Preparing for Your Endoscopy or Colonoscopy
Thank you for choosing St. Claire HealthCare for your procedure.
We want to help you understand your procedure and know what to expect.
This informational guide provides general information on colonoscopy and endoscopy, as well as details on how to prepare for your procedure, and what to expect when you arrive at St. Claire Regional Medical Center’s outpatient care department.
If you have questions or concerns, call us at 606.783.6621. If we are unable to answer your call, please try again. Our business hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Preparing for your endoscopy or colonoscopy
- Stop taking any medicines that will thin your blood 3-5 days before your procedure, unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider. This includes, but I not limited to, aspirin, Plavix, Mobic, Celebrex, Xarelto, Eliquis, and Coumadin.
- A nurse will contact you one business day prior to your procedure to give you an arrival time. Be sure the hospital has your current phone number.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure.
- Take your regular medicines (except diabetic medicines) the morning of your procedure with a small sip of water.
- You may brush your teeth the morning of your procedure, but do not chew gum or candy, or use any tobacco products.
- Leave all valuables and jewelry at home.
- Bring your insurance cards, a photo ID, and a list of your home medicines.
- You will be asked to remove your dentures/hearing aids prior to your procedure.
- You will be sedated for your procedure. You must have a driver to take you home.
What to expect
On the day of your procedure, you will go to Patient Access on the first floor of St. Claire Regional Medical Center to register. After registration, use the main set of elevators and go to the 3rd floor and walk all the way to the end of the hallway. You will see a sign for the Outpatient Care Center. Have a seat in the waiting area, and you will be called back to a room and prepared for your procedure as soon as possible. You can have one visitor with you during this time.
Our staff will do their best to update you and your family about any possible delays.
You will be with us for approximately three hours. During your procedure, your visitor can follow your progress via a tracker board system in the waiting room.
When your procedure is complete, you will return to the room you started in for recovery. After you wake up, your physician will be in to speak with you about your procedure.
Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a procedure in which a lighted scope is passed through your mouth and throat to evaluate your esophagus and upper digestive tract.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a lighted scope is passed through your rectum to evaluate your colon and rectum.
A colonoscopy requires additional preparation. All items are available over-the-counter. If you have difficulty finding these items, please ask the pharmacist for assistance.
You will need:
- 1 bottle of Miralax (238 grams)
- 64 oz. of Gatorade (NO RED)
- 4 Dulcolax (laxative) Tablets
The day before your colonoscopy:
DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANY SOLID FOOD OR MILK PRODUCTS.
You may have clear liquids all day, including broth, bouillon, Jell-O, black coffee, tea, juice without pulp, cola drinks, popsicles, Gatorade, and water.
*NO RED COLORED LIQUID*
- At 5:00 PM, take 4 Dulcolax (laxative) tablets with 8 oz. of water.
- At 7:00 PM, mix 64 oz. of Gatorade with the entire 238-gram bottle of Miralax. Drink this mixture within three hours.
You can start the bowel prep earlier in the day if you are able to do so, but the latest we would recommend getting started with it is at 5:00 pm.
On the morning of your procedure, your bowel movement should be a clear yellow liquid.
