Colonoscopy Patient Preparation

If you have made an appointment with us for a colonoscopy procedure, you will need to follow the prescribed preparation instructions below. Proper patient preparation is very important for the procedure to be successful and safe.

The success of your colonoscopy depends on the bowel being as clear as possible, otherwise the examination may need to be postponed and the preparation repeated. Please carefully follow the instructions below.

The bowel preparation induces frequent, loose bowel movements within one to three hours of taking the first dose. It is best to stay at home within easy reach of toilet facilities.

Cancellation Policy

Please note that we require two full business days’ notice to be eligible for a refund of your procedure. There will be a cancellation fee for appointments cancelled or not attended with less than two full business days’ notice.

General Preparation Instructions

Ozempic and any other GLP-1/GIP agonists must be withheld for two weeks prior to your procedure.

The following is a requirement of all endoscopy patients.

  • Someone MUST Collect You After the Test 
    Due to the use of anaesthetic during our endoscopy procedures, the effects will make you drowsy and incapable of legally driving yourself home.
  • Please arrange for a friend or relative to collect you about one and a half hours after the test, as you cannot drive or leave the hospital on your own. Your procedure will be cancelled on the day if you do not have a friend or relative to pick you up and you will still be liable for the out of pocket costs of your procedure.
  • You are not able to take a Taxi or Uber/Rideshare home.

 

What to bring with you

  • Referral from your Doctor, if you were unable to provide prior to procedure. But, you may risk cancellation of your procedure if not done so prior.
  • Medicare card (Please inform staff when booking if you have no Medicare card, Interim card or reciprocal card)
  • Private insurance card (if applicable)
  • Account payment (Direct Endoscopy accepts MasterCard, Visa or cash and provides EFTPOS facilities to facilitate easy payment of accounts on the day)
  • List of medications
  • Reading glasses (if necessary）

Specific Preparation for Colonoscopy

The following are specific preparation instructions for patients with an appointment for the colonoscopy procedure.

  • Please do not purchase any bowel preparation until you have been assessed by our Pre-Admission Nurse. The nurse will advise you of the most appropriate preparation based on your individual medical history. Bowel preparation instructions will be provided after your assessment. Please only purchase and use the preparation recommended by the Pre-Admission Nurse or your doctor.
  • Consult Your Doctor about Current Medication
  • If you are on IRON tablets, these should be stopped four days prior to the test.
  • If you take WARFARIN, PRADAXA, XARELTO or ELIQUIS please consult your Doctor.
  • You must stop all other Diabetic tablets the day before and the morning of your procedure. Bring your diabetic medication with you to your appointment.
  • If you take INSULIN, please contact your Doctor to adjust dosage.

 

If you are Diabetic and take any of the following medications listed below, you must stop those tablets for TWO days prior to your colonoscopy as well as on the morning of the colonoscopy procedure. Please speak to your Doctor/GP/Endocrinologist about an alternative oral hypoglycaemic as required: 

  • FORXIGA (dapagliflozin) Tablets
  • XIGDUO XR (dapagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride XR) Tablets
  • QTERN (dapagliflozin and saxagliptin) Tablets
  • JARDIANCE (empagliflozin) Tablets
  • JARDIAMET (empagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride) Tablets
  • GLYXAMBI (empagliflozin and linagliptin) Tablets
  • STEGLATRO (ertugliflozin) Tablets
  • SEGLUROMET (ertugliflozin and metformin hydrochloride) Tablets
  • STEGLUJAN (ertugliflozin and sitagliptin) Tablets

 

Special Notes:

Patting instead of wiping, using flushable moistened wipes, warm washcloths or a warm bath, and applying a barrier cream such as Vaseline or Bepanthen if needed can help relieve rectal discomfort or irritation.

Refrigerating the solution and sipping with a straw may make it more tolerable. Take a break if you experience nausea, vomiting or cramping; however, you will need to complete the entire prep as instructed to get the best results from your procedure.

  • Wear Loose Clothing and Leave Valuables Behind: Please wear light casual clothing and do not bring valuables with you.
  • Please do not wear lipstick or jewellery.
  • Remain Under Competent Supervision For 12 Hours: For 12 hours after the procedure, you should remain in the care of a responsible adult and not drive or operate machinery.

Instructions for a colonoscopy – MoviPrep

These instructions are only for patients who have been advised by our Pre-Admission Nurse or doctor to use MoviPrep.

For a successful colonoscopy, it is very important that the bowel be totally clean. Your bowel preparation will be recommended after assessment by our Pre-Admission Nurse. If you are advised to use MoviPrep®, please follow these instructions carefully. These may be different to those on the box.

The MoviPrep will flush out the large bowel resulting in diarrhoea, which should become clear and watery when the large bowel is clean.

If the bowel is not completely clean, then important abnormalities such as polyps could be missed. You may have to repeat the procedure. Please do not purchase any bowel preparation until you have been assessed by our Pre-Admission Nurse. The nurse will advise you of the most appropriate preparation based on your individual medical history. If you are advised to use MoviPrep, please follow these instructions carefully.:

  1. 7 days before your colonoscopy
    Stop taking anti-diarrhoea medications 7 days before your procedure.
  2. 4 days before your colonoscopy
    Stop taking iron tablets 4 days before your procedure if you are on them.
    Avoid pips, seeds, grains and skins in your diet.
  3. 1 day before your colonoscopy
    You are to have no solid foods, milk products or orange juice.
    You may have clear fluids only such as water, cordial, clear fruit juice (no pulp), clear broth, black tea/coffee with sugar, clear jelly (not red), barley sugar lollies, soft drinks, Hydralyte drinks, lemonade icy poles and honey.
    Alternate your fluids as above. You must drink between 2–3 litres of the above liquids throughout the day.
    At 6pm add the first MoviPrep dose (1.5 litres) to water as directed, stir well and drink slowly over 1–2 hours.
  4. The day of your colonoscopy
    4 hours prior to your procedure, drink the last 500mL of MoviPrep over the hour.
    STOP drinking Clear Fluids 3 hours before your arrival
    Once you have finished, continue fasting completely and do not drink anything further.
    To fast means nothing more to drink – no water, chewing gum, lollies, ice, etc
    You may have your usual medication with a sip of water (unless instructed to withhold)
  5. Important information about going home
    It is preferable that a responsible adult escorts you home in a suitable vehicle and stays with you the night of the procedure.
    We will notify this person by phone when you are ready to be collected.
    A taxi is acceptable provided that a responsible person remains with you at all times—including during the taxi ride, and you must not drive yourself or use public transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

01

What is a clear stool?

A clear stool can have a slight tint of yellow or brown. It will be completely transparent, and will not contain any solid matter.

02

I am not having bowel movements, what should I do?

Bowel movements can take up to 5-6 hours after beginning the prep to start. Be patient, continue to drink liquids. If you have not had a bowel movement by midnight the night prior to your procedure, you will need to reach the on-call physician for further instructions.

03

The prep is making me nauseous, what should I do?

If you develop nausea or vomiting, slow down the rate at which you drink the solution. Please attempt to drink all of the laxative solution even if it takes you longer. If vomiting persists, or you are not able to finish the preparation, stop the preparation and call your physician’s office for further instructions.

04

What are some high fibre foods I should avoid?

Raw fruits and vegetables are typically high in fiber, as well as nuts, seeds, whole grain breads and beans and lentils.

05

If I eat popcorn or seeds 3 days before my procedure do I need to reschedule?

You will not need to reschedule your procedure, however the seeds or nuts may cause a difficulty in screening and require a need for rescreening. If you have eaten a large amount of seeds or nuts, you may want to contact the nurse or physician.

06

Can I drink ALCOHOL on the liquid diet?

Alcohol is not allowed as part of the liquid diet.

07

Can I continue to be on the liquid diet after I begin consuming the laxatives?

Yes, you may continue the liquid diet until you are directed to discontinue anything by mouth, which is typically 4-6 hours prior to the procedure.

08

Why do I have to wake up at so early for the 2nd dose, can’t I take it all the night before?

A split prep has proven to be the most effective for a successful colonoscopy. It is essential that you follow the directions provided with your prep medications.

08

If I weigh xx kg, do I need to take all of the prep?

The liquid amount is not weight dependent. It is important to finish the prep for a successful colonoscopy.

Safety and Risks

Complications of gastroscopy are very rare and may include bleeding or perforation. For inspection of the bowel alone, complications of colonoscopy are uncommon. Most surveys report complications in 1 in 1000 examinations or less.

Complications, which can occur, include an intolerance of the bowel preparation solution and scope disinfection solution used. Perforation (making a hole in the bowel), splenic injury or major bleeding from the bowel is extremely rare but if occurs, may require surgery. When operations such as removal of polyps are carried out there is a slightly higher risk of perforation and bleeding. Because of the risk of cancer, it is recommended that all polyps found at the time of colonoscopy be removed.

Even with a careful and thorough colonoscopy, there is still a small chance that some polyps or even early cancers may not be seen. This can happen because of the natural bends and folds in the bowel or if the bowel is not fully cleaned out before the test. Studies show that small polyps (less than 5 mm) can be missed in about 1 in 4 cases, medium polyps in about 1 in 10 cases, and larger polyps in fewer than 1 in 20 cases. Very occasionally, cancer may also be missed, which is why follow-up and repeat colonoscopies are recommended when needed.

However, it will not be possible to discuss the removal with you at the time of examination, as you will be sedated. If you have any queries or reservations about this, please inform your Doctor. In the unlikely event of hemorrhage occurring, blood transfusion may be necessary.

Before you have a colonoscopy, you need to make sure your bowel is as clear as possible. If your bowel is not clear, polyps or even cancers may be missed, or you may need to have the colonoscopy again. This means it is important for you to follow the instructions carefully and ask questions if you do not understand what to do. To get your bowel ready for the colonoscopy, you will be told what (and what not) to eat and drink, including when to drink extra fluids to stop you from getting dehydrated. You will be given or asked to buy medicine to clear out your bowel by causing diarrhea. Make sure you understand when to take the medicines, usually starting the day before the colonoscopy. Your doctor or nurse will explain how these medicines may affect you. You should tell them about any previous experience you have had with bowel preparation. Preparation for colonoscopy can also affect your other health conditions or medicines, such as medicines for diabetes or medicines to prevent blood clots. You may need to change the way you take your other medicines or follow special instructions in the days before your colonoscopy. Your Clinician will discuss with you any changes you may need to make. Some people may need extra personal or health support during bowel preparation and a few may need an overnight stay in hospital.

Our Gastroenterologists

Our gastroenterologists constantly strive to provide the highest standard of digestive health services and patient centred care. The easiest way to achieve the most accurate results and have the best patient experience is to ensure you follow all of the colonoscopy preparation instructions.

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