- Beginning 5
days before the test - stop iron tablets and aspirin.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.