Colonoscopy

Your gastroenterologist will use a colonoscope (a thin, flexible fiber optic tube) to view the inside of your colon and large intestine. A typical colonoscopy lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.

Depending on your needs, we also offer a colonoscopy procedure using flexible sigmoidoscopy. Though it is only used to examine the rectum and lower parts of the large intestine, it takes less time than a traditional colonoscopy.

To prepare for a colonoscopy, you need to follow certain guidelines leading up to the procedure. To ensure you are fully prepared, review the appropriate prep information at least seven days before your procedure.

Please note: Your provider prescribed one of the following preparation methods based on their preference and your current health. Please follow the correct preparation instructions below and do not change your preparation method without first discussing it with your provider.

Please also review our referral, financial, and cancelation policies.  

If you need to cancel or postpone, please call us at 508-210-5806 no later than 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled appointment.

• Download preparation information (Golytely/Nulytely).
• Download preparation information (Miralax/Dulcolax).
• Download preparation information (Magnesium Citrate).
• Download the list of low-residue foods and clear liquids.

If you have any questions, or need to cancel or postpone, please call us at 508-210-5806.

Where To Report for Your Procedure

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth
275 Sandwich Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-210-5806

Parking

Use Parking Lot A, which is closest to the Endoscopy Department by Urann Lobby. Valet is available.

Health Considerations Prior to Your Colonoscopy

If You Take the Following Medications

• Diabetes Medication: Please contact the doctor who manages your diabetes before making any changes to your diet, medications or insulin pump.
• Pepto-Bismol or Iron Supplements: Please stop taking 7 days prior to your procedure.
• Aspirin and Pain Medications: You may continue to take aspirin or similar pain medicines.
• Blood Thinners: Please contact your prescribing physician if you have not already done so.

Do NOT make any changes to these medicines without first consulting with your provider.

If You May be Pregnant

Please consult your OB/GYN provider before your appointment to discuss optimal timing for your procedure, and the best sedation/anesthesia approach.

Please Notify Us in Advance if You

• Are allergic to sedatives, or have any problems with sedatives, pain medicine or narcotics
• Weigh over 300 pounds
• Are currently taking narcotic pain medicine
• Have severe liver disease

If You Are Taking Any Medication

• Stop taking any Pepto Bismol or Iron Supplements.
• Stop taking weekly doses of GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, Saxenda, Mounjaro, etc.).
  • Note: If you take a daily dose of GLP-1 agonist, you may continue until the day of your procedure.

Prepare Your Ride Home

• You may not drive yourself home after sedation. No exceptions.
• A responsible adult must come to the procedure area to drive you home when you are discharged.
• You must provide their name and phone number upon check-in. If you cannot provide this information, your procedure may be delayed.
• Public transportation such as taxi, bus, Uber, or Lyft is not allowed.

Prepare What You Will Need

• Make sure your Golytely/Nulytely/Colyte/Gavilyte prescription is ready to be filled at your pharmacy.
• Items to consider:
  • 64 oz. of clear liquids or sports drink (no red or purple)
  • Jell-O packets (no red or pink)
  • Bouillon broth cubes (vegetable, chicken, beef)

Begin a Low Residue Diet

A low residue diet will help you get the best results from your bowel prep. In general, avoid anything tough or fibrous, and anything with whole grains, nuts, seeds, skins or red dye. If you aren’t sure if a particular food is low residue, it is best to skip it while you are preparing for your procedure.

Download a list of acceptable foods and liquids for a pre-procedure low residue diet.

Stop eating all solid food. No hard candy or gum. Begin a clear liquid diet as soon as you wake up. Be sure to drink plenty of clear liquids throughout the day. See the fact sheet. 

4 pm on the Evening Before

• Consume Nulytely/Golytely dose #1.
• Drink 8 ounces every 10 minutes, until the container is half empty.

4 – 6 pm on the Evening Before

• Drink at least three, 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids (24 ounces in total).

Midnight

• Consume Nulytely/Golytely dose #2.
• Drink 8 ounces every 10 minutes until the container is empty.

Midnight – 2 am

• Drink at least three, 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids.
• You may need to wake up in the middle of the night to take the second dose. While inconvenient, we have found this method results in the cleanest colon. Even though your stools may become clear after the first dose, it is important to take the full second dose.

Prep Tips

• If you feel nauseated while doing the prep, peppermint tea or sucking on a lemon may help.
• It also may help to put the prep solution on ice.
• When you begin to have diarrhea, baby wipes may be used to prevent irritation.
• Avoid using Vaseline jelly or Desitin.

Midnight – 2 am

As mentioned in the previous section, consume your second dose of Nulyetly/Golytely at midnight before your scheduled procedure time. Remember to drink 8 ounces every 10 minutes until the container is empty and consume at least three, 8 ounces glasses of clear liquids.

4 Hours Before Your Scheduled Procedure Time

• Fluids: Stop drinking all fluids.
• Food: Do not take anything by mouth (food, drink, candy, or gum).
• Medication:
  • You may take any usual morning medications with a small sip of water.
  • If you have diabetes or take blood thinners, follow your doctor’s advice regarding any necessary medication changes.
  • If you take GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, Saxenda, Mounjaro, etc.)
    • Daily Dosing – Do not take this medication on the day of your procedure.
    • Weekly Dosing – Do not take this medication 1 week prior to your procedure. 

• Do not drive.
• Avoid going to work or school.
• Avoid making important decisions.
• Avoid providing care for children.

You may resume all activities the next day unless otherwise instructed.

If You Are Taking Any Medication

• Stop taking any Pepto Bismol or Iron Supplements.
• Stop taking weekly doses of GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, Saxenda, Mounjaro, etc.).
  • Note: If you take a daily dose of GLP-1 agonist, you may continue until the day of your procedure.

Prepare Your Ride Home

• You may not drive yourself home after sedation. No exceptions.
• A responsible adult must come to the procedure area to drive you home when you are discharged.
• You must provide their name and phone number upon check-in. If you cannot provide this information, your procedure may be delayed.
• Note: Public transportation such as taxi, bus, Uber, or Lyft is not allowed.

Prepare What You Will Need

• Miralax: 2 bottles of 238 grams (8.3 ounces) powder or generic polyethylene glycol 3350 (can be found in the laxative section, no Rx needed)
• Dulcolax (bisacodyl) laxative tablets: not suppository or stool softener, you will need four (4) tablets for the prep (no Rx needed)
• Suggested items to consider:
  • 64 oz. of clear liquids or sports drink (no red or purple)
  • Jell-O packets (no red or pink)
  • Bouillon broth cubes (vegetable, chicken, beef)

Drink one capful of Miralax (17g) mixed into 4 to 8 ounces of beverage every day for 5 days.

Begin a Low Residue Diet

A low residue diet will help you get the best results from your bowel prep. In general, avoid anything tough or fibrous, and anything with whole grains, nuts, seeds, skins or red dye. If you aren’t sure if a particular food is low residue, it is best to skip it while you are preparing for your procedure.

Download a list of acceptable foods and liquids for a pre-procedure low residue diet.

Stop eating all solid food. No hard candy or gum. Begin a clear liquid diet as soon as you wake up. Be sure to drink plenty of clear liquids throughout the day. See the fact sheet for a list of clear liquids.

4 pm on the Evening Before

• Take 4 Dulcolax laxative tablets.
• Mix the bottle of Miralax in 64 oz. of a sports drink or water.
• Shake until the Miralax is completely dissolved.
• Drink 8 ounces of Miralaz solution every 10-15 minutes, until the container is half empty. Save the rest for your midnight dose.

4 – 6 pm on the Evening Before

• Drink at least five, 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids (40 ounces in total).

Midnight

• Consume the rest of your Miralax (there should be 32 oz. remaining from your first dose). Drink 8 ounces every 10 minutes until the container is empty.

Midnight – 2 am

• Drink at least five, 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids.
• You may need to wake up in the middle of the night to take the second dose. While inconvenient, we have found this method results in the cleanest colon. Even though your stools may become clear after the first dose, it is important to take the full second dose.

Prep Tips

• If you feel nauseated while doing the prep, peppermint tea or sucking on a lemon may help.
• It also may help to put the prep solution on ice.
• When you begin to have diarrhea, baby wipes may be used to prevent irritation.
• Avoid using Vaseline jelly or Desitin.

Midnight – 2 am

As mentioned in the previous section, consume your second dose of Miralax at midnight before your scheduled procedure time. Remember to drink 8 ounces every 10 minutes until the container is empty and consume at least five, 8 ounces glasses of clear liquids.

4 Hours Before Your Scheduled Procedure Time

• Fluids: Stop drinking all fluids.
• Food: Do not take anything by mouth (food, drink, candy, or gum).
• Medication:
  • You may take any usual morning medications with a small sip of water.
  • If you have diabetes or take blood thinners, follow your doctor’s advice regarding any necessary medication changes.
  • If you take GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, Saxenda, Mounjaro, etc.):
    • Daily Dosing – Do not take this medication on the day of your procedure.
    • Weekly Dosing – Do not take this medication 1 week prior to your procedure.

• Do not drive.
• Avoid going to work or school.
• Avoid making important decisions.
• Avoid providing care for children.

You may resume all activities the next day unless otherwise instructed.

If You Are Taking Any Medication

• Stop taking any Pepto Bismol or Iron Supplements.
• Stop taking weekly doses of GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, Saxenda, Mounjaro, etc.).
  • Note: If you take a daily dose of GLP-1 agonist, you may continue until the day of your procedure.

Prepare Your Ride Home

• You may not drive yourself home after sedation. No exceptions.
• A responsible adult must come to the procedure area to drive you home when you are discharged.
• You must provide their name and phone number upon check-in. If you cannot provide this information, your procedure may be delayed.
• Note: Public transportation such as taxi, bus, Uber, or Lyft is not allowed.

Prepare What You Will Need

• Three (3) bottles (10 oz. each) of Magnesium Citrate, lemon or original flavor (no cherry or grape unless they are dye-free)
• Suggested items to consider:
  • 64 oz. of clear liquids or sports drink (no red or purple)
  • Jell-O packets (no red or pink)
  • Bouillon broth cubes (vegetable, chicken, beef)

Begin a Low Residue Diet

A low residue diet will help you get the best results from your bowel prep. In general, avoid anything tough or fibrous, and anything with whole grains, nuts, seeds, skins or red dye. If you aren’t sure if a particular food is low residue, it is best to skip it while you are preparing for your procedure.

Download a list of acceptable foods and liquids for a pre-procedure low residue diet.

Stop eating all solid food. No hard candy or gum. Begin a clear liquid diet as soon as you wake up. Be sure to drink plenty of clear liquids throughout the day. See the fact sheet for a list of clear liquids.

4 pm on the Evening Before

• Magnesium Citrate dose #1: Drink 1 ½ bottles of Magnesium citrate (15 oz.).

4 – 6 pm on the Evening Before

• Drink at least three, 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids (24 oz.).

Midnight

• Magnesium Citrate dose #2: Drink 1 ½ bottles of Magnesium citrate (15 oz.).

Midnight – 2 am

• Drink at least three, 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids.
• You may need to wake up in the middle of the night to take the second dose. While inconvenient, we have found this method results in the cleanest colon. Even though your stools may become clear after the first dose, it is important to take the full second dose. 

Prep Tips

• If you feel nauseated while doing the prep, peppermint tea or sucking on a lemon may help.
• It also may help to put the prep solution on ice.
• When you begin to have diarrhea, baby wipes may be used to prevent irritation.
• Avoid using Vaseline jelly or Desitin.

Midnight – 2 am

As mentioned in the previous section, consume your second dose of Magnesium Citrate at midnight before your scheduled procedure time. Remember to drink three 8 ounces glasses of clear liquids in the next two hours.

4 Hours Before Your Scheduled Procedure Time

• Fluids: Stop drinking all fluids.
• Food: Do not take anything by mouth (food, drink, candy, or gum).
• Medication:
  • You may take any usual morning medications with a small sip of water.
  • If you have diabetes or take blood thinners, follow your doctor’s advice regarding any necessary medication changes.
  • If you take GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, Saxenda, Mounjaro, etc.):
    • Daily Dosing – Do not take this medication on the day of your procedure.
    • Weekly Dosing – Do not take this medication 1 week prior to your procedure.

• Do not drive.
• Avoid going to work or school.
• Avoid making important decisions.
• Avoid providing care for children.

You may resume all activities the next day unless otherwise instructed.