Procedure
FAQ's

MiraLAX is a gentle bowel prep so please be prepared to wait 2-6 hours to see results. Please also be aware to drink the bowel prep in increments over a 1–2-hour period.

Timing is very important when it comes to your bowel prep. The timing of the split prep has been proven to be the most effective in a clean bowel and an effective colonoscopy.

If your stool has a slight tint of yellow or light brown, it is considered a clear stool. If your stool is not clear by 2 hours prior to your procedure, please call our office.

It can take up to 5-6 hours to experience your first bowel movements. Continue to drink clear liquids in the meantime. If you have not had a bowel movement by midnight the night before your procedure, please call our office as further instructions or prep may be needed to guarantee an effective colonoscopy.

Take a full two hours to drink the prep in smaller doses every 5-10 minutes while lying down in between doses. If your nausea worsens, please call out office.

Nausea during the prep can happen and is often because your stomach is not getting the prep out as quickly as you are drinking it. If you get nauseous while drinking the prep, take a break for 30 minutes (or up to an hour) until the nausea improves and you feel the prep is moving through you again. Then begin drinking again, but at a slower pace. Please finish drinking the second half of the prep at least three hours before your arrival to ensure your stomach has time to fully empty.

If you throw up or vomit the prep, it usually will still work reasonably well as it is a mix of stomach fluid with the prep, and more of the prep then you may realize makes it through the intestines. Follow the recommendations for nausea above. If it feels like you truly threw up all of the prep and you are having no output please follow the instructions for what to do if nothing happens.

If you’re still unsure, please call our office.

Once you start the liquid diet it is normal to experience minor headaches. Continue to stay hydrated with clear liquids. If your headache worsens greatly, please call our office.

Please call our office.

Please call our office.

Weight does not change the amount of liquids and bowel prep that need to be consumed to have a successful procedure.

Yes! We want you to consume a total of 64 ounces of clear liquids in addition to your laxative prep. A reminder to not have anything by mouth 2 hours prior to your procedure, including: gum, mints, water, etc.

Please do not drink any alcohol while doing your prep, this dehydrates you and is not recommended before sedation.

Seeds and nuts can cause difficulty with a screening and may require a rescreening, if you have eaten several servings, please call our office to consult if a reschedule is needed.

If you ate breakfast the day before your procedure, probably not. Please be prepared to drink extra clear liquids and proceed with the prep as instructed. If you ate breakfast the day of your procedure, please call our office to reschedule.

No, in fact menstrual bleeding does not interfere with your exam or your bowel prep.

Yes! Until two hours prior to the procedure, you should take all medication as prescribed, except diabetic medication (as per prep instructions) and blood thinners as instructed by your doctor.

We use two different types of anesthesia. The type we use will be determined based on your medical screening for safety. We use conscious sedation and non-conscious sedation.

Conscious sedation is a “twilight” sleep where people are carefully monitored and can be aroused from sleep during the procedure, but generally lose moments of time and have a hard time remembering details. This is the most common form of sedation.

During non-conscious sedation, we use stronger medicines, and this will depend on an individual’s history or medication use. We typically use propofol.

During conscious sedation, our Registered Nurses (RNs) monitor patients. RNs are supervised by our doctors.

During non-conscious sedation, patients are monitored by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also supervised by our doctors.

Please be prepared to be in our offices for up to 2 hours. This is an estimate based on from when you enter our clinic to when you leave. Your procedure itself only takes about 20-40 minutes.

In most cases it will not, but sometimes with diarrhea the skin and hemorrhoidal tissue can become inflamed. If this is the case you can try moist wipes instead of toilet paper, petroleum jelly, or over the counter medication such as Preparation H.

There is no specific test that is standard with an EGD. Our doctors will visually inspect the area from your esophagus to your stomach, and down to your duodenum. If necessary, the doctor will take a sample and send it to a pathologist who determines if further testing is required.

There is no specific test that is standard with a colonoscopy. Our doctors will visually inspect for damaged tissue and polyps, depending on the reason for the procedure. During a colonoscopy screening, if a polyp is found our doctors will take a sample and send it to a pathologist for further testing.

GI Genius is a new artificial intelligence technology used to detect colorectal polyps. This technology has a 99.7% accuracy rate!

Cologuard only has a 42% advanced adenoma (polyp) detection rate while FIT only has a 30% detection rate. Cologuard can miss 1 in 13 colon cancers and FIT misses 1 in 5 colon cancers! A colonoscopy has a >95% detection rate. Colonoscopy is the only test that can treat polyps and prevents colon cancer. That is why it is considered the Gold Standard of care.