on a procedure table and will have a blood pressure gage placed on your arm and a probe put on your finger to monitor your heart and oxygen levels during the examination.

What to Clothing

On the solar day of your colonoscopy, you volition be brash to:

• Shower on the morning of your procedure, simply avoid using any skin products including deodorant, perfumes, lotions, creams, and makeup
• Wear eyeglasses, not contact lenses (if applicative)
• Get out all jewelry and other valuables at home

Food and Drink

Your healthcare provider will provide you with specific instructions on what you can and cannot eat (and when) prior to your colonoscopy.

Keep in mind, these instructions may vary slightly amid providers. Exist sure to follow your personal healthcare provider'southward guidelines.

Generally speaking, dietary instructions for a colonoscopy ofttimes include:

• Starting a low-fiber diet three to 7 days before the procedure and avoiding any foods or drinks with red, purple, or blue dyes (which may stain the colon and interfere with the test)
• Kickoff a clear liquid diet the solar day before the procedure
• Drinking at least eight glasses of water the 24-hour interval before your colonoscopy to prevent dehydration
• Non drinking annihilation for two to four hours before the colonoscopy

Of note, if you are undergoing full general anesthesia for your colonoscopy, your healthcare provider will advise you non to consume or potable anything after midnight on the eve of your procedure.

Bowel Preparation

While there are dissimilar types of bowel preparations, they all have the aforementioned goal—to thoroughly cleanse your bowel so your colon (large intestines) can be best visualized.

You will experience watery diarrhea as a result of this, regardless of the preparation you undergo. With that in mind, be sure you lot take easy and quick access to a bathroom during this process.

A typical bowel grooming includes drinking 4 liters of a prescription liquid laxative called Golytely (polyethylene glycol).

Here is an example schedule:

• Drink one-half of the Golytely (2 liters) in the late afternoon or early on evening the twenty-four hour period before the procedure. Your healthcare provider volition provide you with specific instructions on how to mix the laxative drinkable and how to eat it (for example, potable an 8-ounce glass every 10 to xv minutes).
• Once you drink one-half of the Golytely, store the rest in your refrigerator until the morning.
• On the morn of your procedure, four to five hours before leaving home for the colonoscopy, finish the other one-half of the Golytely.

It is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions precisely when completing your bowel preparation.

If yous cannot complete the preparation and/or your stool later the grooming is non articulate to light yellow in color, your colonoscopy may demand to be rescheduled. This likewise means that you will accept to repeat the bowel preparation all over again.

Medications

Prior to your colonoscopy, information technology'south important to tell your healthcare provider all of the medications you lot are taking, including:

• Prescription drugs
• Over-the-counter drugs
• Supplements, similar vitamins or herbal products
• Recreational drugs

You lot may be asked to stop taking certain drugs for a designated period of fourth dimension prior to your colonoscopy. For example, your healthcare provider will suggest you lot to stop taking any cobweb supplements or anti-diarrheal medications 3 days prior to a colonoscopy.

You will also exist advised to cease taking any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), four to 7 days before the procedure.

If you are taking aspirin or other claret-thinning drugs (anticoagulants) like Coumadin (warfarin), or one of the new oral anticoagulant drugs like Pradaxa (dabigatran) or Xarelto (rivaraxoban), your healthcare provider may consult with your cardiologist, primary intendance provider, or another specialist to make up one's mind the best form of action. In some cases, they may decide that information technology's safer for you to keep a medication based on your individual risks.

What to Bring

Since a colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure, yous volition be able to get dwelling afterward. You volition, however, need someone to drive yous home considering you will feel groggy from the sedation you receive.

To be best prepared for the day of your colonoscopy, be sure to bring these items with you lot:

• Your insurance card and commuter's license
• A list of the medications you lot take at home
• Your eyeglasses and their case (if applicable)
• Loose-plumbing equipment (peculiarly effectually your waistline) article of clothing to go home in

Pre-Operative Lifestyle Changes

Also adhering to your healthcare provider's specific diet and bowel preparation instructions, there are some simple practices you tin can adopt in the days leading upwards to your colonoscopy:

• If your bowel training involves a prescription, exist sure to option information technology up well earlier your procedure engagement. While at the pharmacy, it'south also a adept idea to buy some petroleum jelly or wipes with aloe and vitamin E. These can assistance soothe your bottom afterward using the bathroom ofttimes.
• Since y'all will be spending a lot of time in your bedchamber and bath (the day and night earlier your colonoscopy), have something to read or your favorite music downloaded ahead of time to assistance continue y'all occupied.
• Consider talking with your healthcare provider about means to make the laxative solution tastier (for case, ask whether yous can add lime or a drink mix to it).
• Plan to accept fourth dimension off work the day of your colonoscopy and the 24-hour interval (or a one-half-twenty-four hour period) before it.
• If yous have children or pets, consider arranging care for them while you are undergoing your bowel preparation.

A Word From Verywell

Being informed about and prepared for your colonoscopy will not only optimize its success, only it volition hopefully deflate some of the feet that often precedes it—especially if you're getting a colonoscopy for the first time.

Besides engaging in the above practices, do non hesitate to bring up any questions or concerns you have with your healthcare provider.

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Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-not-to-dread-a-colonoscopy-797572

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