Study time: May take up to 12 hours to complete.

The day before your procedure:

• Start a clear liquid diet after lunch .
• You may drink clear liquids until midnight.
• 7 p.m.—Gatorade and MiraLAX (119 gram) bowel prep: Mix all the MiraLAX with 32 ounces (1 liter) (drink three quarters of the mixture).

The day of your procedure:

• Wear two-piece, loose fitting, DARK COLOR clothing for the study.
• Certain essential medications can be taken with a sip of water two hours prior to the procedure.
• You will not have an assigned room to stay in during the procedure.
• You will be permitted to leave the hospital after swallowing the capsule.
• You will need to return and check in with the capsule nurse at two hours and eight hours after swallowing the capsule.

After swallowing the capsule:

• You will be allowed to drink clear liquids two hours after swallowing the capsule.
• You will be allowed to have a light snack four hours after swallowing the capsule.
• No solid food is permitted until the procedure is over and the data recorder is removed.
• Avoid strong electromagnetic fields such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ham radio devices after swallowing the capsule and until you pass it in a bowel movement.
• The capsule typically passes naturally in a bowel movement after 24-72 hours. It does not need to be retrieved and can be safely flushed down the toilet.
• Your referring physician will be notified of results usually within 3-5 days after your study. Please contact your referring physician for results.

Please notify us if you have a history of:

• Dysphagia or esophageal stricture
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Bowel obstruction
• Crohn's disease
• Koch pouch
• Radiation therapy to the abdomen
• Cardiac pacemaker, nerve stimulator or other implanted devices

Study time: 30-60 minutes (EGD); May take up to two hours (oral double-balloon).

In preparation for your procedure:

• Fax your pre-op testing results to us at least one week before your appointment.
• Pre-op testing includes CBC, CMP and EKG for patients ages 50 and older. Your provider will need to provide us with documentation of cardiac clearance for any history of heart problems.
• You must arrange a ride and have a responsible adult take you home after the procedure because you will be receiving sedative medications and will not be allowed to drive yourself home or ride public transportation such as a taxi by yourself. If you are planning to take a taxi service, a family member or a friend must accompany you home. Please have their contact information available.

Five days prior to your procedure:

• If you are on blood thinners:
  • You may need to hold blood thinner medications (i.e. Coumadin, Plavix, Xarelto, Eliquis, Pradaxa, etc.) several days prior to your procedure but follow the guidelines recommended by the prescribing provider.
• Stop taking Iron and NSAID medications (anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Celebrex, etc.). Aspirin 81mg is OK to continue.
• If you are diabetic or taking insulin:
  • Please notify your provider that you will be fasting for at least eight hours.
  • Please hold your diabetic medications the day of the procedure or as instructed by your provider and check your blood sugar accordingly.

One of our nurses will call you before your procedure to review instructions, health history and medications. Please call our office for any questions you may have at 310-423-0095. Do not eat after midnight, you may have clear liquids up to six hours prior to procedure.

The day of your procedure:

• You may take certain blood pressure or heart medications with a sip of water at least two hours prior to your procedure.
• If you are scheduled after noon, you may call the nursing station at 310-967-7441 to check if the procedures are on schedule to prevent a prolonged wait in the hospital.
  

:Study time: 30-60 minutes (colonoscopy); May take up to two hours (rectal double-balloon).

In preparation for your procedure:

• Fax all requested pre-op testing results to us at least one week before your appointment. This includes CBC, CMP labs and EKG for patients over the age of 50. Your provider will need to provide documentation of cardiac clearance for history of heart problems.
• You must arrange a ride and have a responsible adult take you home after the procedure because you will be receiving sedative medications and will not be allowed to drive yourself home or ride public transportation such as a taxi by yourself. If you are planning to take a taxi service, a family member or a friend must accompany you home. Please have their contact information available.

Five days prior to your procedure:

• If you are on blood thinners:
  • You may need to hold blood thinner medications (i.e. Coumadin, Plavix, Xarelto, Eliquis, Pradaxa, etc.) several days prior to your procedure but follow the guidelines recommended by the prescribing provider.
• Stop taking Iron and NSAID medications (anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Celebrex, etc.). Aspirin 81mg is OK to continue.
• If you are diabetic or taking insulin:
  • Please notify your provider that you will be fasting for at least eight hours.
  • Please hold your diabetic medications the day of the procedure or as instructed by your provider and check your blood sugar accordingly.

One of our nurses will call you before your procedure to review instructions, health history and medications. Please call our office for any questions you may have at 310-423-0095.

The following items need to be purchased at a pharmacy (no prescription needed):

1. One bottle (238 grams) of Miralax powder or generic polyethylene glycol 3350
2. 64 ounces of Powerade Zero or low-calorie Gatorade (no red, blue, or purple color)
3. Four tablets of Dulcolax laxative 5mg tablets or generic bisacodyl
4. Tucks wipes (optional)

One day before your procedure:

• Begin your clear liquid diet for the entire day.
• Take four Dulcolax tablets.
• Mix the entire bottle of MiraLAX into the 64 ounces (1 liter) of Gatorade. Mix solution until it is fully dissolved.
• Drink an 8-ounce glass every 10-15 minutes until you have consumed half (32 ounces). Place the remaining solution in the refrigerator.
• Do not eat or drink after midnight.

Day of the procedure:

• You may drink CLEAR LIQUIDS until six hours before the procedure.
• Drink the remainder of the MiraLAX/Gatorade solution. Drink an 8-ounce glass every 10-15 minutes until the mixture is gone. You must finish the solution at least six hours before your procedure.
• Tip: The prep may not be palatable. If you experience nausea, bloating, or vomiting, then you may increase the time interval between each 8-ounce glass.
• You may take certain blood pressure or heart medications at least two hours prior to your procedure with a sip of water.
• If you are scheduled after noon, you may call the nursing station at 310-967-7441 to check if the procedures are on schedule to prevent a prolonged wait in the hospital.
  

If you are scheduled after noon, you may call the nursing station at 310-967-7441 to check if the procedures are on schedule to prevent a prolonged wait in the hospital.

Study time: 30-60 minutes

In preparation for your procedure:

• Fax all requested pre-op testing results to us at least one week before your appointment. This includes CBC, CMP labs and EKG for patients over the age of 50. Your provider will need to provide documentation of cardiac clearance for history of heart problems.
• You must arrange a ride and have a responsible adult take you home after the procedure because you will be receiving sedative medications and will not be allowed to drive yourself home or ride public transportation such as a taxi by yourself. If you are planning to take a taxi service, a family member or a friend must accompany you home. Please have their contact information available.

One week prior to your procedure

• If you are on blood thinners:
  • You may need to hold blood thinner medications (i.e. Coumadin, Plavix, Xarelto, Eliquis, Pradaxa, etc.) several days prior to your procedure but follow the guidelines recommended by the prescribing provider.
• Stop taking Iron and NSAID medications (anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Celebrex, etc.). Aspirin 81mg is OK to continue.
• Avoid nuts and seeds the week before your procedure.
• If you are diabetic or taking insulin:
  • Please notify your provider that you will be fasting for at least eight hours.
  • Please hold your diabetic medications the day of the procedure or as instructed by your provider and check your blood sugar accordingly.

One of our nurses will call you before your procedure to review instructions, health history and medications. Please call our office for any questions you may have at 310-423-0095.

The following items need to be purchased at a pharmacy (no prescription needed):

1. Miralax or Glycolax powder (119-gram bottle)
2. 32-ounce pitcher of water or 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade (ice or lemonade flavors only) or coconut water
3. Two Fleet saline enemas.

One day before your procedure:

• Begin your clear liquid diet the entire day until six hours prior to procedure.
• Mix all the MiraLAX with 32 ounces (1 liter) of water or Gatorade (or coconut water).
• Drink an 8-ounce glass of the mixture every 15 minutes until you finish it. If you feel nauseated, stop for one hour, but make sure you drink all the mixture within 4-6 hours.
  

Day of the procedure:

• Give yourself two Fleet Saline Enemas rectally the morning of your procedure.
• Do not eat or drink anything else
• You may take certain blood pressure or heart medications at least two hours prior to your scheduled procedure time with a sip of water.
  

Tips:

• The prep may not be palatable. If you experience nausea, bloating or vomiting, then you may increase the time interval between each 8-ounce glass.
• Have some baby wipes, Vaseline, Balneol or Desitin handy in case of a sore bottom.

After your procedure:

• Recovery time usually takes 45-60 minutes depending on how you are doing after the procedure. Please plan on being at the medical center for at least four hours.
• In some cases, you may need to stay overnight at the hospital if indicated by your doctor. Please pack an overnight bag. 
• You will be given instructions in the recovery room about when to resume your medications, diet and prescription instructions, if applicable. 
• Your throat may be sore after the procedure. This should get better in 1-2 days.
• If you have a fever greater than 101 degrees, chills, increasing abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, black stools or bright red bleeding, please go to your nearest emergency room to be evaluated.
• If the doctor has taken any biopsies, it takes an average of 3-5 business days to receive results. Once the doctor has reviewed results, we will contact you with any recommendations.