Getting Ready for Your Virtual Colonoscopy (VC)
Routine, Renal or Cardiac VC Prep
To get the best exam, your bowel must be clean.
To make sure your colon is clean and empty; you will start your bowel prep the day before your exam. You will need to drink a clear liquid diet and use the bowel prep kit your doctor has chosen for you.
Be sure to pick up these items at your pharmacy at least two days before your exam. They are available over-the-counter:
In the kit you will find:
The laxative will help clean out the bowel for the exam. The contrast agents will help to highlight any stool left in your colon on the VC pictures.
If you need to reschedule for any reason please call your doctor's office.
The day before your exam (prep day)
Starting at midnight and all day before your exam:
-
You may drink as many clear liquids as you want unless your doctor has told you to limit liquids.
-
If you have limits on the fluids you can drink, please talk with your doctor to make sure this prep is right for you.
-
Drink only clear liquids for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
-
Do not eat any solid foods.
-
Drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration and to make the laxative work better.
-
Please do not drink red liquids such as red Jell-O or cranberry juice.
Clear Liquids Include:
-
Gatorade® or PowerAde® (We suggest sports drinks with electrolytes. Remember not to choose the red ones.)
-
Water, tea, or coffee (No cream or milk. Sugar is okay.)
-
Jell-O, Popsicles (No fruit or cream added and no red ones.)
-
Bouillon or broth
-
Apple, white cranberry or white grape juice (No orange, tomato, grapefruit, or prune juice)
-
Soda such as Sprite, 7-Up, ginger ale, or any cola
-
Clear hard candy, gum
-
Lemonade (with no pulp), iced tea
Follow the bowel prep schedule. If you take other medicines, take them 1 hour before or at least 1 hour after taking the laxative (magnesium citrate).
You may wish to place the kit in the refrigerator. Chilling it makes it more pleasant to drink. Or you may drink it at room temperature. Drink as many clear liquids as you like between each step and up until midnight.
Step 1 at 11 am:
-
Take the two Bisacodyl tablets (5 mg each) with 1 glass (8 ounces) of clear liquids. This will gently help move your bowels 6-8 hours after you take them.
-
You can take these tablets and still do normal activities. They rarely cause diarrhea, but they help the laxative in Step 2 work better.
Step 2 between 2 and 3 pm:
-
Drink one bottle (296 mL) of magnesium citrate.
-
Drink at least 4 to 6 cups of clear liquids before you begin Step 3.
-
You should start to have bowel movements quite often, so you will want to be near a bathroom. The time it takes for the laxative to start working varies for each person.
-
Wait at least 3 hours from the time you take the first bottle of magnesium citrate until you start Step 3.
Step 3 between 5 and 6 pm:
-
Wait at least 3 hours after the start of Step 2.
-
Drink 250 mL of liquid barium sulfate found in the prep kit.
-
Drink the second bottle (296 mL) of magnesium citrate.
-
Drink at least 4 to 6 cups of clear liquids before you begin Step 4.
-
Wait 2 to 3 hours before starting Step 4.
Step 4 - between 8 and 9 pm:
Step 4 should begin 2 to 3 hours after the start of Step 3.
-
Mix the 50 mL bottle of Omnipaque 240 in 1 glass (8 ounces) of clear juice, soda, or water.
-
You must be able to drink the whole glass.
-
You may keep drinking clear liquids until midnight.
Your bowel prep is done!
The day of your exam
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on your exam day. You may take your daily medicines with small sips of water.
If you have diabetes, test your blood glucose level more often on the days you can’t eat. Also test before your exam. Adjust your insulin or diabetes pills as your doctor told you. Go back to your normal schedule for testing blood glucose when you are eating again.
If your blood glucose level is less than 70 mg/dl or you have symptoms, drink a clear liquid that contains sugar. Or take glucose tablets. Always recheck your blood.
We can still do the exam unless you need to eat solid food to keep your blood glucose above 70. It is better to keep your blood glucose where it should be than to have the exam. We can always schedule your VC in the future.
After the exam
You will be told when you can eat and drink and when to take any medicines you may have stopped.
If you have concerns, please call your primary care doctor’s office.
If you need medical help right away, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.