Enclosed is a box of Plenvu, which contains a sealed bag of bowel preparation. Each bag contains Dose 1 (single sachet) and Dose 2 (two sachets labelled ‘Dose 2 Sachet A’ and ‘Dose 2 Sachet B’). Please follow our advice carefully in order to ensure an empty bowel. This will allow a complete examination. When taking these preparations some intestinal cramping is normal. If you feel clammy and faint or if you vomit please take no more preparation and ring the contact details at the end of this leaflet or your own GP for advice.
Your doctor has specifically prescribed this bowel preparation for you – follow the instructions carefully to ensure a good result. Legally we must enclose the pharmaceutical leaflets; your doctor is aware that the above instructions may seem to be in conflict with these but the Endoscopy team considers this the best bowel preparation for you at this time.
Preparation for the test
How do I prepare for the test?
It is important for this test that your bowel is empty. In order to achieve this, please read and follow the instructions below.
Seven days before taking the preparation
If you take iron tablets or medication to control diarrhoea, please stop taking them until after your examination. You should continue to take any other medication including medication for high blood pressure/ cardiac conditions.
Three days before taking the preparation
You may eat your normal meals for the whole three days, but avoid high-fibre foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread and all-bran (see below).
| You may eat | You should avoid |
|---|---|
| You may eat Cereals: Cornflakes, Rice, Rice Krispies, Ricicles, Sugar Puffs and Coco Pops | You should avoid Wheat bran, All-bran, Weetabix, Shredded Wheat, oat bran, bran flakes, wheat flakes, muesli, Ready Brek, porridge |
| You may eat White bread (you may use butter/ margarine) | You should avoid Wholemeal, high-fibre white, soft grain or granary bread, oatbread |
| You may eat White pasta, white rice | You should avoid Wholemeal pasta, brown rice |
| You may eat White flour | You should avoid Wholemeal or granary flour, wheatgerm |
| You may eat Potatoes (no skin) | You should avoid Fruit and vegetables |
| You may eat Savouries: Chicken, turkey, fish, cheese and eggs | You should avoid All red meat |
| You may eat Puddings, pastries, cakes. Milk puddings, mousse, jelly (not red) sponge cakes, Madeira cakes, rich tea, wafer biscuits | You should avoid Those containing wholemeal flour, oatmeal, nuts, dried fruit, fruit cake, Ryvita, digestives or hobnob biscuits |
| You may eat Preserve and sweets: Sugar, jelly jam, jelly marmalade, honey, syrup, lemon curd | You should avoid Jam or marmalade with pips, skins and seeds, sweets and chocolate containing nuts/ fruit, muesli bars |
| You may eat Soup: Clear or sieved soups | You should avoid Chunky vegetable, lentil or bean soups |
| You may eat Miscellaneous: salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard, salad cream, mayonnaise | You should avoid Nuts, quorn, fresh ground peppercorns, hummus, anything containing seeds |
The day before the colonoscopy
08:00 hrs (8 am)
Eat breakfast from the ‘You may eat’ list above.
DO NOT EAT ANY MORE SOLID FOOD UNTIL AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE.
Please ensure you drink plenty of clear fluid to keep yourself hydrated.
Acceptable fluids include:
- Water / flavoured water
- Tea and coffee (no milk)
- Clear soup, for example Consommé that contains no solids
- Fruit juice without pulp, for example orange or lemon squash that is diluted (not red or purple in colour)
- Clear fizzy drinks, for example lemonade, Lucozade, tonic water, cream soda, soda water
- Bovril/ Oxo
- Lime cordial
- Herbal teas (no milk)
- Clear apple juice or white grape juice
- Jelly (no red jelly and without fruit pieces)
17:00 hrs (5 pm)
Prepare the Plenvu:
- Empty the contents of ‘Dose 1’ into a measuring container that holds 500ml (0.9 pints) of fluid.
- Add water to make up to 500ml and stir until the powder has dissolved. This may take up to eight minutes.
- Drink all of the dissolved mixture over 30 minutes until you have drunk it all. There is no need to rush.
- A further 500ml of clear fluid must be drunk over the next 30 minutes. There is no need to rush.
You may begin to pass frequent loose motions; please stay near a toilet at this time.
20:00 hrs (8pm)
Prepare the Plenvu:
- Empty the contents of Dose 2 (‘Dose 2 Sachet A’ and ‘Dose 2 Sachet B’) into a measuring container that holds 500ml of fluid.
- Add water to make up to 500ml and stir until the powder has dissolved. This may take up to eight minutes.
- Drink all of the dissolved mixture over 30 minutes until you have drunk it all. There is no need to rush.
- A further 500ml of clear fluid must be drunk over the next 30 minutes. There is no need to rush.
You should continue to drink fluids up until your appointment, unless you have been booked for a gastroscopy at the same time in which case you should stop four hours before.
You may find that a small amount of Vaseline/ Sudocrem to your back passage (anus) prevents discomfort during the bowel preparation. Some intestinal cramping is normal. If you feel clammy and faint, or if you vomit, please take no more preparation and contact the following numbers
Between 7.30am – 18.30pm – ring the Endoscopy Unit nurses on 01223 216515
Between 18.30pm and 7.30am – ring U2 (gastroenterology ward) nursing team on 01223 388168 ring the Endoscopy Unit nurses on
01223 216515 for advice.
Useful contacts
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact:
Addenbrooke’s Endoscopy Unit nurses
01223 216515
Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 18:00 (8am to 6pm).
If you have any urgent concerns outside these hours please contact your GP surgery.
We are smoke-free
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.
Other formats
Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/
Contact us
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/