Before your colonoscopy you will need to take bowel preparation to empty the large bowel for your procedure. For your procedure you may be given either Moviprep or Senna and Picolax. Below are links to instructional videos on how to take your bowel prep.
Colonoscopy Bowel Prep
Moviprep
Picolax (Please take your 3 Senna tablets the night before you start your bowel prep.)
Sigmoidoscopy bowel prep
Sigmoidoscopy
If you are havinga sigmoidoscopy you may be asked to take an enema prep instead. You made need to collect this from the department to have at home or they may give you one before your procedure in the Endoscopy unit.
Foods to avoid 3 days before taking bowel preparation
Nuts, seeds and pulses including baked beans
Wholemeal pasta and brown rice
Wholemeal or brown bread including granary, high fibre white bread, seeded bread
Potato skins and chips
Wholegrain cereal such as All Bran, Bran flakes, Shredded Wheat, Muesli and cereals with added fruit or nuts
Red meat
Cakes, biscuits, puddings or sweets containing fruit and / or nuts
Any puddings containing fruit and / or nuts
Tomatoes and pepper
Click here to view the diet guidelines.
7 days before your procedure
Stop taking all iron tablets but continue all other medication.
Stop taking any constipating agents i.e. lomotil, codeine phosphate etc, but continue all other medication.
If you are on Clopidogrel or Warfarin tablets please ring the Endoscopy unit ext. 4725
2 days before your procedure
Eat foods which are low in fibre. Avoid foods such as fruit, green, vegetables, cereals, baked beans and brown bread. Choose foods from the ‘foods allowed’ list.
Have plenty to drink - at least ½ pint/ 1 glass, each hour
You cannot have red or purple coloured drinks.
Clear Fluids include water, dilute cordial, black tea, black coffee, Bovril, Oxo, strained clear soup, lemonade.
Blood Thinners
If you take any medication that thins your blood i.e. warfarin, endoxaban or rivaroxaban, please contact the endoscopy department once your procedure is booked for further instructions regarding these.
