Question:

I keep hearing doctors referring to a good colonscopy prep. What constitutes a good colonscopy prep? Most take the laxitive have brownish liquid stools and get the procedure. I have had at least 4 colonscopys and never had a perfectly clear stool. So how is the determination arrived at? Thanks.

Answer:

A good colonoscopy prep allows the physician to see the lining of the colon easily without having to wash away a lot of stool. Usually when the colonoscopy prep is good, the stool that is coming out is a clear liquid or light yellow, similar in appearance to urine. If the stool coming out is brown, even if it’s a liquid, chances are the prep is not good.

For more information:

Go to the Colon Cancer health topic.