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Miralax-Gatorade Prep For A Colonoscopy (Keep Prep Sheet In Bathroom For Your Reading Pleasure,
AND look this over a week before scheduled visit!)I will look inside your entire five feet of colon
. The procedure takes fifteen to twenty minutes. You will be comfortably sleeping, under the influence of IV Propofol and Versed, administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. (Insurance
usually covers the anesthesiologist, and he will be very reasonable if for some reason there is a problem. Please call any morning in the office, if questions, ext. 244, and ask for Dr. Graziano Carlon.) You will not feel a thing! It is a very relaxing sleep, from which you will awaken very quickly. (Bush had this anesthesia, and Cheney was president for 5 minutes). You will be able to leave
within thirty minutes after the procedure, and you will be able to eat, and go to work within an hour! You do not need anyone to pick you up, and you will be allowed to drive four hours after the
procedure. Make a good effort to be well cleaned!! The prep is the hard part. I can't see through a clouded lens! This
'tasty', 'pleasant', nearly enjoyable prep requires you to purchase 3 ingredients:
1. Four DULCOLAX LAXATIVE tablets from the pharmacy-- MUST BE THE LAXATIVE PILLS! (over-the-counter). 2. MIRALAX POWDER 238gm bottle (over-the-counter).
3. 64 oz. of Gatorade or Powerade. Diabetics may use diet soda, any flavor.
Preparation In detail:
Please take all your normal medication. Do not take aspirin for three days before the procedure, as it might increase the risk of bleeding if a polyp is removed. If you take an anticoagulant, or if you have
inadvertently taken a few aspirin, call. In most cases, an aspirin will not make a difference unless a large polyp is removed. Tylenol, Aleve and Advil are okay. If you have an artificial valve or
a very serious significant heart murmur, please call. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please call. You may have a
LIGHT LUNCH the day before the procedure. After lunch, drink only fluids
- anything you can read through. (Water, seltzer, black coffee, tea, vodka, Gatorade are okay.)
IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED THAT ALL FLUID INTAKE, INCLUDING WATER, SHOULD END SIX (6!) HOURS BEFORE THE PROCEDURE. In order to
prevent hunger, some patients drink liquid Sustacal or Ensure, nutritional supplements available over-the-counter in pharmacies. You can drink up to 4 cans up until midnight. (Sustacal and Ensure are not
clear, but are completely absorbed in the small bowel, and are okay.) –OVER— Directions DIRECTIONS FOR DULCOLAX/MIRALAX/GATORADE PREP:Mix the entire 238 gram bottle of Miralax with 2 quarts of Gatorade in a large pitcher. Stir, chill, add ice, and let it
breathe for at least a few minutes in order to fully appreciate the flavor. At approximately 4-7PM the evening before the procedure, take all four Dulcolax tablets. It will probably take about 2-3 hours before
the action begins. If you are a frequent laxative user, please start with double your USUAL effective Dulcolax dose (or call the office if questions). Two hours after the Dulcolax, start drinking your chilled
Miralax cocktail. (We are entertaining creative names for this cocktail, so please feel free to jot down your thoughts during your private moments.) You should pace yourself to drink about eight 8 ounce
glasses (64oz.) over a 2-4 hour period, roughly one glass every 15-30 minutes, until finished. Expect to use the facilities at least 10-15 times. The stool should be clear, lemonade-like, not sludgy or
brown. Expect some cramps. If you have questions about success, call at 8 am, when the phones get turned on. We can improvise in the morning if necessary. You can expect to leave approximately 45 minutes
after we start the procedure. Most people do not need anyone to pick them up, as the anesthesia wears off very quickly. Most patients will want to eat breakfast and are capable of being
at work within an hour of leaving the office. No driving a car or operating heavy machinery (airplanes, backhoes, chainsaws, etc.) for 4 hours after anesthesia. It is a good idea to bring an extra pair of underwear. Menstrual periods, viral syndromes, or urinary infections do not interfere with the
colonoscopy! Call if questions!!! Bring any Insurance or Referral Forms. |
