Riverview Endoscopy

COLONOSCOPY

(Lavage prep)

For any enquiries or to change your booking phone 08-340-6307.

1. Beginning 5 days before the test - stop iron tablets and aspirin.
2. Beginning two days before the test eat a low residue/low fibre diet. Avoid fruit and vegetables, milk or milk products, butter, margarine and oils, high fibre breads, cakes, biscuits and high fibre cereals.
3. The day immediately prior to the test, clear fluids only are to be taken. - Examples of clear liquids are: clear soup, diluted fruit juice, cordials, clear jellies, low calorie soft drinks, (not red, purple or green), soda or tonic water, black tea, black coffee, Bonox, Rehydration solutions, and water. DO NOT HAVE: milk or milk products, pulp, pips or seeds, stock cubes, or green, red or purple food colouring. NO milk products, NO solid food.
4. Collect bowel preparation kit from your chemist (no prescription is required). Suitable brands include Colonlytely, Glycoprep-C, and Golytley. Follow the instructions in the pack. It is best to have another adult with you the night before the test.

For Morning Appointments

At 6 pm on the day before begin drinking the bowel preparation fluid.

1 Litre at 6 pm, 1 Litre at 7 pm, and 1 Litre at 8 pm

Diarrhoea will occur and the bowel discharge should become clear yellow fluid. If it is not clear have a further 1 litre at 10 pm. On the morning of the colonoscopy you may have clear fluids up until 3 hours before your appointment.

For Afternoon Appointments

Overnight you may have clear fluids. Have nothing to eat on the morning of the test. At 6 am begin drinking the bowel preparation fluid.

1 Litre at 6 am, 1 Litre at 7 am, and 1 Litre at 8 am

Diarrhoea will occur and the bowel discharge should become clear yellow fluid. If it is not clear have a further 1 litre at 9 am. You should continue to drink clear fluids and may do so up until 3 hours before your appointment.

5. It is important to clean the bowel, but stop taking the preparation drink if you develop troublesome abdominal/tummy/stomach pain or feel very unwell. Some nausea is common. It is best to have another adult with you the night before the test. Contact the Hospital for assistance and advice.
6. Report to the hospital at the time advised. Bring this form, your referral form and your pre-admission form if you have not already delivered these, and your Medical Insurance Details.
7. It is unsafe to drive yourself home. You must not drive or operate machinery or make major decisions for 12 hours after the test. The sedative painkiller you are given before the procedure is very effective in reducing any discomfort. However, it may also affect your memory for some time afterwards. Even when the sedative appears to have worn off, you may find you are unable to recall details of your discussion with your doctor. For this reason a relative or friend should come with you if possible.
8. You may have some wind pain after the pain killers wear off. If you have any severe abdominal pain, bleeding from the back passage, fever, or other symptoms that cause you concern, you should contact the Hospital.
9. In most instances health funds accept Riverview Endoscopy accounts for direct no-gap billing. If not, you will be given an invoice for the doctor's services. Payment will be your responsibility, but the majority of the cost will be reimbursed by Medicare and your private health fund. If paying on the day a receipt will be issued for you to claim from your health fund and Medicare. A separate account is issued by Bethesda Hospital for the Bed Fee. With some funds there is a $50 gap (similar at all hospitals) which must be paid on the day to Bethesda Hospital. If biopsies are taken you will also receive an account from the Pathologist.

Presented by Dr Lindsay C MollisonRiverview Endoscopy Home Page

Disclaimer

Created 28 July 1997

Updated 30 January 2007

Comments Welcomed.