Sometimes, the preparation solution, or prep, that a person drinks before a colonoscopy to clear the bowels does not work. In such cases, people can take steps to help the solution to do its job correctly.
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light on the end into a person’s colon. Colonoscopies allow doctors to look inside the colon for anything that could be abnormal.
As the doctor will need to see the lining of the colon, the bowels must be empty for the procedure to be successful. One of the main preparations for a colonoscopy involves drinking a special liquid or taking other oral laxatives that induce diarrhea and empty the bowels.
On some occasions, the prep may not work, and the bowels may not be empty by the time a person is due to undergo their procedure. As the doctor could miss important details by performing the colonoscopy without the bowel being empty, the procedure may need repeating or rescheduling.
In this article, we discuss what to do if the colonoscopy prep is not working. We also provide tips on how to drink all the prep and explain the other steps a person can take before a colonoscopy.
The body’s response to the colonoscopy prep drink can vary among individuals. Most of the time, people begin to have bowel movements about 3 hours after drinking the solution, so if a person has not experienced bowel movements by this time, the prep may not be working.
However, a person should continue to consume the prep and drink plenty of clear liquids even if they are not noticing any effects.
People may sometimes need to take additional laxative products, but they should always speak with a doctor before doing so. If a person is experiencing severe constipation, they may require an enema.
It may be challenging to drink all of the colonoscopy prep, especially if a person does not like the taste. However, people can make the prep more drinkable by:
It is important to discuss these options with a doctor before trying them to make sure that they do not affect the specific prep that the person is taking.
A person needs to take additional steps before a colonoscopy to give the prep drink the best chance of emptying the bowels before the procedure. These include:
Doctors will likely recommend that people switch to a low fiber diet a few days ahead of the colonoscopy.
People on a low fiber diet tend to avoid:
The day before a colonoscopy, people will usually need to change to a fully liquid diet.
A fully liquid diet allows:
If a person is unsure whether they can consume a specific product, they should check with a doctor.
People must take particular care to avoid anything containing purple, blue, or red colorings, as these can resemble blood in the colon and may give misleading results.
People should stay close to a bathroom even if they believe that they may be constipated. The prep could take slightly longer than usual to work but then suddenly be effective.
Wearing loose and elasticated pants without buttons may save time in case of urgency.
Frequently having loose stools may cause a person to experience soreness around their anus, so liberally applying Vaseline or a similar product may help reduce the discomfort. People could also use flushable baby wipes or moistened toilet tissues instead of toilet paper to reduce irritation.
The doctor may have provided a leaflet with the prep drink that details what an individual should do if they have not had a bowel movement after consuming all of the colonoscopy prep drink. If not, a person should make their doctor aware of the issue.
It is important to speak with a doctor before trying anything else to help encourage bowel movements.
Constipation may occur after a colonoscopy. For this reason, people should avoid fatty or greasy foods for the first few days after the procedure.
Although people can return to the diet that they had before the procedure, some individuals may choose to eat more bland foods initially to prevent irritation as the bowels refill.
Having no bowel movement after colonoscopy prep is uncommon, but it can happen.
If someone does not have a bowel movement after consuming all of the prep drink and taking other preparatory actions, they should contact a doctor.
Last medically reviewed on May 27, 2021
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