Preparing for Your Procedure

Diet/Prep Instructions

If you are having an endoscopy procedure (EGD or colonoscopy), there will be diet restrictions. The degree of these restrictions depends on which procedure you are having.

EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy)

Day Prior to Procedure: If you are scheduled for an EGD ONLY, you are not required to be on a liquid diet one day prior to your procedure. However, do not eat any solid foods after midnight the night before the procedure.

Day of Procedure: You will need to follow the instructions given to you in the office for diet restrictions on the day of your procedure.

Colonoscopy

Day Prior to Procedure:If you are having a colonoscopy, you will be required to start a clear liquid diet when you wake up the day before your procedure. NO SOLID FOODS THE DAY BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE.

Day of Procedure:You will continue the clear liquid diet into the day of your procedure. However, there will be a time you stop the liquid diet. You will need to follow the instructions given to you in the office for diet restrictions day of procedure.

A clear liquid diet may consist of the following:

Broth

Black Coffee (no cream/creamer)

7-Up or Sprite (flat)

Tea (sweet or unsweet)

Jell-O (green or yellow)

Hard Candy (peppermint/butterscotch)

Water/Flavored Water (clear)

Fruit Juice (apple, cranberry, white grape)

Popsicles (green or yellow)

Powerade or Gatorade (clear, green, or yellow)

No alcohol products

NOTHING RED, BLUE OR PURPLE except cranberry or cranapple juice.

Colonoscopy Prep

The afternoon prior to your procedure (6 p.m.), you will start your colonoscopy prep.

Things to Remember

Make plans in advance for a friend or family member to drive you home following your procedure. You will not be allowed to drive if you receive sedation or general anesthesia. Failure to make transportation arrangements may result in the cancellation of your procedure. For your safety, it is also a requirement to have a responsible adult with you for the first 24 hours after your procedure.

You are required to have someone with you during your procedure. You cannot be dropped off and picked up after your procedure.

Do not come to the surgery center if you are running a fever or have a new onset of illness including cold, sore throat, fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea or other illness. Call (601) 268-5680 to report any new illness.

Additional Reminders

Take your usual medication (except diabetic medications, blood thinners and GLP-1 drugs) the morning of the procedure with a sip of water. Bring a list of your medications with the time taken and dose with you on the day of your procedure. This includes over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements or the actual bottles of medications you take on a daily basis.
Do not take any insulin or sugar pills on the morning of your procedure if you have diabetes. You will receive instructions on how you will take these meds.
If you take any GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, Trulicity or similar medications, it is extremely important to discuss with your doctor when to stop these medications prior to your procedure. If you take these medications for diabetes or weight loss, they may cause a delay in the emptying of stomach contents, which affects your ability to undergo anesthesia.
Do not consume gum, mints or tobacco products three hours prior to your procedure.
Do not stop any inhalers you are prescribed.
Bring a list of all allergies, including allergies to medications, latex, tape or metals.
If you wear dentures or partials, do not glue them in place. We may ask that they be removed prior to your procedure.
Your prep will be sent to your pharmacy. Please notify your pharmacy that you need this filled. Occasionally, the pharmacy will not fill this unless you request it.
If you wear hearing aids, please wear them to ensure good communication with your team. Also, please bring the hearing aid storage case for removal and safekeeping prior to your procedure.
If you use home oxygen, bring a tank with you in order to use this after being discharged home.
Dress comfortably – wear clothes that will fit easily and comfortably over your surgical area.
Encourage visitors to bring a sweater or light jacket.
Encourage visitors not to bring outside food or food with a strong odor into the center.

Hand Hygiene

Infections can be prevented by appropriate hand hygiene. The following are some things to know about proper hand hygiene prior to your visit:

Hand hygiene is when we disinfect our hands either by washing with soap and water or using the alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Both are appropriate ways to clean our hands.

Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 15 seconds when they are visibly dirty or soiled with blood or other bodily materials or fluids.

An alcohol-based hand rub should be used if hands are not visibly soiled. This product is found in all patient rooms and procedure areas within the center. It is a waterless antiseptic gel that kills 99.99% of all disease-causing germs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), within seconds and is preferred for use when hands are not dirty.

All team members who provide care for our patients are required to disinfect their hands with soap and water or use the gel when they enter and leave the patient’s room if they will be in contact with the patient or the patient’s environment.

We encourage our patients and visitors to practice good hand hygiene. For your protection, you need to wash or gel your hands as you enter our pre-surgical unit.