Colonoscopy: tips from an endurance athlete (wannabe). TMI

Note: this will definitely be a TMI type post (Too Much Information); so if you are revolted by discussion of lower gastrointestinal functions, don’t read this.

When to schedule this: off season probably works best, if possible. But don’t do it the week of your goal event!

A week prior: I recommend taking your “cleansing” prescription to your pharmacy then because your store might be out of it; this will give them time to order some.

Also: note that you’ll have to get off of aspirin and NSAIDS 5 days prior to your procedure. So if you are nursing an injury or other aches and pains, I’d recommend getting some ice packs and using them after your workout.

Two days prior I was able to train normally, but I ate a little bit less than normal as I wanted to have less to clean out. It is a good idea to pay attention to hydration.

The day before I’d recommend doing your workout in the early morning; note that you’ll be on a “clear liquid” diet. I used apple and white grape juice; next time I’ll add broth to the mix (for the salt).
Then at noon or after, you’ll start your “cleansing”

Note: I think that this stuff takes like crap (no pun intended). You have to drink a LOT of it; 3 liters worth over a 4 hour period. I recommend starting this as soon as possible (per your doctor’s instructions) as it is good to have this over for a few hours prior to sleeping.

You’ll get diarrhea which will be the usual “loose bowels” at first; eventually it will get clearer and clearer until you are basically peeing out of your butt. I recommend wearing some old underwear during this period. Don’t plan on doing anything that you need to concentrate on; and don’t be too far away from the bathroom!

Having some Tuck’s pads might be nice to have; you might get sore.

The morning of the procedure
You’ll probably have to finish yet another liter of your cleansing fluid 3 hours prior to your check in time. You might think: “why, I am already clear” but you probably aren’t; I started off “brownish” and eventually got clear again. You won’t be allowed to take anything else so coffee addicts (like myself) will suffer a bit.

Note: when I woke up in the morning, I was 5 pounds down.

Doctor’s office

That went very smoothly; I was given the “don’t remember anything” drugs. I woke up babbling.

That afternoon: forget working out; I was groggy and really didn’t want much except….coffee!!!! I ate about 50 percent of my usual intake at meals that day.

Note: you’ll go home and spend most of the time trying to pass gas. The problem is that it will be hard to tell what is gas and what isn’t; I recommend wearing old underwear; maybe two pairs.

I also “slept it off” for much of the afternoon.

Next day
Experiences vary here. I woke up almost in a hung over state with grogginess, slight body-aches and a mild headache. Coffee solved the latter but the grogginess and body aches persisted for a few hours after waking up. Still I was able to swim a normal workout, stretch, etc, and that actually made me feel a bit better. It was a bit like trying to recover from a very mild cold; the bowels were much improved but not 100 percent.

Eventually: 3 days later: I participated in an 8 hour trail race. While my performance was, well, pathetic, I wasn’t limited by the colonoscopy.
Still, I came in a bit dehydrated so I’d recommend not scheduling one the week of an important “goal” event.