Procedure Preparation
Preparing for Your Procedure
Whether you are about to receive an endoscopy, a colonoscopy, or another GI procedure, Hamilton Endoscopy & Surgery Center follows the most stringent safety protocols to ensure that your gastrointestinal procedure experience is as seamless as possible.
Colonoscopy Preparation
The Day Before Your Colonoscopy:
If you have scheduled a colonoscopy through Hamilton Endoscopy & Surgery Center, your physician will give you instructions on how to prepare for your colonoscopy in advance. Remember that a colonoscopy is a surgery, so you must follow their instructions as closely as possible for your own safety and comfort. Not complying with your physician’s instructions will result in the cancellation of your colonoscopy. If you have any problems with your colonoscopy prep, call your physician, even if it is after office hours.
If you are diabetic and are having a colonoscopy, please contact your physician for instructions on how to dose your oral medication and/or insulin before your scheduled colonoscopy.
The Day of Your Colonoscopy:
On the morning of your colonoscopy, you may brush your teeth, remembering not to swallow.
Your physician will provide you with the latest colonoscopy diet protocols. Always follow your physician’s specific instructions for your colonoscopy prep.
After your colonoscopy, plan on remaining at home for the rest of the day, with no strenuous activities. The day after your colonoscopy, you can resume all of your usual activities.
You must have an adult family member or friend available to drive you home after your colonoscopy, as you may likely be a bit too drowsy to drive. Failure to have someone available to drive you home may result in the cancellation of your procedure.
You can expect to be at Hamilton Endoscopy & Surgery Center for approximately 2 to 3 hours, barring any unforeseen delays. The adult driving you to and from your colonoscopy is recommended to wait for you at our center, if possible.
Endoscopy Preparation
One to Two Days Before Your Endoscopy:
A financial counselor from Hamilton Endoscopy & Surgery Center will contact you prior to your scheduled procedure to make payment arrangements in the event your insurance coverage does not completely satisfy the center’s bill for services.
If any change occurs in your physical condition or if you develop a cough, sore throat, or fever, please contact your physician immediately.
Part of your endoscopy prep may require you to stop taking certain supplements or medications. If you are currently taking anticoagulants, aspirin, or products containing aspirin, vitamins, supplements, or herbal therapies, please contact your physician for further instructions. He/she may want you to stop taking them prior to or after surgery.
If needed, preoperative blood tests or medical clearance examinations will be arranged by your physician.
The Night Before Your Endoscopy:
Please carefully follow the endoscopy prep instructions provided by your physician which will serve to ensure your comfort as well as to reduce the possibility of complications during and after your endoscopy.
- As part of your endoscopy prep, do not drink or eat anything after midnight (this includes gum and mints).
- You may brush your teeth, remembering not to swallow anything. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the cancellation of your surgery.
- Patients scheduled for an endoscopy later in the day, diabetics, infants, or patients with special dietary restrictions may be given special instructions to prepare them for their procedures.
- Do not take any medications after midnight unless instructed by your physician or a member of our staff. If you are diabetic, hypertensive, or a cardiac patient, please obtain specific instructions from your physician or contact us at our ambulatory surgery center. Please bring a complete list of all medications you are taking.
- Do not smoke or drink any alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before your endoscopy.
- If you suspect you are pregnant, you must notify your physician and Hamilton Endoscopy & Surgery Center.
- Remove all makeup prior to your endoscopy, including eye makeup and lipstick.
- Do not wear jewelry, hairpins, or hair clips to your endoscopy procedure.
You will be tired and perhaps hazy for a while after your endoscopy. Therefore, you must arrange in advance for a responsible adult friend or relative to drive you home after your procedure. Failure to have arranged for someone to drive you home may result in cancellation or postponement of your endoscopy. We also recommend that someone remain with you for the first 24 hours following your procedure. We advise if at all possible that a relative or a responsible adult remain in the waiting area during your endoscopy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upon arrival at Hamilton Endoscopy & Surgery Center, you will be required to fill out and sign registration forms. At this time, you will present your insurance card(s) and be given a band to wear on your wrist that identifies who you are and who your physician is.
Once you are registered, you will be escorted to the pre-surgical area where you will change into a hospital gown. At this time you will meet the various staff members who will be caring for you, including our anesthesiologist before, during, and after your endoscopy, colonoscopy, or other procedure. At this time, your vital signs will be checked and monitored, any other preparations will be made and an intravenous line will be established through which fluids and medications can be administered.
Once this is complete, the anesthesiologist will meet with you briefly to discuss your health history, the type of procedure you are having, and the type of anesthesia you will be receiving. It is at this time you can ask any questions. You are then taken to the procedure room where the anesthesia is administered and the procedure is performed.
Following your procedure, you will be taken to our recovery area. The first phase of recovery is to allow the patient to awaken from anesthesia in a calm and relaxed atmosphere, therefore this area is limited to staff only. This time also allows the physicians and nurses to properly monitor you as you recover from anesthesia and provide any necessary medications. Once you are awake, your physician will speak with you about how the procedure went, the expected outcome as well as the expected recovery period. Your physician will also provide any instructions on what to do over the next few days. We will ask anyone waiting for you to come in to see you once you are fully awake.
Our anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits associated with the different anesthetic options, as well as any complications or side effects that can occur with each type of anesthetic used for your procedure. The risk of nausea after receiving the anesthetic is extremely low for your procedure because the anesthetic medication that you get has anti-nausea properties. You may have some discomfort after a colonoscopy because of some residual air in your body, which will pass eventually.
