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Preparing for a Colonoscopy
Many people say that preparing for a colonoscopy is "the worst" aspect of the procedure. But they know that a day or two of limited eating and an evening in the bathroom are a small price to pay to save their life. The idea of having a colonoscopy can be unsettling - even though you know it's for your own good.
To help settle your nerves a bit, we've put together a description of what it's like to prepare for a colonoscopy. We hope you see that there's nothing to fear.
The basic prep for a colonoscopy is to clean out your colon. This is called a colon prep or a bowel prep. Plan to stay home during the prep time since you will need to use the bathroom often. The colon prep causes loose, frequent stools and diarrhea.
What to eat?
Generally, while preparing for a colonoscopy all solids must be emptied from your gastrointestinal tract by following a clear liquid diet for 1 to 3 days before the procedure. A clear liquid consists of foods or drinks that you can "see through." In other words, you can have:
- Apple or white grape (no orange) juice
- Clear soup broth
- Coffee
- Ginger ale
- Lemon-lime soda (7-Up, Sprite, Sierra Mist)
- Jell-O
- Sports drinks (Gatorade)
- popsicles
AVOID any solid food, milk products, or food items that are red or purple while preparing for a colonoscopy.
Do I have to take a special medication?
You will probably have to drink a special solution (medication) as part of preparing for colonoscopy, make sure to have clear fruit juices or soft drinks to drink because the solution tastes salty. These special solutions include:
- GoLYTELY or NuLYTELY
- Citroma
- Senna or X-Prep
What about the drugs I regularly take?
You need to tell your doctor about all medical conditions and any drugs, vitamins or nutritional supplements that you take regularly, including:
- Aspirin
- Arthritis medications
- Blood thinners
- Diabetes medications
- Vitamins that contain iron
How long does a colonoscopy take?
The time needed for colonoscopy will vary, depending on what is found and what the doctor needs to do. On the average, a colonoscopy can takes 20 to 60 minutes.
What happens after the colonoscopy?
You will be cared for in a recovery area after the procedure until most of the effects of the medication have worn off. This may take a couple of hours.
During this time, your doctor will tell you about the results of your colonoscopy and give you any additional information that you need to know. You will be told how soon you can eat and drink "real" food and will be given other information to get back to your normal routine.
You are not permitted to drive for 12 hours after a colonoscopy to allow time for the sedative to wear off. You will need an adult over 18 years of age to accept responsibility for you and your driver should be present at the time of your discharge to hear any instructions.
The key to preventing colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly by specially trained medical staff. It might be the smartest thing you've ever done! Oh, and tell other people about this article so they know that preparing for a colonoscopy is not so bad - maybe you will be saving their life!
Protect Yourself From the High Cost of Cancer
According to the recent studies, American men have a 44% chance of developing colon cancer while the chances for women are about 37%. The general risk of developing cancer in the United States is about 6%. For this reason, it's important for everyone, particularly people above the age of 50 years, to go for routine screening.
Whether discovered early or late, cancer is a debilitating disease due to the care, costs and the mental and physical trauma involved. Many times the cost of treatment leaves the patient in heavy financial distress.
Most insurance plans do not cover the total cost of the treatment, which leaves the patient and their family in a lurch. These days people have started purchasing affordable supplemental cancer insurance that can help in covering otherwise uninsured expenses related to cancer illness. If you would like to learn more about supplemental cancer insurance you can click here.
Related pages:
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