Colon Cancer Screening

I’M DIZZY OR HAVE A HEADACHE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Dizziness and headache could be signs of low blood sugar or lack of caffeine. Drinking a regular caffeinated beverage (not diet) or apple juice may alleviate these symptoms.

WHAT IF I START TO FEEL NAUSEATED OR START VOMITING?

Wait 15-30 minutes before continuing prep then start back slowly. You may also take a Benadryl to help control the nausea. If vomiting continues, call the main number 864-232-7338 and report this to your doctor. If it’s after normal business hours, the answering service will take your message and contact the physician on call. It is important to get the best results possible with the prep.

WHAT IS THE BEST “CLEAR” LIQUID TO TAKE?

Gatorade, which comes in many flavors, is an excellent choice as it contains electrolytes such as potassium. Avoid RED/BLUE liquids. We also recommend beef and chicken bouillon (made from cubes not broth).

WHY AVOID RED/BLUE LIQUIDS?

The color can persist in the colon and make an accurate diagnosis more difficult.

IS THERE ANY WAY THAT I CAN MAKE THE PREP TASTE BETTER?

You can try sucking on hard candy (except red or blue), but no candy four hours prior to your procedure. You can rinse your mouth with water or a mouthwash. Do not eat or drink anything other than approved liquids while you are drinking the solution.

I ALREADY HAVE DIARRHEA BEFORE TAKING THE PREP, DO I STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE LAXATIVE?

Yes, you must take the prep as directed by your doctor. Your colon is approximately 6 feet long. Some polyps are very small making them more difficult to see. The entire colon must be emptied for your physician to see the colon clearly.

I AM TAKING THE PREP AND ALREADY HAVE LOOSE, WATERY STOOL; DO I STILL NEED THE REST OF THE PREP?

Yes, you may have solid stool higher in the colon or small intestine that needs to be eliminated.

I SEE YELLOW COLOR IN THE TOILET BOWL AND A FEW FLECKS, WHAT DO I DO?

If you have finished your prep and your last bowel movements were clear enough that you were able to see the bottom of the toilet you should be fine. It is ok if you have some flecks of material. The yellow color is a result of the bile that normally colors the feces. This shouldn’t interfere with the examination.

MY BOTTOM IS SO SORE. WHAT CAN I DO?

To clean the area, avoid rubbing. Gently pat with a wet washcloth or baby wipes. Apply Vaseline, A&D Ointment, or Desitin liberally.

CAN I DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES?

Do not drink any alcohol the day of your procedure. This could negatively affect your sedation. Your procedure could be cancelled because of this. We strongly suggest you do not drink any alcoholic beverages the day of your prep since they can cause dehydration and some wines may thin your blood.

CAN I CHEW GUM OR SUCK CANDY?

Yes, but nothing with soft centers or red color. No candy or gum is allowed 4 hours prior to your procedure.

CAN I HAVE THE COLONOSCOPY DONE IF I AM HAVING MY MENSTRUAL PERIOD?

Yes, the procedure can still be performed. We ask that you use a tampon if possible (not absolutely necessary).

DO I NEED A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE LAXATIVES?

It depends on the preparation instructions you were given. Suprep is a prescription medication; Miralax does not require a prescription.

WHY DID MY DOCTOR WANT ME TO DO A SPILT PREP (TWO DOSES TAKEN X HOURS APART)?

We have found that by splitting the prep, our patients have a better colonoscopy–a clearer colon results in an optimal examination so that the test does not have to be repeated due to an incomplete prep. If there is residual stool or murky liquid still in the colon, it will interfere with a thorough exam of the colon.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Loose, comfortable clothing is recommended. You can wear make up but we advise patients not to wear jewelry.

CAN I DRIVE MYSELF HOME AFTER THE PROCEDURE?

No, since sedatives are used, another driver is needed. This driver MUST stay during the procedure or the procedure will not be performed. This is for your personal safety. You may bring more than one person with you, but only one person can be with you in recovery due to space limitations.

WHAT IF I AM STILL PASSING STOOL THE MORNING OF MY TEST?

Take a tap water enema until you run clear. If this does not work, call the office.

ONE OF THE MEDICATIONS I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE MORNING OF MY PROCEDURE IS RED. CAN I TAKE IT?

Medication for blood pressure, heart conditions, and seizure should be taken the morning of your exam regardless of the color. Light blue and light pink medications are also fine for you to take. If you have a headache, you may take Tylenol even though it may be red.

CAN I BRUSH MY TEETH?

Yes, please.

CAN I WEAR MY DENTURES?

Yes, you may wear your dentures to the Endoscopy suite. However, you may be asked to remove them prior to the procedure.

WHY DO I HAVE TO BE THERE AN HOUR BEFORE MY SCHEDULED PROCEDURE TIME? WHAT IF I AM RUNNING LATE?

We ask patients to arrive early so that we can do a pre-procedure assessment and start the IV. Please call 864.232.7338 if you are running more than 15 minutes late, so that we can work together to adjust the schedule so that we can accommodate this delay.

I AM STILL DIZZY AND LIGHTHEADED AFTER MY PROCEDURE, WHY?

You may have residual anesthesia in your system, additional rest is recommended. This will improve over the next few hours.

MY BOTTOM IS SO SORE. WHAT CAN I DO?

To clean the area, avoid rubbing. Gently pat with a wet washcloth. Apply Vaseline, Preparation H, or Desitin liberally.

MAY I GO BACK TO WORK AFTER MY PROCEDURE?

No, please take it easy the rest of the day. Due to the sedatives, you may not think clearly for several hours. DO NOT DRIVE. You can return to work the day after your procedure, unless your physician specifically tells you otherwise.

HOW DO I GET MY RESULTS?

We have implemented our Patient Portal to enable you to receive your lab, pathology and radiology test results at your convenience. You may also ask your questions through the portal. 

First – Get enrolled in the Portal at GastroAssociates.com

Once Enrolled in the Portal, you will log into your account at nextmd.com

For New Results: You will receive an email notice that new results are ready for your review. You will log into your Portal account to get those results. You must be enrolled within 3 days after your procedure for your results to be posted to the portal. 

To Ask Questions, Request an Appointment or Request Copies of Previous Records: You will log into your Portal account and request those services. 

**Please note: Enroll in our Patient Portal soon. Results can’t be sent automatically until you have created your portal account. If we have your email address, you will receive an email with the link to the enrollment site.