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How you prepare
By Mayo Clinic staffTo prepare for your capsule endoscopy, your doctor may ask that you:
- Stop eating at least 12 hours before your capsule endoscopy. To ensure that the camera will capture clear images of your digestive tract, your doctor will ask you to fast before the procedure.
- Limit what you drink before your capsule endoscopy. If you're thirsty, limit yourself to a few sips of clear liquid, such as water.
- Stop or delay taking certain medications. In some cases, your doctor may ask that you stop taking certain medications. In other cases, your doctor may ask that you take your medication two hours before or after you swallow the capsule that contains the camera. That way, your medication won't interfere with the camera.
- Plan to take it easy for the day. In most cases, you'll be allowed to go about your day after you swallow the capsule that contains the camera. But you won't be allowed to do any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting. If you have an active job, ask your doctor whether you can go back to work the day of your capsule endoscopy.
In some cases, your doctor may ask you to take a laxative preparation prior to your capsule endoscopy in order to flush out your small intestine. This has been shown to improve the quality of the pictures collected by the capsule's camera.
Follow your doctor's instructions in preparing for your capsule endoscopy. Failure to follow the directions may mean your capsule endoscopy may need to be rescheduled.
