Surviving Your Colonoscopy: Essential Tips for a Smoother Process

I just finished my fifth colonoscopy procedure in the past six years, so I guess you could say I’m a seasoned pro at this point! You would think each time gets a little easier, but each prep really has been different for me. The good thing is that the more I do this, the more I learn what works and what doesn’t for me. For people with IBD, getting a colonoscopy is a routine procedure to survey for disease activity and colon cancer risk. Finding ways to make the prep easier is a must.

Here are just a few tips that I discovered work well for me and release some anxiety from my shoulders:

1. Have a support system to stay with you during the prep. Last year, I opted to do the prep alone and I do wish that I had someone else around to take my mind off it. This time, my boyfriend stayed with me and my mom and dog stopped by to visit and watch a movie with us. Having the accountability of someone else to keep you on track with drinking is also helpful.
2. Plan something fun to do while you fast the day before. Not being able to eat for a whole day is really hard. My boyfriend and I planned fun things to do throughout the day so it would take my mind off my hunger pangs (like painting really bad portraits of each other). It also helped that he fasted with me so I wasn’t tempted by any yummy-smelling food.
3. Start drinking earlier. They tell you to start drinking the laxative at 5pm the night before, but this time I started drinking at 3pm. It does take about an hour and a half before any movement happens and I wanted to get done with the drink earlier in the evening so I could at least get some sleep. Luckily, I finished drinking around 2am and was able to get a few hours of sleep and felt cleaned out by that time.
4. Add a generous amount of flavor packets to the drink, if you are able to. I had the gallon jug prep this time and I added three packets of crystal light lemonade flavoring to make it taste better. This made a huge difference because it was actually tolerable and helped me drink it faster!
5. Have a tray in the bathroom with all your essentials. You will be spending a lot of time in there. I had my phone, book, flushable wipes, and drinks handy in the bathroom so I didn’t have to get up to get anything.
6. Massage your tummy to help move the liquid through. You are drinking a gallon of laxative in a short amount of time, so it’s important to take breaks and let it work its magic before drinking more so you don’t distend your stomach. Walking around the house also helps move it through faster than just laying down the whole time.
7. Go out for a sweet treat after the procedure. My procedure center is right next to an Einstein bagels, so we always go there for breakfast afterwards. Let me tell you – that first bite of cinnamon sugar bagel is like heaven after fasting for more than 24 hours and drinking so much nasty liquid!

Leading up to this colonoscopy, I was full of anxiety and dreading what the results would be. I typically feel very in-tune with my body, but this time I felt like it could have gone either way since I’ve had more symptoms lately – mostly due to stress about this procedure. My last colonoscopy was in June 2024, so having another one so soon really drained my positivity. At the end of the day, I know I have to do this and the results are important to managing my disease.

The good news is that my colon looked clean and I am technically still in remission! They took biopsies and I have to wait for the results from that, but a repeat colonoscopy is in order three years from now, yay! My doctor even wheeled me out of the building to the car to chat with my family – I mean how many doctors do this? I feel so lucky to have a doctor that is committed to my well-being, listens to me, and let’s me take charge of my care plan.

Overall, I had a much easier time with the prep this time around and I truly believe it’s because of these tips I’ve outlined here and my support system. It was a success, I made it through, and now I don’t have to worry about it again for another three years. I feel really grateful and committed to prioritizing my journey in remission in the years to come.

Share your tips for colonoscopy prep in the comments below!