Prepare
A procedure · Colon · see where this sits
Colonoscopy prep
You have a colonoscopy on the calendar. The part people dread is the prep — so let’s make it doable.
- The prep is the hardest part — and it’s very doable
- Clear timing makes it manageable
- A good prep means a better, more complete exam
What to expect
The goal is a clean colon so nothing is missed. That means a clear-liquid day and a prescribed laxative split into two doses — part the evening before, part the morning of. The split is not optional; it’s what makes the second half of the colon as clear as the first.
The day before
Switch to clear liquids, avoid red and purple drinks, and start the prep at the time written on your instructions. Stay near a bathroom, keep sipping fluids, and remember it’s temporary — most people are done with the worst of it by bedtime.
What happens next
On the day, the exam itself is short and you’ll be sedated. The single most important thing you control is the prep — follow the timing exactly, and the rest is our job.
Take the tools you need to move your care forward.
Continue in Colon Prep OS
Colon Prep OS continues from here: step-by-step reminders, exact timing, a medication checklist, and day-before guidance — so nothing is left to memory.
A clean prep — and a better, more complete exam.
Unsure about a medication or your timing?
When in doubt about blood thinners, diabetes medicine, or timing, call the office — don’t guess.
Appointments are with Rochester Gastroenterology Associates — for patients in the greater Western New York area.
When to call urgently →