BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE

Please report to the fourth floor of the Center for Digestive Medicine. Take the elevators across from the gift shop. It is important that you arrive at the time assigned. We strive to keep our delays at a minimum but occasionally they do occur. For those occasions we have pagers in the waiting room to allow you to leave the waiting area.

After midnight the day before your procedure, do not eat or drink anything, including water. Do not chew gum or suck on hard candy. Do not smoke or chew tobacco.

Please bring a form of payment in case registration needs to collect fees. Please do not bring valuables with you. Do not wear jewelry. Please remove body piercings. All prosthesis such as hearing aids, contact lens, disposable lens, glasses, dentures, bridges, etc. will be removed after arriving in preanesthesia. Please bring a container for the above items or leave them in the care of a family member.

Colonoscopy Procedures:

• Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home after your surgery.
• Visitors should be limited to two per patient. 
• Children are not allowed in patient area.
• Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing. Wear low-heeled shoes.
• If taking blood thinners, please consult physician when to stop.
• Notify your doctor if you experience a change in your physical condition prior to your procedure, such as a cough, cold, or fever. Illness may necessitate canceling or postponing the procedure.

ON ARRIVAL

Your safety is our number one priority. We have implemented protocols to ensure your safety. This will mean that we will ask you your name and birthday many times. The use of these two identifiers is a policy we use to confirm your identity. You will be asked the same questions many times. This may get tiresome and seem inefficient, but it is a planned repetition and is a measure to ensure your safety.

When the endoscopy room is available the nurse will call you to the preanesthesia area. You will get an identification bracelet and an allergy bracelet. You will be asked to remove all clothing and dress in a hospital gown. An I.V. will be started for fluids and for medications needed during surgery and recovery.
Your physician will come and verify your identity, and the type of procedure you are having. Someone from the anesthesia department may also interview you also.

When you go into the procedure room, family members should wait in the waiting room. After your procedure, your family will be directed to a private consultation room where your physician will come to update them on your condition. 

AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE

Following your procedure you will be taken to the recovery room until you are ready for discharge. Most patients spend about an hour in recovery. You will wake up in the recovery room with a cool green mist oxygen mask and will be asked to take a deep breath. This will help you wake up.

Your recovery room nurse will be at your bedside at all times monitoring your vital signs until you awake from anesthesia. Pain medication will be given in recovery if needed.

WHEN YOU GO HOME

When you are ready to be discharged, you must have a responsible adult with you to drive you home. A taxi is not permitted. You should have an adult stay with you for the first 24 hours.

Because you will have received medications and/or anesthetic drugs it is important that for the first 24 hours after discharge that you refrain from operating machinery, drinking alcoholic beverages (this includes beer), or take any medication not prescribed by your physician.

You may resume a normal diet when discharged unless your physician instructs you otherwise. Your first meal should not be too heavy or spicy.

You should rest the first day and can most likely return to normal activity the next day.
If you have any problems or questions after discharge, contact your physician.

Making Healthcare Decisions
We recognize that being hospitalized can be a very stressful experience. We are here to help you with that experience. We have many resources available that can help you through this time. Click here for our resource packet.