Test Preparation

In order for your doctor to get a good view inside your colon, it must be empty of any digested food material. The specifics of prep vary but all, typically, include liquid, pill or oral laxatives. Your doctor's specific recommendation is based on your health, age, and weight, so keep in mind that instructions may be different for each patient. Tell your doctor in advance about any medications you take; you may need to adjust your usual dose for the examination. Be sure to discuss any allergies to medications as well as medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart or lung disease.

Regardless of the preparation your physician prescribes, you will be asked to stop eating the day before your procedure but you can continue to drink clear liquids. These include:

• Apple Juice
• Water
• Clear broth or bouillon (vegetable, chicken, beef)
• Coffee or tea (no milk or nondairy creamer)
• Clear Soft drinks or Gatorade
• Plain Jell-o TM (no fruit or toppings)
• Popsicles (ice)
• NOTHING RED OR PURPLE!

The Evening Before Your Appointment

Depending on which preparation regime your doctor recommends, patients typically begin in the early evening hours with nothing to eat or drink after midnight before their screening. The colon must be completely clean for the clearest and most accurate views possible, so be sure to follow your doctor's instructions carefully so your screening can reveal the most accurate results. Once you start the pills or liquids the doctor has prescribed, you will want to make sure a bathroom is convenient and quick to get to. This is a good time to stay close to home.