Can you drink alcohol before sigmoidoscopy

Here's what you can drink and eat on a clear liquid diet leading up to your procedure:. Health Digestive Conditions Colonoscopy. Kathleen Ferraro. She's a Chicago-based writer, editor and yoga teacher who has written about health, wellness and science for Bustle , Outside , University of Chicago and more. Don't drink beer or other alcohol before your colonoscopy — instead, sip hydrating fluids like water and sports drinks. Video of the Day. It's Dehydrating.

Fatigue Dizziness Confusion Mood changes like irritability Thirst. It Can Cloud Your Judgement. It Can Interact With Sedatives. Common types of meds that don't mix well with alcohol include:.

What to Drink Instead. As a result, flexible sigmoidoscopy alone can't detect cancer or small clumps of cells that could develop into cancer polyps farther into the colon.

Screen for colon cancer. If you're age 50 or older and you have no colon cancer risk factors other than age — which puts you at average risk — your doctor may recommend a flexible sigmoidoscopy exam every five years to screen for colon cancer. Sigmoidoscopy is one option for colon cancer screening, but there are other options that allow your doctor to view your whole colon, such as colonoscopy. Talk with your doctor about your options.

Sigmoidoscopy may occasionally be preferred over colonoscopy because the preparation for sigmoidoscopy and the test itself may take less time. In addition, an anesthetic is often not required. There is a lower risk of direct harm such as a tear in the colon or rectum wall perforation with sigmoidoscopy, compared with colonoscopy. A flexible sigmoidoscopy exam poses few risks. Rarely, complications of a flexible sigmoidoscopy exam may include:.

Before a flexible sigmoidoscopy exam, you'll need to empty your colon. Any residue in your colon may obscure the view of your colon and rectum during the exam. Wearing a gown, you'll begin the exam lying on your left side on the exam table, usually with your knees drawn toward your abdomen.

The doctor will insert a sigmoidoscope into your rectum. The sigmoidoscope contains a light and a tube that allows the doctor to place air into your colon. The air expands the colon, which provides a better view of the colon lining. When the scope is moved or air is introduced, you may feel abdominal cramping or the urge to move your bowels. The sigmoidoscope also contains a tiny video camera at its tip. The camera sends images to an external monitor so that the doctor can study the inside of your colon.

The doctor can also insert instruments through the scope to take tissue samples. A flexible sigmoidoscopy exam typically takes about 15 minutes. It may require slightly more time if biopsies are taken.

After your bowel preparation, you can keep drinking clear liquids until 4 hours before your scheduled arrival time. Starting 4 hours before your scheduled arrival time, do not eat or drink anything. This includes water, hard candy, and gum.

Start the enema 4 hours before your scheduled arrival time. This may be early in the morning. Follow the steps below. If you see any stool poop in the toilet, fill the enema bottle with room temperature tap water and repeat the steps above. This is for your safety. People with the same or similar names may be having procedures on the same day. The IV will be used to give you anesthesia medication to make you sleep during your procedure.

You may also get fluids through the IV before your procedure. Your healthcare provider will set up equipment to monitor your heart, breathing, and blood pressure. Your doctor will take biopsies if needed. Your nurse will continue to monitor your heart, breathing, and blood pressure. Your nurse will explain your discharge instructions to you before you go home. Your feedback will help us improve the information we provide to patients and caregivers. We read every comment, but we're not able to respond.

If you have questions about your care, contact your healthcare provider. For more resources, visit www. Back to top 1 Week Before Your Procedure Ask about your medications You may need to stop taking some of your medications before your procedure.