Preparing for Surgery, Colonoscopy & Gastroscopy

Patient information

Patient preparation

Everything you need to prepare for your surgery or procedure — fasting guidelines, medication instructions, and colonoscopy prep.

Before your operation

Call Rockyview General Hospital Day Surgery the day before your surgery to receive your arrival time and any final instructions. The Day Surgery team will confirm your fasting schedule based on your scheduled OR time.

Blood thinners (warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, clopidogrel) must be stopped several days pre-operatively — your surgeon's office will advise the exact timing based on your specific medication and procedure.

Anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) should be stopped 7–10 days before surgery to reduce bleeding risk.

GLP-1 medications (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda) — continue taking your medication; you no longer need to stop it 7 days before surgery. Instead, follow the prolonged clear-fluid fast described in the Fasting tab. The Pre-Admission Clinic will give you a teaching sheet — there are separate versions for patients with and without diabetes.

Fasting: Stop eating 8 hours before your surgery time; stop all fluids 3 hours before. Clear fluids are permitted until then. If you take a GLP-1 medication, different fasting rules apply — see the Fasting tab.

Shower the night before or morning of surgery. Follow any antiseptic wash instructions provided by your surgeon's office.

Arrange a driver. You cannot drive home after general anaesthesia — a responsible adult must accompany you.

Bring: government-issued photo ID and your Alberta Health Care card. Leave valuables at home.

After your operation

Day surgery: Most procedures at Summit Surgical are performed as outpatient (day surgery) — you go home the same day once awake, walking, and able to tolerate fluids.

Pain management: Most patients manage well with scheduled acetaminophen and ibuprofen (unless contraindicated). A short course of stronger pain medication may be prescribed. Take medications on schedule rather than waiting for pain to build.

Activity: Light walking is encouraged from day one — it reduces the risk of blood clots and speeds recovery. Avoid lifting more than 10 lbs for the first 2 weeks.

Driving: Do not drive until you are off all narcotic pain medication and can perform an emergency stop without hesitation.

Wound care: Keep incisions clean and dry for the first 24–48 hours. Do not peel Steri-Strips — let them fall off naturally. Showering is generally permitted after 48 hours.

Return to work: Desk work within 1 week for laparoscopic repairs. Physical labour 4–6 weeks depending on surgeon assessment.

Follow-up appointment is typically 2 weeks after surgery. Contact our office at 587-392-0370 if you have not received an appointment confirmation.

When to seek care after surgery: Fever above 38.5°C, increasing redness or discharge at the wound, worsening pain not controlled by medication, inability to keep fluids down, or inability to pass gas or stool — call our office at 587-392-0370 or go to the Emergency Department if symptoms are severe.

Fasting & carbohydrate loading

AHS Pre-operative Fasting Guideline · Based on Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society 2019

Taking a GLP-1 medication (Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda or similar)? As of September 15, 2026, Rockyview General Hospital uses a prolonged clear-fluid fast instead of stopping the medication. Continue your GLP-1 medication. The day before surgery, you may have a light breakfast, finished by 8:00 a.m. After breakfast, have clear fluids only until midnight, then nothing by mouth. You must have nothing by mouth for at least 6 hours before surgery. The 8-hour / 3-hour schedule and carbohydrate loading below do not apply to you. Follow the teaching sheet from the Pre-Admission Clinic.

When to stop eating & drinking

8 hrs Stop all solid food — includes regular meals, snacks, milk, and chewing gum.

3 hrs Stop all fluids — clear fluids (water, apple juice, clear tea without milk) are permitted right up to this point.

Minimum fasting times (CAS 2019): 8 hrs after a meal with meat, fried, or fatty foods · 6 hrs after a light meal (e.g., toast + clear fluid) · 2 hrs after clear fluids only. AHS instructions include a buffer above these minimums to accommodate OR schedule flexibility.

Carbohydrate loading

500 mL Drink 500 mL of clear apple juice or cranberry cocktail at exactly 3 hours before your surgery — right as you stop drinking.

Why carb load? Drinking a carbohydrate-rich fluid before surgery puts your body in a metabolically fed state, reducing surgical stress and accelerating recovery. Evidence supports reduction in post-operative nausea, fatigue, and hospital length of stay.

Diabetes: Carbohydrate loading is not recommended for patients with diabetes. Diabetic patients are typically seen at the Pre-Assessment Clinic (PAC) prior to surgery — please follow the fasting and medication instructions provided by the PAC team.

Carb loading is recommended but not mandatory. Missing it will not delay or cancel your surgery. A personalised timetable is provided at time of booking.

Colonoscopy preparation guide

AHS Calgary Zone · Rockyview General Hospital, South Health Campus & High River General Hospital

Read this guide at least 5 days before your procedure. A poorly prepared bowel will result in your colonoscopy being cancelled and rescheduled. If you have any questions, call our office at 587-392-0370.

Step-by-step preparation

5 days before — stop iron supplements

Discontinue all iron-containing supplements and multivitamins with iron. Iron coats the bowel wall and impairs visualisation.

3 days before — low-residue diet

Avoid the following for 3 days:

Seeds, nuts, and popcorn
Raw vegetables and salads
Corn, peas, and beans
Whole grains, bran, high-fibre cereals
Red, purple, or blue coloured foods or drinks (beets, grape juice, red Jell-O)

Allowed: white bread, white rice, pasta, eggs, chicken, fish, well-cooked vegetables without skin, apple juice, clear broth.

Day before — clear fluid diet only

Consume only clear fluids. Drink at least 2 litres to stay well hydrated. Permitted:

Water, sparkling water
Clear broth or consommé
Apple juice, white grape juice, white cranberry juice
Clear sports drinks (no red or purple colours)
Black coffee or plain tea (no milk)
Clear popsicles or Jell-O — no red or purple

No solid food on the day before your procedure.

Evening before (~6:00–8:00 PM) — first prep dose

Take the first half of your prescribed prep solution. Common AHS Calgary preparations include PlenVu or Colyte/GoLYTELY — follow the mixing and drinking instructions on the label. Loose bowel movements begin within 1–3 hours. Continue drinking clear fluids between doses.

Tip: Chill the solution and drink through a straw — most patients find it more tolerable cold.

Morning of (4–5 hours before) — second prep dose

Take the second half of your prep solution. This split-dose approach produces significantly better bowel preparation quality. Your stool should become clear yellow fluid — this means your bowel is ready. Finish at least 3 hours before your procedure time.

3 hours before — stop all fluids

Stop drinking entirely 3 hours before your scheduled procedure time, as required for safe sedation.

Medications before colonoscopy

Blood pressure, heart, and seizure medications — take as usual with a small sip of water the morning of the procedure.

Blood thinners — warfarin held 5 days prior; DOACs (rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran) held 24–48 hours prior. Do not stop without contacting our office first.

Diabetes medications — hold metformin on the day of the procedure. Diabetic patients are typically seen at the Pre-Assessment Clinic (PAC) prior to their procedure — please follow the medication instructions provided by the PAC team.

GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Victoza and similar) — please call our office at 587-392-0370 for instructions before your procedure.

NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) — may need to be held 5–7 days prior due to polypectomy bleeding risk. Discuss with your surgeon.

Day of procedure

Arrange a driver — you cannot drive for 24 hours after sedation.
Bring your Alberta Health Care card and government-issued photo ID.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Leave valuables at home.
Allow 3–4 hours for check-in, prep, procedure, and recovery.

If your prep is inadequate: If stool is not clear yellow fluid after completing both doses, or if you cannot tolerate the prep due to vomiting, call 587-392-0370. Do not attend for your procedure with an inadequate prep — it will be cancelled and rescheduled.

Upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy)

Upper endoscopy (esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy; EGD) examines the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum using a flexible camera passed through the mouth. It is performed under sedation and requires fasting. No bowel preparation is needed.

Fasting

Nothing to eat or drink for 6–8 hours before your procedure. The Day Surgery team will confirm your exact fasting time when they call to confirm your appointment.

GLP-1 medications

Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Victoza and similar — please call our office at 587-392-0370 for instructions before your procedure.

Blood thinners and diabetes medications

Follow the same instructions as for colonoscopy. Contact our office if you are unsure.

Arrange a driver

Sedation is administered and you cannot drive for 24 hours after the procedure.

What to bring

Bring your Alberta Health Care card and photo ID. Allow approximately 2–3 hours for the visit.

After your upper endoscopy: Your throat may feel mildly sore or numb for a few hours. You may have some bloating from air introduced during the procedure — this is normal and resolves quickly. Results will be discussed with you before you leave, and a written report sent to your referring physician.

Questions? If you have questions about preparing for your surgery or procedure, call our office at 587-392-0370 (Mon–Fri 8:00 am – 4:30 pm).