A low residue diet leading up to your procedure is an important step in your colonoscopy preparation because these foods break down easily and do not leave much stool behind in the colon.

When you are on a low residue diet, you may eat:

• Butter
• Cheese
• Eggs
• Fish
• Ice Cream
• Macaroni
• Plain/ vanilla yogurt
• Popsicles
• Salt and Pepper
• Soup
• Sugar
• White bread
• White chicken meat
• White mashed potatoes
• White pasta noodles
• White rice

When you are on a low-residue diet there are foods that you should avoid. These foods have a lot of fiber in them and are slow to break down, leaving a lot of residue behind in the colon.

Foods you should not eat while on a low-residue diet are:

• Fruit
• Nuts
• Red meat
• Seeded jellies
• Seeds
• Vegetables
  
  

It is important that all liquids you consume while on a clear liquid diet are “see through” and “not cloudy”.

DO NOT have any clear liquids that are red or purple, while preparing for your colonoscopy.

Clear liquids you may have are:

• Broth or bouillon
• Apple or white grape juices
• Crystal Light
• Hard Candies
• Jell-O
• Kool-Aid
• Popsicles
• Powerade
• Soda or cola (regular or diet), 7UP, Sprite, ginger ale, orange soda
• Tea or coffee with sugar or sugar substitute (no cream or milk)
• Water

• Chill your preparation
• Sip your preparation through a straw
• Choose clear liquid treats that you enjoy, such as Jell-O, Gummy Bears, Hard Candies or your favorite sparking water.
• While on a clear liquid diet, have a variety of clear liquids to keep you satisfied. Add clear bouillon can help, because at times your body may be craving sodium.
• Stay hydrated! Drinking clear liquids that have electrolytes, such as Gataroade or Pedialyte.
• Be at home near your bathroom once beginning the laxative portion of your preparation.
• Wear comfortable clothes while you are preparing.
• Use soft toilet paper.
  
  

If you see your stools are clear, it is important to continue to complete your entire preparation because some stool may still remain in your colon. The second part of the preparation serves a purpose and so does the time given. It is to clear any remaining bile and mucous that your body is making.

For questions during business hours, call your Gastroenterology office to speak with the nurse.

For questions after hours, call Riverside Nurse at 757-595-6363 or 1-800-675-6368.

Most patients are sedated with anesthesia during their colonoscopy. For this reason, you will need a responsible adult to take you to your procedure, stay with you at the facility, and drive you home.

If you arrive without a ride, your procedure will be cancelled, or you will not be able to have any sedation for the procedure.

Following your sedated colonoscopy procedure, you should not drive or be alone for 24 hours.

Please call your gastroenterology office right away. We may need to talk to your health care provider before your colonoscopy or schedule your procedure for a later date.

You should avoid elective colonoscopy procedures for 6-9 months after having a heart attack or stroke.

You will be provided an arrival time for your procedure. Once you arrive we will begin to get you ready for your colonoscopy. This process will take approximately one hour. During this time, you can expect the following:

• We will review your medical record to validate correct documentation
• The pre-op nurse will take your vital signs
• We may perform additional testing such as blood glucose or urine pregnancy test, if necessary
• We will start an IV that will be used to administer sedation in the procedure room
• If receiving anesthesia, you will also be evaluated by an anesthesiologist prior to the procedure

Most patients will be sedated with anesthesia during your procedure. The sedation will allow you to feel comfortable and sleepy. Many do not even realize the colonoscopy was completed when they awake from their procedure.

The colonoscopy procedure will take approximately 30 minutes. During this time you can expect the following:

• You will speak with your gastroenterologist prior to any sedation
• There may be additional people in the room during your procedure such as a Gl tech or a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Each person's role will be explained to you prior to your procedure.
• The nurse will connect you to the vital sign monitors for close observation of your BP, heart rate/rhythm, and respiratory status
• Oxygen is usually placed on everyone as a precaution
• We will ask you to position yourself on your left side and sedation will begin
• You may experience some mild abdominal discomfort/nausea

After your procedure is complete you will go to the room you started in for recovery:

Recovery time is approximately 30 minutes. During this time you can expect the following:

• The physician will let you know the findings of the procedure and recommendations for follow up.
• To help relieve discomfort, you may be encouraged to pass gas or belch.

Your nurse will give you paperwork and go over your specific instructions related to your procedure, such as:

• No driving for 24 hours due to sedation/anesthesia
• When you can drink/eat and resume home medications
• How you should expect to receive specimen/pathology results
• When to follow up or return to office, if needed
• Supervision for the rest of the day, as you you may be forgetful and sleepy for the remainder of the day and will be at a risk for falls
• Symptoms to be aware of for complications along with information on emergency contacts
• Recommended medications for discomfort/nausea as necessary

You will be back to normal activities the next day!

• Wear comfortable clothing.
• Leave your valuables at home (jewelry, watches)
• DO NOT wear lotion or powder on your chest and arms.
• If you use an inhaler, please bring this with you to your colonoscopy.
  
  

After your colonoscopy it is important to share your results with your family- parents, siblings and children, because the risk of colorectal cancer is higher if you have a family history of polyps (growths) or a family history of colorectal cancer. Sharing your medical history keeps your family informed so they aware of their risk and empowered to be screened for colorectal cancer at the right age. When you are at higher risk for colorectal cancer, you may be screened earlier than age 45.

At Riverside our endoscopists are well above the national average for finding polyps, which is a key marker as to their quality.

When patients are adequately screened by high-quality endoscopists at the right time, we can probably prevent most colorectal cancers by removing the polyps before they become cancerous.

Colonoscopy can prevent colorectal cancer by detecting and removing colon polyps before they may become cancerous. Colorectal cancer may not produce any symptoms in early stages. As the disease progresses, more symptoms may appear. This is why screening is so important, as it looks for cancer when you have no specific signs or symptoms.

Colorectal cancer is rising rapidly among young adults according to the National Cancer Institute, which has prompted medical experts to lower the recommended age to start colorectal cancer screenings at 45 years of age, or earlier if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer.

While there are at home options that can screen for colorectal cancer, colonoscopy is the only screening that can both detect and prevent colorectal cancer.