When the time comes for a middle-aged individual to have that first colonoscopy, this person has probably already heard plenty of horror stories about the process. Those stories hardly ever involve the actual colonoscopy but instead address the preparations required beforehand. A patient who will undergo this preventive diagnostic strategy must drink a large amount of laxative-based liquid the day before and deal with hours of diarrhea. It’s safe to say that most people find this singularly unpleasant. A doctor with a Family Medical Center in Andover Kansas can arrange the colonoscopy with a specialist who performs them, provides the substance that must be ingested to clear the colon, and can offer tips on consuming it and managing the effects.
Unfortunately, the laxative required before a colonoscopy is not a mild one intended to relieve constipation. It clears all the material from the large bowel so the doctor performing the procedure can clearly see the organ’s interior. The patient first must deal with drinking large amounts of liquid in divided amounts, including both the laxative solution and other clear fluids. For some people, this is the most difficult part of the entire process. One way to get ready for this process is to up the intake of clear fluids in the days or even weeks before the prep requirements. When a patient is already accustomed to drinking 2 liters of water every day, the extra liquid in the prep process won’t seem nearly as overwhelming as it does to someone whose normal daily liquid intake might include a cup of coffee, a glass of water and a can of soda.
A doctor with a Family Medical Center in Andover Kansas may recommend sucking on a tasty hard candy after each glass of the solution to make the situation more tolerable. Drinking clear soft drinks or clear chicken broth, or having an ice pop, can help settle the stomach and eliminate any bad tastes from the laxative. Ice pops actually qualify as liquids because they melt from the solid form at room temperature. A doctor with a facility such as Wichita Family Medicine Specialists LLC can provide detailed instructions on which beverages are acceptable during the process.
