A healthcare provider uses a long, flexible tube with a light and camera on one end to look inside your colon. They may also remove polyps (abnormal growths) and tissue for biopsy.
Colonoscopy Phoenix is usually painless. But you might feel pressure, bloating, or cramping. You may receive sedatives during the procedure, and someone must drive you home afterward because sedatives can affect your judgment and reflexes.
A colonoscopy is an exam that lets your health care provider look inside your large intestine (colon). It’s done with a long, flexible tube called a colonoscope. It has a light and a tiny camera on one end, and it goes through your anus (the opening where stool leaves the body). The doctor also inserts other tools through this tube to remove or sample tissue, and to treat problems found during the test.
Your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy if you have symptoms such as blood in your stool or diarrhea. It’s the best way to find out what’s causing these symptoms, and to treat them quickly if needed. It’s also the most common screening tool for colorectal cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer in adults.
You’ll get a colonoscopy at a hospital, medical office, or outpatient center. You’ll need to bring someone with you, so they can drive you home after the procedure. Before the exam, you’ll need to follow a special diet and take laxatives. These can be pills, a powder you dissolve in liquid, an enema, or a combination of these.
These preparations clean out your colon before the exam. You’ll also need to stop taking certain medicines and supplements a few days before the test. These include blood thinners, diabetes medications, and some vitamins and minerals, such as iron. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about which medicines and supplements to take or skip before the exam.
Before the colonoscopy, you’ll usually receive a sedative, either as a pill or through an IV. You’ll lie down on an examination table while the doctor inserts the colonoscope into your rectum. The doctor may pump air or carbon dioxide into your colon to inflate it, which gives them a better view of the lining. When the doctor moves or inflates the colonoscope, you might feel stomach cramping or the urge to pass a stool.
Your gastroenterologist can find a lot of things during a colonoscopy, including polyps and other abnormal growths. Most of these aren’t serious, but your doctor might need to remove some tissue for a biopsy to make sure they’re not cancer. This might add to the time of your colonoscopy.
Preparation for a colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a very important procedure that helps your doctor find and treat colorectal cancer, as well as other problems like inflammatory bowel disease. Although the preparation for a colonoscopy can be inconvenient, it is a small price to pay to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.
To prepare for the procedure, you will be on, a low-fiber diet for three days prior to the testop taking any fi surgeriesber supplemealso nts and anti-diarrheal medication. On the day of the colonoscopy, you will need ,to drink only clear liquids, such as water or juice. It is important to follow these instructions exactly, as failing to do so can result in a failed exam or serious complications.
You will also need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the colonoscopy. This is because you will likely be given sedatives or anesthesia for the exam, which can make it dangerous to drive.
Before the actual colonoscopy, your doctor will give you a sedative or anesthesia through an IV in your arm or hand. Then, you will lie on an examination table with your knees drawn toward your chest. The doctor will insert the colonoscope into your rectum, which is a long tube equipped with a light and camera that allows your doctor to see your colon’s lining in real-time. The doctor will also use the scope to remove polyps, which are tiny tissue clumps that can become cancerous or lead to other health issues, such as bleeding during bowel movements or constipation.
In addition to the sedative or anesthesia, you may be given pain relievers. These will help with any discomfort or cramping that you might experience during or after the procedure. You might also notice some blood in your poop after the test, but this is usually nothing to worry about.
A colonoscopy is a safe and effective way to screen for colorectal cancer, as well as polyps and other conditions that can cause discomfort or bleeding during bowel movements or diarrhea. Talk to your doctor about when it is right for you.
During a colonoscopy
Some discomfort, such as gas, bloating or mild cramping, is normal after a colonoscopy. These symptoms should go away within 24 hours. Passing gas or walking around can help reduce discomfort. Some people find that their first bowel movement after the procedure contains small amounts of blood. Bleeding usually stops on its own, but you should call your doctor if it doesn’t.
A health care professional puts a tube in a vein (IV) in your arm or hand to give you sedatives or anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during the test. It is important to arrange for someone to drive you home after the test, as the sedatives or anesthesia may make it unsafe for you to drive. You should also avoid operating machinery and signing any legally binding documents until the sedatives or anesthesia have worn off.
The endoscopist, a doctor who performs the colonoscopy, will put a long, flexible tube, called a colonoscope, into your back passage and up into your large bowel. A camera at the end of the colonoscope can take pictures that are displayed on a monitor. This allows the endoscopist to see polyps and other abnormal tissue, such as a large hemorrhage or a hernia.
If polyps are found, your doctor can take a sample of the tissue and send it to a laboratory for further testing. If you have multiple polyps, your doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring with colonoscopies or other tests to check for new polyps. If a polyp is found and can’t be removed during the colonoscopy, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove it.
After the procedure, you will be taken to a recovery room until the sedatives or anesthesia wear off. You may need to stay in the recovery room for up to a few hours. If you are sedated, you will need to have a family member or friend drive you home after the procedure. From the time you arrive at the hospital until you are ready to leave, it will probably take two-and-a-half to three hours to fully recover from the sedation.
Post-colonoscopy care
Once the colonoscopy is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area where you can rest comfortably until the effects of the sedation or anesthesia wear off.
You may experience a little pain and discomfort after the procedure, but most people do not have any serious side effects. You may also be experiencing a bit of gas, but this is normal and should subside within about an hour after the procedure.
After you are released, it is important to have someone drive you home as the sedation can make it difficult for you to operate a vehicle. You will need to stay at home for the rest of the day, allowing yourself time to rest and recover from the colonoscopy.
For the first 24 hours after your colonoscopy, you will want to follow a soft, low-residue diet. This includes foods like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, skinless chicken breasts, soups and broths, and fruit and vegetable juices. It is also essential to drink plenty of fluids after a colonoscopy. Your body loses a lot of fluid during the colonoscopy prep, and it is vital to replace this water so that you don’t get dehydrated.
It is also important to avoid any foods that are hard to digest or high in fiber. Foods that are difficult to digest can cause gas, while foods that are high in fiber can be difficult to process and lead to bloating. Your gastroenterology and endoscopy specialist can help you create a list of foods to avoid after your colonoscopy, as well as give you suggestions for other healthy choices.
If the doctor removes polyps or performs a biopsy during the colonoscopy, you will likely experience some bleeding after the test. This is common and should not cause any alarm, but be sure to talk to your doctor if the bleeding is heavy or prolonged.
The majority of people are able to resume their regular diets after 24 hours, though you will still want to stick to a soft, low-residue one for a few days. It is important to stay hydrated and follow your doctor’s post-colonoscopy care guidelines, which will vary depending on your individual needs.