12 top tips from PSC patients
We know that colonoscopy bowel prep is sometimes hard to stomach.
That's why we've compiled 12 top tips from our Facebook group members to help make it a little more bearable.
However you choose to take your bowel prep, always make sure you follow the instructions provided by your hospital and make sure any liquids are on our safe list. If in doubt, check with your doctor or IBD nurse.
Do they help?
Dr Keith Siau (University of Birmingham) and colleagues looked at the evidence and found a number of benefits.
The Top 12 Tips
1. Eat polos
Eating polos at the same time as drinking the prep can help kill your taste buds (other mints will probably work just as well).
3. Make it look fancy!
Pour the prep into a wine glass or a martini glass with an umbrella - might as well make the most of it, right?
5. Mix it and cool it
Mix the prep with cordial, carbonated water, syrup or any other drink that is allowed. Put it in the freezer ahead of time and add ice cubes to keep it cool. A lot of people find it more palatable when it is cold.
7. Use a straw
Slurp the prep through a straw. This might be the most popular tip from our Facebook group. We definitely recommend using an environmentally friendly straw, such as a metal or glass one if you can.
9. Distract yourself
Sit in a comfy chair and watch a good TV show or film while you're drinking the prep.
11. Stay hydrated
Remember to drink plenty of water. Being dehydrated will only make you feel worse.
2. Divide it up
Pouring the prep into lots of medium sized cups will trick your brain into thinking there is less liquid.
4. Turn it into jelly
Make the prep into lime jelly and chase it down with some hot water to help it melt.
6. Have a chaser
Drink something tasty in between drinks of the prep. Make sure your chaser is on the 'safe' list though. Some people also recommend not using a drink that you're particularly fond of, as it may put you off drinking it again!
8. Hold your breath!
It's no secret that the prep doesn't smell great. Try holding your nose as you drink it.
10. Drink two drinks at once
Put one straw in the prep and another straw in a different drink and slurp them at the same time.
12. Freeze it
Freeze the prep into ice cubes and take it that way. A great option for those who struggle to get all of that liquid down!
Do these strategies help?
Dr Keith Siau (University of Birmingham) and colleagues looked at the evidence.
Of 467 studies identified in published scientific research, six had sufficient and comparable detail to determine if taking bowel prep with something other than water alone, improves the patient experience of preparing for a colonoscopy.
Tell us about your colonoscopy
What was your last one like? Did it go smoothly? How did you prepare?
Please get in touch if you'd like to know more about sharing your experience with others. We'd love to hear from you!
Looking for more information about colonoscopies?
Take a look at our colonoscopy information for everything you need to know about having a colonoscopy.