Preparing for your procedure
An empty stomach is essential for a safe examination, so you should have nothing to eat or drink, including water, for approximately 3-4 hours before the gastroscopy. However, you may have a sip of water with your regular medications.
Take your regular medications on the day of the test. We will tell you when to start fasting.
You can continue all your regular medications including aspirin. Let ua know if you are diabetic or on anticoagulants (blood thinners) other than aspirin.
Discuss any allergies to medications as well as medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease. Also, alert us if you require antibiotics prior to undergoing dental procedures, because you might need antibiotics prior to upper endoscopy as well.
In order for us to get the best possible view and make the colonoscopy easier, your large bowel needs to be cleaned out of all waste material.
You will be given a preparation kit which contains full instructions. Links are provided below to our bowel preparation regimens.
Usually this involves a special diet for a day or two, consisting of no solid food, lots of clear fluids and laxatives the day before and day of the procedure.
You need to have nothing to eat or drink for three to four hours before the procedure is done. However, you may have a sip of water with your regular medications. Take your regular medications on the day of the test.
Special considerations
- Iron tablets should be stopped a week before the test
- Aspirin can be continued
- If you have diabetes or have heart valve disease or have a pacemaker implanted or are taking blood thinning tablets such as Warfarin or Clopidogrel it is important to discuss this with your doctor before the colonoscopy is organised, as special arrangements may be necessary
Download Preparation Instructions:
You should fast (no food or drinks) for 8 hours before undergoing capsule endoscopy. Diabetics should withhold their diabetic medication during the fasting period. If you take insulin, you may need to reduce the dose. Please discuss this with us. From 130pm the afternoon prior to the procedure you will be on a clear fluid diet with no solid food. Around 8pm you will take one sachet of picoprep to clean the small bowel. Strongly coloured foods and iron tablets should be avoided for 24 hours before the examination. Fasting is from midnight onwards.
Download Preparation Instructions:
Ideally you need to fast for 2 hours prior to the procedure to get the most valid readings.