Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to do anything special to prepare for an upper endoscopy(EGD)?

Yes, there are a few guidelines to follow:

• Please, leave all valuables at home
• Please, bring your identification & insurance card and a current list of your home medications.
• Make sure you have a dependable adult care giver who is willing to drive you and stay with you during and after your test. If you are using a transportation company, you will need a caregiver to ride with you after the procedure.
• If you do not have a driver/care giver we will reschedule your procedure to ensure your safety.
• Please take in nothing by mouth after midnight except your approved medicine with a sip of water.
• IF YOU ARE SCHEDULED FOR A BRAVO CAPSULE PLACEMENT, please HOLD ALL ANTACIDS & ACID SUPPRESSING MEDICATIONS FOR 7 DAYS (such as Tums, Rolaids, Carafate, Pepcid, Prilosec, Omeprazole, Nexium, Prevacid, and others.)

Do I have to drink all my prep Solution?

Yes, please drink the entire prep solution and follow the instructions carefully. Even if your bowel movements look fairly clear, stool may still be present at the far end of your colon.

Remember: if your doctor cannot see your colon wall, he may miss polyps or dangerous abnormalities!

Can I make my prep experience more tolerable?

Yes, to help you drink your laxative solution, trick your taste buds:

• Numb your taste buds by eating a popsicle or ice to get the inside of your mouth really cold. Then drink your prep and follow with clear liquids.
• Confuse your taste buds by sucking on a lemon. Then drink your prep and follow with a clear liquid.

For the soreness caused by the frequent bathroom trips:

• Frequently rinse the affected area gently with warm water. Repeated wiping irritates the delicate perineal skin.
• Use diaper rash cream when you start drinking your prep (before the bowel movements start) and reapply it after each bowel movement.

What medications can I take before my procedure?

For a complete list of medications that can and cannot be taken before your procedure, please click here and review the pdf file.

What can I do if I get too nauseated to drink all my prep?

Nausea is a very common side effect.

• Stop drinking the prep for 20 to 30 minutes and then continue drinking it at a slower pace.
• If you start vomiting:
  • less than half the prep, take a break for 30 minutes and then resume slowly drinking your prep
  • more than half of your prep, have someone purchase an over-the-counter alternative.
  • If that is not an option, reschedule your procedure for another day.

What can I do if my laxative did not work well?

If your bowel movements continue to be brown after you drink the second half of your prep, you may have to take additional laxatives which you can buy over the counter such as a bottle of magnesium citrate (if you have no kidney problems) or the Miralax prep (click here for Miralax prep instructions).

Where do I go to check in?

We perform procedures at the hospital in the Same-Day-Surgery (SDS) area and at the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC). It is the same building which also houses the women’ s center and pre-admission.

If you are scheduled at SDS, pull into the visitors parking lot, go past the main lobby entrance toward the exit on Gordon Avenue. You will see a round drive to your right side before you reach that exit. The pair of double doors at the top of the drive way is the entrance to SDS. Once you enter the building, a receptionist will check you in.

• The address is 915 Gordon Thomasville, Ga. 31792

If you are scheduled at the ACC, park in the ACC visitors parking lot and enter through the center doors. Once inside check in with the registration (center desk).

• The address is 947 South Broad Street Thomasville, Ga. 31792

How long will my procedure take?

Our goal is to have you to spend about three (3) hours with us from start to finish.

However, please remember that each patient is unique and we do not know what we will find until we are in the procedure. Our physicians and our team are committed to providing every patient with safe, comprehensive care.

Your procedure appointment time is the result of averaging the lengths of past procedures. It is our very best guess.

Therefore, please be patient if your wait is longer than expected.

Have a question that is not answered here or the Prep Instructions page? Please call (229) 584-5590.