PREPARATION OF COLONOSCOPY

(EXAMINATION OF THE COLON)

On the day of the examination you need to register at the admissions desk by entering your identity card in the machine and selecting ‘OPNAME’ (ADMISSION) on the screen.

Starting 3 days prior to the colonoscopy, you need to follow a low-fibre diet

- DO NOT EAT: vegetables, fruit, brown bread, whole-grain products, muesli, nuts, seeds, oatmeal, etc.

- YOU MAY EAT: white bread, meat, fish, pasta, cottage cheese, yoghurt without fruit, pudding, etc.

The evening prior to the examination:

- Around 5 pm, you may eat porridge, pudding or yoghurt without fruit (no hot meals and no bread).

- The preparation will take place with PLENVU®. (available in pharmacies over the counter, one package is sufficient)

- Start the preparation at 7 pm (2 hours after your last meal)

Tips for drinking:

  • Use water from the fridge!
  • Drink with a straw
  • Suck a lollipop
  • Dilute Plenvu with more water
  • Add flavouring to the water (not grenadine)

Dissolve the powder in half a litre of cool water. In addition, take half a litre of plain water (or tea). Drink it intermittently over the course of one hour to an hour and a half. Adhere to the timing and do not drink too quickly. Afterwards, you may drink as much plain water (or tea) as you want throughout the evening. Only plain water (or tea), NO alcohol, coffee or carbonated beverages. You will have to go to the toilet regularly (diarrhoea is normal). However, some people may only have bowel movements on the morning of the examination itself. Of course, you may not eat anything.

Morning of the examination:

On the day of the colonoscopy, you need to abstain from eating or drinking (nothing by mouth)!

Intake of home medication is allowed but is not very useful, due to the laxative effect of Plenvu®. In case you nevertheless want to take important medication, it is best to do so right before going to hospital.

Blood-thinning medication may under no circumstances be taken!

Before you start ingesting the second dose, it is advisable to first drink a glass of water (or tea) to facilitate the procedure.

Dissolve the powder in half a litre of cool water. In addition, take half a litre of plain water (or tea). Drink it intermittently over the course of one hour to an hour and a half. Adhere to the timing and do not drink too quickly. Afterwards, you may drink plain water (or tea) until 2 hours before your admittance to hospital. You may still NOT drink alcohol, coffee or carbonated beverages.

After procedure

Your stool should have a light colour. If this is not the case, you need to report this to the outpatient department so that the nursing staff can monitor this.

You may not drive a vehicle for 12 hours after, arrange for someone to pick you up.