EGD + Colonoscopy Prep
🔎 What Are These Procedures?
Your child is scheduled for two procedures done back-to-back while asleep under anesthesia:
- EGD (upper endoscopy) — a thin camera is passed through the mouth to look at the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. Small biopsies are usually taken.
- Colonoscopy — the same kind of camera is passed through the bottom to look at the large intestine. Biopsies are usually taken here too.
Both procedures together take about 30–60 minutes. Your child will not feel anything.
Prepare a list of medications.
Stop iron, anti-diarrhea medicine, GLP-1 (Wegovy) 7 days before.
If taking tetracycline or fluoroquinolone antibiotics, iron, digoxin, chlorpromazine, or penicillamine — take these at least 2 hours before and not less than 6 hours after each CLENPIQ dose.
Give all other oral medications at least 1 hour before starting each CLENPIQ dose.
You can verify what medications need to be stopped at meds.giready.com.
📖 About the Bowel Prep
The colon must be clean for the doctor to see clearly during the colonoscopy. The medicine below cleans the colon (empties it) before the procedure. The EGD itself does not need bowel prep — only the fasting times.
✅ Medications and Supplies needed
Pick up any prescription as soon as possible after scheduling. Buy all other supplies at least 5 days before the procedure.
| Active ingredient / Item | What to get |
|---|---|
| CLENPIQ (sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid) — prescription required Call the office if you have not received a prescription. CLENPIQ is ready to drink — no mixing needed. |
2 bottles 5.4 oz / 160 mL each |
| Clear liquids — water, Gatorade or Powerade (any color except red or purple), apple juice, white grape juice | At least 72 oz (~2 L) total. Include a balanced electrolyte drink (Gatorade, Pedialyte, or similar). |
| Skin protection — protective ointment (Desitin or Vaseline) for anal-area comfort | 1 tube |
📅 2 Days Before — Get Ready
Put the CLENPIQ bottles in the refrigerator. CLENPIQ is ready to drink (no mixing needed) and tastes better cold.
📅 1 Day Before — Diet & Bowel Prep
Two parts today: the diet below, then THE BIG PREP — the bowel-prep medicines — in the afternoon and evening.
The Diet — breakfast & lunch: Low-Residue (“White”) foods
Low-residue foods only — the table pairs meals that work with the ones to skip. Nothing with whole grains, red meat, nuts, seeds, popcorn or beans, and nothing fried or greasy. No vegetables that day except plain potato without the skin; fruit only if it is soft and peeled.
| ✅ OK to eat (breakfast & lunch) | ❌ Instead of |
|---|---|
| Scrambled eggs + white toast with butter | Whole-wheat toast, oatmeal with nuts or berries |
| Pancakes or waffles, plain or with syrup | Whole-grain waffles, berries, granola topping |
| Grilled chicken sandwich on white bread, no lettuce or tomato | Burger and fries, pizza, anything fried |
| Mac & cheese + applesauce | Salad, raw veggies, corn |
| White rice + baked chicken or fish + banana | Brown rice, beans, steak or ground beef |
| Snacks before 2 PM: plain yogurt, pudding, Jell-O, white crackers, pretzels, melon | Granola bars, popcorn, trail mix, fruit with the skin on |
After 2:00 PM — Clear Liquids Only
No more solid food. No dairy — no milk, yogurt, or ice cream.
| ✅ OK to drink | ❌ Skip that day |
|---|---|
| Water, apple juice, white grape juice | RED or PURPLE drinks or foods |
| Lemonade, clear soda, clear broth | Dairy (milk, yogurt, ice cream); juices with pulp |
| Popsicles, plain Jell-O, tea/coffee without milk | Any solid food |
🥤 DOSE 1 — Evening Before the Procedure
- Refrigerate the bottles ahead of time — CLENPIQ tastes better cold.
- Drink each cup of clear liquid steadily — don't wait until the end.
- Expect diarrhea to start within 1–3 hours — this is normal and means the prep is working.
- Apply protective ointment to the bottom area before diarrhea starts.
- If severe bloating, distension, or abdominal pain occurs after Dose 1, delay Dose 2 until symptoms resolve.
🥤 DOSE 2 — Morning of the Procedure
⚠️ Stop all clear liquids 2 hours before the procedure. If your child vomits within 30 minutes of a dose, wait 30 minutes and try giving the dose again slowly.
📅 Day of Procedure
- Give CLENPIQ Dose 2 this morning (see Dose 2 above) — finish at least 2 hours before the procedure.
- Clear liquids are allowed up until 2 hours before the procedure — nothing by mouth after that. No solid food the day of.
- Offer small sips of clear liquids every 30–60 minutes through the morning. Each drink: no more than 8 oz (~240 mL).
- The EGD is done first (through the mouth), then the colonoscopy. Both happen during the same nap.
- Bring comfort items for your child (toy, blanket, tablet, etc.).
Helpful Resources
After the procedure & when to call
- Your child will wake up in the recovery area. Some grogginess and gas/cramping/bloating are normal for several hours.
- A small amount of blood with the first stool after a colonoscopy can be normal, especially if biopsies were taken.
- An adult must stay with your child for 24 hours after anesthesia.
- Start with clear liquids, then advance to a regular diet as tolerated.
- No school, daycare, or sports for the rest of the day. Most children are back to normal activity the next day.
- The doctor will discuss what was seen before you go home. Biopsy results take about 1–2 weeks; we'll send the results to the portal and discuss over the phone or at the next appointment.
A sore throat, mild cramping and extra gas are common for about a day, and streaks of blood in the first stool or in vomit can be normal after biopsies. Call (317) 338-9450 if your child has:
- A temperature over 101°F (38.3°C)
- More than about a tablespoon of blood, in stool or in vomit, or stool that is black
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain — call us, and we will tell you whether to be seen
- Severe or persistent sore throat, drooling, or trouble swallowing
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain — this is an emergency, call 911
After hours, the same number reaches the provider on call.