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| Q : | Can I return to normal activities/ work the day after my colonoscopy? |
| A : | Yes, usually a patient can resume normal activites the following day. |
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| Q : | How long does a colonoscopy take? |
| A : | Most colonoscopies take 30 minutes to an hour. You will be asked to arrive 1 hour prior to your procedure, so your total time will be around 1 1/2 to 2 hours. |
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| Q : | Can I take my medication the day of the colonoscopy? |
| A : | - If you are taking medications for heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, or seizure disorders, you should take these the day of your procedure unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
- If you are taking medciations for diabetes, take only half the usual amount the day before your procedure and none the day of your procedure. Once your procedure is completed you may resume your medications along with your regular diet. |
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| Q : | Do I have to take all of the prep medicine? |
| A : | Yes, it is recommended you complete the prep for the procedure as prescribed by your physician. This is to ensure clear viewing of the gi tract during the procedure. |
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| Q : | Do I need to contact the insurance company before the procedure? |
| A : | No, our patient accounting department will take care of contacting your insurance company for pre-certifying your procedure. They will contact you with insurance coverage information prior to your procedure. |
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| Q : | Will it hurt? |
| A : | No, a colonoscopy is not painful. Patients are sedated with anesthesia, so they won't feel anything. |
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| Q : | Who will do the exam? |
| A : | A colonoscopy at Charleston Endoscopy Center is always done by one of our physicians. |
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| Q : | Will I be in a private room? |
| A : | Colonoscopies done at our center are always done in a private room; no other patients are around. Our physicians and nurses are professional and very careful to respect our patient's privacy. |
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| Q : | Will I need to miss work? |
| A : | Yes. Because a colonoscopy is done under sedation, people will typically miss a day of work. |
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| Q : | Will I need someone to drive me home? |
| A : | Yes. Because of the sedation that is given for the test, Charleston Endoscopy Center requires that you bring someone to stay during your procedure and drive you home afterwards. |
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| Q : | What if they find something? |
| A : | If a small polyp is found, your physician will probably remove it because it could eventually become cancerous. If your physician sees a large polyp, a tumor, or anything else abnormal, a biopsy will be done. For the biopsy, a small price of tissue is taken out through the colonoscope. It is sent to a lab to be checked for cancerous or precancerous cells. |
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| Q : | Are procedures done in the Mt. Pleasant office? |
| A : | No. Currently, the only facility we have available to do procedures, outside of the hospitals, is in West Ashley. |
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| Q : | Why am I getting two bills for my colonoscopy? |
| A : | Charleston Gastroenterology Specialists and Charleston Endoscopy Center are two separate entities. Charleston Gastroenterology is the professional part and Charleston Endoscopy is the faciliy part. When you have a procedure, you will get a bill for the professional fee as well as a bill for the facility fee. If you have any further questions, please contact our Patient Accounting Department at 843-722-8000. |
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| Q : | Is coffee considered a clear liquid? |
| A : | Yes. Clear liquids consist of coffee and tea with sugar, but no creamer or anything to cloud it. Clear liquids also consist of water, soda, non-pulpy juice, jello, clear soup (broth, consomme) and popsicles. NO milk or cream. |
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