Colonoscopy Bowel Prep
📖 About the Procedure
A colonoscopy is a short procedure done under anesthesia. A pediatric gastroenterologist passes a thin, flexible camera through the bottom to look at the large intestine. Small biopsies are usually taken. The procedure itself takes about 20–45 minutes, but plan to be at the facility for several hours total. The colon must be clean for the camera to see well — that's what the medicines below are for.
Prepare a list of medications.
Stop iron, anti-diarrhea medicine 7 days before.
You can verify what medications need to be stopped at meds.giready.com.
⚠️ If any history or suspicion of constipation, please do a pre-cleanout before the regular prep timeline below:
1 capful in 4 oz of clear liquid, 2 times daily for 3 days — best done over the weekend before the procedure
Then continue prescribed daily laxatives, or at least ½ capful of MiraLAX daily, until the procedure.
✅ Medications and Supplies needed
Pick up any prescription as soon as possible after scheduling. Buy all other supplies at least 7 days before the procedure. If your procedure is less than 7 days away, buy today. Check the active ingredient on the label.
| Active ingredient / Item | What to get |
|---|---|
| Bisacodyl 5 mg tablets (Dulcolax Tablets — Overnight Laxative) ⚠️ NOT Dulcolax liquid or soft-chews |
1 Dulcolax 5 mg tablet (5 mg total) |
| Polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLAX, LaxaClear, ClearLax, etc.) ⚠️ NOT MiraLAX chewables Bottle labels call each capful a “once-daily dose.” Any size bottle works. |
At least 7 capfuls At least 18 capfuls if doing the pre-cleanout |
| Gatorade or Powerade (any color except red or purple) — for mixing with the MiraLAX powder | At least 28 oz (~850 mL) |
| Skin protection — protective ointment (Desitin or Vaseline) for anal-area comfort | 1 tube |
📅 1 Day Before — Diet & Bowel Prep
Two parts today: the diet below, then THE BIG PREP — the bowel-prep medicines — in the afternoon and evening.
The Diet — breakfast & lunch: Low-Residue (“White”) foods
Low-residue foods only — the table pairs meals that work with the ones to skip. Nothing with whole grains, red meat, nuts, seeds, popcorn or beans, and nothing fried or greasy. No vegetables that day except plain potato without the skin; fruit only if it is soft and peeled.
| ✅ OK to eat (breakfast & lunch) | ❌ Instead of |
|---|---|
| Scrambled eggs + white toast with butter | Whole-wheat toast, oatmeal with nuts or berries |
| Pancakes or waffles, plain or with syrup | Whole-grain waffles, berries, granola topping |
| Grilled chicken sandwich on white bread, no lettuce or tomato | Burger and fries, pizza, anything fried |
| Mac & cheese + applesauce | Salad, raw veggies, corn |
| White rice + baked chicken or fish + banana | Brown rice, beans, steak or ground beef |
| Snacks before 2 PM: plain yogurt, pudding, Jell-O, white crackers, pretzels, melon | Granola bars, popcorn, trail mix, fruit with the skin on |
After 2:00 PM — Clear Liquids Only
No more solid food. No dairy — no milk, yogurt, or ice cream.
| ✅ OK to drink | ❌ Skip that day |
|---|---|
| Water, apple juice, white grape juice | RED or PURPLE drinks or foods |
| Lemonade, clear soda, clear broth | Dairy (milk, yogurt, ice cream); juices with pulp |
| Popsicles, plain Jell-O, tea/coffee without milk | Any solid food |
🥤 THE BIG PREP — afternoon / evening
Best to start right after school — don't delay too long, or your child may not finish before bedtime.
Have your child drink 3 oz (~90 mL) every 30 minutes until finished.
Drink each cup fast (don't sip slowly — quick drinking helps the stomach empty and reduces nausea). If your child can't keep up, pause 30 minutes and resume. If your child vomits, wait 30 minutes and restart at a slower rate.
- Expect diarrhea — this is normal and means the prep is working. Stool will turn light-colored or yellow (tinted by the Gatorade) — that's the sign the colon is clearing.
- Keep giving clear liquids throughout the day.
- Between prep cups and after the last cup, offer a few small sips of clear liquids every 30–60 minutes through the prep day.
Anonymous · about 1 minute
Rescue plan — if stools are not clear or pale yellow 4 hours after starting (or if no stools), give extra MiraLAX:
- Evening: give 2 more capfuls of MiraLAX in 8 oz of Gatorade.
- Morning: give 1 more capful in 4 oz of Gatorade, at least 3 hours before procedure.
📅 Day of Procedure
- Clear liquids are allowed up until 3 hours before the procedure — nothing by mouth after that. No solid food the day of.
- Bring comfort items for your child (toy, blanket, tablet, etc.).
Helpful Resources
After the procedure & when to call
- Your child will wake up in the recovery area. Some grogginess and gas/cramping/bloating are normal for several hours.
- A small amount of blood with the first stool after a colonoscopy can be normal, especially if biopsies were taken.
- An adult must stay with your child for 24 hours after anesthesia.
- Start with clear liquids, then advance to a regular diet as tolerated.
- No school, daycare, or sports for the rest of the day. Most children are back to normal activity the next day.
- The doctor will discuss what was seen before you go home. Biopsy results take about 1–2 weeks; we'll send the results to the portal and discuss over the phone or at the next appointment.
A sore throat, mild cramping and extra gas are common for about a day, and streaks of blood in the first stool or in vomit can be normal after biopsies. Call (317) 338-9450 if your child has:
- A temperature over 101°F (38.3°C)
- More than about a tablespoon of blood, in stool or in vomit, or stool that is black
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain — call us, and we will tell you whether to be seen
- Severe or persistent sore throat, drooling, or trouble swallowing
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain — this is an emergency, call 911
After hours, the same number reaches the provider on call.