Gut health, probiotics, and preparing for a colonoscopy

[popmom]

Am I completely wasting the expensive probiotics I am currently taking if I'm having a colonoscopy in a couple of weeks? 

I have to believe you can't go through something like this w/out a major disruption to the gut microbiome. Any advice? 

If you've btdt, did you have problems afterward? My GI issues have been better. I'm scared of both the procedure and the after effects. 😞

[Selkie]

I heard an interview with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (gastroenterologist and author of Fiber Fueled) about colonoscopies and he was asked about this. He said the prep and the colonoscopy cause a minor disruption to the gut microbiome that only lasts a short time. He said he does not generally recommend probiotics and considers them a waste of money, and instead recommends eating a wide variety of plants, which he says is the most beneficial thing for the gut.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I took probiotics afterwards. It didn’t take long for my digestive system to get back to normal. (I found an article giving the time frame for this happening In another thread asking the same question. I can’t remember now how long it was, but it wasn’t long). 

[Pawz4me]

I've had several colonoscopies and have never had a problem. I only take a probiotic supplement when I'm on antibiotics. Otherwise I get good bacteria from fermented foods.

[Bambam]

I've had several colonoscopies and only had a problem once with diarrhea afterward. Doctor said to eat more fiber and that would fix the problem, and it did.  Prep is unpleasant but short. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Found the article I had linked on the other thread. 
 

The gut biome is restored in 14 days after colonoscopy prep.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40182-9

[popmom]

Thanks, y’all. That’s reassuring! I’ll just continue the probiotic until I have to start restricting certain foods for the prep.