What to Know Before a

Before a colonoscopy, you will need to prepare your colon so that your doctor can have a clear view during the procedure. This preparation involves two main steps:

1. A clear liquid diet: You will need to follow a clear liquid diet for a certain period of time (usually about 24 hours) before your colonoscopy. This means that you can only consume clear liquids, such as water, clear broth, and gelatin. No solid foods are allowed.

2. A bowel preparation: You will also need to take a bowel preparation medication at least one day before your colonoscopy. This medication will help to clean out your colon and make it easier for the doctor to view during the procedure. You may have two, two-ounce or four eight-ounce bottles you must drink to do that. You may even want to plan to stay near bathroom the next few hours. These medicines will cause frequent (and urgent) bowel movements.