Hi everyone,
I’m helping my husband get ready for his colonoscopy next month, and I’m starting to feel more nervous than he is! I’ve been reading all the instructions, but I still worry about him feeling miserable during the fasting part.
His prep day says “clear liquids only,” which I understand — but he’s the type who gets cranky when he’s hungry. He also has mild low blood sugar if he doesn’t eat for a while, so I’m trying to think ahead. I know I can give him things like broth, apple juice, clear sports drinks, and jelly (as long as it’s not red or purple), but is there any trick to keeping the hunger pangs at bay?
Some people say the clear liquids help a lot if they’re warm (like broth) or cold (like ice blocks). Has anyone found certain timing works better — e.g., sipping small amounts regularly rather than having “meals”? I’m also wondering if we can do things like clear protein drinks, or is that risky in case they’re not fully clear?
Does anyone have tips for how to not be hungry before colonoscopy, through the clear liquid prep period?
I want him to be as comfortable as possible while still following the rules 100%. If anyone has practical tips or little “comfort hacks,” I’d be so grateful.
Thanks,
Angie
Hi Angela!
I totally get what you mean — I did my prep last year and I’m a very food-motivated person, so I had to get creative.
One thing that really helped me was treating the day like a “clear liquid tasting menu.” I’d rotate between different “courses” so I didn’t get bored — one hour it was hot chicken broth, then lemon jelly, then an apple juice ice block. It kept my brain feeling like I was “eating” often, even though it was all liquid.
For a little more staying power, I made homemade “gel cups” with yellow gatorade and gelatine — they felt more solid in my mouth but still counted as 'clear'. I also found sipping warm broth from a mug made me feel fuller than cold drinks.
And yes, tiny regular sips are better than big gulps. It stops that empty stomach feeling from getting too intense.
Angela, your husband is in good hands with you looking out for him.
I've gone through 2 colonoscopies now, and I promise the hunger isn’t as bad as it sounds — especially because the prep process itself is… well, quite distracting! You end up focusing more on “getting through it” than on food.
I agree with Jess about alternating warm and cold drinks. For me, a clear vegetable broth with a pinch of salt felt surprisingly satisfying. Also, keeping busy helps — reading, short walks, watching TV. Line up some good movies for him 😉
Most importantly, remind him that it’s only one day and it really is worth it for the peace of mind afterward.
Good luck to you both,
~Raj
Jumping in as someone who mostly lurks here — but I wanted to say that sugar-free lemon ice blocks were my lifesaver during prep. They took a while to eat, so I felt like I was “having something” instead of just sipping drinks. Also, I kept a thermos of broth by my bed so I could have a few sips if I woke up feeling empty in the middle of the night.
Thanks so much everyone — these are exactly the kinds of ideas I needed. I feel a lot more confident about keeping him comfortable now. I especially love the idea of rotating between “courses” and having things ready in advance.
It’s such a relief to hear from people who’ve been through it and know it’s not as awful as it sounds. I’ll be making a little prep-day “menu” for him now!
Hi everyone,
Great tips here, thanks for sharing!
Clear Colon Diet was created to help people through the clear liquid diet phase of colonoscopy prep, so if this is a concern for you, please browse through the website. In particular, the 'Clear Liquid Meal Ideas' menu item in the top has some great resources.
For a more convenient read, I highly recommend our Clear Colon Diet Colonoscopy Prep Recipe Book (PDF eBook).
For the same price as a cup of coffee, this eBook contains all of our recipes and meal plans, as well as prep tips, checklists for foods to eat and avoid, and even a shopping list - almost everything you need to help you through the dreaded colonoscopy prep.
All the best and good luck,
- Christie K
