What are the office/fax number(s) and addresses for your offices and your Surgery Center (CARES)?
Please click on the link below to access office contact numbers and location
https://www.crspecialists.com/...
We have ONE ambulatory surgery center (CARES) located in Mechanicsville. This is the ONLY location
where we perform colonoscopies and anorectal surgeries.
We have three offices where we see patients for office visits - Stony Point, Henrico and Mechanicsville (CARES surgery center and clinic). Prior to your appointment, be sure to confirm which location you are scheduled to be seen at. For follow up appointments, DO NOT
ASSUME that it will be at the same office location as a prior visit. Surgeons may see patients for office
visits at more than 1 location, depending on the day of the week. Your next visit with your
surgeon may be at a different office location than your previous appointment.
I am having a colonoscopy and I haven’t received my bowel prep?
Please call your pharmacy. The pharmacy does not always notify you when your bowel prep
prescription is ready. If the pharmacy does not have a prescription for your bowel prep, and you are only
3 DAYS away from having your colonoscopy, please call office and press #2 to be transferred to your
surgeon’s medical assistant/nurse.
Any tips for my bowel prep PRIOR to my colonoscopy?
Each surgeon may have specific prep instructions unique to the patient and procedure. Please refer to the colonoscopy prep
instructions that were provided by CRS as this will outline the specific details of your bowel prep and
should serve as your primary guide.
Tip #1 - Please read the bowel prep instructions from our office 1 week prior to your procedure. Our goal at CRS is for you to have a safe, stress free, and successful colonoscopy – a “kinder” colonoscopy. A little preparation will go a long way in achieving this goal. Failing to plan ahead and review all your instructions will increase your chances of having a suboptimal experience.
Tip #2 - In addition to the instructions provided to you from the office, please pre-hydrate with fluids
beginning two days prior to the bowel prep. The bowel prep will cause diarrhea which will lead to dehydration. Dehydration can lead to nausea, cramping, headaches, fatigue as well as other more significant side effects. We recommend drinking 2 or more glasses of water or electrolyte replacement
drinks (or more) beginning 2 days before your colonoscopy.
Tip #3 - You may want to take anti-nausea medication (if prescribed by your Surgeon) one to two hours prior to your procedure
as bowel preps may cause nausea and vomiting.
Tip #4 - DO NOT take your bowel prep too quickly. This will be very hard for your stomach to tolerate
all at once! For example, most preps will have you take a dose of bowel prep over 15 minutes. Please
divide the dose up into small amounts during this period. It is okay to space your dose out over a longer
period of time (for example 20-25 minutes, instead of 15 minutes) if you are feeling nauseated. After
completing the dose, most preps will ask that you drink a certain volume of water over a period of time.
Do not chug the water which will lead to bloating. Go at your own speed with drinking fluids but be
sure to drink enough to stay hydrated. Electrolyte replacement drinks are particularly good as they
will replace some electrolytes and provide some glucose.
I took my first dose of bowel prep and I still haven’t had a bowel movement. Is this ok?
Bowel preps have variable time of onset. Even if you have had a colonoscopy in the past, it is not unusual to
have a different experience each time with a bowel prep. The onset before your initial bowel movement
may be as short as 1 hour or as long as 4 hours or more! Continue to drink fluids (electrolyte drinks,
water, clear soft drinks, broth) which will help push the bowel prep through (and offset dehydration
from diarrhea when bowel prep begins to work).
I don’t think my bowel movements are clear enough after my bowel prep. Should I still come in?
Yes, you should still come in for your colonoscopy. The bowel prep will continue to work until your procedure and the procedure can usually still be performed even if the prep is suboptimal.
What is the difference between a Gastroenterologist and a Colon and Rectal Surgeon?
A gastroenterologist and colon and rectal surgeon play complimentary roles in your healthcare.
A colon and rectal surgeon is a surgeon who has received specialized training in surgical
diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. Our focus is geared towards the surgical management of colon
and rectal cancer, diverticular disease, anal cancer, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal fistulae, rectal
prolapse, fecal incontinence, among other disorders. We also treat complications resulting from
crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis that require surgery. Colon and Rectal Specialists provide cutting edge surgical treatments which include
robotic and laparoscopic surgery, sacral nerve stimulation to treat fecal incontinence, as well as routine
colonoscopy for colon and rectal cancer screening and procedures to treat anorectal disease
(hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas, abscess). Colon and rectal surgeons do not manage any upper gastrointestinal disorders like peptic ulcer disease,
reflux, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, celiac disease, food allergies, irritable bowel disease, to
name a few. We do not focus on the medical management of crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. As we
focus on the last portion of the gastrointestinal tract, we also do not perform upper endoscopy to evaluate the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. A gastroenterologist is a specialist who focuses on these medical disorders and they would be able to help you address any of these concerns.