When your physician says it’s time to schedule a colonoscopy, do you begin considering up excuses to place it off? You might fear about unpleasantness and inconvenience as you put together for the examination. However it is best to know that the prep course of is way simpler lately.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit educational medical heart. Promoting on our website helps assist our mission. We don’t endorse non-Cleveland Clinic services or products. Policy
Sure, one of many keys to a profitable colonoscopy is getting your colon as clear as doable, which incorporates your food regimen days earlier than the examination and the laxative “clean-out” beforehand. However enhancements — within the quantity of liquid you drink and the timing — make the entire course of simpler to swallow.
Right here gastroenterologist Carol Burke, MD, explains what that you must know.
Common colonoscopies can save your life
Most sufferers who develop colon most cancers don’t have any apparent threat elements. “In case you have a colon, you are at risk for colon cancer. Colon most cancers arises from colon polyps. If colon polyps are eliminated, colon most cancers is decreased. Even when colon most cancers is current, when detectable in early levels, it’s curable. That’s why colonoscopies are important on your well being,” Dr. Burke says.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 53,000 folks will die from colorectal most cancers in 2021. Colorectal most cancers is among the main causes of cancer-related deaths in U.S. for women and men.
The excellent news? The demise fee continues to drop, due to early screenings and higher remedy. The secret’s to have common exams starting at age 45, or earlier you probably have threat elements.
Glorious high quality of colon cleaning (the wanted dietary adjustments and utilizing the bowel preparation laxative) helps your physician spot indicators of hassle.
Consuming a laxative prep to cleanse your bowel isn’t everybody’s favourite factor to do. However it’s a key a part of your colonoscopy. “If the colon lining is just not away from strong and liquid, then bowel residue can cowl polyps — that are a precursor for most cancers — and will be missed,” Dr. Burke says.
Good preps make the examination more practical and environment friendly. If
your prep is poor, the physician could must repeat your examination — and also you’ll must
repeat the prep.
3 steps for an excellent colonoscopy prep
You’ll begin making ready on your colonoscopy a few days
earlier than you drink the bowel-cleansing agent.
- Minimize out fiber. Two days earlier than your examination, you’ll swap to a low-fiber food regimen. Fiber residue can clog the scope and isn’t simple to take away by colonoscopy.
- Swap to clear liquids. In the future earlier than the examination, you’ll drink solely clear liquids. “You want a variety of clear liquids to remain optimally hydrated and assist flush the prep by means of your intestinal tract,” Dr. Burke says.
- Begin the prep. The nationwide (and worldwide) normal for high-quality bowel cleaning is a split-dose routine, the place you’re taking half the prep the evening earlier than and the opposite half 4 hours earlier than the process. In case you have a day examination, you possibly can drink the entire prep the morning of the process. “We have now realized that having fewer hours between ending the prep and beginning the colonoscopy is the optimum cleaning technique,” says Dr. Burke. There may be additionally a brand new, FDA-approved bowel prep pill that may work as quick as half-hour. Seek the advice of along with your physician to search out out if this pill might give you the results you want.
In a latest study, she and different researchers in contrast the split-dose prep to different typical single dose, night-before bowel-cleansing strategies. They discovered {that a} split-dose bowel preparation decreased the depth and length of bowel actions, prompted much less affected person inconvenience and improved bowel preparation.
A greater-tasting resolution
Dr. Burke says liquid bowel-cleansing brokers have change into
extra palatable lately. A number of better-tasting and lower-volume
options at the moment are getting used. Together with the half-gallon and split-dose
approaches, this improves your colonoscopy expertise.
“The outdated gallon or 4 liters of laxative resolution has stiff competitors lately with 3-liter, 2-liter and 10-ounce options,” she says. “After all, the lower-volume preps require extra clear liquids for motion. A few of my sufferers have truly mentioned the most recent low-volume preps style nice, or that they love them.”
Search for an knowledgeable to carry out your colonoscopy
Speak to your main care physician about when to begin having
common colonoscopies. Your age, race and household historical past will have an effect on the
timing.
High quality issues on the subject of selecting your endoscopist. “It’s greatest to have your physician refer you to an endoscopist, who has particular coaching, meets nationwide high quality colonoscopy benchmarks and is extremely skilled in colonoscopy,” says Dr. Burke.
Once you’re unsure of a healthcare supplier’s credentials, ask about their complication fee, completion fee and adenoma (polyp) detection fee earlier than having a colonoscopy, she says. The American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy presents a listing of questions that you can ask.