Colonoscopy + Colorectal Screening

There are important things you should know and do before your colonoscopy. We have you covered with this handy colonoscopy preparation checklist.

Bowel preparation tips

Bowel preparation, or prep for short, is a liquid medication we prescribe to cleanse your colon before the colonoscopy.

You'll start drinking the prep the evening before your colonoscopy. We recommend splitting the prep into two servings:

1. Drink half the bottle the evening before your colonoscopy.
2. Drink the second half the morning of your procedure. The whole bottle must be finished two – four hours before your procedure. 

For people who experience severe constipation, your doctor may start you on a "pre-prep" routine three days before your procedure and before drinking your standard prep.

Prep isn't the most delicious drink you'll ever have, but there are ways to make it go down easier. Try these tips from fellow colonoscopy patients:

• Add ginger ale or a drink mix packet like Crystal Light (as long as it's not red) to the prep to give it a different flavor.
• After mixing the prep, place it in the refrigerator and drink it chilled.
• Using a straw can make the prep easier to drink.
• If the prep isn't going down well, wait one hour, then start sipping at a slower pace.
• Keep drinking the prep, even if you haven't had a bowel movement.
• Suck on hard candy (as long as it's not red) between servings.

Please follow these tips starting the morning of your colonoscopy:

• Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, take your usual medication with a sip of water.
• Stop your clear liquid diet at least 2 hours before your procedure time. Avoid eating or drinking until after your procedure.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.

Plan to spend about 3 hours in our office for your colonoscopy. We ask that you arrive one hour before your scheduled procedure to allow enough time to prepare you for sedation, along with answering any questions you may have. The actual colonoscopy only takes about 30 minutes.

Your bowel must be empty to view your colon and remove polyps. We use a thin, flexible instrument called a colonoscope to examine your colon for the procedure. The colonoscope has a light and a camera on the end of it.

You’ll rest and recover in the endoscopy unit recovery area for about 1 hour before we give you the green light to leave with your escort. We'll share your results within a few days of your colonoscopy.

Colonoscopies are routine procedures that are generally recommended every 10 years. Your doctor will discuss how frequently to have one, given your unique health story and family history.

Stool tests like Cologuard^© are becoming more popular because they're less invasive than colonoscopies. And depending on your unique healthcare needs, your doctor may believe that a stool test is the right screening for you.

It's important to note that a stool test misses about 1 in 12 cancers and about 60% of polyps, whereas a colonoscopy is much more accurate. Plus, most people only need a colonoscopy once every 10 years (unless otherwise stated by your doctor), while stool testing requires more frequent screening.

No, a colonoscopy doesn’t hurt. In fact, you won't feel the procedure at all because we'll give you anesthesia that helps you relax and makes you sleepy. Many people find drinking the prep before their colonoscopy more unpleasant than the procedure itself.

The age for colon cancer screening was lowered as we witnessed a rise in newly diagnosed colon cancer cases for people in their mid to late 40s. We lowered the age to try to catch these cancers before they're fully formed or before they become a more advanced cancer.

We recommend talking with your doctor to know if your race, family history or genetic history puts you at higher risk.

We recommend taking things easy on the day of your colonoscopy. Since you'll be spending at least 3 hours at our office and will be sedated during the procedure, you probably won't be able to perform your best at work. We're happy to talk to your supervisor and provide any documentation if need be.

Insurance is required to pay for every aspect of a colon cancer screening, from the prep solution to the examination itself. In January 2022, the federal government announced that insurance must also cover a follow-up appointment to evaluate a positive, non-invasive stool test like Cologuard.

Following a healthy lifestyle will reduce your risk for colon cancer. That includes avoiding tobacco, keeping a healthy weight, being physically active and eating a high-fiber diet while avoiding too many red or processed meats.

We’ll ask that you start a low-fiber diet before your colonoscopy. This means cutting out foods like:

• Corn
• Fiber supplements (Metamucil^®)
• Nuts
• Raw vegetables (broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, etc.)
• Seeds

As long as they don't include red dyes, you can drink these liquids as part of your clear liquid diet:

• Apple juice
• Black coffee
• Clear broth
• Jell-O^®
• Soda
• Sports drinks
• Tea
• Water