For Our Colonoscopy Patients

Scheduling your Procedure

If you need a colonoscopy, your Primary Care Provider can refer you for a Direct Colonoscopy or you can call our 24/7 Contact Center at 713-442-0427 to schedule an appointment with a Kelsey-Seybold Gastroenterologist.

The Week Before your Procedure

A nurse from the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) will contact you 3 business days before your procedure, regarding your arrival time and specific instructions about your procedure.

• The nurse will review pre-operative instructions and help answer any questions you may have about your procedure.
• Do not drink alcohol 24 hours prior to surgery as it can cause an adverse reaction to anesthesia and medications.
• If you are a smoker, don't smoke for at least 12 hours prior to your procedure as it can cause an adverse reaction to anesthesia and medication.
• Do not eat or drink after midnight, the night prior to your procedure. This includes water, chewing gum, and mints.
• If you need to cancel your procedure, please call your doctor’s office as soon as you know.
• Please arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 8-12 hours following your procedure. By Texas law, a responsible adult (over the age of 18) must take you home. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of your procedure. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home or take a cab home by yourself. Uber, Lyft and other public transportation options are not allowed UNLESS you have another adult traveling with you.

The Day of Procedure

Pre-Procedure Instructions

• Bathe or shower on the morning of your procedure to minimize the risk of infection.
• Brush your teeth on the morning of the procedure, but don't swallow any water.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and low-heeled shoes.
• Remove all body piercings the morning of the procedure.
• Leave jewelry, valuables, cash and credit cards at home, except what is needed to take care of financial obligations for your procedure.
• Bring a case for you glasses, contacts and/or dentures for their safekeeping during your procedure.
• Do not wear any make-up.
• Although the procedure itself takes only 20-30 minutes, be prepared to spend about 3 hours at our facility.

If you need to reschedule or cancel your procedure, please call your doctor’s secretary at least 72 hours in advanced. Their phone number can be found on your Colonoscopy Instructions handout. You can also call our contact center 24/7 at 713-442-0000 and they will redirect you.

Your physician has prescribed a bowel prep; please follow the instructions carefully. If you have questions specific to your prep, please call your physician’s office and ask to speak to the nurse.

Please complete the entire prep. If you are unable to complete the prep, it is important that you notify your physician immediately by calling your Gastroenterology Clinic:

Main Campus: 713-442-0520
North Houston: 713-442-1700
Fort Bend: 713-442-9151
Clear Lake (Bay Area Campus): 713-442-4300

If you normally take blood pressure medications, steroids or thyroid medicine DO TAKE them that day with a small sip of water. For all other medications, please refer to your GI provider’s instructions.

Women: A urine pregnancy test is required on all women of childbearing age, who have not had a hysterectomy or tubal ligation.

After Your Colonoscopy

You will be taken to the recovery area where our staff will care for you until you are awake and comfortable, about 30-60 minutes. Your doctor will come back to the Recovery Room and briefly review your procedure results as well as give you instructions pertaining to diet and medications to restart or hold for a few days. If a biopsy was done or if polyp(s) were removed, your doctor will inform you how you will receive the results.

You will be provided with instructions for follow-up care at home, along with contact phone numbers to call if you have questions or concerns after discharge. You may experience some drowsiness and increased gas and bloating after the procedure. These symptoms may gradually disappear as time goes passes. Due to the effects of sedation, you may not drive, use power equipment, eat a heavy meal, sign important papers, make any important decisions or stay by yourself until the day after the procedure. 

PATHOLOGY
The pathologist will bill separately for their services, if tissue is removed during your procedure. Depending on your insurance, you may get a separate bill from Pathology.

For questions regarding Pathology billing, please contact Brown and Associates at 713-559-6920.