Preparation Instructions for Afternoon Colonoscopy

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The Day You Schedule Your Appointment

  • Plan time off of work for the day of your colonoscopy.
  • You MUST have an escort to come into the hospital and take you home after the colonoscopy so start making these arrangements.

7 Days Before Your Appointment

  • Fill prescription for the laxative. If you don’t have it call patient navigator 617-414-2600
  • Stop taking Iron pills. Multi-vitamins can be continued.
  • If you are taking Coumadin/Warfarin or any other type of blood thinner please call your primary care doctor/Coumadin Clinic today for instructions on stopping the medication before your procedure.

2 Days Before Your Appointment

  • Please ignore all other bowel preparation instructions from any other sources including
  • pharmacist, medicine package inserts, friends/relative and the internet.)
  • Drink at least 8 glasses of water today.
  • STOP eating high fiber foods such as vegetables and beans until after your colonoscopy.
  • You can eat all other types of foods today.

The Day Before Your Appointment

  • You may have a light breakfast in the morning, then FOLLOW A STRICT CLEAR LIQUID DIET for the rest of the day. Examples of clear liquids are: water, apple juice, broth( NOT SOUP WITH THINGS IN IT) Jell-O, tea/coffee without milk/cream, sodas, sports drinks, and popsicles, but nothing red colored.
  • 6 PM Place mixed laxative solution inside of the fridge to cool (no ice cubes)
  • Plan time off of work for the day of your colonoscopy.
  • The Day of Your Appointment
  • 6 hours before your appointment time, start to drink the entire laxative solution – 1 cup every
  • 10-15 minutes. You must finish it at least 2 hours before the colonoscopy (finishing it 3 to 5 hours before is best).
  • If you have diabetes: Take half the dose of your insulin on the day of procedure and skip diabetes pill(s) unless directed otherwise. You should check your blood sugar level in the morning.
  • Take all of your other regular medications at least 2 hours prior to your test.
  • You may have clear liquids up until 2 hours before the colonoscopy, then stop all oral intake. NO SOLIDS until after the colonoscopy is done.
  • Stop taking Iron pills. Multi-vitamins can be continued.

If you can not keep this appointment please call 617-414-2600.