Colonoscopy Myth Number 2 - I could never get a colonoscopy done because the bowel prep is so terrible!

Times have changed since patients were required many years ago to consume a gallon of salty bowel prep.

Today's Colonoscopy Prep

These days bowel preps are generally 2 liters, they can be consumed over several hours and are often flavored either by the manufacturer or are in powder form that can be mixed in 2 liters of a clear liquid that is palatable to the patient. Clear liquids include items such as Gatorade, apple juice, clear grape juice, or soda such as Sprite, 7-Up or ginger ale.  Basically anything that is not a dark color or red can be used with the bowel preparation.  

Additional Preparations

Other preparations involve consuming of a low-dose of a laxative -  ½ is consumed the day before the procedure and the other half is consumed the morning of the procedure.  This is called a split dose prep. 

If patients have had problems with nausea with past colonoscopy preparations, then the physician can give a medication to help prevent or calm the nausea.  

The preparations have to be effective as most people have a large intestine that is approximately 5 feet long.  Clearing all the fecal debris and washing the walls of the colon clean will allow the physician the best chance of finding and removing polyps.

This is not a myth: Colorectal Cancer is the 2nd leading cancer killer in the United States! Preventable. Treatable. Beatable.