Before Your Visit / Preparing for Common Tests
Preparation for a Colonoscopy
It is important that you follow these instructions. Failure to follow them will result in the cancellation of your colonoscopy.
Our preferred method is the Pico Salax bowel preparation, however it is not covered under all Drug Benefit Plans. If you wish to have a preparation that is covered under ODP you can use PegLyte. Instructions for all the preparation are below.
Pico-Salax + Dulcolax Tablets Bowel Preparation
For five days leading up to the procedure you must avoid seeds and nuts.
For the day before and the day of you must avoid solid food or milk and drink only the following beverages:
- Water
- Clear broths
- Clear, pulp-free juice (apple, white grape, white cranberry)
- Jello-O ®, popsicles (clear)
- Weak black tea, herbal tea, green tea
- Clear Gatorade/ Powerade
Do not drink:
- Red or purple liquids
- Alcoholic beverages
- Milk or dairy substitutes
- Liquids you can’t see through
We recommend you drink plenty (2-4 litres) of clear liquids to ensure that the bowels are properly cleansed after each sachet.
Two days before your procedure at breakfast, take 2 Dulcolax tablets
The day before procedure at noon, take another 2 Dulcolax tablets
The evening the day before your procedure:
- At 7:00pm (to be confirmed by your physician) dissolve one sachet of the Pico Salax in a glass of water and rapidly drink. YOU MUST DRINK 1-2 LITERS OF CLEAR FLUIDS/WATER FOLLOWING THE SACHET.
The morning of your procedure:
- 4 hours before your appointment, dissolve the 2nd sachet of the Pico Salax in a glass of water and rapidly drink. YOU MUST DRINK 1-2 LITERS OF CLEAR FLUIDS/WATER FOLLOWING THE SACHET.
PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ANY LIQUID FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS PRIOR TO PROCEDURE
Bi-Peg Bowel Preparation
For five days leading up to the procedure you must avoid seeds and nuts.
For the day before and the day of you must avoid solid food or milk and drink only the following beverages:
- Water
- Clear broths
- Clear, pulp-free juice (apple, white grape, white cranberry)
- Jello-O ®, popsicles (clear)
- Weak black tea, herbal tea, green tea
- Clear Gatorade/ Powerade
Do not drink:
- Red or purple liquids
- Alcoholic beverages
- Milk or dairy substitutes
- Liquids you can’t see through
We recommend you drink plenty (2-4 litres) of clear liquids to ensure that the bowels are properly cleansed.
The morning of the day before your procedure:
- Prepare the PEG/Electrolytes solution as follows:
- Dissolve the entire contents of one 70g sachets in to 1L (32 ounces) of water
- Mix rapidly 2-3 minutes until a clear solution forms
- Repeat above steps with the 2nd sachet
- Refrigerate the solution to improve the taste
The afternoon of the day before your procedure:
- Take the 3 bisacodyl tablets (total of 15mg) with water at 5:00pm (to be confirmed by your physican)
- Do not crush or chew the tablets
- No antacids should be taken within one hour of taking the bisacodyl tablets
The evening the day before your procedure:
- At 8:00pm (to be confirmed by your physician) rapidly drink a glassful (240mL) of the PEG/Electrolyte solution every 10 minutes (total of 4 glasses) until 1L of the bowel prep solution is finished.
You will start to have watery bowel movements within 1 hour and will continue to have loose bowel movements for another 1-2 hours after finishing the solution.
The morning of your procedure:
- 4 hours before your appointment rapidly drink a glassful (240mL) of the PEG/Electrolyte solution every 10 minutes (total of 4 glasses) until 1L of the bowel prep solution is finished.
PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ANY LIQUID FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS PRIOR TO PROCEDURE
PegLyte Bowel Preparation
For five days leading up to the procedure you must avoid seeds and nuts.
For the day before and the day of you must avoid solid food or milk and drink only the following beverages:
- Water
- Clear broths
- Clear, pulp-free juice (apple, white grape, white cranberry)
- Jello-O ®, popsicles (clear)
- Weak black tea, herbal tea, green tea
- Clear Gatorade/ Powerade
Do not drink:
- Red or purple liquids
- Alcoholic beverages
- Milk or dairy substitutes
- Liquids you can’t see through
We recommend you drink plenty (2-4 litres) of clear liquids to ensure that the bowels are properly cleansed.
The morning of the day before your procedure:
- Prepare the PEG/Electrolytes solution as follows:
- Dissolve the entire contents of two 70g sachets in to 2L (64 ounces) of water
- Mix rapidly 2-3 minutes until a clear solution forms
- Repeat above steps with the 3rd and 4th sachet
- Refrigerate the solution to improve the taste
The evening of the day before your procedure:
- At 8:00pm (to be confirmed by your physician) rapidly drink a glassful (240mL) of the PEG/Electrolyte solution every 10 minutes (total of 8 glasses) until 2L of the bowel prep solution is finished.
The morning of your procedure:
- 4 hours before your appointment rapidly drink a glassful (240mL) of the PEG/Electrolyte solution every 10 minutes (total of 8 glasses) until 2L of the bowel prep solution is finished.
PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ANY LIQUID FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS PRIOR TO PROCEDURE
Preparation for a Gastroscopy
Please advise your doctor if you are taking:
- Aspirin (ASA) or medications containing ASA
- Blood thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin)
- Iron pills or anything containing Iron
- Ticlid (Ticlodipine) or Plavix (Clopidogrel)
- Diabetic medications
**NOTHING to eat or drink after midnight the night before the gastroscopy **
(the only exception is your colonoscopy PREP if you are also having a colonoscopy)
If you are a DIABETIC and you have an afternoon appointment, you may have a glass of clear juice before 6am the morning of your procedure.
ALL PATIENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED AND WILL REQUIRE A RIDE HOME AFTER THE PROCEDURE, WITH OR WITHOUT SEDATION.