Prepare For The Procedure

To ensure a successful colon preparation, follow the prep instructions included in your prep packet as directed. It is important to follow ONLY these instructions, and not any preparation recommendations from your pharmacist of other health care professionals.

Preparation Solution:
Your bowel cleansing preparation is available at your pharmacy for pick-up.

Preparation Diet:
You will be required to follow a specific diet prior to your procedure consisting of clear liquids only. Examples of acceptable clear liquids are below for your reference:

  • Water, plain or flavored; flat or sparkling
  • Drinks made from powdered drink mixes (such as Kool-Aid or Crystal Light – NO RED)
  • Fruit juices – apple or white grape
  • Lemonade – no pulp
  • Broth (bouillon or consume; beef, chicken or vegetable)
  • Carbonated beverages (NO RED DYE)
  • Plain gelatin – lemon or lime
  • Sports drinks (NO RED)
  • Popsicles without fruit pulp – banana, lemon or lime (NO RED)
  • Tea or coffee without creamer
  • Sugar or sugar substitute
  • Honey

Beginning four hours before your procedure, DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING.

If you are diabetic, please see additional instructions below.

 

Medication Notes:

You may continue to take your current medications, including those for blood pressure, up to four hours prior to your scheduled procedure time. Please discontinue the use of iron supplements or any vitamins containing iron five days prior to your procedure.

If you are taking any of the following medications, please call (515) 222-7600, option #3. The staff at Mercy Gastroenterology Clinic will work with your physician to manage these medications prior to your procedure.

Aggrenox
Apixaban
Brilinta
Clopidogrel
Coumadin
Dabigatran
Dipyridamole
Effient
Eliquis
Heparin
Jantoven
Lovenox
Persantine
Plavix
Pletal
Pradaxa
Prasugrel
Rivaroxaban
Ticagrelo
Ticlid
Ticlopidine
Warfarin
Xarelot

Note:
You may receive a courtesy phone call from Mercy staff to discuss insurance coverage and eligibility 7-10 days prior to your scheduled procedure.

You may receive a courtesy call from the endoscopy nursing staff to review health and surgical history prior to your scheduled procedure.

 

DIABETIC INSTRUCTIONS

Patients are encouraged to notify their physicians regarding the management of any diabetic medications prior to their scheduled procedure.  Patients who do not contact their physician need to follow the instructions below.

DAY BEFORE ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURE:
While you are maintaining a clear liquid diet, take all of your usual diabetic medications, including insulin, as well as doses taken with meals.

If you take Lantus, NPH, or Levemir insulin once a day at bedtime, take 80% of your usual dose.
(Usual dose x 0.80 = dose amount)

If you take Lantus or Levemir twice daily, take the bedtime dose the night prior to your procedure. 

MORNING OF ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURE:
Start monitoring your blood sugar at home every 4 hours until you have arrived at the facility where your procedure will take place. If your blood sugar is less that 70 mg/dL during the time you are fasting, add sugar to four ounces or one-half cup of clear liquid (apple juice, 7-Up, Sprite, etc.), or four glucose tablets, or 1 glucose gel packet.

DO NOT TAKE any oral diabetic medications.

DO NOT TAKE any Byetta or Symlin injections.

DO NOT TAKE any Novolog, Humalog or Apidra insulin.

If you take Lantus, NPH, or Levemir in the morning, take half or 50 percent of your usual dose
(Usual dose x 0.50=dose)

DO NOT TAKE pre-mixed insulin (Humulin 70/30, Humalog 75/25, or Novolog 70/30). Please bring this medication with you to your procedure. Only take this medicine after your procedure when you are going to eat.

Insulin Pump Patients: Contact the prescribing physician of your insulin pump for appropriate management during your pre-procedure preparation.