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COLON HYDROTHERAPY FOR COLONOSCOPY PREP

COLORECTAL CANCER STATISTICS

Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the US. The American Cancer Society estimates that 142,820 people will be diagnosed in 2013 and that 50,830 will die from colon cancer in the United States.

 

On average, the lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about one in 20 (5%), however, this varies widely according to individual risk factors.

 

About 72% of cases arise in the colon and about 28% in the rectum.

COLON CANCER & ETHNICITY AND RACE

• Jews of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi Jews) may have a higher rate of colon cancer.

• Partly because of disproportionate screening, African-American men and women have a higher risk of developing colon cancer and a lower survival rate (about 20% higher incidence rate and 45% higher mortality rate) compared to Caucasians, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans.

• The risk of death is also increased for Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.

COLONOSCOPY PREPARATION TIPS

Practical Tips from Johns Hopkins Medicine To help You Get Through the Colonoscopy Experience More Comfortably. Please note that parts of tips 2-6 are avoidable by choosing our colon hydrotherapy bowel preparation method over the laxative option. It makes a BIG diference!



1. Get a head start. Consider lightening up on your food intake two days before the test, avoiding hard-to-digest items such  as meat, eggs, nuts, and leafy greens. Instead, eat lots of fiber in the  form of vegetables and fruits, or start the liquid diet early, so there will be less to purge.

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2. Stock up. Get what you will need ahead of time, including clear liquids such as chicken or vegetable broth, apple juice, and bottled water with electrolytes. Buy extra-soft toilet paper, paper towels, or disposable baby wipes (be careful not to buy cleansing wipes containing scent or alcohol).

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3. Be gentle to yourself. Plan to take two days off work: the day before the test and the day of the test itself.

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4. Stay hydrated. A recent study shows that some laxative products made with sodium phosphate may contribute to dehydration and thus cause kidney damage. All laxatives cause some water loss, so drink plenty of fluids throughout the prep and after the test. Avoid both alcoholic and carbonated drinks before the procedure, as they increase dehydration, and consider getting some electrolyte rehydrating drinks available over the counter.

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5. Reduce the opportunity for accidents. Stay home near a bathroom during the process.



6. Prepare the bathroom. Line the wastebasket with a plastic bag. Instead of toilet paper, use wet washcloths or disposable wipes, such as unscented baby wipes (check that the product is flushable). Applied generously, petroleum jelly and hemorrhoid products can ease anal soreness that might develop. Soaking in a warm tub may help as well.

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7. Most people dread the actual scoping procedure, and feelings of anxiety or concern are normal. The mild sedative given for a colonoscopy relieves those problems, and you may not even remember the process. If you are feeling especially anxious, talk to your doctor beforehand about providing a mild tranquilizer or muscle relaxant for the procedure. And keep in mind that, compared with the preparation, the colonoscopy is usually over very quickly.

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8. Aftercare. You may feel some mild cramping orbloating and, rarely, nausea, up to a day afterward, caused by some air left in the colon. Eat lightly for a few days. If your discomfort is extreme or persists, call your doctor.

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9. Be relieved. When it’s over, it’s over. If the scoping shows no polyps or cancer, you are in the clear for a decade. If there are polyps, or even cancer, you will know, and you can be treated quickly.

How can Colon Hydrotherapy help you to prepare for a Colonoscopy?

It is well-documented that colonoscopies can help save lives. Therefore, it is important to get your colonoscopies when recommended by your doctor. Prior to the procedure the colon needs to be cleansed of waste in order for the doctor to get a clear view of your colon. There are typically two ways of performing this cleanse: a) Chemical laxatives b) Colon Hydrotherapy.

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Unfortunately, many people report that the chemical laxative pre-cleanse is very unpleasant and sometimes painful. Some people experience: cramping, burning at the rectum area, and it can be highly inconvenient as it often requires keeping very close to a bathroom for as long as a full day. It even takes time away from work.

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Fortunately, Colon Hydrotherapy may offer a drug-free alternative to the cleanse by using warm filtered water to flush the colon of waste. This allows for little to no cramping, no burning at the rectum, and allows you to go about your normal activities afterwards.

Why should I get a Colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy lets the physician look inside your entire large intestine, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine. The procedure is used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. It is also used to diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, and bleeding.

 

For the procedure, you will lie on your left side on the examining table. You will probably be given pain medication and a mild sedative to keep you comfortable and to help you relax during the exam. The physician will insert a long, flexible, lighted tube into your rectum and slowly guide it into your colon. The tube is called a colonoscope. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of the colon. The scope bends, so the physician can move it around the curves of your colon. You may be asked to change position occasionally to help the physician move the scope. The scope also blows air into your colon, which inflates the colon and helps the physician see better.

 

If anything abnormal is seen in your colon, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, the physician can remove all or part of it using tiny instruments passed through the scope. That tissue (biopsy) is then sent to a lab for testing. If there is bleeding in the colon, the physician can pass a laser, heater probe, or electrical probe, or can inject special medicines through the scope and use it to stop the bleeding.

 

Bleeding and puncture of the colon are possible complications of colonoscopy. However, such complications are uncommon.

 

Colonoscopy takes 30 to 60 minutes. The sedative and pain medicine should keep you from feeling much discomfort during the exam. You will need to remain at the colonoscopy facility for 1 to 2 hours until the sedative wears off.

IHW Intestinal Exam Preparation Suggested Program

The important thing to remember about the intestinal exam preparation is that having an empty bowel makes for a comfortable and successful experience.



It is recommended to do a series of three colon hydrotherapy sessions. If you are not having complete eliminations by the second session we suggest that you reschedule your exam and do a series of colonics to both improve your intestinal health and better prepare your for the exam.



Use the following schedule to prepare your bowel for examination:

 

  • Colon Hydrotherapy Session 1 is 2 days prior to exam.

  • Colon Hydrotherapy Session 2 is 1 days prior to exam.

  • Colon Hydrotherapy Session 3 is the morning or afternoon of the exam.

 

One week prior to exam:

 

  • Mag07 supplements, daily

  • Advanced Naturals Probiotic supplements daily

  • Advanced Naturals Organic Triple Fibermax Supplements, daily

  • Coconut water to replace electrolytes ending one day prior to colonoscopy exam

 

Diet should be as follows:

 

Eat only fruit, steamed vegetables, and/or liquid diet 4 days prior to the exam. Foods that leave residue in the body such as meat (all flesh), all dairy, and refined carbohydrates (bread, crackers, pasta, etc) should be eliminated at this time. 



The preferred diet is all clear liquids 4 days prior to exam (no chewing no eating).  Broths (vegetable), water, lemon water, apple juice, coconut water are clear liquids that are ideal & least likely to generate significant fecal matter & residue. 

 

SURGERY

Colon Hydrotherapy would function as a valuable modality in preparation for gastrointestinal surgery.

This colon cleansing procedure would provide a more optimal surgical field and potentially decrease the risk of postoperative complications due to the presence of bacteria at the suture line. In addition, Colon Hydrotherapy may be applied to all patients undergoing general or spinal anesthesia: cardiac, general, OB/GYN or urologic surgery, as it would reduce problems with bowel function associated with general anesthesia following surgery. The use of strong laxatives or purgatives such as castor oil, along with enemas can be avoided when utilizing Colon Hydrotherapy as the method of choice prior to or following surgery. The gentle infusion of warm water into the rectum would promote elimination and not stress the incision site. Timetable for liquid diet prior to surgery as directed by the surgeon.

One Colon Hydrotherapy session on two consecutive days prior to surgery.

Colon Hydrotherapy session on day one.

Colon Hydrotherapy session on day two.

 

POST - OPERATIVE APPLICATION

Two Colon Hydrotherapy sessions on consecutive days following surgery (excluding intestinal or rectal surgery) , or as indicated by the individual’s bowel function status.

Colon Hydrotherapy session on day one.

Colon Hydrotherapy session on day two.

**NOTE**
There is no way to know before the colonoscopy if your colon has been adequately cleansed. Only when the doctor, or technician, scopes the colon internally can that be determined. There is no scoping being done at the Infinity Health and Wellness Center; only colon cleansing.



If you feel that you did not have a productive session by the second colonic, and certainly within a day before your colonoscopy, then we recommend rescheduling your colonoscopy. As it is impossible for the therapist to determine whether or not the colonoscopy will be successful then you will have to use your best judgment and follow the above recommended guidelines to put yourself in the best position possible. We highly recommend this approach as it is the healthiest known way to cleanse the colon prior to a colonoscopy and is now being used in hospitals (note: Danbury Connecticut Hospital has made it the top choice for preparation.).



If your final colonic is very productive you should have minimal cramping upon taking colonoscopy preparation formulas from your doctor.

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If you needed to cancel your colonoscopy due to unproductive colonic sessions then we suggest you do a series of colonics until you achieve a very productive session. Only then should you rebook your colonoscopy and plan your preparation accordingly......your colon will thank you!

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