Notice
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Pouch Endoscopy
A pouch endoscopy is a test to look at the lining of your ileo-anal pouch. The doctor will insert a flexible tube into your anus to look for inflammation, or abnormal growth or tissues. If abnormal tissue is seen, the doctor may remove a sample for testing.
Please read at least 1 week before your procedure. For a printable version of your bowel prep instructions and checklist click on download & print. We’ve provided a Prep Checklist on the last page to help you plan your prep. Procedure may be cancelled if instructions are not followed.
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 procedure. You do not need to contact your doctor first.
3 Days Before Test
Low Fiber Diet
Stop the following foods and medicines. These foods may slow your digestion, and your colon may not be clean enough for your test:
Corn, popcorn, seeds or nuts. Uncooked vegetables, beans and lentils, potato skins.
Fruits with skins or seeds.
Whole grain breads, granola or high fiber cereals.
Fiber supplements (like Metamucil®, Citrucel®, or Benefiber®).
Anti-diarrhea medicines (like Kaopectate®, Lomotil®, Pepto- Bismol® and Imodium® or loperamide).
Pick up Bowel Prep
You will need to buy the bowel prep supplies before the procedure. You can buy this at a local drugstore. No prescription is needed.
MiraLax (or generic version) – 4.1-ounce bottle
Gatorade/PowerAde – buy two 32-ounce bottles (do not buy red-, blue- or purple-colored liquids. If you are diabetic, buy Pedialyte instead.)
For some patients, the doctor may want you to do an enema as part of your bowel prep. Do not buy this unless instructed.
1 Day Before Test
Diet
You can eat a regular meal for lunch. Stop all solid foods by noon. After that, start a clear liquid diet.
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.
Bowel Prep
In the early afternoon, mix the MiraLax® with 64 ounces of chilled Gatorade. If you are diabetic, use Pedialyte.
Start drinking the prep at 6 pm. Drink one 8-ounce glass of this mixture every 15 minutes until one half (32-ounces) is gone. For most people with pouches, this should be enough to make your stool “clear” (so it will be a yellow liquid without many solid flecks) and looks more like urine.
If your stool is still not clear, drink one 8-ounce glass of the mixed solution every 15 minutes until your stool is clear.
Keep drinking clear liquids so you do not get dehydrated. After you are done, you can have only a clear liquid diet.
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 test, 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.
If you have also had a rectal dilation, you may notice a small amount of rectal bleeding. This is normal. If you are still bleeding after 48 hours, please contact your doctor.
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.
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
