Medications and Health Conditions

View this page in other languages:
Shqip | عربى | Português | Tiếng Việt | Español

What are the COVID-19 testing requirements?

Patients without symptoms and without any exposures to COVID-19 will NOT require pre-procedure COVID-19 testing. This is regardless of vaccination status or the aerosol risk category of the procedure. 

Patients who have symptoms or who have a COVID-19 exposure will require pre-procedure testing and may need to delay the procedure. Call our schedulers immediately at (508) 334-8036 to receive further instructions. 

All above guidelines are subject to change. 

What should my provider know about my past medical history prior to my procedure?

When scheduling your procedure, talk to your scheduler about your current medications. Your scheduler will have questions for you regarding your medical conditions and previous medical procedures. For your safety, some patients may need to have their procedure done in an operating room if they have certain higher risk conditions. If you have any questions, including any family or personal history of colorectal cancer or any previous colonoscopy results, contact your primary care physician (PCP) or gastroenterologist. 

You will be asked your weight. For your safety, it is critical that you are honest and as accurate as possible about your weight. You will also be asked if you have any of the following medical conditions or devices:

• Not able to easily walk/move around or if you are wheelchair bound
• Malignant hyperthermia
• Clostridioides difficile: Severe diarrhea and colitis (inflammation) of the colon caused by  bacteria 
• Liver transplant or cirrhosis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, controlled or uncontrolled) or on home oxygen
• Asthma (controlled or uncontrolled)
• Obstructive sleep apnea (controlled or uncontrolled)
• History of difficult intubation or difficulty with anesthesia
• Mouth or neck surgery or radiation
• Abnormal airway or neck anatomy or reduced range of motion
• Tracheal stoma/Tracheostomy 
• Coronary artery disease 
• Cardiovascular rhythm devices: automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or bi-ventricular pacemaker 
• Use of anticoagulants or antiplatelets
• Renal dialysis or renal transplant
• History of seizures
• Severe cognitive impairment or dementia

• Stroke or cerebrovascular accident

If any of your medical conditions change, contact our schedulers at 508-334-8036 prior to your procedure.

Should I continue taking my daily medications (e.g., blood thinners, antibiotics, vitamins, iron pills, liquid antacids, diabetes medication, other prescribed medications)?

It’s important that you contact your prescribing provider regarding your medications in advance of your colonoscopy to confirm which you should stop and which you should continue to take. Very often, prescribers recommend that most patients continue heart medications, such as beta blockers and medications to control your heart rate. Medicines to control neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, seizures), some anti-anxiety and pain medications are often continued. As a general prep rule, stop using fiber supplements (e.g., Metamucil, Citrucel, Fiberall), iron pills, fish oil, vitamin E and supplements.