Colonoscopy
Are you scared of colonoscopy? You are not alone!
I see scared and anxious faces everyday in my office as patients come for their pre-procedure consultation. Let me reduce your anxiety by explaining what a colonoscopy entitle and what to expect during this procedure.
The procedure involves inserting a flexible tube into the rectum and passing it through the entire large intestine for a direct visualization of the colon.
Why do we need to do a colonoscopy?
Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in USA among men and women. It could be prevented if the precancerous lesions called polyps are removed before they turn to cancer.
What to expect during a colonoscopy?
A process of colon cleansing takes place one to two days before the procedure. Patients are usually required to clean out their colon via a liquid diet and taking laxatives which could be pills or liquid (depending each person’s medical conditions).
The day of colonoscopy, you will arrive to the surgery center or the hospital where one is scheduled for the procedure. The patient will be given a sedative which is administered via an intravenous access to help with relaxation during the procedure. It also helps to prevent discomfort caused by air insufflation during the procedure. Therefore, the patient must have a driver after procedure and arranging the transportation should be made ahead of time.
The actual test itself involves the patient lying on her/his left side while a long, flexible fiber-optic scope is guided into the rectum by the physician. This scope allows the doctor to examine the entire the large intestine lining for polyps and malignant growths. These will be removed during the procedures, if they have been found. The colonoscope is constructed so that air can be blown into the colon to inflate it so doctor can better see the lining of colon.
Afternoon Miralax and Gatorade split prep
Please purchase the following items at the grocery store of pharmacy. (over the counter)
- Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) Laxative 5 mg tablets. (You will need a total of 4 tablets) Make sure you purchase laxative tablets and not the “stool softeners”.
- Miralax 238 gram bottle (powder)
- Gatorade, Vitamin water, Smart water or any other beverages with Electrolytes-purchase two 32 oz bottles or one 64 oz bottle. Water alone is not recommended as you can become depleted of electrolytes in the cleansing process. NO RED OR PURPLE. **** Diabetic patients: Use sugar free beverage: Smart water or Vitamin water.
Two days before your procedure:
Take 2 Dulcolax laxatives @ 8:00 pm.
The day before your procedure:
You will be on a clear liquid diet all day. You must AVOID solid foods, dairy products, and juices with pulp such as orange and grapefruit juices, and red and purple liquids.
Examples of clear liquids are: plain broth (beef or chicken is fine). Clear juices (white grape, white cranberry, or apple), sport drinks like Gatorade or powerade, sodas (coke, sprite etc.) Plain coffee or tea without creamer, popsicles (no sherbets or fruit bars), jellos (lemon, lime, peach) and or course water. It is important that you drink as much fluid as you can throughout the day.
At 5:00 pm
At 5:00 pm, mix half of the Miralax bottle (119 gr) with one 32 oz bottle of Gatorade (or ½ of 64 oz bottle of Gatorade) in a pitcher. Drink 8 oz of the solution every 10-15 minutes until gone. Continue drinking liquids throughout the evening.
****Please note: The diarrhea effect usually begins within an hour or two, but may vary. You may notice some bloating or cramping at the beginning, this will improve once the diarrhea begins. If you develop nausea or vomiting, take a break from drinking for an hour. Resume drinking at a slower rate. Diarrhea usually continues for 1-2 hours after completing Miralax. Stay close to a bathroom once you start the prep. Use non-alcohol wipes to cleanse after each bowel movement. You may use cream such as Vaseline, Desitin, or A&D ointment for soreness or irritation of the skin.
Take 2 Dulcolax laxatives at 8:00 pm
Morning of procedure: at 8:00 am
mix the remaining Miralax bottle with 32 oz bottle of Gatorade. Drink 8 oz of the solution every 10-15 minutes until gone.
Stop all clear liquids (including water) at 10:00 am
Miralax and Gatorade split prep
Please purchase the following items at the grocery store of pharmacy. (over the counter)
- Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) Laxative 5 mg tablets. (You will need a total of 4 tablets) Make sure you purchase laxative tablets and not the “stool softeners”.
- Miralax 238 gram bottle (powder)
- Gatorade, Vitamin water, Smart water or any other beverages with Electrolytes-purchase two 32 oz bottles or one 64 oz bottle. Water alone is not recommended as you can become depleted of electrolytes in the cleansing process. NO RED OR PURPLE. **** Diabetic patients: Use sugar free beverage: Smart water or Vitamin water.
Two days before your procedure:
Take 2 Dulcolax laxatives @ 8:00 pm.
The day before your procedure:
You will be on a clear liquid diet all day. You must AVOID solid foods, dairy products, and juices with pulp such as orange and grapefruit juices, and red and purple liquids.
Examples of clear liquids are: plain broth (beef or chicken is fine). Clear juices (white grape, white cranberry, or apple), sport drinks like Gatorade or powerade, sodas (coke, sprite etc.) Plain coffee or tea without creamer, popsicles (no sherbets or fruit bars), jellos (lemon, lime, peach) and or course water. It is important that you drink as much fluid as you can throughout the day.
At 5:00 pm
At 5:00 pm, mix half of the Miralax bottle (119 gr) with one 32 oz bottle of Gatorade (or ½ of 64 oz bottle of Gatorade) in a pitcher. Drink 8 oz of the solution every 10-15 minutes until gone. Continue drinking liquids throughout the evening.
****Please note: The diarrhea effect usually begins within an hour or two, but may vary. You may notice some bloating or cramping at the beginning, this will improve once the diarrhea begins. If you develop nausea or vomiting, take a break from drinking for an hour. Resume drinking at a slower rate. Diarrhea usually continues for 1-2 hours after completing Miralax. Stay close to a bathroom once you start the prep. Use non-alcohol wipes to cleanse after each bowel movement. You may use cream such as Vaseline, Desitin, or A&D ointment for soreness or irritation of the skin.
Take 2 Dulcolax laxatives at 8:00 pm
Morning of procedure: at 4:00 am
mix the remaining Miralax bottle with 32 oz bottle of Gatorade. Drink 8 oz of the solution every 10-15 minutes until gone.
Stop all clear liquids (including water) at 5:00 am
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