03124 Preparing for your Pouchoscopy

Preparing for a Pouchoscopy with UVA Digestive Health

Thank you for choosing us to provide your care. Please follow these guidelines to help make for a successful experience.

IMPORTANT: Some medications, such as diabetes medication and blood thinners, could cause complications during your upcoming procedure. If you take any of the following medications, contact the doctor who prescribes them to you two weeks before your procedure date and ask if you need to temporarily stop taking these medications.

• Weight-loss or diabetes medication, including Mounjaro®, Ozempic®, Saxenda®, Victoza®, Wegovy®.
• Blood thinning medication, including Aggrenox®, Coumadin®, Eliquis®, Lovenox®, Persantine®, Plavix®, Pletal®, Pradaxa®, Ticlid®, Warfarin, Xarelto®.

If you take any of these medications, we also recommend that you follow a clear liquid diet for 1 day before this or any endoscopic procedure during which you will be sedated, or “go to sleep,” during the procedure. While following a clear liquid diet, you can drink water, broths, and other sugar-free clear liquids. This will help empty your stomach, which is necessary for these procedures.

If you take a daily Aspirin, continue taking your Aspirin.

• Food and Drink: DO NOT eat solid food or milk products after midnight the night before your procedure. You may have clear liquids, nothing red or purple, until 2 hours before you arrive for your appointment. DO NOT drink anything after that time or your procedure will be cancelled.
• If will receive anesthesia medications on the day of your procedure, you MUST have a responsible adult 18 years or older who can drive you home. For your safety, UVA Health recommends that this person stay with you for several hours after your procedure. You may not drive for 24 hours after your procedure.
• Visitors: Please find the most up to date visitor information on the UVA Health website https://uvahealth.com/patients-visitors/visiting-patient, or call us to ask if visitors are allowed at the time of your procedure (434) 243-3090.
• Medication and allergy information: Please bring a complete list of your current medications, their doses, and any allergies you may have.
• Pacemaker or Internal Defibrillator: Please bring your device information card with you.
• Personal belongings: Please leave all jewelry and other valuables at home. Please do not wear contacts the day of your procedure. If you wear glasses, hearing aids, or dentures, please bring a case with you to store these items during your procedure.
• Please note that UVA performs procedures at two locations. Please confirm your location by referring to your appointment reminder letter.

We strive to provide the safest care for all of our patients. As a result, some procedures may take longer for some patients than others. Please arrive 45 minutes prior to your appointment time. We ask for your patience and that you plan to be with us at least 2 to 3 hours.

If you must cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call the UVA Endoscopy scheduling team as soon as possible at: (434) 243-3090.

Enema Instructions for Pouchoscopy

7 days before your procedure:

• If you are on medications (other than aspirin) that thin your blood or if you take medications for diabetes (including GLP-1 agonists prescribed for weight loss), you will need to let your doctor that prescribes these medications know you are planning to have a procedure and ask for instructions regarding this medication.
• Please note that UVA performs procedures at two locations. Please confirm your location by referring to your appointment reminder letter.

5 days before your procedure:

• Stop iron, including medications or vitamins that contain iron.
• Purchase two over the counter enemas such as saline or sodium phosphate enemas (please do not use mineral oil enemas to prepare for your procedure).

On the day of your procedure:

•  8 hours before your procedure, begin a clear liquid diet (see table below). Do not eat solid food from now until your procedure is done.
• 3 hours before your procedure, stop drinking all liquids. Unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider, take your daily medications as prescribed with water up to 3 hours before your procedure
• 2 hours before you leave to come to your procedure, begin using the two enemas you purchased.
  • Follow the directions on the box on how to use an enema. If you need assistance with directions, you can call us at (434) 243-3090.
• Arrive 45 minutes before your scheduled appointment time with a responsible adult who will be able to accompany you home.

CLEAR LIQUID DIET

Change to this diet ONE DAY before your Colonoscopy. Stop drinking all liquids two hours before your procedure. You will return to your regular diet after the procedure.