GENERAL PROCEDURE PREP INSTRUCTIONS
Upper Endoscopy
Nothing to eat or drink, including water, after midnight the night before your procedure. Arrive 40 minutes prior to your scheduled procedure time.
Important, if you are taking Phentermine or any GLP-1-agonists medications (ie. Ozempic) you must stop taking the medication one week prior to your scheduled endoscopy. If you have any questions, please contact our office.
Colonoscopy
Please pick up your prep well in advance of your procedure. The day before your procedure, clear liquids only. This includes water, black coffee, or tea (no creamer), soda, white grape juice, apple juice, sports drinks, Jell-O, ice pops, chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. View the clear liquid diet suggestions below under diet suggestions. Nothing that is RED or PURPLE. Drink as much as possible all day.
Important, if you are taking Phentermine or any GLP-1-agonists medications (ie. Ozempic) you must stop taking the medication one week prior to your scheduled colonoscopy. If you have any questions, please contact our office.
- Plenvu/Clenpiq/Suprep/Sutab – Start the first dose of prep at 5pm the evening before the procedure. Continue with clear liquids for the rest of the night, nothing by mouth after midnight. 5 Hours prior to the start time of your procedure, take the second dose of prep followed by 3 glasses of water. You need to complete this dose within one hour. NOTHING else to eat or drink, including water until after your procedure. Arrive 40 minutes prior to your scheduled procedure time. Failure to follow these instruction can result in your procedure being canceled.
- GoLytely/4 Liter prep – At 5pm the evening before the procedure, mix the medication following the instructions on the bottle and drink 3 liters (75%) of the solution, drinking 8 -16 ounces every 15 to 30 minutes. Refrigerate the remaining 1 liter and continue drinking clear liquids. 5 hours prior to the procedure begin drinking the remaining 1 liter and complete it within 1 hour. Nothing else by mouth until after the procedure. Failure to follow these instruction can result in your procedure being canceled.
- Over the counter prep (OTC) - At 1pm the day before the procedure, take 4 Dulcolax tablets with water. At 2pm, drink all 10 ounces of Magnesium Citrate, you may refrigerate if you prefer to drink it chilled. At 3pm, drink the entire MiraLAX solution. Drink an 8-ounce glass every 10-15 minutes until the entire solution is gone. Continue with clear liquids for the rest of the night, nothing by mouth after midnight. Failure to follow these instruction can result in your procedure being canceled.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Nothing to eat or drink, including water, after midnight the night before your procedure. Arrive 40 minutes prior to your scheduled procedure time. 2 hours prior to leaving for your procedure, use one bottle of the Fleet Enema Saline Laxative. Lay on your left side and insert the Fleet Enema, follow the directions for proper insertion on the packaging. Once inserted lay on your right side, lay on your right side for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, switch to laying on your left side, lay there until you need to use the restroom. 1 hour before you leave for your procedure (60 minutes after the prior step), repeat the prior steps. Use one bottle of the Fleet Enema Saline Laxative. Lay on your left side and insert the Fleet Enema, follow the directions for proper insertion on the packaging. Once inserted lay on your right side, lay on your right side for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, switch to laying on your left side, lay there until you need to use the restroom.
Important, if you are taking Phentermine or any GLP-1-agonists medications (ie. Ozempic) you must stop taking the medication one week prior to your scheduled colonoscopy. If you have any questions, please contact our office.
Diet Suggestions
- Clear Liquid Diet
- Pureed Diet Suggestions
- Soft Food Diet Suggestions
TRANSPORTATION
Please arrange for transportation home from the procedure. You cannot drive or operate machinery for the rest of the day. You must have a friend, family member, or arranged medical transport to drive you home after the procedure. Total time in office for a procedure is about 2 - 2 ½ hours. Your ride does not need to stay. Please provide us with their phone number and we will contact them about 20-30 prior to discharge. Uber, Lyft, and taxis are not allowed to be used for post procedure transportation due to medical regulations. Your procedure will be cancelled if you do not have adequate transportation, this is the surgery center policy. If you need a medical transportation service, you can contact our office for information.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please contact the office a minimum of 2 business days prior to the procedure to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations made less than 2 business days in advance will result in a $200. 00 fee.
CONTACT US & PREP QUESTIONS
For any inquiries, please don't hesitate to reach out to our offices at 410-290-6677. If you have any questions regarding your prep instructions, kindly contact the nurse line associated with the location of your scheduled procedure. The GCM nurse line numbers are provided below for your convenience.
• Columbia/Cascades: (410)913-1666
• Olney: (301)347-8780
• Annapolis: (410)913-1164
• Riverdale: (410)913-0061
