Helpful Procedure Information

Downloadable Forms

PEG Prep Split Dose
Clenpiq
Suprep
Miralax

Here are some tips to help you as you prepare for your colonoscopy

What your liquid diet may include:

  • Water (Plain, Flavored, or Sparkling)

  • Coffee (Without Milk or Cream)

  • Tea (Black or Green)

  • Gatorade

  • Kool-Aid or Crystal Light

  • Fruit Juices Without Pulp

  • Soft Drinks (Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Regular, or Diet)

  • Jello

  • Popsicles

  • Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Broth

  • Gum or Mints

What your liquid diet DOES NOT include:

  • Solid Food of Any Kind

  • Anything Red or Purple

  • Milk Products Such as Ice Cream or Protein Shakes

  • Ensure or Boost

  • Grapefruit or Tomato Juice

  • Cream Soups (Cream of Chicken, Cream of Mushroom, etc.)

  • Puddings, Applesauce, or Yogurt

  • Beer, Wine, or Other Alcoholic Beverages

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Medications:

Check your prep sheet for medications you have been instructed to hold. These would include blood-thinning medications, such as Plavix, Coumadin, Brilinta, Eliquis, or Xarelto. It is very important to follow directions carefully.

Take diabetes medicines to maintain your blood sugar below 200. If your sugar is high, take your regular medication. If your sugar is lower than normal, hold one or more of your blood sugar medications. If your sugar is too low or above 400, you will not be able to have your procedure, so check your sugar regularly throughout your prep day and prior to your procedure.

Take any other medications as prescribed. This includes blood pressure medicine, thyroid medicine, and any other medications you normally take. These should be taken 2 hours prior to your check-in time.

You MUST have a licensed driver with you when you check in to the endoscopy unit. The driver will remain on site until your procedure is complete, and then drive you home. You will NOT be allowed to drive after your procedure.

General Tips and Tricks From the Pros:

  • Drink your prep with a straw. Some preps tend to be a little salty. Drinking through a straw may not change the taste, but at least it will bypass those taste buds!

  • Refrigerate your solution once you mix it. Cold colon prep is much better than warm colon prep. Trust us! (This does not apply to Clenpiq.)

  • Continue to drink liquids even after you've started your prep. The more liquids you drink, the more hydrated you are, and the better you will feel, especially when the prep starts working its magic!

  • If you feel nauseated, drink something like ginger ale or Sprite between drinking your prep.

  • If you have been told to drink 2/3 of your solution, just eyeball it. Divide the container into 3 equal sections, mark it with a sharpie if you need to, and drink 2 of those sections the night before, and the remaining section the morning of your procedure. No measuring required; this does not have to be exact!

  • If you want to watch TV, avoid commercials! All those fast-food commercials will just make you hungry!

  • Hang in there! This will all be over in about 24 hours, and you will feel great knowing you've taken care of yourself!

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