Colon Prep instructions for colonoscopy or colon surgeries can be found here.

We perform a variety of surgeries.  In order to help our patients more fully understand the surgeries they will be undergoing, we've placed commonly asked questions and discussions here for your review.

If you have any questions regarding your surgery that is not answered in this area, please call the office at 616/532-8100.

PLEASE NOTE:  Pathology and other test results are NOT DISCUSSED OVER THE TELEPHONE.  The staff are specifically directed not to provide any information regarding tests.  Due to the sensitive nature of surgeries that remove tissue, conversation regarding the presence or absence of cancer are best held in person.

Regarding smoking...if you choose to smoke, you are exposing yourself to higher complication rates from anesthesia and wound healing (infection and non-healing) -- not to mention a host of other risks and complications including various cancers and lung disease.  You should make every attempt to quit smoking at least two weeks before your surgery.  Some surgeries will not be performed if you continue to smoke.  Talk to our office about smoking cessation strategies, your primary care doctor, or your insurance company.  There are many community groups that help people quit smoking, too.

All surgeries involve making an incision and thus carry the risk of infection.  You can decrease your risk of infection by not smoking and being sure your blood sugar levels are very well-controlled if you are a diabetic.  There is no need to shave prior to any surgery, we use clippers to remove hair that is in the way of surgery -- this is less traumatic than shaving and is associated with a decreased risk of infection.

All surgeries also involve a risk of bleeding.  People who are taking blood thinners, aspirin, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, for example), garlic and fish oil supplements are at a higher risk for bleeding complications.  Garlic and fish oil supplements can generally be stopped five days before any procedure and resumed three weeks after a procedure, without talking with a physician.  If you are taking any prescription blood thinner, or using aspirin or ibuprofen by the direction of a physician, talk with that physician or this office prior to stopping or restarting that medication.

If you require a medication refill after surgery, please call during routine business hours.  Refill requests after hours are not able to be called in except in extenuating circumstances.  If you take a narcotic pain pill following surgery, you should not drive nor be the primary caregiver for children or other adults.  You should also not go to work if you are taking narcotics.

Choose your type of surgery:

Endoscopy information can be found here:  EGD (Esophagastroduodenoscopy) or Colonoscopy.