Colonoscopy prep questions and answers

Start 7 days before. IMPORTANT: Please commence your admission process by registering at: https://www.sjog.org.au/patients-and-visitors/my-admission. If you need assistance with the admission process, please call St Johns on 1300 863 566. Read your prep instructions through, buy your bowel prep and low-fibre foods, and confirm your medications with the clinic. Your low-fibre diet then begins 4 days before the procedure.

Your prescribed bowel prep (PICOPREP or GLYCOPREP/COLONLYTELY), plus clear liquids such as clear apple juice, lemonade, clear broth, black tea or coffee without milk, and jelly that is not red or purple. Some plans also include Movicol or OsmoLax. Use the 'What to buy' checklist in the app for the full list.

Yes. You will be sedated, so you must have a responsible adult to collect you and stay with you for the rest of the day. You cannot drive, ride, use public transport alone, sign legal documents or drink alcohol for 24 hours afterwards.

From 4 days before your procedure, avoid wholegrains, seeds, nuts, skins, pips, raw vegetables, salads, corn and dried fruit. Choose white bread, white rice, pasta, eggs, tender meat, fish, chicken and peeled cooked vegetables. This reduces residue in the bowel so the camera view is clear.

The day before your procedure you move to clear liquids only — no solid food. Clear liquids are anything you can see through, and nothing red or purple. Keep drinking through the day so you stay hydrated while the prep works.

Dose timing depends on whether your admission is in the morning or the afternoon. Enter your procedure date and admission time in the prep checklist and the app will show each dose with its exact date and time.

Slow down, sip the solution over a longer period and take short breaks between glasses. Cold prep and a clear-liquid chaser often help. If you vomit repeatedly, cannot keep the prep down or have severe pain, ring the clinic for advice.

Your bowel motions should become clear or pale yellow liquid with no solid matter. If you are still passing solid or dark brown motions when your prep is finished, contact the clinic before you travel in.

Never stop a blood thinner without advice. List your blood-thinning medications when you sign up and confirm the plan with the clinic at least 7 days before, so your doctor can tell you whether to pause, adjust or continue them.

Diabetes medication usually needs adjusting while you are on clear liquids and fasting. Tell the clinic which medications and doses you take at least 7 days before, and follow the plan your care team gives you. Monitor your blood glucose more often during prep.

Yes. If biopsies are being taken to check for Coeliac disease, you must keep eating gluten in the lead-up (a gluten challenge) so the test is accurate. Tick the Coeliac testing option in the app and your diet guides will include the gluten-challenge advice.

Most regular medications can be taken with a small sip of water on the morning of your procedure, unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Bring a current list of everything you take, including supplements, to your admission.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember and shift the remaining doses later by the same amount, keeping at least 1 to 2 hours between doses and finishing before your fasting cut-off. If you cannot fit the full prep in before your admission time, ring the clinic on (08) 6389 0631 for advice rather than skipping a dose. You can adjust each dose time in the prep checklist so your reminders and printed plan stay accurate.

Usually yes. Set your prep start date in the checklist and the app will compress the remaining steps into the time you have left. Prioritise the clear-liquid phase and the full bowel prep; a shortened low-fibre diet is less important than completing every dose. Tell the clinic if you have had solid food within 24 hours of your procedure.

Do not restart from the beginning. Stop for 30 to 60 minutes, then resume sipping slowly — chilled prep, a straw, and a clear-liquid chaser such as clear apple juice or lemonade all help. If you vomit more than once, cannot keep any prep down for an hour, or feel faint, ring the clinic before continuing.

Keep drinking clear fluids; the prep needs volume to work and can take 2 to 3 hours to start. Gentle walking often helps. If you have had no bowel motion 3 hours after finishing a dose, or your motions are still solid or dark brown when the prep is complete, contact the clinic — you may need an extra Movicol or OsmoLax dose or a repeat prep.

Stop the prep and seek urgent care if you have severe or worsening abdominal pain, a swollen hard abdomen, persistent vomiting, no urine output, chest pain, or you feel very unwell. Ring the clinic during business hours, or go to your nearest emergency department after hours. Do not keep drinking prep while in severe pain.

Restarting is rarely needed and should only be done on clinical advice. Missing part of a dose or running late usually just means adjusting timing. A full repeat prep is generally only considered when the bowel is not clear on the day, which the clinic will decide with you.

Update your procedure date and admission time in the prep checklist. Every milestone, dose time, calendar export, reminder and printed PDF is recalculated from that date, so your plan and alerts move with the new appointment.

Follow the fasting time given in your day-of instructions — typically clear fluids stop a set number of hours before admission. The app's day-of guide shows your fasting cut-off based on your arrival time.

Photo identification, your Medicare Card and Health Insurance Details, a current medication list, your admission paperwork, and comfortable clothing. Leave valuables at home and arrange your ride home before you arrive.

The colonoscopy itself usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. With admission, sedation and recovery, plan to be at the hospital for around 3 to 4 hours. You may feel bloated or windy afterwards, which settles quickly.

Your doctor will usually give you an initial summary before you go home. Biopsy or pathology results take a little longer and are discussed at your follow-up appointment.