20 Comments
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Christina Whippo's avatar

This is so helpful! Thank you for sharing.

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

I am so glad you find it helpful! You are most welcome🧡

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susan egbert's avatar

Hi Beth! Thank you for this helpful information. I start tomorrow with the “5 days before procedure “ prep. I’m going to follow your protocol. Question: after your procedure, you started metabolic daily probiotics on an empty stomach. (I take these probiotics daily with food now). Do you normally take the metabolic daily with food but to get the gut back to normal after colonoscopy, you take on empty stomach?

Thanks for all your amazing information and wonderful recipes.

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

Great question and good luck with your prep tomorrow!

The empty stomach approach after colonoscopy was specifically for gut restoration. Since the prep wipes out your microbiome, I wanted to get those beneficial bacteria established as quickly as possible. Taking them on an empty stomach first thing in the morning (then waiting 30 minutes before eating) can help ensure maximum bacterial survival and colonization when your gut is essentially "starting from scratch."

After about a week of post-colonoscopy restoration, I go back to taking them with food as usual.

Your current routine of taking them with food is perfect for normal daily maintenance! Only switch to empty stomach temporarily after the procedure if you want to maximize that initial recolonization.

Hope your procedure goes smoothly, and thank you for the kind words about the recipes! 🧡

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Anne's avatar

Glad I stumbled upon this. I am aware of alternatives to Gatorade but didn't even think of coconut water so I added it to my prep. Your article reinforced all my decisions for a healthy approach and gave me some comfort to deal with this process. Thank you!

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

Hi Anne! I am so glad you found this helpful! Good luck with your prep and your colonoscopy🧡

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Jennie O'Connor's avatar

Sooooo grateful I found this. I have to have my first procedure in January and never gave any thought to the ick that's in that prep. Printing the info now! Thank you!!

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

You are so welcome! Best of luck for your procedure🧡

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S. Goodman's avatar

Thank you for this! Do you happen to remember the name of the genetic test you had? There are so many now.

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

It was through my doctor’s office and it was a spit test, paid for by insurance because I have a family history of colon cancer.

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Jo Elen Gidish's avatar

Thanks for sharing this!

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

you are so welcome!🧡

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Joy Silas's avatar

I got one done two weeks ago. I wish I knew this ahead of time. Although I didn’t drink all those sugary drinks. My doctor gave me the okay to drink herbal teas. Like nettle and milky oat straw tea. Unfortunately I am dealing with inflammation due to h. Pylori. Hence why I had to get the colonoscopy in the first place. I definitely look forward to following your sub stack on healthy recipes to help with my gut health.

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

Joy, it sounds like you made a good swap with the teas; both are great choices! I am happy you are here and I am happy to provide all the recipes you need as you heal🧡Beth

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Celia Chen's avatar

Thank you for including me in your informative post! I hope more people schedule this important screening procedure.

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

Thank you so much for your contribution to my post! That is my hope too🧡

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Far's avatar

Thanks for these helpful tips! Which test did you do to find out about the gene?

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

Because I have a family history of colon cancer, I did a genetic test (spit test) through my OB GYN doctor and covered by insurance.

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Beena's avatar

My husband is having his next week, so this is so helpful! Thanks Beth!

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Beth Bollinger's avatar

I’m so glad you find it helpful!🧡

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