Bowel preparation
An appointment has been made for you to come to the hospital for either a colonoscopy or a
flexible sigmiodoscopy procedure. This involves looking at the lower end of the large bowel with
a flexible telescope. To ensure success it is very important that your bowel is as clean as
possible - please carefully follow the instructions below.
5 days before the procedure
Please stop any iron tablets you may be taking.
If you are taking warfarin, clopidogrel or any other blood thinning drugs and have not
received instructions about whether to start or stop this, it is important that you telephone the
Endoscopy Unit on 01332 785019.
2 days before the procedure
Please stop any Codeine, Lomotil, Kaolin and Morphine or Imodium.
Please stop eating any meat, fish, poultry or fruit and vegetables.
You can eat any of the following:
•
Bread
•
Pasta
•
Cereals
•
Rice
•
Cheese
•
Spaghetti
•
Eggs
•
Tinned spaghetti in tomato sauce
On the day before the examination
Breakfast - (8.00am - 9.00am)
You can drink tea (without milk), coffee (without milk), water, tomato juice, grapefruit juice,
pineapple juice, blackcurrant juice, soda water, tonic water, fruit squash, oxo, Bovril, marmite,
stock cubes, lucozade, lemonade or clear soup. Avoid any drinks containing milk.
You can also have one of the following options:
•
1 or 2 slices of white bread/toast with a thin spread of butter or margarine and honey (if
desired).
•
1 boiled or poached egg together with a slice of white bread or toast.
•
50gms of cottage or cream cheese with 1 slice of white bread or toast.
Mid-morning - Any of the above drinks.
Lunch - (12.00noon - 1.00pm)
You can have one of the following options:
•
1 or 2 boiled or poached eggs.
•
100gms cheese together with 2 slices of white bread or toast.
•
2 egg sized potatoes without the skin.
•
2 tablespoons of plain white pasta or rice.
From this point on please do not have any further solid food.
1.00pm - please take your sachet of Picolax as follows:
a. Mix the Picolax into a cup of cold tap water (approximately 150mls) and stir for 2 - 3
minutes.
b. Drink the Picolax solution.
c. Aim to drink a glass of water or other clear fluid (about 250mls) every hour until 5.00pm.
5.00pm - please take your Kleen Prep as follows:
a. Fill a jug with 1 litre (1¾ pints) of tap water. Empty the contents of 1 of the Kleen Prep
sachets into the water and stir until it is clear. You may add some orange or lemon
cordial to the solution to improve the taste.
b. Drink 1 glassful of Kleen Prep every 15 minutes until you have drunk it all.
c. Prepare another jug of Kleen Prep using the second sachet and again drink a glass
every 15 minutes.
What should I expect?
You will get frequent loose bowel motions fairly soon after starting Picolax. You should therefore
ensure that you are close to a toilet from this point. Initially you will pass fairly solid matter but
as the Kleen Prep works through the system you will start to pass clearer fluid.
You may get some bloating or stomach cramps and if this happens as you are taking the Kleen
Prep, take a glassful every ½ hour rather than every ¼ hour.
On the day of the test you can continue to drink clear fluids, preferably water, until 2 hours
before your procedure. If you develop a headache this probably means you have not drunk
enough fluid and you should try to drink more. If you have not opened your bowels at all by the
morning of the procedure please call the Endoscopy Unit.
If you have any queries, or require further information
please contact the Endoscopy Unit on 01332 785019.
NHS Direct is a 24 hour nurse led, confidential service providing
general health care advice and information.
Telephone 0845 4647 or visit the website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Any external organisations and websites included here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Derby Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust, nor does their inclusion constitute a recommendation.
Reference Code: P0535/0399/12.2009/VERSION5
© Copyright 2009 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior
permission in writing from the Patient Information Service, Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (P0136/05.2008/V4)