Ipswich Digestive Health Group

Day Before

Before and After

Day Before

A good preparation greatly improves the accuracy of your test. Please continue your low fibre diet up until your procedure as directed. You will be supplied with written instructions for the preparation diet as well as the bowel preparation procedure itself. Ensure you follow this closely as residual dietary fibre can severely compromise the accuracy of the test. Occasionally, some people may require additional prep solution on the morning of the test. Notify hospital staff early if your preparation is not free of particulate material. If you have previously had problems with inadequate cleaning of the bowel please notify the nurse at your pre-procedural assessment.

  • Results Expected After Taking Bowel Preparation

    You should have a relative or friend stay with you whilst taking your bowel preparation. Please inspect the toilet bowl to determine if your bowel motion has a clear yellow appearance. It should be free of any particle matter, although a small quantity of white fleck is acceptable. If you are unsure of the results, please call the Gastroenterologist's rooms for assistance. Occasionally, yellowish bile stained fluid will be noticeable the next morning on the day of your procedure.

  • What to Expect

    The preparation produces watery diarrhoea over a short period. Therefore it is normal to feel lethargic and you will may feel chilled, particularly in winter after drinking the fluid. Drink hot clear fluids and wear warm clothing.


    You may also experience some tenderness over the anal region from the frequent diarrhoea. Application of Lanolin cream or Vaseline to the anal region before drinking the prep will help to minimise discomfort. Patients with haemorrhoids may experience discomfort at the anus and therefore should use haemorrhoidal cream. Following preparation a warm bath may assist in soothing the anal discomfort. You will often feel a sense of bloating. Walking and the application of hot packs will usually ease this feeling. Usually the preparation is well tolerated; however you may find some problems.

  • Nausea

    This may occur for a number of reasons but often because the fluid is not passing from the stomach as quickly as expected. If you experience vomiting, stop drinking the fluid for 30 minutes and have a hot beverage. Then restart drinking. It is important you try to continue as the procedure can only be performed if your bowel is totally clean. A clean bowel can only be achieved by drinking the preparation. It is better to take longer to drink the preparation and not vomit than to try and keep to the time shedule and risk having a poor preparation. If despite everything vomiting persists, stop the prep and notify the doctor on call or a major Accident and Emergency Centre.

  • Bloating & Discomfort

    A degree of bloating is usual, however if you have experienced significant pain from the distension stop the preparation. If the bloating settles, then start the prep again. If pain and bloating persists or is severe, do not drink any more of the solution and contact the doctor as you may require an injection or even and x-ray, particularly if you have not had a bowel motion.

  • Failure to Have a Bowel Motion

    Patients differ in timing between drinking the prep and when the diarrhoea commences. If you have followed the directions and consumed half the preparation with no results, stop the prep for 30 minutes and have a hot clear (eg black/green tea) beverage. Some people take a lot longer to pass the prep than others. However if you are not experiencing any pain, and bloating is minimal, then continue. Once the diarrhoea has commenced continue drinking the preparation.

  • Dizziness

    This can occur after taking the bowel preparation. Be sure to be in a comfortable position when taking the bowel preparation and close to toilet amenities. Rarely fainting may occur.

  • Severe Pain and Vomiting

    This is very unusual. If you have stopped the prep and the symptoms continue or you fail to improve it is wise to contact the doctor or a major Accident and Emergency Centre for advice as you may have an underlying condition that is causing the problem.