Before colonoscopy, the colon must be completely cleaned, as this is a necessary condition for a successful process. Compliance with food recommendations is usually required for one to two days and a non-slag diet before colonoscopy - this is a necessary measure that will allow you to properly prepare for the procedure.
In addition, when it is necessary to check for the presence of latent colon cancer using colonoscopy, a certain preparation is needed, which takes an average of 16 hours, which is much more than the process itself. But the most unpleasant is, of course, potent laxatives, which must be taken before the procedure and which cause severe diarrhea.
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Indications for a non-slag diet
A diet before colon colonoscopy is a special diet designed to “unload” the body by consuming only neutral foods and plenty of fluids.
A non-slag diet is necessary in preparation for a colonoscopy, but can also be used for other purposes:
- losing weight;
- getting rid of cellulite;
- bowel cleansing from toxins;
- skin cleansing
If you have been prescribed a colonoscopy, then you need to prepare for it in a few days using a special diet and laxatives.
A colonoscopy is prescribed to detect small colon cancers while they are treatable and before they spread to other parts of the body. It also helps detect and remove polyps, small shoots that can develop into colon cancer.
Colorectal cancer (known as colorectal cancer) is the third most common type of cancer in men and women and the second leading cause of death.
Basic principles of a non-slag diet before colonoscopy
Emptying the contents of the colon is a key condition for successful colonoscopy. If the bowel preparation is not rated, polyps and lesions may be skipped. For this reason, the procedure may take longer (increasing the risk of complications) or it may be necessary to repeat or reschedule the entire process, which means preparing the intestines again.
It is important to observe hydration before the procedure. Water, sports energy drinks, clarified juices and broths are ideal the day before the procedure. They also nourish your body with the right balance of electrolytes. Lollipops, gelatin and clear hard candies are also allowed for a slag-free diet. Red or violet fluids should be avoided, as their color can be interpreted as the presence of blood in the colon during the procedure. When the oral cavity dries, crushed ice should be sucked.
Different medical centers recommend different methods of preparing the intestines for colonoscopy. There are two parts: diet and drinking fluid for bowel cleansing. Here are some of the basic strategies.
What can I eat before the procedure?
A few days before the procedure, start consuming low-viscosity fiber: without whole grains, nuts, seeds, dried fruits and raw fruits or vegetables.
Do not eat solid foods the day before the procedure. Instead, consume only light liquids such as broth or compote, green tea, clarified juices (apple, white grapes), clear soft drinks or sports drinks.
What is impossible?
Red, orange, or purple drinks may leave a colored precipitate on the walls of the colon, and this precipitate may look like blood during a colonoscopy broadcast, so these drinks should be avoided for two days before the test. In addition, you should not consume dark gelatin, as this may have the same effect.
Diet menu for 3 days and 1 week
Patients should focus on eating only easily digestible foods three to four days before colonoscopy. Such options include boiled chicken, skinless potatoes, cheese, eggs, steamed white fish and white soups.
Avoid eating fatty foods such as red meat, and you should not consume high fiber foods on the days leading up to colonoscopy, as this can increase colon activity, decreasing visibility for the doctor. High fiber foods may include certain vegetables, nuts, fruits, whole grain pasta, cereals, bran, and seeds.
Example menu before colon colonoscopy:
- Breakfast may include a glass of apple juice, 1 serving of jelly and 1 cup of coffee with sugar.
- For lunch, eat 1 cup of chicken stock, a cup of ginger tea, 1 serving of fruit sorbet and hot tea with sugar.
- An afternoon snack may consist of one or two hard candies that do not contain chocolate or dark food coloring.
- A sample dinner may include 1 cup of beef broth, a glass of juice, 1 cup of lemon jelly and hot tea with sugar and lemon.
Consume only clean fluids, starting the day before the colonoscopy procedure and lasting up to six to eight hours before the procedure. Permitted liquids are transparent dishes that have room temperature, you can tea and coffee, but without the addition of milk or cream.
Diet before colonoscopy combined with Fortrans
In the afternoon or evening, before a colonoscopy, drink a liquid that will cause intestinal diarrhea. Doctors usually prescribe Fortrans for these purposes.The exact instructions for preparation depend on the doctor’s recommendations, the time and type of procedure and any previous experience that you had.
A preferred method is known as divided dosing. You take the medicine in 2 or 3 approaches, depending on your weight and breeding each sachet in a liter of water. The first liter should be taken the night before the procedure, and the second - six hours before it. Fortrans can more thoroughly clean the insides compared to an enema.
Contact your endoscopist to discuss the appropriate product that best suits you, its dosage and timing of use.
Preparing for a colonoscopy can be uncomfortable and time consuming, but it should not be a test.
Here are some things you can do to make your training as smooth and comfortable as possible:
- Make sure that you have received instructions for preparing for a colonoscopy well before the procedure date and have read them completely. It is time to contact the endoscopist for any questions and buy a prescribed drug for the intestines.
- Stock up with wet baby wipes and a soothing cream, which are very useful at the onset of diarrhea and will reduce the local irritating factor.
- Organize the time and privacy needed to complete your training with minimal stress. Clear your schedule and be at home on time to get started. If you have children or elderly parents who need attention, let someone else be with them until you are free.
Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after bowel preparation (usually up to several hours before the procedure), as well as after a colonoscopy.
To make it easier to swallow a liquid drug, such as Fortrans, try one or more of the following options if it is not tasty:
- add lemon or ginger;
- be sure to cool the drink before drinking;
- drink it through a straw placed deep on the tongue;
- pinch your nose while swallowing;
- lick a slice of lemon after another serving with the medicine;
- keep lemon or lime near your nose while you drink.
Put on loose clothing and stay near the bathroom. Even better, as soon as the preparation begins, stay in the bathroom - because during urges it can be difficult to restrain. Think about the convenience of a bathroom for a long time — with music, a laptop, magazines and books near the toilet.
Pros and cons of a non-slag diet
The benefits of colonoscopy are as follows:
- the most effective way to detect colorectal cancer;
- reveals the presence of problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, polyps, ulcers and other inflammations.
- highly informative method for visualizing the surface and appearance of the colon.
Cons of colonoscopy:
- This is an invasive procedure that involves mechanical intervention and discomfort;
- bowel cleansing involves leaching of beneficial microflora and violates peristalsis;
- sometimes the procedure provokes hemorrhoidal bleeding.
Non-invasive procedures exist, such as colonoscopy of computed tomography, which can be used instead.
