Colonoscopy Prep
You have been scheduled for a colonoscopy to be performed on at St. Thomas River Park Surgery Center located at 145 Health Way, McMinnville, Tn 37110, (931) 507-6872.
A nurse from the surgery center will call you approximately 1 week prior to your procedure with your arrival time.
PREPARING FOR THE COLONOSCOPYPreparation for the colonoscopy is important. In order to visualize the inner surfaces of the colon, the large bowel must be very clear. If stool is present in the colon, the test will be discontinued and rescheduled for a later date.
You will need a driver 18 years or older to take you home. You will NOT be allowed to drive or work the day of your procedure.
Plan to be at the Surgery Center approximately 2½ to 3 hours.
You will need to purchase the following for your prep: (All items are over the counter and do not require a prescription).
- 4 Dulcolax tablets
- 1 bottle of MiraLAX powder (238g/8 oz bottle)
- 64 ounces of Water, Gatorade, or Crystal Light (clear, orange, or yellow - NOTHING RED OR PURPLE)
TWO DAYS BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE:
Stay on a soft food diet. Examples are:
- Soup, Ramen noodles, Jell-o, pudding, ice cream or yogurt (creamy only), potatoes, applesauce, oatmeal and cream of wheat.
NO MEAT OR BREAD PRODUCTS and NOTHING RED OR PURPLE
THE DAY BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE:
Drink only clear liquids the entire day before your test. Examples of clear liquids are:
- Tea without fresh lemon, apple juice, coffee without cream, Gatorade or Kool-Aid (clear, orange, yellow)
- All soft drinks: Coke, Sprite, Pepsi, Ginger-ale, Dr. Pepper, Sun-drop, 7-up
- Jell-o (clear, orange, yellow) or Kool-Aid type popsicles (clear, orange, yellow)
- Bouillon, chicken or beef (cube type only and no more than 3 the entire day)
DO NOT HAVE ANY DAIRY PRODUCTS, SOLID FOODS, OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
At 10:00 A.M. - Take all 4 Dulcolax tablets with 8 ounces of water.At 3:00 P.M. - Mix the entire bottle of MiraLAX powder with 64 oz. of refrigerated Gatorade, Crystal Light or water. Shake or stir until clear. Drink 8 oz. every 10 minutes until you have consumed the entire 64 oz. If you get nauseated, slow down and take a break for 30 minutes, then resume your prep.At 8:00 P.M. - If you are still having solid stools you will need to purchase another 4 oz. bottle of MiraLAX powder and mix with 32oz. of Gatorade, Crystal Light or water and drink the entire contents of the mixture.
If you have had a heart stent placed in the last year, please contact your Primary Care Physician or Cardiologist to get clearance on discontinuing your blood thinning medication prior to your procedure. Please contact our office after speaking with your PCP or cardiologist.
If you have not had a heart stent placed in the last year, but take a blood thinning medication please read this carefully.If you take Eliquis, Xarelto, or Pradaxa do not take these medications 48 hours prior to your test.If you take Coumadin, Effient, Plavix, or Brilinta do not take these medications for 5 days before your test.
If you are taking the following medications: Do not take these medications 7 days before your procedure. Bydureon, Byetta, Mounjaro, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Trulicity, Victoza, Wegovy, Soliqua, Xultophy or Phentermine. If you are taking one of the medications for diabetes, please contact the prescribing physician for clearance.
If you take any other blood thinning medications or aspirin products, do not take these medications 5 days before your procedure. These include Goody powders, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Excedrin, and Fish Oil or any other arthritis medication.