Learn what to foods to eat and which ones to avoid before a colonoscopy. You'll also need to know when to eat certain foods. The accuracy of the test results can be affected by whether you eat the right things prior to the test. Read on to find out what you'll need to know to prep your bowels for your colonoscopy with a proper pre-test diet.
Instructions
1. Avoid herbal supplements in any form for up to a week before your colonoscopy. This includes drinks, pills, or solid foods.
2. One day prior to your test, have breakfast as usual. Depending on what time of the day your appointment is scheduled, you may be able to eat lunch as normal, too. If your appointment is early the next day, you'll need to start your special diet at lunch time the day before your colonoscopy.
3. Drink at least one gallon of clear liquids starting at lunch time on the day before the colonoscopy. You can have black coffee, clear soda, light-colored Jello, soup broth, and lemonade. Your goal is to stay hydrated while you take the bowel prep your doctor gives you.
4. Keep drinking clear liquids until a few hours before your colonoscopy. Be sure to check with your doctor about what time to stop all drinking before your test.
5. Avoid alcoholic drinks for up to one day after your colonoscopy.
Tags: your colonoscopy, before your, before your colonoscopy, before colonoscopy, clear liquids
