PREPARATION FOR YOUR COLONOSCOPY

5 days prior to procedure, STOP Aspirin, Blood Thinners (Coumadin) & Iron pills.

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR EXAM
If you take insulin, please take _ of your insulin dose the day before and none the day of the examination.

1) Beginning from the time you wake up, you will be on a clear liquid diet. To properly prepare your bowels for the exam, you must drink at least eight (8 oz.) glasses of clear liquids over the next twelve hours to prevent dehydration. You may drink more if you wish. This fluid plays an important role in cleaning your large intestine. Remember, that the bowel must be clean for a complete inspection and for the safe removal of any polyps. You may drink any clear liquids such as ginger ale, Sprite, 7-Up, thin clear broth, & clear fruit juices-no pulp (apple juice, cranberry juice, or white -grape juice). Some other acceptable food items include tea, coffee (no milk or cream), non-dairy sherbet, or Jell-O (avoid RED Jell-O). In addition, please do not take any fiber products (Citrucel or Metamucil), Pepto-Bismol, Lactulose or Enulose on this day.

2) Take Fleets Phospho-soda around 2 p.m. in the afternoon.
Pour the fluid into one-half glass of a cool clear liquid. Drink this mixture slowly and follow immediately with one full glass of water. Your evening meal should be limited to light liquids such as broth, clear fruit juices and Jell-O. No solid foods should be eaten.

3) Take all four (4) yellow Fleet Bisacodyl tablets at 5 p.m.
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not chew or dissolve the tablets. Take all four tablets unless the Doctor indicates otherwise.

4) Do not eat or drink after midnight, except for taking your usual medications

ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION
1) Do Not Eat Breakfast.

2) 1-2 hours before leaving for your exam, Insert the Dulcolax Suppository, wait 15 minutes before evacuating.

Waterbury Hospital       Arrive to the Admitting Office on the Ground Floor
St. Mary's Hospital      . Arrive to the Same Day Care Unit -second Floor Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center (NVSC) - You will receive a call the day before your procedure and will be notified of your arrival time.

You MUST have someone drive you to and from the hospital or the NVSC.
The Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center insists that you have someone with you for 24 hours after your procedure.

DATE:                
PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL AT