Recently, I went for a colonoscopy. Simple enough, right? I made my appointment over the phone, got a prescription for the prep medication, and assumed I was good to go. I have had many colonoscopies and two surgeries and for that reason felt that I knew exactly what to do. But when I arrived, I saw something that could have completely derailed the entire process:
A laminated piece of paper taped to the check-in desk, listing medications that—if taken—would prevent me from getting my colonoscopy that day.
Excuse me, what?!
No one had mentioned this before. No call, no email, no heads-up from the doctor’s office. If I had taken one of those medications, I would have been sent home on an empty stomach, prep wasted, and forced to reschedule.
And that wasn’t the only critical information missing. The more I thought about it, the more I realized: a successful colonoscopy depends on multiple steps—and patients are often left to figure it all out on their own.
The Many Steps Patients Need to Know (But Often Aren’t Told)
A colonoscopy isn’t just about showing up. There are several important steps that need to happen beforehand. If even one of these is missed, the procedure could be delayed, canceled, or just plain ineffective.
1. Transportation Arrangements
Since you’ll be sedated, you cannot drive yourself home afterward. That means you need to arrange for a friend or family member to pick you up. If you don’t have a ride? No colonoscopy for you. Did my doctor’s office remind me about this in advance? Nope.
2. Medications That Must Be Stopped in Advance
Certain medications—like blood thinners, diabetes meds, iron supplements, or Ozempic, anyone?—need to be paused before a colonoscopy. The problem? Patients often aren’t told which ones or for how long. Imagine taking your meds like normal, showing up, and finding out you have to reschedule because you weren’t given proper instructions. Frustrating, right?
3. Dietary Changes: Low-Fiber Diet Days Before the Procedure
Many doctors recommend switching to a low-fiber diet a few days before your colonoscopy. Why? Because fiber can slow digestion, making it harder to fully clean out your colon. A smooth prep starts days before you even take the medicine. Did I get this advice when I made my appointment? Nope.
4. The Clear Liquid Diet the Day Before
This is one of the biggest steps—you can only have clear liquids the day before the procedure. That means no solid food and sticking to clear broth, tea, water, sports drinks, and certain juices. And nothing RED. Of course, the only Gatorade I like is red. Skipping this step? Bad prep, poor visibility, and possibly a canceled procedure. Did I get this advice when I made my appointment? Nope.
5. When and How to Take the Prep Medicine
Colonoscopy prep meds aren’t a one-time deal—they have to be taken in two doses at very specific times. The second dose is especially important, even if you think you’re “clean” after the first round. Many people make the mistake of skipping the second dose leading to poor prep results. Did anyone call to remind me of the timing or emphasize the importance of the second dose? Nope.
6. The Reality of Colonoscopy Prep: What to Expect
Let’s be honest—colonoscopy prep isn’t fun. You’ll be in and out of the bathroom more times than you can count. But here’s the problem: patients aren’t always prepared for just how intense the process is. A heads-up about what’s normal (and what’s not) would make the experience a whole lot less stressful.
The Consequences of Poor Communication
So, what happens when patients don’t get this information in advance? A lot of wasted time, money, and frustration.
❌ Missed or Rescheduled Appointments
A patient who isn’t properly prepared could show up only to be turned away. That means another round of fasting, another day off work, and more anxiety about the procedure. I had to cancel before this procedure and the wait time for the next open slot was three months.
❌ Unnecessary Costs
If your insurance only covers one screening per period, you might have to pay out of pocket for a second attempt. And even if insurance covers it, who wants to go through prep twice?!
❌ Missed Health Problems
A poor prep means the doctor can’t see clearly, which could result in missed polyps or other issues. That’s the whole point of a colonoscopy—to catch problems early.
❌ Unnecessary Stress
Medical procedures are stressful enough. Patients shouldn’t have to hunt down basic instructions or find out last-minute that they’ve done something wrong.
How to Fix This Problem? Better Communication, Plain and Simple.
This entire situation could be avoided with clear, accessible instructions delivered ahead of time.
Here’s how:
A Standardized Pre-Colonoscopy Checklist – Every patient should receive a simple, step-by-step guide covering diet, medication, prep timing, and transportation requirements as soon as they schedule.
Reminder Calls, Texts, or Emails – A reminder: Start your clear liquid diet tomorrow!” could prevent a lot of confusion.
Multilingual & Accessible Instructions – Not every patient speaks English or has strong reading skills. A tool like SpeechMED+GI delivers spoken medical instructions in multiple languages, ensuring every patient knows exactly what to do.
Eliminate the “Laminated Surprise” at Check-in – If a medication restriction is that important, patients need to be told in advance. A sign at the front desk is not an effective communication strategy.
The Bottom Line
A colonoscopy should be a smooth, straightforward process—not a guessing game.
Patients deserve clear instructions, timely reminders in the language that they understand, and accessible information so they can properly prepare. That exhausted Gastroenterologist and his assistants shouldn’t be faced with poor prep or cancellations. Their dance card is full which is why you wait for months to get an appointment. Around 20% of colonoscopies are rescheduled the day of the procedure. My incredibly wonderful doctor told me that if he misses two of the ten procedures he has scheduled in a day that is just more time his patients have to wait, and it really worries him.