9 Tips on How to Have a Better Colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer — cancer of the colon or rectum — is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 147,950 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 53,200 will die from this disease in 2020.

With proper screening, colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and a colonoscopy is the most effective test for preventing colon cancer. The procedure finds colon polyps — these are precancerous cells — and removes them, just as a dermatologist would remove a suspicious mole from your skin. Polyps and early colorectal cancer cause no symptoms, so periodic screenings are important.

Here, Dr. Daniel Freedberg, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Dr. Carolyn Newberry, a gastroenterologist and physician nutrition specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, share their colonoscopy prep tips so you can have a better procedure.

Make a date. Make an appointment, put it on your calendar, and keep it! Clear your schedule and have an escort available to take you home after.

Stock up on soft toilet paper. You will have loose stools the night before your colonoscopy — a lot of them. By morning, this improves.

You can eat the day before your colonoscopy. That’s right, you can. Fiber is your friend every day of the year except the days before your colonoscopy. While individual doctors’ recommendations differ, many doctors now permit a “low residue” diet — soft foods that pass quickly through the colon — the day before your colonoscopy. Eggs, fish, chicken (no skin), and pasta with butter (not tomato) sauce are allowed, but you should save the whole-grain bread, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fiber-packed cereal for after your procedure. You cannot eat the morning of the test, but you can drink your coffee black up to four hours before.

Add a little flavor to your (prep) drink. Many preparations can be mixed with beverages you already like to drink to make them more palatable and easier to tolerate. Try finding your favorite Gatorade flavor or shop Crystal Light or coconut water options if you need lower sugar alternatives.

Split the prep. New studies show that splitting the bowel preparation — drinking half the liquid the night before your colonoscopy and half the morning of the test — results in a cleaner and more thorough exam and higher patient satisfaction. This may mean setting the alarm very early (4 a.m.!) so that the second half can be finished four hours before the colonoscopy start time. But it’s worth it.

Keep a book in the bathroom. Bowel preparations are designed to fully clear your bowels before the procedure, meaning you will be spending some quality time in the bathroom. Catch up on some reading or queue up your favorite TV show to pass the time.

Drink water (a lot). The bowel prep looks like a large volume of liquid, but it works by pulling water into the bowel, so it is actually dehydrating. You may feel better if you drink additional water on top of the bowel preparation.

Take a deep breath. Colonoscopies prevent colon cancer and save lives! The hardest part of the procedure is the bowel cleanse beforehand, which in recent years has become easier to tolerate due to changes in diets and preparations. Don’t be scared to schedule a colonoscopy today. Use these colonoscopy prep tips to help take control of your health.

Know what to ask. A good question to ask after the test is “When do I need to do this again?” Current guidelines say that patients who have a normal, high-quality colonoscopy and who do not have a family history of colon cancer can wait up to 10 years before repeating the test.

Daniel Freedberg, M.D., M.S., is a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Freedberg’s research focuses on the use of acid suppression medications, Clostridium difficile infection, and the gastrointestinal microbiome during critical illness. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Gastroenterological Association, and the Department of Defense.

Carolyn Newberry, M.D., is a gastroenterologist and physician nutrition specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Newberry’s primary clinical and research interests lie in defining the relationship between gastrointestinal diseases, nutrition, and obesity. She has published multiple review papers and original articles examining diet’s role in treating common gastrointestinal diseases, the link between malnutrition and gut pathology, and optimal therapy for obesity management.