What Else Other Than Following Bowel Prep Regimen Should Be Done To Get Bowel Movements Before Colonoscopy?

Posted on Mon, 12 Feb 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 Answered on

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 Last reviewed on

Question : It’s Sunday night, or I would call the office. I have a colonoscopy tomorrow at 10am. I started my prep at 5 pm per the directions. I had clear liquids all day. I took 3 Dulcolax at 5 pm. I drank 8 Oz of Miralax prep at 6 and at 7 and at 8 and at 9. I also took 3 more Dulcolax tablets at 8pm. I have had three glasses of water since 8 pm. I am walking and walking. So far nothing is happening. It has been 4.5hours since I started. Any suggestions?

Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:

Drink plenty of fluids, You will have bowel movements soon.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Since you only had clear fluids all day and followed the bowel prep regimen there is nothing more that needs to be done at this point other than continue to drink plenty of water.

Stick to liquid diet itself, do bot consume solid food.You will start having bowel movements soon.

If you do not develop any bowel movements before scheduled time for colonoscopy, then enema will be given followed by rescheduling the colonoscopy to next day.

Hope this answers your questions

Regards,
Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal, General & Family Physician

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana