Notice
Ongoing construction may impact traffic around University Hospital, American Family Children's Hospital and Waisman Center. Please allow for additional travel time.Read more
Read this entire document at least 1 week before your test. For a printable version of your bowel prep instructions and checklist click on download & print. This handout will tell you how to prepare for and what to expect after your flexible sigmoidoscopy. This test may be cancelled if you do not follow these instructions.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a test to look at the lower part of your large bowel. This test can be used to find the cause of rectal bleeding or abdominal pain.
1 Week Before Test
Arrange Transportation
Due to the sedation medicines, you must have a responsible adult drive you home. It is recommended that you are observed for at least 6 hours after discharge.
Health Changes
Please tell us about any major health changes, illnesses, or recent hospital stays you have had since you scheduled your test. If at any time you have symptoms of illness (cough, stuffy nose, sore throat, fever, body aches, chills), please call the procedure center to reschedule your test. You should not have this test while ill.
Blood Thinners and Diabetes Medicines
You must call the doctor who prescribes this medicine to see if you need to stop or adjust your medicine before your test. That doctor will tell you how to safely do this.
The UW Digestive Health Center suggests talking to your doctor using the table below. That doctor should give you the final advice on stopping these medicines.
Ask your doctor about your bleeding risk with this test. If your doctor feels your bleeding risk is low, they will likely have you follow the schedule below to stop your blood thinning medicines. If your doctor feels your bleeding risk is high, they may have you follow a different timeline.
The list below has common blood thinning medicines. It does not include all blood thinning medicines.
If your doctor tells you not to stop your medicine, please call the Digestive Health Center at 608-890-5010, as this may affect your procedure.
Iron, Multivitamins with Iron and Fish Oil
Stop taking these 5 days before your test. (You do not need to contact your doctor first).
3 Days Before Test
Pick up Bowel Prep
You will need to buy the bowel prep supplies before the procedure from a local drugstore. You do not need a prescription.
MiraLax (or store brand version) – 4.1-ounce bottle
Gatorade/PowerAde – buy two 28-32-ounce bottles. Do not buy red- or purple-colored liquids. (If you are diabetic, buy Pedialyte instead).
In some cases, the doctor may also want you to do an enema as a part of your bowel prep. Do not buy this unless your doctor tells you to. Some patients will have the enema here right before the procedure.
1 Day Before Test
Diet
You can eat a normal meal for lunch. Stop eating all solid foods by noon. After that, start a clear liquid diet.
Begin clear liquid diet. Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of clear “see-through” liquids. Clear liquids include:
Water, clear sports drinks like Gatorade®
Broth
Black coffee, tea, soda
Apple juice
Jell-O®
No creamers, milks or other dairy products
No red or purple liquids or Jell-O
No solid food
No liquids with ‘pulp’
Medicines
Take your daily medicines except those you were told to stop. Take at least one hour before or one hour after drinking your prep.
Mix the Prep
In the early afternoon, mix the MiraLax® with both bottles of chilled Gatorade. It will be 56-64 ounces total. If you are diabetic, use Pedialyte.
After you mix the prep, we suggest you put it in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge at least 2 hours before you start drinking it, so you won’t feel too cold.
Bowel Prep
Start drinking the prep at 6 pm.
Drink one 8-ounce glass of the total mixture every 15 minutes until gone.
Stay near a bathroom. You will have loose, then liquid stools. This is normal.
Drinking the prep through a straw may help improve the taste.
Between glasses, you can chew gum or suck on slices of lime or lemon or hard candies (avoid red or purple candy, as these can stain your colon).
After you mix the prep, we suggest you put it in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge at least 2 hours before you start drinking it, so you won’t feel too cold.
If you get chilled, try putting a blanket in the dryer to warm it up before using.
If your stool is still not clear, drink one 8-ounce glass of water every 15 minutes until your stool is clear.
Keep drinking clear liquids so you do not get dehydrated.
Test Day
Diet
No food
Stay on only clear liquids (no red or purple)
Stop drinking everything, even water, 4 hours before you arrive.
As you finish the prep, your stools should be watery clear or yellow, with no solids (flecks of stool are OK). If you are still passing solid or brown stools, call us at (608) 890-5010.
Medicines
If you need to take medicine during the 4 hours before your arrival, drink no more than 1/2 cup of water (4 ounces). Follow your provider’s directions for your diabetes or blood thinning medicines.
What to Bring
CPAP or BiPAP and any inhalers that you use
Eyeglass or contact lens case, denture cup
Ostomy supplies
Wear comfortable clothing
Phone number for your driver
Do not bring:
Jewelry
Money
Other valuables
Before the Test
When you arrive, you can choose if your driver waits in the waiting room or in your private room where they will hear private health information.
The doctor will talk with you, answer questions, and ask you to sign a consent form.
A nurse will review your health history, take your vital signs and attach a heart monitor.
A nurse will place an IV and give you medicines to help you relax and keep you comfortable.
Your visit will take about 2-3 hours.
After the Test
Your doctor will review the results and give you a report. We strongly suggest that you have your driver in the room with you to hear the results.
You may feel tired when you leave.
Spend the day resting at home. You cannot drive or return to work. You can return to your normal routine the next day.
It may take up to a week for your bowel habits to return to your normal.
If you stopped blood thinning medicine before your test, ask when it can be restarted.
Results
If you have biopsies taken or polyps removed, you can expect to get lab results 1-2 weeks later. Your results will be sent to your MyChart account. If you don’t have a MyChart account, someone will call you with results or results will be mailed to you
Tip: To learn more about colon polyps visit: : https://patient.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/7917
When to Call
If you are still passing solid stools or your bowels have not started to empty by the morning of your test.
You have severe cramps.
You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
You have constant pain, rectal bleeding and/or a fever.
Who to Call
Patient Resources
(They can help figure out if your insurance will cover transportation.)
608-821-4144
Digestive Health Center
(608) 890-5010
UW Hospital GI Procedure Clinic
(608) 263-8094
Meriter/Unity Point
(608) 417-6389
Prep Checklist
1 Week Before Test
Call your insurance company.
Find safe transportation for the day of your test.
Talk to your primary doctor about your diabetes and/or blood thinning medicines.
Call if you are constipated, had trouble prepping in the past or if you’ve had any major health changes since you scheduled your test.
Stop iron supplements , vitamins with iron and fish oil 5 days before your test.
3 Days before Test Pick Up
MiraLax (or store brand version) – 4.1-ounce bottle
Gatorade/PowerAde – buy two 28- 32-ounce bottles. Do not buy red- or purple-colored liquids. (If you are diabetic, buy Pedialyte instead).
1 Day Before Test
Stop eating all solid food at noon. Only clear liquids after that.
Mix MiraLax ® with 64oz of Gatorade. Place in refrigerator.
Take your daily medicines except those you were told to stop. Take at least one hour before or one hour after drinking your prep.
Start drinking prep at 6 pm
Drink one 8 ounce glass of the total mixture every 15 minutes until gone.
Keep drinking clear liquids so you do not get dehydrated.
Day of Test
Stop all liquids ( even water) 4 hours before your arrival time.
If you need to take medicine during the 4 hours before your arrival, drink no more than 1/2 cup of water (4 ounces).
Call if you are still passing solid or brown stools or your bowels have not started to empty.