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Preparing For Your Colonoscopy

Read Carefully To Ensure A Safe & Successful Exam

Your Procedure Location

Our office will instruct you on which facility your procedure will be done at. The facility is selected for you based on your insurance coverage and the complexity of your medical history. 

Before Your Colonoscopy

 

  • Our office staff will review the steps with you and make sure that you know how to get ready and what you can expect during and after the test. If you have any questions, please be sure to let us know.

  • Arrange to have an adult family member, friend, or medical transport to drive you home after the procedure, as you will still be drowsy from the sedation and unsafe to drive. You will not be allowed to use any form of public transportation following your procedure, which includes Taxi, Ride-share service, like Uber or Lyft.

  • One vital step to get ready for your colonoscopy is to fully clean out the colon. You will need to do this step carefully and completely, as this will allow Dr. Chung to detect polyps and other abnormalities during the exam.

    • You will need to be on a clear liquid diet (water, broth, plain gelatin) on the day before the test.​ No solid food. 

    • You will need to take an oral laxative preparation solution to help you move your bowels until your stool comes out clear. We will instruct you on which specific bowel prep kit to use. Please click on the appropriate link near the top of this page for more detailed instructions on completing your bowel prep. 

    • You will be instructed on when to stop taking any medications that need to be held prior to your test. This often includes:

      • Blood thinners (e.g. Coumadin [Warfarin], Xarelto [Rivaroxaban], Eliquis [Apixaban], Plavix [Clopidogrel], Brilinta [Ticagrelor], Effient [Prasugrel])

      • Diabetes or weight loss medications (e.g. Ozempic, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Wegovy, Phentermine)

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Rescheduling/Cancelling

  • If you need to reschedule your colonoscopy for any reason, we kindly ask that you notify our office ASAP and no later than 48 hours prior to your procedure. No shows and cancellations not reported within this time frame are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. This fee is NOT covered by insurance. 

Day of Your Colonoscopy

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  • You must stop drinking ALL fluids (including water) 4 hours before your procedure. Failure to do so will result in your procedure being postponed or canceled.

  • A nurse will review your medical history, medications, and allergies. 

  • You will be asked to sign a consent form which says you understand the test being done and its risks and benefits. 

  • You will change into a hospital gown.

  • An intravenous (IV) line will be started in order to give you IV fluids and medicine to make you asleep during the exam. 

  • Dr. Chung will answer any additional questions you may have prior to starting the procedure. 

During Your Colonoscopy

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  • During the procedure, you will be laying on your left side. You will be given medicine to make you asleep. Everything will be done to make sure that you are comfortable and safe. 

  • Once you are asleep, a colonoscope (a long, thin flexible tube with a tiny camera and light on one end) will be gently inserted into the rectum. The colonoscope will be carefully guided through the large bowel and sometimes the lower part of the small bowel. 

  • Air will be passed through the colonoscope to expand the bowel so that the doctor can see better.

  • If abnormal tissue is found, your doctor will do a biopsy (take a small piece of tissue to look at under the microscope). If a polyp is found, your doctor will remove it using tools in the colonoscope. You will not feel this. 

  • The time it takes to do a colonoscopy varies, based in part on what is found and what is done, but usually takes 15-30 minutes.

  • After the doctor is done looking inside, the colonoscope will be removed and you will wake up in recovery as the medicine wears off. 

After Your Colonoscopy

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  • After your colonoscopy is done, you will be cared for in a recovery room until the medicine wears off and you are more alert. 

  • Dr. Chung will review the colonoscopy results with you and give you any other details or next steps you may need.

  • If a biopsy was taken, results will generally be available within 2 weeks. Dr. Chung will discuss results with you in more detail at your next scheduled follow up visit in clinic.

  • You will be instructed on how soon you can eat and drink and when you should restart medications that were held prior to the procedure.

  • Plan to take it easy for the rest of the day after your colonoscopy. This means not driving, working, or making important decisions. You should plan to resume your normal activities (driving and working) the day after your test.

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Possible minor issues

  • You may feel some minor issues, such as bloating, gas, or mild cramps after the test. These should go away in less than 24 hours.

  • It can be normal to experience a small amount of blood with your first bowel movement after the procedure.

  • You should get emergency medical attention if you pass large blood clots, or have severe abdominal pain, fever, or dizziness. 

Colonoscopy Safety

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  • A colonoscopy is a safe test and complications are very rare (0.1%) but can sometimes happen. This includes:

    • A reaction to the sedative used during the exam.

    • Bleeding from the site where a tissue sample (biopsy) was taken or a polyp or other abnormal tissue was removed.

    • A tear in the colon or rectum wall (perforation), which may require emergency surgery to fix. ​

  • You should know that colonoscopy is not perfect and even with a skilled doctor, some colon lesions (abnormalities) may be missed.

  • Be sure to talk with Dr. Chung about any specific concerns you have about the test. 

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