PATIENT INFORMATION
COLONOSCOPY PATHWAY
BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE
Preparing for your Colonoscopy
This information is for people preparing for a colonoscopy at the MacMurray Centre. It explains how to prepare, what to expect on the day, and when and how to contact the MacMurray team.
Your own instructions may differ, so follow the advice given by your treating team.
The most important step is to follow your bowel preparation instructions exactly.
Good preparation empties the bowel completely, so your gastroenterologist can see the bowel lining clearly.
Quick summary
What it is: an examination of the large bowel using a thin, flexible camera, usually done with sedation.
What to do: read your MacMurray instructions as soon as you receive them — your timing and preparation may differ from another patient's.
Preparation: take the bowel preparation exactly as instructed and stay close to a toilet once it starts.
Recovery: most people go home the same day; after sedation you must not drive for the rest of the day.
Warning signs: contact the team if you cannot finish the preparation, vomit it, or become unwell — and seek urgent help for severe pain, heavy bleeding or fainting.
Who to call: the MacMurray team on (09) 550 1080, or 111 in an emergency.
Why might a colonoscopy be recommended?
Your clinician may recommend a colonoscopy to look for the cause of symptoms such as bleeding from the bowel, a change in bowel habit, ongoing abdominal pain, or low iron levels. It is also used to screen for bowel cancer and to check the bowel if you have had polyps before.
A colonoscopy can help find the cause of symptoms, but it does not always give a definite explanation. The reason for your colonoscopy depends on your individual situation, and you can ask your specialist why it has been recommended for you and whether there are reasonable alternatives.
What does a colonoscopy involve?
A colonoscopy is an examination of the large bowel (the colon) using a colonoscope — a thin, flexible tube with a small camera. It is performed by a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specialises in the digestive system. MacMurray specialists also hold senior positions in public hospitals.
Most people have sedation — medicine given through a small needle in the arm that makes you relaxed and drowsy. The examination itself commonly takes less than an hour, although your visit will be longer.
During the procedure the doctor may remove polyps (small growths on the bowel lining) or take a biopsy (a small sample of tissue for laboratory testing). You will not usually feel this happening.
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More detail: sedation explained
Sedation is not the same as a general anaesthetic. You are drowsy and comfortable rather than fully unconscious, and many people remember little of the procedure. Because sedation affects your memory, reflexes and judgement for the rest of the day, you must not drive, work, or make important decisions until the next day. The type of sedation used for you will be discussed on the day. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: sedation policy details, including any anaesthetist involvement⟧
What should I do before my colonoscopy?
Eating and drinking
In the days before your colonoscopy you may be asked to change what you eat. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: pre-procedure diet instructions and start day⟧
Before the procedure you will need to stop eating and drink only clear fluids for a period of time. Your MacMurray instructions give the exact times. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: fasting and clear-fluid cut-off times⟧ Your instructions will also list what counts as a clear fluid.
Bowel preparation
The bowel preparation is a strong laxative that empties your bowel so the camera can see the lining clearly. You will be given ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: bowel preparation product name and regimen, including split-dose timing⟧.
Once the preparation starts working, stay somewhere with easy access to a toilet. It is common to have frequent, watery bowel motions — this means the preparation is working.
Contact the team if you cannot complete the preparation — do not assume your procedure must be cancelled.
Your medicines
Do not stop prescribed medicines unless you have been specifically instructed to do so.
Contact the MacMurray team before your procedure if you take blood-thinning medicines, diabetes medicines, insulin, iron tablets, or any medicine you are unsure about. The team will give you individual advice. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: medication query contact process and timing⟧
Transport and support person
If you have sedation, you must not drive afterwards. Arrange for a responsible adult to take you home. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: support person and transport requirements, including whether the support person must stay⟧
What to bring
Bring your booking letter, a list of your current medicines, and your glasses if you use them. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: arrival instructions and any additional items⟧
If you become unwell before the procedure
Call the MacMurray team if you become unwell, develop an infection, or your medicines or health change before your procedure. They will advise whether your appointment needs to change.
What happens on the day?
When you arrive, the nursing team will check you in and complete a short health assessment. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: arrival time and location instructions⟧
You will still have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss consent with your clinician before the procedure. You will change into a gown, and sedation is usually given just before the examination begins.
Afterwards you will rest in the recovery area while the sedation wears off. Many people are ready to go home within a few hours of arriving, although this varies.
What should I expect afterwards?
It is common to feel bloated or windy for a few hours — this settles as the air used during the examination passes. Many people feel drowsy for the rest of the day.
For the rest of the day after sedation, do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or make important decisions. Most people eat and drink normally soon after the procedure and return to usual activities the next day, but recovery varies — follow the advice you are given on the day.
When and how will I receive my results?
Your gastroenterologist will usually explain the initial findings before you go home. Because sedation affects memory, it helps to have your support person with you for this conversation.
If a biopsy was taken or polyps were removed, laboratory results take longer. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: expected timeframe for pathology results and how they are communicated⟧ If you have not heard about your results within the expected time, contact the MacMurray team. ⟦MACMURRAY TO CONFIRM: results follow-up contact process⟧
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The preparation draws water into the bowel to flush it clean. This is why drinking the accompanying fluids matters as much as the laxative itself, and why you may feel cold or tired while it works. An incompletely prepared bowel can hide small polyps and may mean the procedure has to be repeated — which is why following the instructions exactly matters more than any other step.
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Polyps are small growths on the bowel lining. Most are harmless, but some types can slowly develop into cancer over years, which is why they are usually removed during the colonoscopy. A biopsy is a small sample of tissue taken for laboratory testing; it helps explain symptoms even when the bowel looks normal. Having a polyp removed or a biopsy taken does not mean something is seriously wrong — it is a routine part of a careful examination.
When should I seek help?
Contact the MacMurray team promptly on:
(09) 550 1080 if:
you cannot complete the bowel preparation, or you vomit it
you have no bowel motion after finishing the preparation
you are unsure what to do with your medicines
you become unwell before your procedure
you cannot arrange transport or a support person
Seek urgent medical assessment if:
you have severe abdominal pain — contact the team immediately or go to an emergency department
you have heavy bleeding from the bowel — contact the team immediately or go to an emergency department
you faint, or you keep vomiting and cannot keep fluids down — seek urgent medical care without waiting
How can my whānau or support person help?
Your whānau or support person can help by driving you home, staying with you after sedation, and being with you when results are explained — a second set of ears helps, because sedation affects memory. They are welcome to help you ask questions at any stage.
What if I have additional needs?
Tell the MacMurray team when you book if you need an interpreter, help with mobility, or information in another format such as larger print. An audio version of this guide is available on this page. (Audio placeholder — link once recorded.)
In summary
Take your bowel preparation exactly as instructed, and call the team rather than giving up if you have problems with it.
Expect to feel drowsy and bloated afterwards — plan a quiet rest of the day, with someone to take you home.
Contact the MacMurray team promptly about preparation or medicine problems, and call 111 in an emergency.
This article provides general information and does not replace advice from your treating team. Your care may differ depending on your health, medicines and individual circumstances. Follow the instructions given directly by your healthcare provider. Seek urgent medical help if you have severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.
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