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| COLONOSCOPY PREPARATION |
PLEASE READ BELOW which explains the colonoscopy procedure, what to expect and some of the risks and benefits. After reading the material, if you have any questions about your procedure, call the office at (314) 849-1811 immediately. You should expect to return to work the day after the procedure. If you are having problems you must call the office.
You must purchase from a drug store:
2 Ducolax tablets
1/2 Gallon of Gatorade
1 Bottle of Miralax (glycolax)(235gm)
1 Fleet enema
On the MORNING the DAY BEFORE your PROCEDURE:
The day consists of CLEAR liquids only. NO SOLID FOODS. Some examples of clear liquids include:
Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks
Popsicles
Clear soups (broth or bouillon)
Strained fruit juice
Coffee or tea
Gatorade
Hard Candies
Jello (No fruit or toppings)
** NO CREAMERS, MILK or DAIRY products **
The DAY BEFORE your PROCEDURE:
- Drink at least 6 (six) 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids before 5 pm.
- Then mix ½ Gallon of Gatorade and the WHOLE bottle of Miralax together.
- Drink 1(one) 8-ounce glass of this mixture every 10-15 minutes until gone.
- After drinking the mixture take the 2 Ducolax tabs.
- DO NOT DRINK OR EAT ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT.
On the DAY OF the PROCEDURE:
- One hour before leaving your house. Use the fleet enema. Try to retain this for at least 5 minutes.
- For St. Anthony's go to Out Patient Registration located behind the hospital. If you are scheduled at St. Joseph's, check in at the Endoscopy Suite located behind the hospital.
- You MUST bring someone with you to drive you home.
- Diabetics: please check your blood sugar prior to coming to the hospital.
- Take your usual medications as prescribed EXCEPT ASPIRIN, PLAVIX, TICLID OR COUMADIN.
- STOP Aspirin, Plavix, Ticlid and Coumadin for FIVE days before the procedure.
- If you are on Insulin, please notify the office NOW.
Colonoscopy
Your doctors at Colorectal Specialists care about your health and recommend you undergo a Colonoscopy. Below is information that will answer many of your questions about the procedure. After reading the information, if you still have questions, you may call the office at (314)849-1811. Although there are other medical tests that visualize the colon, such as x-ray tests, a colonoscopy is the only test that views the colon while at the same time allowing tissue to be sampled or removed, if appropriate. The American Cancer Society recommends a screening colonoscopy for everyone over the age of 50. Often a colonoscopy needs to be perfomed before the age of 50. Reasons for this may include but are not limited to, rectal bleeding, anemia, diverticulitis, new or chronic diarrhea or constipation, family or personal history of colon cancer, polyps, or colitis.
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is the visualization of the large intestine, otherwise known as the colon. This procedure is performed by using a lighted flexible tube. The colon is a long tube-like organ shaped like a question mark and approximately 5-6 feet long. It begins in the right side of the abdomen, goes upward and across the top of the abdomen, and comes down the left side, then makes an S shaped loop and ends in the rectum. The colon’s main function, is to remove water from liquid stool, making it formed at the time of a bowel movement.
Equipment
The instrument used to perform a colonoscopy is called a colonoscope. The colonoscope can be turned and directed gently through the colon. A computer chip at the end transmits a video signal to a monitor. If necessary, small instruments can be passed through the center of the tube, so polyps can be removed and biopsies performed.
Preparation
This is your part of the procedure. To perform a safe colonoscopy, your colon must be thoroughly cleansed of all stool, to allow for better visualization of the colon. You will be drinking a laxative solution, and consuming an all liquid diet the day before your exam. It is VERY IMPORTANT to carefully follow the cleansing directions. If you do not understand any part of your instructions, please call the office at (314) 849-1811.
The Procedure
The colonoscopy is performed as an outpatient procedure either at a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. YOU WILL NEED SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU HOME since you will be sedated through an IV. After you are sedated, the doctor will begin the Colonoscopy. If polyps are found, the doctor will most likely remove them at that time. The entire procedure takes approximately 15-30 minutes. Once the test is complete the sedative wears off and you will wake up gently.
Benefits
A colonoscopy is performed to identify, tumors, cancers, inflamed areas and other abnormalities within the colon. Your doctor can recommmend a specific treatment plan based on the results from the procedure. If polyps are found and removed, the need for a major operation, or even treatments for cancer later may be eliminated.
Risks and Side Effects
It is normal to feel some mild abdominal cramping and bloating for a short time after the exam. This is caused by air that is introduced into the colon during the exam. Do not feel embarassed to pass this gas as it is a necessary part of your recovery. Once all the gas is passed the bloating and “gassy” feeling typically resolves. Serious risks and complications from a colonoscopy are very uncommon. One risk is excessive bleeding, another is a tear in the lining of the colon. These may require hospitalization, or rarely surgery. Very rarely a diagnostic error or oversight may occur. Sedation has its own risks; therefore you should not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours after the exam. YOU WILL NEED SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU HOME.
Follow Up
Your doctor will tell you if any tissue samples were taken and whether all the tissue was removed. If there is a concern about the results of the evaluation of the tissue under a microscope, you will be contacted once the biopsy results are known. If tissue samples were taken, you may call the office 7 days after the day of your procedure to confirm what the doctor told you. Most importantly, the doctor will tell you when your colonoscopy should be repeated and at what intervals.
If you have ANY questions, please call the office.
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