Frequently Asked Questions

• Where can I find instructions for my procedure prep?

  We use several different preps based on the type of procedure you are having. Please select your prep from the right sidebar on this page.

• When will I be able to return to work?

  The day of your procedure you will not be able to drive or return to work because of the sedation. The day after your procedure you will be able to.

• Will I be put to sleep for my procedure?

  Yes. You are sedated for your procedures. You will be given medication through an IV and will have a very pleasant nap and the procedure itself should be completely painless. You will wake up after the procedure is over in the recovery room. Because of this make sure you bring a friend or family member to drive you safely home.

• What should I do if I vomit some of the bowel prep up?

  The prep does not taste bad but for some people just the volume over time causes nausea. If this happens and you vomit some of the prep just wait an hour or so and then restart slowly. Drinking other clear liquids while doing the bowel prep will help as well. The more prep you get in the cleaner your result will be.

• Why is my bowel prep for the colonoscopy dosed the evening before my procedure and the morning of the procedure?

  There is no great bowel prep for a colonoscopy. We have been doing these for 40 years and they haven’t found a better colonoscopy prep. They have tried with fleets preps and tablet preps but these have caused problems with kidney function so are rarely used anymore. What we do know is the cleaner you can get your colon the more thorough of an exam we can give you. Studies have shown if you take the bowl prep split the night before and the morning of it does give a cleaner result. There is no fun way to do a bowel prep but the cleaner you can get your colon the better of an exam we can do for you.

• My doctor ordered a breath test, what is that?

  We do 4 different types of breath tests. One is to detect Helicobacter pylori. You take a drink of a sugar like solution then blow in a small machine and it gives us the result. This is a quick and easy test done in the office. The other three breath tests are for lactase deficiency, fructase deficiency and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. These are all common causes of gas, bloating and loose stool. Each test requires drinking a different sugar solution and then over the course of 5 minutes (for lactose and fructose) and 90 minutes (for bacterial overgrowth) you blow in a small machine until it is positive or negative. These are very easy noninvasive procedures done in the office.

• Are there treatment options for hemorrhoids?

  Yes there are. We do in office hemorrhoid banding which is a fairly painless in office procedure that requires no bowel prep and you can return to work the same day.

• How long should I give the nurse to return my call when I leave a message?

  We will do everything we can to return your call as soon as possible. If it is an emergent call let the receptionist know so they can find someone for you right away. If the nurse running clinic she may not have time to make phone calls until the end of the day but all messages will be returned by days end. Leave a good contact number where we can get a hold of you.

• What do I do if I need a refill of my medication?

  We don’t process refill requests after hours or on weekends so call during normal office hours. Typically all you need to do is notify your pharmacy and they will electronically send the refill request to us. The refill request should be processed within 24-48 hours from the time we receive it.

• What should I expect during my initial visit?

  During your initial visit you will spend time with the physician going over your current issues and reviewing your prior medical history. Please arrive about 30 minutes prior to your appointment time so you can complete the necessary paper work. Bring with you any prior medical work up or studies relating to the issues you are seeing the physician for. Your referring physician usually sends this stuff over but its best to bring it yourself so we know we get it. During your initial visit any studies or tests you need will be ordered at that time.