INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLONOSCOPY

A colonoscopy enables the doctor to see the inside lining of your large bowel(colon). In order to get a good view, it is important that the bowel is thoroughly emptied and clean on the inside - otherwise the bowel wall on the inside may be partially covered by faeces.

BEFORE THE COLONOSCOPY

1 week before colonscopy -

Stop these medications - aspirin, clopidrogel(eg. Plavix, Iscover), dipyridamole(eg Asasantin, Persantin). (These medications increase the risk of bleeding especially if a biopsy needs to be performed during the colonoscopy) It is important that this is discussed first with your usual doctor and surgeon performing the colonoscopy.

5 days before colonoscopy - If you are taking warfarin(Coumadin, Marevan), this is usually stopped then. Again it is important to discuss this with your usual doctor and your surgeon. For some low-risk patients on warfarin, that is all that needs to be done. For high-risk patients(risk of stopping the anticoagulant), daily injections with low-molecular weight heparin may need to be given.

2 days before colonoscopy -

Take only low-residue foods eg white bread, white rice, eggs, potato without the skin. Do NOT eat vegetables, fruits or anything high in fibre

1 day before colonoscopy -

DRINK CLEAR FLUIDS ONLY and take no food at all. Clear fluids include - water, black tea WITHOUT milk, clear fruit juices without pulps, clear soup, soft drinks, mineral water and cordial.

Take the 2 sachets of PICOPREP :

1. Mix the sachet of Picoprep with a glass of warm water

2. Take the Picoprep at 2pm and 5pm in the afternoon

REMEMBER to continue drinking at least a glass of water/clear fluids every hour.

You may have clear fluids UP TO 4 HOURS BEFORE the procedure - that is up to 4:30am before a morning list and up to 09:30am before an afternoon list.

Avoid coffee and alcohol as these can cause you to lose more fluids especially from your urine.

AFTER THE COLONOSCOPY

It is important to make arrangements ahead of time for someone to drive you home.

Do not drive or operate any machinery or sign any legal documents on the day of the colonoscopy/anaesthesia.

Immediately after the procedure, you may feel some addominal discomfort/cramps or bloating. You may also feel like passsing wind.(This is due to the air gently insufflated into your bowel during the colonoscopy)

The surgeon will discuss with you the findings before you go home or make arrangements to see you at a later date. A complete report will be forwarded to your doctor.

Should you have any bleeding, abdominal pain, black tarry stools or fever within 2 weeks after the procedure, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Dr LP Cheah also writes at www.colonoscopy.net.au for more Colonoscopy related information.