Having CTC Scan – Bowel Preparation and Diet Sheet

Please follow these instructions carefully to make sure that your bowel is as empty as possible and to improve the accuracy of this test.

You should have received some laxative (Bisacodyl) tablets and a 100ml bottle of Gastrograffin from the pharmacy. If not, please ring 01305 255397.

The Gastrograffin contains iodine. It is very important that if you are allergic to iodine or have previously had a severe allergic reaction to x-ray contrast dye, you have difficulty in swallowing or if you suffer from regular choking/coughing episodes when drinking fluids, that you do not take it and phone the department on 01305 255397.

If you have diabetes, please seek advice from your diabetic team about how to manage the diet.

Four days before

Continue to take any prescribed medicine, but if you are taking iron tablets you should stop taking them.

Two days before

If you are taking any constipating medicines such as Codeine, Kaolin and Morphine, Loperamide (Imodium), Regulan or Fybogel stop this two days before you are due to come for the examination. Continue other medications and any laxatives you usually take.

Start low residue diet – you may only eat what is listed below throughout the day.

Foods allowed on low residue diet

• White bread and bread products such as crumpets, wraps and white naan
• Breakfast cereals such as Cornflakes, Rice Crispies, Special K, Frosties with small amount semi skimmed, skimmed milk, rice milk or soya milk
• White pasta, white rice, couscous, tapioca, ground rice, semolina, peeled potatoes
• Quorn, tofu
• Chicken or turkey
• White fish
• Boiled, poached or scrambled eggs (without cream or butter)
• Boiled sweets, fruit gums, pastilles, Madeira cake, plain biscuits eg rich tea, water biscuits, cream crackers, rice pudding and plain sponge
• Strained stock, stock cubes, Marmite, Bovril, soy sauce, instant gravy
• Clear fluids including water, fruit squash, fruit juice with no bits, rehydration drinks, clear soup or broth, tea/coffee with small amount of milk
• Small amount of oil for cooking, honey, lemon curd, golden or maple syrup, marmite, smooth peanut butter and jams or marmalades with no bits
• Salt, sugar, fine ground pepper, vinegar, mustard, gelatine, dried herbs, salad cream, mayonnaise, ketchup.

Foods not allowed

• All fruit including dried fruit and vegetables
• Wholemeal, granary, brown and high fibre white breads and bread products (including best of both)
• Potato skins and chips
• Crisps and nuts, fresh herbs, pickles, chutney, hummus, freshly ground peppercorns
• Biscuits or cakes made with wholemeal flour/nuts/fruit/grains (fruit cake, Ryvita, digestives, hobnobs)
• Whole wheat pasta, bran and brown rice or noodles
• High fibre breakfast cereals such as Weetabix, Shredded wheat, bran flakes, porridge
• Red meat including burgers, sausages, and ham
• Pulses such as beans and lentils
• Fried or fatty fish
• Full fat milk, cream, full fat yoghurt, ice cream and full fat hard cheese
• Butter and butter like spreads, vegetable oils
• Drinks to avoid are full fat chocolate drinks, drinks with full fat milk, cocoa, and vegetable juices.

After your evening meal take 10mg Bisacodyl (2 tablets). This is a mild laxative which usually takes between six and eight hours to work.

One day before

At 8am, take a further 10mg (2 tablets) Bisacodyl. Do not plan to be far from any toiletfacilities at any point during this day.

Just before breakfast, drink 30mls of Gastrograffin liquid. This is best diluted with an equal amount of squash or water. Use either a measuring cup or two tablespoons.

For breakfast you may have:

• Tea/coffee but no milk
• One of the following:
  – Two slices of white bread with no spread
  – One boiled/poached egg and 1 slice white bread with no spread
  – 50g cottage cheese and 1 slice of white bread with no spread.

Before lunch take a further 30mls Gastrograffin diluted as before.

For lunch you may have one of the following:

• 75g white meat/white fish
• two boiled/poached eggs
• 100g cheese

And one of the following:

• Two slices of white bread with no spread
• Two egg-sized potatoes with no skin
• Three tablespoons plain white pasta or rice.

At 4pm drink another 30mls Gastrograffin.

After 4pm, no further solid food, milk or dairy products until after the procedure but drink clear fluids such as fruit cordials, herbal tea, Bovril or fizzy soft drinks. You can also have tea or coffee with no milk.

The Gastrograffin also works as a mild laxative, and it is very important that you do not become dehydrated. It is recommended that you try and drink a cup of water/squash or fluid from the allowed foods every hour during the day.

On the day of the scan, you can have clear fluids up to the time of the scan but no solid food. After the scan you can eat and drink as normal and you may want to bring a snack with you to have in the department before going home.