If you have any questions, please call 207-773-7964.
Download these Prep Instructions for Printing
About Your Appointment
Plan on being at our facility for about 30 minutes from arrival to departure (although this may vary depending on the day/procedure/location)
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call at least 3 business days prior to your procedure to reschedule. We reserve the right to charge a penalty fee for patients who “no show” or cancel without adequate notice.
Medication Instructions
7 days before your procedure
- If you are diabetic, be aware that you will be fasting for this procedure. If you check your blood sugars, you can check them often. Do not take any oral diabetes medications the morning of your appointment. If you take insulin, take ½ of your normal morning dose the day of the procedure. Any further recommendations need to come from your provider managing your diabetes.
Step-by-Step Preparation Instructions
7 Days before your procecure
- Purchase the following items:
- 1 – 4.1 oz. container of MiraLAX® or Gavi LAX powder
- 32 ounces of Gatorade®, Propel Water®, Vitamin Water®, coconut water or smartwater®
- Call the office if you are pregnant, have an internal cardiac defibrillator, had a recent cardiac procedure or a new cardiac health concern.
- Review the Medication Instructions above.
Day before your procedure
At 12:00 pm
- Start a clear liquid diet
- Examples of clear liquids:
- Popsicles, EXCEPT for red, purple, or blue
- Coconut water (NOT coconut milk)
- Gatorade®
- Kool-Aid®
- Strained fruit juice (apple or white grape)
- Jell-O®
- Coffee and tea (without dairy products/creamer)
- Soft drinks
- No items with sediment/solids
At 4:00 pm
- Mix 4.1 oz bottle of MiraLAX® with the 32 oz of liquid (e.g. Gatorade®, Propel®, smartwater®, etc.) and refrigerate. (TIP: It is best tolerated cold!
- Drink 8 ounces of the MiraLAX® mixture every 15 minutes until it is gone.
- Once you have finished the MiraLAX® mixture, drink the 2nd bottle of Magnesium Citrate.
- After you finish the 2nd bottle of Magnesium Citrate, take 2 simethicone (Gas-X®) tablets.
- Continue to drink clear fluids up to 3 hours prior to your procedure. (TIP: it is important to HYDRATE!)
- Review Colonoscopy preparation tips to determine if you are ready for your colonoscopy.
At 10:00 pm
- Do not drink any more liquids (including water)
- If you are a diabetic and experience hypoglycemia, you may drink a small amount of clear liquids, for example:
- Apple juice
- Coca-Cola®
- White grape juice
Day of your procedure
- Do not take any medications 2 hours before your appointment. Morning medications need to be taken by 5:00 am with a sip of water only
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as a t-shirt that is long enough to reach hip level, and that will not ride up above your belt line, as a belt will be placed on you to wear for the day.
After swallowing/placement of the capsule
- Contact our office at 207-773-7964 immediately if you suffer from any abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
- You may resume drinking clear liquids starting 2 hours after swallowing the PillCam capsule.
- You may have a light lunch 4 hours after swallowing the PillCam capsule (1/2 the size of your normal lunch).
- You may have a light snack 6 hours after swallowing the PillCam capsule.
- Do not do any extreme exercise; walking is okay.
- Be sure the sensor belt is tight at the waist. Do not attach anything to the belt.
- Check the blue flashing PillCam Recorder every 15 minutes to be sure it is blinking twice per second. If it stops blinking, or if the blinking lights are any color other than blue, note the time and call us at 207-773-7964.
- Avoid strong magnetic fields such as MRI devices or ham radios after swallowing the PillCam capsule, and until you pass it in a bowel movement or hear from our office.
- Do not disconnect the equipment or completely remove the PillCam Recorder at any time while you are wearing it.
- Treat the PillCam recorder carefully. Avoid sudden movements and banging of the recorder.
Return to our office at 5:00 pm to have the equipment removed.
After your procedure is complete
- After study completion you may return to your normal diet.
- Your results will be reviewed in approximately 10 days. A copy will be sent to your PCP.
