In order for the examination to be successful, your colon must be completely cleared of stool. For this reason, you must take a laxative preparation the day before the procedure. Please follow these instructions carefully. If your colon is not completely clear, it may interfere with the ability to diagnose your problem and could even require that the test be repeated. Please notify our office if you have a history of congestive heart failure or kidney failure.

Please call our office if you have any questions about the preparation or if you have any problems during the laxative preparation. This preparation will cause you to have diarrhea. 

On the day before the procedure, you will be on clear liquids only, no solid foods or milk products.

Clear liquids are coffee, tea, soda, water, apple/ white grape juice, broth, Jello, Gatorade, and popsicles. NO RED LIQUIDS. Keep on these clear liquids all day until you go to bed.

At 4 PM drink 1.5 ounces of Fleet Phospho soda mixed with 4 ounces of water or ginger ale. Follow this with 8 ounces of a clear liquid.

At 8 PM drink 1.5 ounces of Fleet Phospho soda mixed with 4 ounces of water or ginger ale, and take 4 Dulcolax tablets with 8 ounces of clear liquid.

If you are diabetic, take blood thinners or aspirin, heart, or blood pressure medications, please refer to special instructions which will be given to you. Please refrain from smoking the day of the procedure. If you are asthmatic, please bring your inhalers. If you are diabetic, please bring your insulin or other medications. Bring a complete list of all your medications, including dosages, insurance cards, and your glasses.

We ask you to arrive 1 hour before your scheduled time to allow time to register, take a nursing history, and start an intravenous drip. Our Endoscopy Centers do not open until 6:30 AM, so if you arrive before that time there will be no staff available to assist you. 

Clear liquids (listed above

Fleet’s Phospho soda : either two 1.5 ounce bottles, or one 3 ounce bottle

4 Dulcolax Tablets