It is very important that you follow each step and complete all of these instructions or your colonoscopy may have to be repeated.


PURCHASE IN ADVANCE

  • Golytely Bowel Prep Kits – Prescription required
  • Miralax Bowel Prep Kits- Prescription required
  • 6 tablets of Senna- Prescription required 

 

SEVEN DAYS BEFORE PROCEDURE

  • Stop all fiber supplements and medications containing iron, including multivitamins.
  • You may have to stop certain medications. Talk with your prescribing physician and let them know you are getting a colonoscopy.


FOUR DAYS BEFORE PROCEDURE

  • In the morning take one capful of Miralax solution and mix it with 8oz of clear liquids or water and drink it.
  • Take one Sena tablet in the morning.
  • In the evening take one more capful of Miralax solution and mix it with 8oz of clear liquids or water and drink it.
  • Take one more Sena tablet in the morning.


THREE DAYS BEFORE PROCEDURE

  • In the morning take one capful of Miralax solution and mix it with 8oz of clear liquids or water and drink it.
  • Take one Sena tablet in the morning.
  • In the evening take one more capful of Miralax solution and mix it with 8oz of clear liquids or water and drink it.
  • Take one more Sena tablet in the morning.


TWO DAYS BEFORE PROCEDURE

  • In the morning take one capful of Miralax solution and mix it with 8oz of clear liquids or water and drink it.
  • Take one Sena tablet in the morning.
  • In the evening take one more capful of Miralax solution and mix it with 8oz of clear liquids or water and drink it.
  • Take one more Sena tablet in the morning.


DAY BEFORE COLONOSCOPY

Diet Modifications

  • DO NOT eat any solid food starting today.
  • Please have a clear liquid diet for the rest of the day. Please avoid all liquids that are red or purple. Please avoid all dairy products.
  • A clear liquid diet may include:

Soup: Clear broths such as chicken, vegetable, beef consommé. These broths should not have noodles or solid food in them

Juice: Apple, limeade, white cranberry, white grape 

Beverages: Tea (please do not add milk), coffee (please do not add milk), soda, Gatorade (or other sports drinks), water, Vitamin water (or other similar drinks)

Desserts: Jello (no red or purple), Italian ices, popsicles, hard candies

 

Prep Instructions

  • Mix the Golytely solution anytime on the day before your procedure. Some preps come with flavor packets. If adding flavor, tear open flavor packet and mix with the solution. This solution can be refrigerated.
  • At 5 PM, drink one 8oz. glass every 15 minutes until you have consumed 3/4 of the solution. Place the remainder of the solution in the refrigerator.
  • Expect to move your bowels at least 5-10 times, although some people do not have multiple bowel movements after this initial dose of preparation. It usually takes about 30-60 minutes after drinking the solution to begin having bowel movements. You may notice some bloating or cramping at the beginning of the prep, but this will usually improve once the bowel movements begin.
  • The time of this dose may be adjusted to suit individual schedules.


DAY OF COLONOSCOPY

  • 6 hours before the test is scheduled, drink the remainder of the Golytely solution by drinking one 8oz. glass every 15 minutes until the solution is gone.
  • Bowel movements should resume within 30 minutes to one hour. Expect to move your bowels at least 10-15 times.
  • By the end of your prep, your stool should become a clear, yellow-tinged fluid. If the stool coming out is not a clear, yellow-tinged fluid, please drink an additional 1 liter of water or another clear fluid approximately 3 ½ hours prior to your procedure time.
  • You may continue to drink clear fluids until 3 hours before the test is scheduled, but then nothing by mouth after that.


HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PREP IS ADEQUATE?

The stool should be watery in consistency and should be a clear, yellow-tinged fluid without stool particles. Digestive secretions will continue to “tint” the stool yellow. If you are concerned that there are still stool particles present, you can self-administer one or two saline enema laxatives (these are available in pharmacies without prescription as 4.5 fluid ounce enemas) prior to leaving home for the procedure. If your prep is inadequate, the physician may not be able to visualize the entire colon adequately.

  • Make sure you know where your colonoscopy will be performed.
  • Please arrive 1 hour in advance of your scheduled procedure time to allow time to complete the necessary paperwork.
  • Please bring a photo ID.
  • Please bring a current insurance card, if applicable.
  • If for any reason you need to cancel your procedure, please call your doctor at the number provided to you. You must call at least 48 hours in advance to allow other patients to be scheduled for procedures.