Why You Should Avoid Alcohol After a Colonoscopy

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These days, it seems as if more and more people are openly discussing their colonoscopies—and for good reasons. But what is a colonoscopy, exactly? This potentially life-saving colonoscopy procedure employs the use of a tiny camera called a colonoscope that enters the body via a tube. This tube is carefully guided through the rectum and large intestine, allowing the physician, often a gastroenterologist, to thoroughly examine critical parts of the digestive system for abnormalities, such as polyps or signs of colon cancer.

For obvious reasons, a colonoscopy could be classified as an invasive procedure and therefore requires a good deal of preparation, often referred to as colonoscopy prep and aftercare from the patient. Preparation typically involves a combination of laxatives, a bowel prep solution, or even an enema to ensure the colon is clear for a comprehensive examination. Although many people are aware of the preparation involved—drinking only clear liquids, avoiding solid food, and taking the prescribed bowel preparation solution—aftercare is equally important and sometimes overlooked.

TL;DR – Why No Alcohol After a Colonoscopy?

Avoid alcohol after a colonoscopy because:

• Interferes with Recovery: Alcohol stresses your body when it needs to rest and heal.
• Compounds Side Effects: It can worsen fatigue, dehydration, and slowed breathing caused by sedatives.
• Increases Risk of Complications: Drinking too soon may lead to severe reactions like coma in rare cases.
• Delays Healing: Alcohol impairs your digestive system and recovery process.

Stay hydrated with safe options like water, clear liquids, or broths, and follow your doctor’s prep instructions for a smooth recovery.

Do I Need a Colonoscopy?

Guidelines typically state that people should start getting colonoscopies around the age of 45. However, if you have a family history of colorectal issues or have been experiencing any strange gastrointestinal symptoms, it is strongly recommended that you talk to your doctor about getting the procedure as soon as possible.

A colonoscopy can help detect early warning signs of colon cancer, allowing for timely interventions such as a biopsy if needed. Alarmingly, the number of younger people being diagnosed with colorectal cancer has been rising dramatically over the past few decades, and researchers are still trying to understand the reasons behind this trend.

Protect your future and your health by prioritizing routine screenings like a colonoscopy. By addressing potential issues within the large intestine and digestive system, this procedure could save your life.

Limit All Activities 24 Hours After Your Colonoscopy

After you have undergone the procedure, you will want to commit to resting for a day. Do not assign yourself any work assignments or commit to supervising children. Basically, you need to avoid doing anything strenuous after you’ve had your colonoscopy. In America, it is very common for patients to be sedated during this procedure. For many people, it may take several hours for all of the effects of the sedation to wear off. In the meantime, it is crucial that patients do not operate heavy machinery or drive their vehicles.

Why No Alcohol After Colonoscopy Recovery?

The medical procedure is over, and you go home, relieved to be finished with it finally. Can you have a drink now? The answer is a resounding “NO.” There are a multitude of reasons why you should not imbibe alcohol in the wake of a colonoscopy. Like sedatives, alcohol affects the body’s central nervous system. Although your system may be able to handle one substance that is working its way through, two substances may be too much. The heart slows down, your breathing rate decreases, and you may find that you suddenly become even more fatigued. In severe instances, patients have even fallen into a coma and died after drinking alcohol too soon after a procedure.

Aside from such dramatic possibilities, there is also the fact that alcohol is just plain bad for your healing process. A colonoscopy involves prep work, such as following a clear liquid diet, which can leave your body temporarily dehydrated and more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. During recovery, it’s crucial to stay hydrated and avoid anything that can exacerbate bloating, cramping, or fatigue.

As you’re recovering, you should be hydrating by drinking plenty of fluids like water, broths, or soups and consuming easily digestible foods like Jell-O or popsicles. This helps replenish your system and ease your recovery. Because your system processes alcohol like a poison, it creates unneeded stress during a time when you really need to recover and rebuild.

You want to think of your colonoscopy as a minor surgery—especially if your doctors opted to remove polyps or address other abnormalities during the procedure. Take excellent care of yourself afterward by following all prep instructions and any additional medical advice provided by your healthcare team. Check-in with your doctor if you experience any unusual side effects or concerns.

Avoiding alcohol after a colonoscopy is one of the simplest ways to ensure a smooth recovery and give your body the rest it deserves.

Specific Risks of Drinking Alcohol After a Colonoscopy

After any kind of endoscopy — especially a colonoscopy — your chief goal should be to hydrate. When you drink alcohol, you rob your body of hydration, taxing the same organs that filter out the sedative and anything else in your body that needs to evacuate. Basically, alcohol consumption throws a wrench in the healing process, forcing your system to focus on other issues when it should be healing. Furthermore, alcohol can make you forget to drink your water. While you’re in this vulnerable state, the last thing you need is a hospital trip for dehydration.

Yet another issue is irritation in your GI tract. Again, it’s not every day that your colon and rectum are probed — and even operated on. Depending upon how your procedure goes, there may be some small tears and other disruptions that need to repair themselves. When you drink alcohol, you delay your body’s ability to heal. Also, you make yourself vulnerable to infections. Keep in mind that your sedatives have been cleared to work alone. Your doctor has no idea what will happen when you combine these sedatives with other drugs — or alcohol. Indeed, combining alcohol with your sedative is truly a game of Russian roulette — you will not fully understand the implications until it’s too late. And, at that point, there may be a tragic result that you were not intending. If you have any concerns at all about whether enough time has elapsed for you to have a drink again, you’ll want to reach out directly to your physician for clarification.

Guidelines for Post-Colonoscopy Care:

• Do not work out or attempt any big projects around the house in the days following your colonoscopy
• Take all of your medication as prescribed and consult your doctor about any other supplements or over-the-counter medications you may be taking
• Refrain from drinking coffee or energy drinks — caffeine will also dehydrate your system
• When you start to reintroduce food, focus on low-fiber snacks like saltines or even toast
• Do not eat to excess
• Consume food that is easy to digest and avoid any dishes that contain a lot of fats or spices
• Drink at least eight cups of water per day, and consider drinking beverages that contain added electrolytes to help support your energy levels

Alcohol Use and Health Awareness

As you age, you will notice the effects of alcohol more and more over the years. Chronic misuse of alcoholic beverages can lead to issues with a number of your organs, especially your liver. You may notice that your blood pressure and heart are also negatively affected by too much alcohol. It’s crucial to keep track of your alcohol intake and monitor if it seems to be increasing. Also, there is no shame in reaching out for help if you are having issues limiting your drinking or quitting altogether. Especially in this post-pandemic era, many people are slowly realizing that they may have adopted habits over the past few years that ultimately did not serve them. Realize that reaching out for help is actually an empowering move. There’s a reason why the term “sober curious” is trending; more people than ever are starting to explore the idea of living an alcohol-free life. And with resources like Live Free Recovery available, there’s never been a better time to discuss your relationship with alcohol.

The Bottom Line: Prioritizing Your Health After a Colonoscopy

If you’re getting a colonoscopy, chances are that you have gained enough wisdom to realize that there’s never been a better time to start taking excellent care of yourself. By making an appointment for a colonoscopy and following all of the prep work given beforehand, you are prioritizing yourself — and your journey to greater health. Abstaining from alcohol afterward is just one part of the puzzle. And if you’ve been stressing about having to take a few days off of drinking, this may be a sign that it’s time for you to address your alcohol habits as well. You owe it to yourself to experience the best health of your life!