Doctor Reveals the 'Bad News' About Eating After a Colonoscopy

While going for a colonoscopy might not be a particularly glamorous part of your day, a recent viral trend has seen people sharing videos of themselves chowing down after fasting for the important medical procedure. While this might seem like a fun way to mark getting through having a camera inserted into your rectum, a doctor has shared some 'bad news' for people heading straight to their favorite diner after having their colonoscopy. Gastroenterologist Dr Leybelis Padilla shared what can really happen when you undergo sedation for the essential procedure, which can help to detect bowel cancer while allowing surgeons to remove polyps and carry out biopsies. Before explaining why you should not be sitting in a restaurant straight after a colonoscopy, Dr Padilla warned her TikTok followers 'I am about to ruin your post-colonoscopy brunch plans', When patients undergo the procedure, they are told to fast for at least 24 hours before, while restricting themselves largely to colorless liquids. They are also prescribed laxatives to help 'clear themselves out' before the head into the hospital. This is with the hope that, when the gastroenterologist sticks a long thin camera with a light on it inside your rectum and then deeper into your bowels, they will be able to clearly see any dangerous polyps, tears, ulcers, or bowel cancer red flags that warrant further investigation. But even with a 24-hour fast and medications, when you're lying on your side either sedated by a drip or using gas and air, there's still a chance that, well, all of your preparations have been for nothing. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but chances are, you’ll get poop on you during a colonoscopy,” Dr Padilla warned. This is even if you follow your pre-colonoscopy prep to a tee, as well as following a low-fiber diet in the days prior. The doctor noted that 'the clean out is not as clean as you think' in the run-up to the everyday procedure that 15 million Americans get each year, and which anyone over 45 is recommended to get every 10 years. For this reason, even though if any faecal matter comes out during a colonoscopy it will be cleaned up and sanitized by a waiting nurse, the gastroenterologist is telling the public to hold off on wolfing down a well-deserved meal. “So when you get home after your colonoscopy, run to go get showered, do not go get food,” she advised. Later writing in the comments section, the doctor added: “The nurses do a wonderful job. It’s not perfect; spots might be missed that are not visible to the eye. "For a good clean; please shower then eat." And it's not just a hygiene issue - while you might be ravenous, its worth remembering that you have just gone through a serious procedure. "Between anesthesia, body positioning and what actually happens during the procedure, your body deserves a reset before pancakes," she further said. While the doctor wants to put you off your brunch, don't let this relatively common colonoscopy side effect put you off this important procedure, as it can spot a number of colorectal cancers that otherwise can present with no noticeable symptoms.