Not sure what to expect? A little prep and a partner makes colonoscopies a lot more fun—read on!

If you’re age 45 or older and you haven’t been screened for colon cancer, you should know that getting a colonoscopy isn’t nearly as difficult as you may think.

Take it from Daryl Anne. She and her husband scheduled their procedures for the same day!

She says:

It is the way to go for couples who have two bathrooms and a ride!

I was nervous about having my first colonoscopy, but a customer of mine had just had one and urged me to as well, so I then urged my husband.

The prep process was easy because we planned our meals together leading up to the procedure, knowing what limitations we had. That helped us make sure we didn’t accidentally eat something that we shouldn’t. During the prep process, we set timers to help us with drinking the right amount of liquid in the right timeframe.

When you haven’t experienced it, everyone tells you their stories. Mostly I heard about the prep drink and feeling starving afterwards.

The prep wasn’t so bad. The colonoscopy prep book Winona Health provided was very helpful for us. I did not need to add flavor to the prep drink, but my husband added lemon flavoring to his. Overall, it wasn’t bad at all. If I could recommend something, it would be to get the softest TP or wipes to prevent soreness.

I think I was most worried about when to schedule the procedure. My job is every active. I wanted to be sure that I could get the time off in case I could not complete my work.

If someone has been putting off their screening, I would encourage them to weigh the options: one day of prep to find or prevent a potential cancer versus many days of cancer treatment.

Have fun with it! Create games to drink the liquid—our timer game worked great. Schedule it with your partner—it really helped to share the experience!

Have you and a partner or (close) friend considered scheduling your screenings together? You could even plan a celebratory dinner afterward!

Already had your first colonoscopy? Share your prep tips!

Have you been screened? Need a primary care provider to help you stay on track with preventive care and health screenings? Learn about primary care providers at winonahealth.org/primarycare or call 507.454.3650.

Lucas and Daryl Anne partnered up and scheduled their colonoscopies for the same day.