What CAN you eat a week before a colonoscopy?

[Questioffs]

I’ve got a list of things I can’t eat, but wondered if it was easier to ask what I can eat 🤨I know it gets stricter 2 days before, but I don’t want to get this wrong and have to redo it… I’m pescatarian, so eat fish, but not meat.

Eat whatever you like until the special diet starts 2 days in advance.

I ate normally until 4 days before and then lived mainly on white bread, plain chicken, salmon and rich tea biscuits !

I need to read my letter again - I’m sure it said to avoid nuts/ seeds etc from a week before. I hope I’m wrong!

I had mine on a Monday. Ate normally til the Friday. Ate from the restricted list on the Saturday & early Sunday then fasted

No red meat, fruit, veg, nuts, pulses, brown bread or bran. No seeds.

Can eat white bread potatoes without skin. Pasta rice. Fish chicken turkey. Eggs cheese milk.

No red drinks- blackcurrant juice or red wine

You should have been told how long to follow the diet. This can vary according to individual bowel habit

I ate light and gentle for a few days before the official prep. So lots of veggie soups etc.

I’ve checked and the week before, I have to stop eating seeds, whole grains, bran, grape stones, oranges, corn and cranberries.

Basically all the food you're normally told is bad for you! My diet sheet this time said no veg at all for 4 days before. Previous one had allowed some until 24 hours before. I had mine the day after New Year so basically ate turkey sandwiches on white bread for the week before 😂
There were a few of us waiting for the same procedure and we all said we'd felt rubbish before starting the prep, mainly due to the change in diet

It’s funny how the advice is different for different hospitals!

I think stopping all those things a full week before must be because some people have such slow transit. If you don't have a bowel movement often, the seeds etc. might not be cleared in time.

The first few colonoscopies I had I was never told to change my diet at all! Just had to stop eating from the afternoon before and do the Moviprep. Having said that, I was going to the toilet up to 20 times a day so things were probably already quite clear!

Ive had 2 colonoscopies recently.
Have a 3rd next month

I drop fibre 5 days b4

They grade your prep - i got excellent both times

Tuna is allowed - tuna in water
White rice
Rich tea biscuits 4 a bit .. ( not 2 days b4 ) ..
Plain yog - no lumps

How long does the 'emptying' last? If I have to take the last preparation 4-6 hours before the colonoscopy, 4 hours will mean c.7am - I am worried about getting to the place without needing the toilet. I could get up earlier, but would like to avoid that.

I have been waiting for a while for this and am dreading it, so don’t want to get it wrong and have to redo it.

I generally find that although the first batch of prep seems slow to start working, once it does start working it does most of the job. Following the timings on the instructions, after the second batch I've always been absolutely fine to then get to the appointment, with no toilet trips at all needed en route.

Even if you were to need the loo, it would be pure liquid with very very little poo in it so wouldn't be as horrendous as one might imagine.

For confidence sake you could wear a maxi pad further back in your knickers and take a spare set of knickers/leggings with you just in case but I've really never had any issues.

It works fast
Youll very likely be very empty b4 u travel

I'm assuming I can make some roast potatoes to go with some fish? (I hate plain rice/ potatoes)

Mash potato ( no skin ) is ok i believe

Best of luck with your colonoscopy

I’ve had 4 colonoscopies. Never changed my diet until the clear liquid diet the day of the prep. Those were the instructions, so not just doing my own thing!