PREPARATION FOR YOUR COLONOSCOPY
5 DAYS PRIOR to your procedure STOP TAKING blood thinners (Coumdain, Plavix, Ticlid, Agrylin). Be certain that you take all heart and high blood pressure medication (EXCEPT aspirin or thinners) the morning of the procedure with a sip of water. If you have a history of asthma or breathing problems, please use any inhalers as prescribed the morning of the procedure. TYLENOL is OK to take prior for pain or headache.
For DIABETIC PATIENTS please follow the diabetic instruction sheet.
2 DAYS BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
DIET
Clear liquid diet (no bread, fruit, milk or vegetables). You may have ginger ale, 7-UP, Sprite, thin clear broth, Jell-O (no red Jell-O), non-dairy sherbet, clear juice (apple juice, cranberry juice, white grape juice), black coffee or black tea. Ensure, a dietary supplement, which you can purchase at your pharmacy, may be taken during this diet in any quantity. You must drink at least 8 (8 oz) glasses of clear liquid during the course of this day.
MAGNESIUM CITRATE
One bottle chilled with ice (340 cc). Drink this in the afternoon after returning home from your day, as diarrhea will follow in about an hour.
DAY BEFORE THE EXAMINATION
Repeat the same preparation as above. Follow the clear liquid diet, drink plenty of fluids and take another bottle of magnesium citrate.
You must have someone accompany you to and from any procedure and you cannot use public transportation. The Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center insists that you have someone with you for 24 hours after your procedure.