How to Make Colonoscopy Prep Easier: Real Tips That Work
My Honest Colonoscopy Prep Tips (From Someone Who Just Did It)
THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, JUST A HUMAN BEING SHARING A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR ON EVERYTHING MEDICAL RELATED
Introduction: Real Talk About Colonoscopy Prep
Let’s be honest — the words “colonoscopy prep” make most people cringe. I was right there too. Between the weird prep before the prep diet, the fasting, and the dreaded prep drink, it can sound like a total ordeal. But I just went through it myself and learned that with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be awful at all.
Here’s exactly what made my prep smoother, easier, and way more tolerable — all real-life tips, not the sugarcoated version from the doctor’s handout.
1️⃣ Choose the SUTAB Pills — Not the Drink
If you’re okay taking pills, ask your doctor for the SUTAB tablets instead of the liquid prep — they were so much easier to handle, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t love big pills. You take 24 tablets total, split into two rounds of 12 (one the evening before and one the morning of). The instructions say to take each set of 12 within about 20 minutes, but I found it easier to space them out — about one every 1–3 minutes with steady sips of coconut water (which I liked better than plain water).
For each round, you drink 16 oz of water while taking the tablets, then another 16 oz about an hour later, and one more 16 oz 30 minutes after that — about 48 oz total per dose. It sounds like a lot, but going slow and using coconut water made it completely manageable. Having a clear water schedule made the process feel structured and less stressful.
Stop all fluids when your doctor or clinic instructs (usually 4–6 hours before your procedure).
💰 Cost tip: My doctor gave me a coupon, and the prescription was around $50 — you can also find a manufacturer’s coupon on the SUTAB website to save even more.
2️⃣ Stop Iron Supplements 7–10 Days Before
If you take iron (like I do), stop about a week before the procedure. Iron can darken stool and make it harder for your doctor to get a clear view of your colon lining.
3️⃣ Follow a Low-Residue Diet
Start a low-residue (low-fiber) diet about four days before your colonoscopy. This helps make the prep day much easier because there’s simply less to clear out.
What to Eat:
White rice, eggs, chicken, fish
Yogurt, cheese, milk
Avoid:
Veggies, nuts, seeds, and red meat (they take longer to digest)
This “easy digestion” phase gives your body a head start and prevents that miserable “clearing out” marathon later.
4️⃣ Schedule Smart for a Smooth Week
If you can, book your colonoscopy for the first appointment in the morning — ideally on a Thursday.
Here’s why that timing works beautifully:
Sunday–Tuesday: Follow your low-residue diet
Wednesday: Clear-liquid fast + prep day
Thursday: Procedure early in the morning
You’ll have to take Wednesday and Thursday off work. The prep and procedure can leave you a bit irritable and tired, and having time to rest makes recovery so much easier.
5️⃣ Fasting Day: Hydrate Like It’s Your Job
The day before your colonoscopy is your fasting day — which means no solid food, but you can (and should!) drink a ton of fluids.
Here’s what worked for me:
💧 Coconut water — electrolytes without sugar overload
🍲 Kettle & Fire chicken bone broth — gives you a bit of protein and warmth
🍋 Lemon ice bars — helped satisfy cravings mid-day
Pro tip: Eat lighter the day before your fast: I had mostly simple meals and NO fiber. That meant less to clear out, and it made the whole process smoother.
Once you start the SUTAB tablets, you’ll be drinking so much water that you won’t even want to eat. Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I’d feared.
6️⃣ The Morning Of Your Colonoscopy
You’ll need to stop drinking all liquids 4–6 hours before your procedure depending on your doctors advice , so I took my last sip of water in the middle of the night to stay hydrated as long as possible.
My appointment was at 9:30 a.m., but if I could redo it, I’d go for a 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. slot — the earlier, the better. You get it over with faster and can eat sooner after!
Make sure you have a driver to take you home afterward. My husband Brian was my designated post-colonoscopy chauffeur — 10/10 would recommend. 😂
7️⃣ Mindset: It’s Really Not That Bad
If you’re feeling nervous, that’s completely normal. I was too. But talking to someone who just went through it made all the difference for me, so consider this your friend-to-friend reassurance:
You’ve got this.
The prep is temporary.
And you’ll feel accomplished when it’s over! You can do hard things!
It’s one of those self-care things that’s not glamorous but important, especially if colon cancer has been in your family before.
Final Thoughts
The colonoscopy prep process gets a bad reputation, but with a few smart tweaks — SUTAB pills, a low-residue diet, tons of hydration, and good timing — it’s totally manageable.
If you’re about to have your first one, bookmark this post or share it with a friend who’s stressing. Sometimes, having someone walk you through the real details makes all the difference.
You’ve got this!