Flexible
Sigmoidoscopy

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Preparation Instructions

This bowel preparation requires a little organization but is an extremely important part of flexible sigmoidoscopy to ensure you have the highest quality exam. Bowel preparation starts days prior to your procedure, as you need to stop taking certain medications or supplements. If you do not follow these directions, your flexible sigmoidoscopy may be cancelled. Please note, it is your responsibility to contact your insurance company about coverage and cost for your upcoming flexible sigmoidoscopy procedure. Sometimes, procedures result in a cost to the patient. You may check with your insurance company to determine if you will have a cost.

Key Information:

• DO NOT eat solid food for 9 hours before your arrival time.
• Bring a list of all your MEDICATIONS (including over-the-counter medications), photo ID, insurance card, co-pay/co-insurance/deductible with you to your procedure.
• DO NOT bring unnecessary belongings. We are not responsible for lost or misplaced items.
• Stop all clear liquids two hours before your procedure arrival time.

Transportation on the day of your procedure:

• A responsible adult MUST BE PRESENT (18 years or older) with you at check-in before your procedure and MUST BE ABLE to pick you up IMMEDIATELY when you are discharged. You are NOT ALLOWED to drive, take a taxi or bus, or leave the Endoscopy Center alone. If you do not have a responsible driver with you to take you home, your procedure WILL BE CANCELLED.
• Because of the sedation, you are NOT ALLOWED to use a bus, taxi, Uber/Lyft, Access-a-Ride, walk home, etc. alone.

Medications:

• Blood thinners: including Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidrogel), Ticlid (ticlopidine hydrochloride), Brilinta (ticagrelor), Aggrastat (tirofiban), Agrylin (anagrelide), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran), Eliquis (apixaban), Lovenox (low molecular weight heparin), Innohep (heparin) or Effient (Prasugrel), You must follow the instructions provided by our nurses.
• Diabetes/Weight Loss medication: See instructions below.
• All other medications: Including aspirin, should be taken the day of the exam with a sip of water.​

Weight Loss/Diabetes Medications:

• GLP-1 Agonists: including Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), Victoza, Saxenda (liraglutide), Adlyxin (lixisenatide), Ozempic, Wegovy (semaglutide subcutaneous), Bydureon BCise (exenatide extended-release), Byetta (exenatide), Rybelsus (semaglutide tablet), Stop the oral or injectable medication one week prior to your procedure.
• Anorectics: including Adipex-P, Lomaira, Suprenza (phentermine hydrochloride), Qsymia (phentermine hydrochloride/topiramate), Stop 5 days prior to your procedure.​

If you have diabetes, follow these instructions:

• Long-Acting Insulins (ex. Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee, Toujeo, Insulin Glargine): Decrease basal rate by ½ the day before and the day of your procedure.
• Rapid-Acting and Regular Short-Acting Insulin (ex. Lispro, Humalog, Admelog, Regular Insulin): If your blood sugar is high and you need to take a correction, take ½ or 50% of your usual correction. This applies to the day before and the day of your procedure.
• Insulin Pump: Decrease basal rate by ½ the day before and the day of your procedure. Do not administer bolus doses.
• Other Diabetic Oral & Injectable Medications (ex. Metformin, Glipizide, Sulfonylureas, Tradjenta, Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP IV) Inhibitors, Januvia, Janumet, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors): Do not take the day before or the day of your procedure.
• Check your blood sugar at same intervals as usual, and additionally, if needed: If your blood sugar is less than 60, please take glucose tablets at any time before your procedure with a sip of water.

Procedure Cancellation Notice Requirements:

– Procedure cancellations must be made three (3) business days prior to your appointment.

– Failure to provide the required advance notice will result in a $150 Total Cancellation Fee.

($50 Physician cancellation fee from Gastroenterology of the Rockies + $100 Facility cancellation fee from the endoscopy center).

Download Prep Instructions