Frequently Asked Questions

Staying active and drinking plenty of fluids can help lessen gas.

DO NOT take your insulin or diabetes medications the night before the procedure and the morning of the procedure. If you usually do a reading at home, please make sure to do a reading the morning prior to arriving at the office on the day of your procedure.

Depression, heart, blood pressure, anxiety, anti-rejection, thyroid, pain medications and seizure medications are okay to take. The following medications must be stopped accordingly; Trulicity, Byetta, Bydureon BCise, Victosa, Adlyxin, Ozempic, Rybelsus tablets, Wegovy, Mounjaro. For patients on daily dosing, do not take the medication on the day of the procedure. For patients on weekly dosing, do not take the medication one week prior to the procedure.

Stop taking the following medications 5 days before the procedure: Aspirin, Iron, Plavix, Effient, Ticlid.

Stop taking the following medications 3 days before the procedure: Coumadin (Warfarin).

Stop taking the following medications 2 days before the procedure: Motrin (Ibuprofen, Advil), Naproxen (Aleve), Meloxicam, Diclofenac, Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis.

Please make sure you inform your provider of the medications you take PRIOR to your exam.

Following your colonoscopy, you should be able to pass gas normally. You may however, not have any bowel movements in the days following your colonoscopy. If you have any concerns with your bowel movements following your exam, please reach out to us!

Yes, you will be sedated during your procedure. In most cases the sedative used is Propofol.

It is Apollo Surgery Center’s policy that you will not be allowed to drive yourself home or take a ride sharing service such as an Uber/Lyft unless you have a responsible adult riding with you. This could be a family member, friend or neighbor. The chaperone is encouraged to stay with you for the remainder of the day to assist you.

You will be administered sedation during the procedure. The medicine used for your sedation will be active in your body for the next 24 hours. You may feel sleepy when you get home. The feeling will slowly wear off.

ACTIVITY
• DO NOT drive, operate machinery or do anything requiring coordination for the rest of the day.
• Do not sign any legal documents or make important personal/business decisions in the next 24 hours.
• Do not do any heavy lifting, straining or heavy work the remainder of the day.
• You may resume normal activity the day following your procedure.

DIET
• Do not drink beer or other alcoholic beverages for 24 hours.
• Resume your diet as usual.
• Hot fluids are helpful for relief of mild bloating.
• If your doctor provided a special diet, follow those directions.

MEDICATIONS
• Avoid aspirin-based, aspirin-like products or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 4 days, including Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Aleve, Ibuprofen, etc. You MAY take Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Resume previously prescribed medications.
• No sedatives for 24 hours.
• Resume Coumadin/Warfarin/Lovenox/Plavix.
• Contact your prescribing anticoagulation therapy physician’s office within 3 days of PT/INR and anticoagulation management.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
• If you had an upper endoscopy, you may have a sore throat. Warm saltwater gargles or lozenges are suggested to relieve the discomfort. This should improve over the next 24 hours.
• If you had a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy, you may have abdominal bloating, cramping or soreness. As you pass air, this should be relieved.
• Localized irritation of the vein may occur at the site of the medication injection. Hot, moist packs can be applied to the vein 4-6 times per day as they may reduce pain and irritation. Notify your physician if the area continues to be painful or becomes red and hot to the touch.
• CALL YOUR DOCTOR AT (661) 529-7550:
• If you had an upper endoscopy and have any chest pain, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, vomiting of blood, black stools or severe abdominal distention.
• If you had a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy and have severe abdominal distention, cramping or rectal bleeding more than streaking on the toilet tissue.
• Fever (temperature 100.5° or above).
• Severe pain (that was not present before the procedure).
• If signs of infection are observed (chills or fever, redness)

Please DO NOT have any liquids this includes coffee and water 4 hours prior to your procedure. Colon prep medication only. Please do not chew gum.

We highly encourage patients to wear comfortable loose clothing and slip on shoes (example Crocs). Please leave all valuable items at home including dentures. Please no weapons.

Upper endoscopies and colonoscopies are quick, generally taking around 15-20 minutes. If your doctor sees any abnormalities during your procedure, they will discuss their findings with you after the procedure. In some cases, your doctor may find and remove polyps to prevent cancer from developing or take tissue samples for cancer screening. You should arrange a follow-up appointment with your referring provider in 2-3 weeks to review results.