What should I inform my gastroenterologist about before scheduling my colonoscopy appointment?
Please inform your gastroenterologist about the following issues before your colonoscopy appointment:
- Are you taking any of the following medications: Sintrom, Plavix, Ticlopidine, Aspirin, or anti-inflammatory medications?
- Do you have any drug allergies?
- Do you have any heart, kidney, or lung problems?
- Do you have a metal prosthetic heart valve or metal joint?
- Are you immunocompromised?
- Have you ever been given antibiotics before a dental or surgical procedure?
- Are you pregnant?
What should I do five (5) days before?
Five days before the colonoscopy, do not take:
- Fiber-containing supplements
- Iron-containing supplements
- Aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
What should I do three (3) days before?
Three days before the colonoscopy, follow a low-residue diet (avoid legumes, greens, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy). Foods allowed three days before the colonoscopy include coffee or tea without milk, clear juices without fiber, white bread made from refined flour without sesame or seeds, honey, eggs, low-fat meat, fish, potato, rice, pasta, and jelly without fruit.
What should I do one (1) day before?
One day before the colonoscopy, only a liquid diet is allowed (coffee, tea, water, apple or grape juice, broth, chamomile, soft drinks like soda). You will also receive preparation with laxatives.
Preparation with Eziclen: Instructions
Eziclen is a sulfate-based saline concentrate. The package contains 2 bottles of concentrated solution, each 176 mL.
Not all patients can receive this colonoscopy preparation. The gastroenterologist is solely responsible for recommending you this preparation after obtaining your complete medical history. Specifically, you cannot take Eziclen if you have any of the following conditions:
- Known hypersensitivity or allergy to magnesium, sodium, and potassium sulfates
- Bowel obstruction
- Bowel perforation
- Gastroparesis
- Paralytic ileus
- Toxic colitis or toxic megacolon
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Severe (congestive) heart failure
- Ascites
- Severe renal failure
- Active inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Not recommended to patients under 18 years of age
At 14:00 in the afternoon, dissolve the content of the first vial of Eziclen in half a liter (500 mL) of water and drink it. Note: It is required to drink at least 1 liter of plain water after the 500 mL of solution.
At 20:00 in the evening, dissolve the content of the second vial of Eziclen in half a liter (500 mL) of water and drink it. Note: It is required to drink at least 1 liter of plain water after the 500 mL of solution.
In total, preparation with Eziclen requires 1 liter of solution PLUS 2 liters of plain water. It goes without saying that if you can, feel free to drink as many clear liquids as you want. All solid foods are expressly prohibited. At the end of the preparation, the stool should be clean and clear (not yellow). If you find that at the end of the preparation your bowel movements are still not clear, contact your gastroenterologist for instructions.
What should I do on the day of the colonoscopy?
On the day of the colonoscopy, do not take anything by mouth (fast for 8 hours, and do not drink any water for the previous 4 hours). Medications can be taken with a small sip of water.
What should I bring with me?
Please remember to bring your AMKA (if you are a Greek resident) and an ID. You may be accompanied by a friend or relative, as you will not be allowed to drive for 8 hours after you are released from the hospital.