Please contact your primary care physician or insurance company if prior referral is needed.

The procedure will take about 45 minutes, but expect the visit to the Endoscopy Unit to last about four (4) hours to allow for preparation and recovery.

Since you will be sedated arrange for a responsible person to accompany you to your appointment.

 

How to get your bowel clean

 

ONE WEEK (SEVEN DAYS) BEFORE YOUR TEST:

Arrange for a responsible person to accompany you to your appointment.

Do not take aspirin for one (1) week prior to your appointment. A few of these products include:

1. Aspirin
2. Anacin
3. Bufferin
4. Ecotrin
5. ThromboAss

 

Do not take Plavix or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for two (2) days prior to your appointment as all of these drugs may increase bleeding. A few of these products are:

• Advil
• Aleve
• Anaprox
• Motrin
• Naprosyn
• Nuprin

Do not take iron or herbal supplements for one week prior to your procedure.

You may continue Celebrex. If you are unsure about the medications you are taking, ask your nurse or doctor.

 

Be sure to tell the doctor that ordered your test if you are on Coumadin or other blood thinners. You will need special instructions.

 

The day before your test:

 

1. You may eat your normal breakfast. Do not eat solid food after noon.

2. Drink only clear liquids for lunch and dinner. These include:

1. water
2. apple juice
3. white grape juice
4. black coffee
5. tea
6. lemon or lime Jell-O
7. chicken or beef broth
8. lemon or lime diet juices
9. diet soda pops, including colas, 7-Up, Sprite

You should have at least one (1) to two (2) quarts of fluid at midday, another one (1) to two (2) quarts of fluid in the evening and again one (1) hour before bedtime. You should drink as much fluid as possible, with a goal of one (1) to two (2) gallons on the day you drink the laxative. Do not drink red, orange or purple liquids, including Jell-O.

 

Bowel Preparation with Klean-Prep

Always take Klean-Prep exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The usual dose is up to 4 sachets. Start taking Klean-Prep the day before your hospital procedure.You should plan to take the laxative in four (4) separate doses approximately four (4) hours apart. We suggest you begin the first laxative dose at 2 p.m. to allow the effects of the prep to be completed by bedtime.

If you have a morning appointment at the hospital, take Klean-Prep during the afternoon and evening of the day before you appointment. This will take about 4 to 6 hours altogether.

If you have an afternoon appointment, take 2 sachets on the evening before your appointment, and the rest the next morning. This takes about 2-3 hours each time.

To take Klean-prep:

1. Empty the contents of one sachet of Klean-Prep into 1 litre (one and three quarter pints) of water.

2. Stir until the solution is clear.

3. Drink 1 glassful (a quarter litre or half pint) of Klean-Prep about every fifteen minutes until you have drunk it all.

4. Make up and take the next sachets in the same way. You should be starting to have watery bowel movements so stay near a toilet. If after three sachets you are passing only clear liquid, there is no need to take the final sachet.

You should start opening your bowels 1 to 2 hours after starting to take Klean-Prep. If you have not had a bowel movement after taking 2 sachets, wait until you go to the toilet before you continue with Klean-Prep. If you have slept the night and still not have had any bowel movements, contact the hospital for advice.

If you take more Klean-Prep than you should, drink lots of liquids especially fruit juices.

If you forget to take Klean-Prep, take the next dose as soon as you remember.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Klean-Prep can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Feeling sick, a feeling of fullness in your stomach and bloating may all be experienced. Less frequently, you may experience abdominal cramps, vomiting or soreness of the anus (bottom). These effects usually pass off quickly.

Rarely, people can be allergic to Klean-Prep, and may get an itchy skin rash (nettle rash or hives). If a feeling of swelling of the stomach, or pain arises, you should drink Klean-Prep slower or stop until the pain or feeling goes away. If any of the side effects become serious, or you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

3. In order for the doctor to see the lining of your colon, it must be free from stool. You will have to drink Kleen-Prep Laxative solution to clean out your bowel. Be sure to use Kleen-Prep Laxative, NOT an enema product.

 

Kleen-Prep is available with a prescription at your pharmacy. If you cannot tolerate this prep, an alternative is available by prescription. This alternative is called P.E.G. solution (trade names Nulytely, Golytely, Colyte) and is a very large volume. You will need to ask the doctor that ordered the test for a prescription for the P.E.G. prep.

 

Plan on being near a bathroom for the rest of the evening. Your bowels may begin to move in about 30-60 minutes. Feelings of nausea and bloating are common and resolve with time.

 

Ointment (ie Bepanthen) applied to the rectal area can help with any irritation, however do not use the ointment prior to endoscopy. The aim of bowel preperation is for your stool to be clear or light yellow water. Drinking at least a 2 litres of clear liquids during the evening will improve the quality of bowel cleansing.

 

The day of the test--important information

1. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call the Endoscopy Unit at 01-3288777, as soon as possible.

2. You may drink liquids, such as water or black coffee, up to two (2) hours prior to your colonoscopy. If you are also scheduled for an upper endoscopy, you should have nothing to drink for three (3) hours prior to your appointment time.

3. You should take your usual morning medications other than those noted earlier. This is especially important for anti-hypertensive and heart medications. You may take pain medication with a few sips of water up to four (4) hours before the test.

 

More information

 

 

| 25.01.2011 | read more | print |