How to take your bowel preparation for a gastroscopy and colonoscopy morning appointment using Plenvu
It is essential that your bowel is empty for this investigation. In order for your bowel to be empty please follow the instructions below.
7 days before your appointment
If you have diabetes or are taking any medication that thins your blood, other than aspirin (which you can remain on) please contact the relevant Endoscopy Unit on the Medication Advice Line (answer phone). The telephone number is at the end of this page.
Stop taking any of the following medication:
- Imodium® (loperamide)
- Codeine phosphate
- Lomotil (co-phenotrope)
- Iron tablets
- Fybogel® (ispaghula husk)
Please note all other medications such as heart tablets and blood pressure tablets should be continued as normal, including on the day of your test.
2 days before your appointment
Start on a low fibre diet. Eat foods only from the following list:
- Eggs – boiled or poached
- White fish
- Chicken
- Lean meat for example beef, lamb, veal or ham
- Gravy using stock cubes (white flour or corn flour to thicken)
- White bread or rolls (no seedy bread)
- Potatoes – boiled or mashed (no skins)
- Pasta/noodles
- White rice
- Butter/margarine – use sparingly
- Clear jelly (avoid red) - without fruit pieces
- Sugar/honey/syrup/treacle/ jelly (e.g. bramble jelly) /jams/marmalade (without peel)
- Boiled sweets or clear mints
- Tea/coffee
- Herbal tea – clear (avoid red colours)
- Lucozade®, water, soda water
- Fizzy drinks, squashes, clear fruit juice (no bits)
- Quorn, tofu, textured vegetable protein
Do not fry food
Avoid seeds and sweetcorn especially
Drink plenty of fluids
1 day before your appointment
Have a light breakfast no later than 9:00 am; food must be taken from the low fibre list. After this do not eat any solid food.
Drink plenty of clear fluid (tea/clear herbal tea/coffee/fruit squash/ carbonated water drinks or plain water).
At 6:00 pm open the carton and remove the Dose 1 sachet. Pour the contents of the Dose 1 sachet into a measuring container that can hold 500ml of fluid. Add water to make up to the 500ml and stir until all of the powder has dissolved. Drink this over 1 hour.
Drink a further 500ml of water afterwards.
If you are thirsty drink plenty of clear fluids.
You should expect frequent bowel actions and eventually diarrhoea. Some cramping in your stomach is normal. Your bottom may become quite sore –please use a barrier cream if you think it is necessary. A barrier cream is a topical treatment used to place a physical barrier between the skin and contaminants which may irritate. There are many products available from your local pharmacy.
Morning of your appointment
At 6:00 am open the carton and remove the Dose 2 sachets
A and B.
Pour the contents of the Dose 2 sachets A and B into a measuring container that can hold 500ml of fluid.
Add water to make up to 500ml and stir until all of the powder had dissolved. Drink this over 1 hour with a further 500ml of water.
It is important that you do not become dehydrated. Clear fluids can be drunk up to 2 hours before the time of your appointment.
Do not drink in the 2 hours before your appointment.
If you have any difficulties
Sometimes, the bowel preparation may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal fullness and bloating, abdominal cramps, fatigue, sleep disturbances, anal irritation, urticaria and allergic reaction. If you have any allergies, please check the preparation ingredients before taking.
Do not take if you suffer with the following:
- Hypersensitivity (allergic reactions/sensitivities)
- Congestive cardiac failure
- Gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation
- Toxic megacolon or ileus
- G6PD deficiency
- Phenylketonuria
- Hypermagnesemia
- Renal impairment (kidney problems)
- Rhabdomyolysis
If you are pregnant, please discuss with a doctor before taking the bowel preparation.
If you feel that you will be unable to complete the bowel preparation successfully, please contact the relevant Endoscopy Unit for advice.
Contact information
Medication Advice Line (answer machine)
If you have any questions relating to your medication, please leave a message and a member of staff will return your call:
Cheltenham General Hospital
Tel: 0300 422 3370
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Tel: 0300 422 8232
Other Endoscopy Units
Cirencester Hospital
Tel: 0300 421 6294
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm
Stroud General Hospital
Tel: 0300 421 8073
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm