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Five Red and Purple Foods To Avoid Before Your Colonoscopy

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Preparing for a colonoscopy is not necessarily a cup of tea. However, it is a necessary process that needs to be taken seriously and completed thoroughly. On the day before your colonoscopy, you have a very detailed regimen of laxatives that you must take to completely cleanse the colon. Along with the laxatives, you may have clear liquids such as coffee, tea, clear soup or broth, soda, juice and water.

In addition to clear liquids, there are actually a few treats that dissolve into clear liquids which are on the safe list. These foods can “fool” your brain into thinking that you are eating. However, you must remember that anything RED or PURPLE is off limits when it comes to colonoscopy preparation. Red dye or purple dye masks the lining of the colon and can interfere with getting accurate results.

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Here is a Top Five list of red and purple foods and drinks to avoid before your colonoscopy:

  • Jell-O—Avoid strawberry, raspberry, cherry or black cherry and grape
  • Popsicles—Avoid any red or purple in a variety pack. Try the natural frozen fruit bars made with real fruit juice. There are some delicious lemon or tangerine pops that are made with 100 percent fruit juice. Just make sure that there are no bits of fruit in the popsicle, and it is juice only.
  • Kool-Aid—It’s been a while since you have had Kool-Aid, hasn’t it? Unfortunately, most Kool-Aid flavors have red or purple dye. Lemon, lime or orange Kool-Aid is acceptable but no grape, cherry, fruit punch or strawberry.
  • Italian ice—This delicious treat is tasty enough to make you forget you are prepping for a colonoscopy! Just remember to avoid strawberry. Choose lemon.
  • Juice—No grape, pomegranate, cherry, cranberry or cranberry cocktail juices are permitted. Stick with apple juice or white grape.

Talk to your doctor to get more information on colonoscopy prep. A wonderful resource can be found on the Colon Cancer Alliance website called Todd’s 6-Day Colonoscopy Prep Guide. Take the time to write out a menu for the days preceding your colonoscopy and make a special trip to the grocery story with your list in hand. Following the correct steps ensures an accurate colonoscopy!

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5 Tips to Conquer the Colonoscopy Prep

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We all know how getting a colonoscopy can save lives. But the minute we hear the word “colonoscopy,” our minds immediately think about the prep that must be taken to clear out the colon. An article from Men’s Health offers five tips and tricks that can make the prep day more comfortable:

  1. Modify your menu: before taking the bowel prep, you need to spend a day on a clear diet of easily digestible liquids to help clear out the colon. Broth and Jell-O are some of the approved foods, but you can also have Italian ice, coffee and hard candies to shake up your flavor palette.
  2. Diaper rash cream is not just for kids: as unpleasant as this may sound, you might experience something akin to a diaper rash as a result of the bowel prep. Diaper rash cream can help with this irritation.
  3. Stay busy: a good tip for the day when you’re taking bowel prep is to stay home and stay busy. Plan an activity or project that will keep you moving for most of the day. The more you move around, the better your stomach empties.
  4. Keep the liquids coming: need a way to make the prep taste better? Try mixing it with some Crystal Light, and chase it with cranberry juice. Also have plenty of water handy.
  5. Make your bathroom more entertaining: you’ll be spending a lot of time in the bathroom. Why not move your TV in there? Or keep some books handy. Whatever can make that time move faster and maybe offer you some distraction is highly encouraged.

These tips are great ways to make your prep day slightly more enjoyable, and if all goes well with your colonoscopy, you won’t have to do that again for another 10 years!

Are there other ways you have tried that have helped you conquer the prep? Let us know! Share your tips and tricks on our Facebook page or email us at info@stopcoloncancernow.com. We’d love to hear from you and share what you’ve learned with the StopColonCancerNow.com community!

Colonoscopy as the Gold Standard for Colon Screening

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Colon cancer is one of the most common and most treatable cancers. In 2013, it is expected that colon cancer will claim the lives of over 50,000 Americans. Since the risk of developing colon cancer is 1 in 20, it is in your best interest to learn more about prevention and early detection for colon cancer. If you are over 50, you should ask your primary care physician about getting an initial screening. Individuals who are African American or who have a family history of colon cancer or exhibit other risk factors should seek early screening.

There are many different screening methods, but the colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colon cancer screening. A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a gastroenterologist inserts a lighted probe into the rectum to look for lesions, polyps and abnormalities in the lining of the colon. One of the best advantages of a colonoscopy is that cancerous polyps can be removed during the procedure if they are discovered. If your colonoscopy is clear, you will not have to have another procedure for 10 years.

Still, as good as this sounds, there are people who will opt out of testing. Many are scared off by the anticipation of pain during the colonoscopy. Most people choose to be sedated, either conscious sedation or total sedation so you will not feed pain during the procedure. Other people dread the prep for colonoscopy and having to stay close to a bathroom all day. There is really no other way to make it more bearable or pleasant, but take heart that if you the preparation correctly the first time, you won’t have to do it again for another decade. Give your cleansing day your best effort because a thorough cleanse will allow your doctor to see even the flattest lesions on your intestine.

There are other methods of colon cancer screening besides the colonoscopy. A flexible sigmoidoscopy involves a flexible tube being inserted into the rectum, but not as far into the colon as a colonoscopy. This test has to be done every five years instead of every ten years. Another test is the double-contrast barium enema, which also has to be done every five years. A virtual colonoscopy has gotten a lot of attention these days, but recently Medicaid Services has refused to pay for the test. As with other testing, when insurance will not pay for the procedure many people will not choose to be tested.

A colonoscopy is the best screening method because it is the most comprehensive exam and allows for polyp removal during the procedure. It is estimated that between 60 to 90 percent of colon cancer deaths could be prevented if everyone over 50 chose to have a colonoscopy. That is 30,000 to 45,000 lives that could be saved! If you have never had a colonoscopy before, take a few moments to view some FAQs and find a treatment center near you.

Caregiver Needed: Bringing Someone to Your Colonoscopy

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Many events in life require a good deal of planning, and a colonoscopy is no different. While it’s much less exciting than planning a vacation, a colonoscopy requires much preparation and forethought. What you may not know is that you should not got to your a colonoscopy alone. Let’s talk about some reasons why you will want to have someone accompany you on the day of your colonoscopy.

On the day of your procedure, you will have an empty stomach and colon from the prescribed prep. This process cleanses your colon and can cause gas and discomfort. The prep may not have completely worn off by the time of your appointment, so you will definitely be more comfortable with a friend or family member driving.

Typically before the procedure, you will receive intravenous medication that will relax you during the 30-60 minute operation. When the colonoscopy is complete, you will be taken to a recovery room until you are alert. You may experience cramping and bloating due to the air in your colon from the procedure. The combination of sedation and the discomfort of the procedure makes it imperative to have support. In fact, you should not drive a car or operate machinery until the day after your procedure.

A colonoscopy is a major procedure. Take the time to ask a loved one to come with you to this important appointment. You will feel supported and cared for, and it will be an opportunity for your caregiver to learn more about this essential part of preventative care.

Your Guide to an Easy Prep

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A colonoscopy is certainly not a walk in the park, but it might be one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Colon cancer is 90 percent treatable with an early diagnosis. Surprisingly, the patient plays just as important of a role as the physician in a successful colonoscopy. For a thorough colonoscopy, the patient must adhere to physician guidelines to assure that the colon has been completely flushed.

During a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a lighted flexible plastic tube into the rectum, and a camera attached to the tube will assist the doctor to see polyps, lesions and abnormalities in the colon. These abnormalities could become cancer in the future, so maximum visibility is imperative. A recent study from The American Journal of Gastroenterology found up to eight percent of colon cancers go undiagnosed because the colon has not been adequately cleansed.

A successful colonoscopy begins with the patient’s thorough preparation. Colon cleansing is usually a combination of liquid laxatives and a liquid diet during the day before the procedure. These liquids will stimulate bowel-clearing diarrhea. No solid foods should be consumed on the day before a procedure, but these liquids are typically acceptable (ask your doctor for specifics):

  • Broths
  • Soft drinks
  • Tea
  • Coffee (no milk or creamer)
  • Clear juices
  • Jell-O (any color but red, blue or purple)

It is very important to avoid foods with insoluble fiber such as nuts, seeds, hulls or skins. This could impair the doctor’s view of the colon and possibly miss flat polyps that are difficult to view  (Source: Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide).

Typically, you can also follow these tips on the day before your exam (contact your doctor for his/her recommendations):

  • Eat plain cereal with milk for breakfast
  • Eat a light lunch consisting of soups without vegetables
  • Drink clear liquids only
  • Do not eat solid foods
  • Drink a large volume of the special cleansing solution and/or special oral laxatives recommended by your doctor

Your doctor may have a specific regimen for their patients to follow, and sometimes that list can be tedious. Now, there is an app called “Colonoscopy Prep Assistant” to help patients in the prep stage of a colonoscopy. Brett Shamosh, co-founder and CEO of WellApps created the technology to act as a tracking companion. The app will track the number of glasses of solution the patient has consumed and also give reminders of the next dosage .

So do yourself a favor; follow your doctor’s prescribed schedule to fully prepare for your colonoscopy. Whether it’s a printed schedule on your refrigerator or an app on your phone, you can help your doctor give you accurate results so you will not have to repeat this less-than-pleasant procedure.

Preparation Process an Essential Part Of Colonoscopies

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Once you’ve made the choice to get a colonoscopy, you may think you’ve done your part to prevent colon cancer and leave the rest up to the physician performing the procedure. But patients must do more than make a decision to ensure a successful colonoscopy; closely following the preparation process to cleanse the colon is just as important.

A new Canadian study, published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, found that doctors may miss close to eight percent of colon cancers during a colonoscopy, or one in 13 cancers. One explanation for this may be impaired visibility during the procedure because the patient’s colon was not thoroughly cleansed. To improve colon cancer detection rates, lead researcher Dr. Harminder Singh said it is imperative for colonoscopy patients to “strictly follow the instructions for bowel preparation for colonoscopy…It may be a nuisance but it will help maximize the view during (colonoscopy).”

During a colonoscopy, a flexible, lighted tube, called a colonoscope, with a camera attached to it is inserted in the patient’s rectum and guided around the bends of the colon. Physicians look for any abnormalities during the procedure, including growths called polyps that can turn into cancer. This procedure requires a completely clean colon for maximum visibility, achieved through a combination of liquid laxatives, a liquid-only diet and lots of time near a commode. The colon-cleansing process usually begins the day before your procedure and may be inconvenient, but failing to follow the instructions for colonoscopy prep could result in missed polyps and the development of colon cancer.

Colon cancer is 90 percent treatable, but only when diagnosed in its early stages. People are advised to get regular screenings beginning at age 50; patients with a family history of colon cancer or polyps may need to begin the screening process at an earlier age. To find a colon cancer screening center near you, click here.