Patient Education Guide: Preparing for your Colonoscopy

Proper bowel preparation ensures your doctor can see your colon clearly and may prevent the need to repeat the procedure.

3 Days Before Procedure

Goal: Adjust your Diet Switch to a low-fiber diet to reduce the amount of residue in your colon.

Eat These:

White bread,
white rice

Pasta (no
whole wheat)

Eggs and tofu

Lean meat, chicken, fish

Clear soups and broth

Dairy: milk, plain yogurt

Avoid These:

Whole grains, bran cereals

Raw vegetables and salad

Nuts, seeds, popcorn

Beans and lentils

Dried or fresh fruit with seeds

High-fiber snack bars

Red or purple dyed foods

Alcohol

Medications:

Stop any blood-thinning medications 7–10 days before the procedure. Your doctor will advise you on this.

Medications:

Stop any blood-thinning medications 7–10 days before the procedure. Your doctor will advise you on this.

Evening Before

Diet: Keep to a low-fiber diet all day.

Hydration: Stay well-hydrated with water, clear broths, and approved drinks.

Bowel Prep: After a light dinner at about 6pm, start taking your bowel prep medication. The medication typically takes 1–2 hours to work. Drink plenty of fluids after taking it.

Day of Procedure

Nothing by Mouth (NBM)

Medications

Before Leaving Home

At the Facility

After the Procedure

Nothing by Mouth (NBM)

Stop all fluids at least 6 hours before your procedure.

Medications

High Blood Pressure: Take your medication at 6 am with a small sip of water.

Other: Stop blood thinners, iron, and diabetes medications as instructed by your doctor in advance.

Before Leaving Home

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

Remove nail polish and jewelry.

Bring your insurance card and a list of your usual medications.

Confirm your mode of transport home.

At the Facility

Arrive 60–90 minutes early.

Check in and speak with the staff/nurse about your prep experience.

You will have an intravenous cannula/plug inserted for sedation. The procedure typically takes 30–45 minutes.

After the Procedure

You will wake up in the recovery area. You may experience some bloatedness but this will improve as you pass flatus.

Arrange for someone to pick you up. Do not drive or sign legal documents for 24 hours after sedation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Proper bowel preparation ensures your doctor can see your colon clearly and may prevent the need to repeat the procedure.

What time should I start drinking the bowel prep?

It is best to keep to a light diet for the whole day before your scopes. After a light dinner at about 5–6 pm, you can start your bowel prep medications. The medication will take about 1–2 hours to work. Drink plenty of fluids after taking the bowel prep.

I feel like throwing up after taking the prep. What should I do?

Patients often feel nauseated because they take the prep too quickly. There is no need to rush; slow down the speed of your drinking. The taste can also cause nausea; you may add any flavored cordial (like Ribena) to the solution to make it more palatable.

I drank up all my bowel preparation but have not gone to the toilet after 2 hours! What should I do?

It is not uncommon to experience a slower effect to the bowel preparation. In this case, you would have been given a fleet enema which you can now administer to kick-start your bowel purge.

Important Contacts

Please contact the clinic if you experience:

Severe abdominal pain

Bloating that doesn’t improve

No bowel movements 3+ hours after starting the prep

Blood in stool

Clinic Information:

Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre: +65 6262 4301

The Surgical Oncology Clinic (Farrer Park): +65 6694 7107

Email Address (in case it is after office hours): enquiries@mtsurgery.sg

Schedule a Consultation

Patient Education Guide: Preparing for your Colonoscopy

3 Days Before Procedure

Eat These:

White bread, white rice

Pasta (no whole wheat)

Eggs and tofu

Lean meat, chicken, fish

Clear soups and broth

Dairy: milk, plain yogurt

Avoid These:

Whole grains, bran cereals

Raw vegetables and salad

Nuts, seeds, popcorn

Beans and lentils

Dried or fresh fruit with seeds

High-fiber snack bars

Red or purple dyed foods

Alcohol

Medications:

Medications:

Evening Before

Day of Procedure

Nothing by Mouth (NBM)

Medications

Before Leaving Home

At the Facility

After the Procedure

Nothing by Mouth (NBM)

Medications

Before Leaving Home

At the Facility

After the Procedure

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Contacts

Please contact the clinic if you experience:

Clinic Information:

White bread,
white rice

Pasta (no
whole wheat)