FAQ
How do I get an appointment?
Booking an appointment requires receipt of a referral from another Specialist or Family Doctor in accordance with the Ministry of Health Regulations. This excludes privately paying patients who do not have a BC Care Card. We do not accept walk-ins.
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Patients who have not been seen for more than 12 months will require a new referral.
What is the wait time before I get seen?
Demand for Gastroenterological services overwhelm the resources currently available in the Lower Mainland and wait times are frequently lengthy (months) for routine non-urgent consultations.
We try our best to triage the urgency based on information provided by the referring physicians. It is often helpful if your referring physician makes contact with our office personally if an urgent appointment is required.
The referral process involves your doctor sending us a referral with as much pertinent information possible to help us triage the urgency.
It is important for your referring physicians to also include all relevant results from investigations already performed. An appointment date and time will be sent to you and also to your referring physician's office.
Please follow up with your referring physician if you have not heard back within a reasonable time period as it is possible that our office did not receive the referral in the first place.
Please call our office to confirm the appointment or to change the date if it does not suit your schedule at least 1 week before the appointment date. Failure to confirm will result in your appointment being cancelled and the time slot being used for another patient.
Can I drive myself home after my endoscopy procedure?
No, you cannot drive home yourself after a colonoscopy (or any endoscopic procedure) IF you receive sedation.
In general, colonoscopy and most endoscopic procedures are performed with conscious sedation. This legally impairs the patient and precludes one from driving/ operating heavy machinery the rest of the day.
Endoscopy can be performed without sedation for most individuals as long as they are aware there is some intermittent discomfort during the procedure. If sedation is not used, you can drive yourself home.
Hospital policy also will not allow sedation to be administered if you have not arranged for a responsible adult to accompany you home. Patients will also not be allowed to go home on their own on a bus or taxi.
What is conscious sedation?
This type of sedation induces an altered state of consciousness that minimizes pain and discomfort through the use of pain relievers and sedatives. We typically use midazolam and fentanyl for our procedures.
Patients, who receive conscious sedation usually are able to speak and respond to verbal commands throughout the procedure and are able to communicate any discomfort they experience. Patients usually do not recall much of the procedure afterwards.
What are the side effects of conscious sedation?
A brief period of amnesia after the procedure may follow the administration of conscious sedation. Occasional side effects may include headache, hangover, nausea and vomiting or unpleasant memories of the surgical experience. Most patients find sedation a pleasant experience.
What should I expect after my endoscopic procedure?
Written post-procedural instructions and preliminary results will be given to you to take home. Even though the verbal results may be conveyed to you immediately after the procedure, you may not recall the details due to the sedation.
You should not drive a vehicle, operate dangerous equipment or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours after receiving conscious sedation.
Why avoid seeds and fibre before my colonoscopy?
Seeds and fibre are more difficult to cleanse prior to your colonoscopy. It may render your colonoscopy suboptimal especially when there is a significant residue left in the colon. It will also increase the risk of missing lesions like polyps and colon cancers if the preparation in suboptimal.
What does a high-fibre, high residue diet mean?
A high residue diet, also known as a high-fiber diet, is rich in dietary fiber and promotes healthy digestion by adding bulk to stool, preventing constipation, and supporting regular bowel movements. It typically includes foods that are minimally processed and rich in plant-based components.
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These foods are also harder to cleanse in preparation for your colonoscopy and should be avoided as much as possible 5 days before the procedure.
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Find some examples of a high residue and high fiber diet here
I have taken the preparation as instructed but I'm still not clear. What should I do?
Do not worry. Often times, it may not be completely clear. As long as you have completed the preparation as instructed, any small amounts of liquid residue can be suctioned by the colonoscope during the procedure. Continue to drink clear fluids up to 2 hours before your scheduled procedure if you are concerned the prepration is not as good as it should be.
What can I do for nausea when I'm taking the bowel preparation for my colonoscopy?
If you have taken the prep before and it caused nausea, preemptively take dimenhydrinate (e.g. Gravol®) before starting the prep. You can also take dimenhydrinate if nausea develops after you have started the preparation.
Will I receive a reminder for my appointment?
A reminder call or an email/SMS reminder will be sent prior to your appointment.
How can I find the bowel preparation instruction sheet?
You can find a copy of the instructions by heading to our resources page.
How can I contact the office?
Most queries can be found on this website. Please take time to read through the FAQ and other sections on the website. Please note that we are also often not able to return many of messages that are left on our voicemail even though we will endeavour to return as many of the calls as possible. If you are not able to get through and cannot find the information you need, please call again during phone hours.