With a colonoscopy, most of the work happens before you arrive. Getting the prep right is what makes the procedure quick and the results reliable.
Read your clinic's prep instructions early and note the exact timing, since it is specific and matters. Arrange a ride home, since you cannot drive after sedation, and clear your schedule for the day.
Ask ahead about your medications, especially blood thinners, diabetes medicine, and iron, since some need to pause. Stock up on the clear fluids you are allowed, and know when to start the prep.
On the day, staff will confirm your prep, start an IV, and give sedation, so most people remember little of it. The procedure itself is usually short.
Take notes as the doctor talks, record the meeting (with their permission!) in myStoria, or add a quick voice note to myStoria as soon as possible afterward so that you are not relying on memory alone.
Before you leave the clinic, ask for copies of anything from the visit, like lab results, assessments, or referrals, and upload them to myStoria to keep your history complete. (If you aren't able to get copies, connect with Concierge and we can help you source them!)
Plan to rest for the day, since sedation lingers. Some bloating or cramping is normal at first. Note anything the team tells you before you leave, since it is easy to forget afterward.
If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, or a fever after, seek care right away. Otherwise, watch for your results and book the next screening on the timeline you are given.
myStoria keeps your prep instructions, medications, and questions in one place, so the day goes smoothly and your results are easy to find later. When you want to talk something through, you can schedule a video consult in advance with a member of our team, several of whom are nurses.
This page offers general information to help you prepare for and follow up on your colonoscopy. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Follow your clinic's specific prep instructions, and if you have heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or a fever afterward, seek urgent care. myStoria video consults are scheduled in advance.