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How do I know if my colon is cleansed?

Signs Your Colon is Clear The morning of your exam if you are still passing brown liquid with solid material mixed in, your colon may not be ready and you should contact your doctor's office. Passing mostly clear or only a light color, including yellow, is a sign your colon is clean enough for an accurate examination.

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One of the most common questions we get at CRS is “how do I know if my bowel prep is working?

When prepping for a colonoscopy your doctor has probably talked to you about how important the bowel prep process is for accurate results. Residue left behind can make it harder for the doctor to view your colon during the exam – meaning a polyp or other issue might not be seen as clearly or even missed. And no one wants to get to a colonoscopy appointment and be told their prep didn’t fully empty the colon and they’ll have to do it again.

So how do you know if your bowel prep isn’t working?

Everyone Colon Is Different

When To Call Our Office

If it has been more than 4 hours since you started bowel prep and you aren’t feeling the effects

If you experience persistent nausea or vomiting during preparation

Many people start their prep and expect something to happen within minutes– but everyone is different and for some people, prep just takes longer to begin and complete. For the average patient prep takes about 6-8 hours to complete, and often women can take longer than men. Women often have longer colons due to childbirth or hysterectomies, so it can take more time for material to travel through the colon. Generally, if you’ve started prep but haven’t felt the urge to go to the bathroom after an hour, there is no cause for concern or a call to the doctor’s office. However, if it has been more than 4 hours since you started the bowel prep process and you aren’t feeling the effects please contact our office for instructions. Or if you experience persistent nausea or vomiting during preparation you should call and let us know.

Health Issues or Medications May Also Impact Prep

Not following the instructions, or drinking clear liquids as prescribed can slow or negatively impact bowel prep. And patients with diabetes, neurologic conditions or those who take certain medications or suffer from chronic constipation may take up to twice as long to complete the process. This is just one of the many reasons the physicians at CRS may meet with patients beforehand to review your health history and identify and factors that might impact the type of prep given. It is important to bring a list of every medication you are taking, as there are several different colon preparations and your CRS doctor will determine the best prep based on your specific situation. If necessary your CRS doctor may consult with your primary care, or GI doctor, to discuss stopping or altering dosage, or certain medications prior to your exam.

Signs Your Colon is Clear

The morning of your exam if you are still passing brown liquid with solid material mixed in, your colon may not be ready and you should contact your doctor’s office. Passing mostly clear or only a light color, including yellow, is a sign your colon is clean enough for an accurate examination.

Talk to a Colon Doctor in Richmond, VA

Established in 1913, CRS is one of the oldest continually operating groups of colon and rectal surgeons in the country and the largest state-of-the-art practice on the East Coast with three locations around Richmond, VA. The physicians and staff of Colon & Rectal Specialists are committed to providing all our patients with the special care and education needed for the treatment of colon and rectal problems. Contact us for more information or an appointment at one of our three Richmond area locations.

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Does sweating help detox?

Therefore, sweat is not made up of toxins from your body, and the belief that sweat can cleanse the body is a myth. “You cannot sweat toxins out of the body,” Dr. Smith says. “Toxins such as mercury, alcohol and most drugs are eliminated by your liver, intestines or kidneys.”

Did you know your body has its own air conditioning system when it becomes too hot? It’s called sweating. Your body releases water on your skin, which then evaporates in order to cool down to the normal temperature of 98.6 degrees. Sweat is 99% water combined with a small amount of salt, proteins, carbohydrates and urea, says UAMS family medicine physician Dr. Charles Smith. Therefore, sweat is not made up of toxins from your body, and the belief that sweat can cleanse the body is a myth. “You cannot sweat toxins out of the body,” Dr. Smith says. “Toxins such as mercury, alcohol and most drugs are eliminated by your liver, intestines or kidneys.” Some people have even participated in something called a “sweat lodge.” Some Native American cultures still use the lodge as a very important purification ceremony. However, Dr. Smith warns that these can become dangerous and sometimes result in injury or, in severe cases, death. “By forcing your body to perspire through heat exposure or heavy exercise, you can cause your kidneys to save water and actually hang on to any toxins that may be circulating in your system,” he says.

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