After Your Colonoscopy - Patient Information - Follow-up Care

Sep 27, 2026

Patient and family booklet that explains what was found during a colonoscopy, outlines follow-up plans with a family doctor or clinic, and provides practical home-care guidance. It covers when patients can eat and drink, expected post-procedure sensations such as mild abdominal discomfort or sleepiness from sedatives, and safety precautions for the first 24 hours. It also lists warning signs requiring doctor contact or emergency care and advises when normal activities and regular medicines can resume.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

What We Found

Follow-up Care

About Your Colonoscopy

When Can I Eat and Drink?

How Do I Expect to Feel?

When Can I Return to Normal Activities?

When Can I Start Taking My Regular Medicines?

What Problems Should I Watch For?

Form: D-8567 After Your Colonoscopy Information for patients and families Read this booklet to learn: • What we found • Follow-up care • How to care for yourself when you get home • What to expect • What problems to look out for Colonoscopy What we found: Follow-up care: 􀂅 family doctor 􀂅 Clinic | | | --- | | | | | Results and follow-up plan discussed: 􀂅 with patient 􀂅 with family Doctor’s Signature About your colonoscopy During your colonoscopy, we inserted a scope (a tube with a camera at the end) into your colon (your large intestine) to check for any problems. When can I eat and drink? You can eat when you get home, but have light meals. Have foods that are easy to digest, such as soup, crackers, toast, chicken, fish or cooked vegetables. Do not eat foods that may cause bloating and gas, such as beans, onions, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, chocolate or spicy foods. You can start eating regular foods the next day. Keep eating light meals if you are not able to pass gas and still feel bloated. For the first 24 hours after your procedure: • Do not drink alcohol. • Do not drive or use heavy machines. • Do not make important decisions or sign any legal papers. • Do not take any sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, or medicines that make you drowsy. How do I expect to feel? The medicine you received during the procedure may stay in your body for up to 24 hours. You may feel tired or sleepy and have difficulty concentrating. Once you get home, relax for the rest of the day. The air we placed in your colon may cause you to feel mild pain in your abdomen (stomach area) for a few hours after the procedure. This is normal. It is very important for you to pass gas to help relieve the bloating and to remove the air. Walking, drinking warm liquids and having a warm bath can help. You may notice a small amount of blood in the toilet bowl or on the tissue when you go to the washroom. If you had a polypectomy and you have more than 1 to 2 tablespoons of blood when you go to the washroom, please go to the nearest emergency department . When can I return to normal activities? You can return to your normal activities 24 hours after your colonoscopy. When can I start taking my regular medicines? You can start taking your regular medicines when you get home, unless your doctor gave you different instructions. Talk to your doctor before restarting blood thinners, anti-inflammatory or antiplatelet medicines. What problems should I watch for? Call your doctor or go to your nearest emergency department if you have: • black or tar-coloured stools • bright red blood in stool that continues or increases after 24 hours • stomach pain with bloating that does not go away • nausea and vomiting • fever and chills • weakness and dizziness Have feedback about this document? [Please fill out our survey. Use this link:](Please fill out our survey. Use this link: surveymonkey.com/r/uhn-pe)[ ](Please fill out our survey. Use this link: surveymonkey.com/r/uhn-pe)[surveymonkey.com/r/uhn-pe](Please fill out our survey. Use this link: surveymonkey.com/r/uhn-pe) Visit www.uhnpatienteducation.ca for more health information. Contact [pfep@uhn.ca](pfep@uhn.ca) to request this brochure in a different format, such as large print or electronic formats. © 2024 University Health Network. All rights reserved. Use this material for your information only. It does not replace advice from your doctor or other health care professional. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment. Ask your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. You may print 1 copy of this brochure for non-commercial and personal use only. Form: D-8567 | Author: Elizabeth Kryla, RN | Reviewed: 2024

FAQs

What should I do right after my colonoscopy at home?

Have light, easy-to-digest meals and follow the first-24-hours safety precautions. Relax for the rest of the day, and try to pass gas to relieve bloating.

When can I eat, drink, and return to normal activities?

You can eat when you get home, starting with light meals, and begin regular foods the next day. You can return to normal activities 24 hours after the colonoscopy.

What symptoms mean I should call a doctor or go to the emergency department?

Call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department for black/tar-coloured stools, bright red blood in stool that continues or increases after 24 hours, persistent stomach pain with bloating, nausea and vomiting, fever and chills, or weakness and dizziness.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Sophia Brooks