Laxation before colonoscopy
Laxatives are the most important aid in preparing for a colonoscopy. It must be completely emptied so that the doctor can see and assess the mucous membrane well. Laxatives are available in the form of a drinking solution. In order for the patient to be able to evacuate in good time before the colonoscopy, they must consume around two to three liters of the solution in the afternoon or at the latest in the evening before the examination and must not eat anything from this point onwards. Bowel evacuation usually begins just a few hours after taking the laxative.
Eating before a colonoscopy
Patients are no longer allowed to eat everything before a colonoscopy.
Permitted foods before a colonoscopy
From seven days before the colonoscopy, you should slowly prepare your body for the colonoscopy with the right diet. You can continue to eat the following foods without any problems.
Cold meals:
- Spread (butter, margarine, cheese, jam, jelly): only seedless from three days before the reflection
- Cornflakes
- Peeled fruit (apple, pear, banana, honeydew melon; without seeds)
- Dairy products (milk, yoghurt, quark, buttermilk, cream): Reduce consumption from three days before the test
- lean cold cuts
Hot meals:
- potatoes
- White rice
- noodles
- Carrots, pumpkin, parsnips, zucchini, celeriac
- Fish and meat, lean and unbreaded
- Bulgur and couscous (only up to three days before the colonoscopy)
- Cabbage, beet, salad; everything without seeds (up to three days before the examination)
- Egg dishes (up to three days before the colonoscopy)
Drinks:
- water
- coffee
- tea
- Juice, without pulp
- Milk (up to three days before the colonoscopy)
One day before the colonoscopy
On the day before the colonoscopy, you can eat solid food until midday. From 1 p.m. until the colonoscopy, you should then only eat liquids. You may eat these foods the day before the examination:
- Bread (white bread, toast, wheat rolls; everything without grains and seeds)
- very little butter, margarine, seedless jam / jelly
- lean cold cuts (e.g. cooked ham, turkey breast)
Hot dishes:
- Clear broth without garnish
Drinks:
- light-colored teas
- light-colored juice without pulp (e.g. apple, orange juice)
- water
Prohibited foods before the colonoscopy
Avoid high-fiber foods two to three days before the examination. These take a long time to pass through the bowel, even if you have taken laxatives. These include, for example
- beans
- Wholemeal products
- nuts
- muesli
Foods containing seeds can impair vision in the bowel. You should therefore refrain from eating three days before the colonoscopy:
- poppy seeds
- Fruit with seeds (kiwis, grapes, melon)
- Vegetables with seeds (zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin)
- Juice with pulp
One day before the colonoscopy
- coffee
- dark teas
- dark juices
On the day of the colonoscopy, you should only drink liquids. If you feel very hungry, you can satisfy this with a sugary lemonade or a clear broth. Diabetics should discuss with their doctor before starting the laxative procedure how they can avoid the risk of hypoglycaemia.
Laxatives cause the body to lose water. Therefore, make sure you drink enough clear liquids such as water, tea or clear juices to compensate for the loss of fluids.
