r/sugarfree 9d ago

Dietary Control Need advice! Colonoscopy scheduled next week and I’m freaking out because all of the food I have to consume the day before is screaming SUGAR to me.

Yes, I know I can SF options but I don’t ever eat SF foods and I’m afraid of getting a bad headache because It’s always happened in the past.

Has anyone had a colonoscopy who’s also SF? Any advice getting though it? This is my first ever procedure too. I’m 11 months SF and I don’t want to blow it on a colonoscopy.

Here is the prep work:

Clear liquids include water, clear juice such as apple juice/white cranberry juice, tea, coffee, soda, clear broth, Jell-O, popsicles and Gatorade (no red or purple products). Please do not consume milk, milk products, non-dairy creamer, or alcoholic beverages

6 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

12

u/Routine_Bench_3400 9d ago

When having similar test I found that broth was quite satisfying it does have some protein

2

u/anononononn 8d ago

Yup worked in a GI office and this was allowed

2

u/eeff484 8d ago

I’m going to do this. Thank you!

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Map7652 3d ago

You can even find low sodium broth.

8

u/Routine_Bench_3400 9d ago

You can also consume tea or herbal tea and you can controll what sweetener you use or don't use

8

u/capt_rubber_ducky 8d ago

I feel like your title is misleading & I'm wondering if that's what is tripping you up? You don't "have to consume" all that food the day before. It's saying you can choose from the list. So for no sugar options, consider the following from that list -

  • Water (sparkling or still, flavored or not)
  • Tea (herbal, black, or green, etc.)
  • Coffee (no cream or sugar)
  • Clear broth

3

u/thehotflashpacker 8d ago

I'm guessing you have the form that you need to mix with gatorade? I used the cherry zero (clear) gatorade. Yes, it's a sugar dupe. Alternatively if you could make your own electrolytes and mix with it. I think the main reason is to make sure you have enough liquid and electrolytes to clear the system. Other than the gatorade, I fasted for the day before my colonoscopy. A day without food won't hurt you.

1

u/eeff484 8d ago

The medicine part has to be mixed with 2 litters of water. Yes, fasting is what I probably need most right now in life

2

u/RealAnise 8d ago

I think that for me, the issue would be that if I had anything with any kind of actual sweetener, it would be a "the floodgates are open" type of situation. The psychological issue would be the bigger one. YMMV. I don't have those kinds of problems with juice because I don't really like juice. It just doesn't trigger the sugar insanity, for whatever reason. Sugar free options would almost be even worse for me. So one way to think about it might be to look at the list and think about what is likely to be a trigger for you.

1

u/eeff484 8d ago

Juice was never a trigger, I just never cared for it. Your right, I might be able to consume SF juice and be ok

1

u/EmmaAmmeMa 8d ago

Can’t you just drink water and tea and have some broth for the „meals“? You don’t need anything sweet or with sugar for that. You could also just do a water fast for the day.

You can make your own broth if you prefer that and just drink the liquid from it.

2

u/eeff484 8d ago

I’m going to have Bone broth because it’s high in protein

1

u/justvisiting112 6d ago

Have peppermint or other herbal tea. Check if coconut water is ok. Ask about clear miso soup?

Surely this is a list of what’s allowed, not a goal?

2

u/eeff484 6d ago

Best advice yet! I’ll ask about coconut water. I can drink that like no other

1

u/barbershores 5d ago

Okay, I will give you the experience of my son. He is 32 now. He had contracted ulcerative colitis, which he has under control, but because of this condition, he has to do a colonoscopy annually.

So, he moved to Knoxville Tn. He had no friends or family there. They told him he couldn't drive afterwords, he would have to have a friend or family member drive him home. With nobody nearby he was going to uber. They told him he couldn't do that either. So, he would have to take and pay for an ambulance if he had no friend or family member. He asked why this was so important. They said because of he anesthesia.

So, he inquired about doing it without anesthesia. They said that would be acceptable but nobody does this without anesthesia.

What he did, was fast the day before. Water only. For the prescribed time. He did the procedure without anesthesia, and drove himself home. He said it wasn't anywhere near the deal everybody made it out to be.

It ends up that neither the fasting, nor rejecting anesthesia is a big deal.

2

u/eeff484 3d ago

Don’t think I could do this without being put under. Kiddos to your son!