Some discomfort, such as gas pain or bloating, is normal after a colonoscopy. You may also see small amounts of blood in your first bowel movement, but it is not harmful and usually clears up on its own within a few hours.
Before the test, you must follow a special diet and drink laxatives (pills, powder that dissolves in liquid or an enema). You might choose to get minimal or light sedation during your colonoscopy. Contact Copper Mountain Surgical for professional help.
A colonoscopy is a test that examines the inside lining of the large bowel (colon) or large intestine (bowels). It can be used for screening purposes to detect and remove polyps, which are abnormal growths that can become cancer, or it can be used for diagnostic purposes to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms and come up with a diagnosis.
A person has a colonoscopy while they are under sedation. This is to ensure that they do not feel any pain or discomfort. The person is connected to equipment that monitors their heart rate and blood pressure, so that if something goes wrong while they are under sedation, the doctor can intervene immediately.
The person wears a hospital gown and lies on their side while the gastroenterologist inserts a long flexible tube with a camera at its end into their back passage, up through the anus, and then into the rectum and colon. The doctor uses air or carbon dioxide to inflate the colon for a better view and may take a small sample of tissue (biopsy) for further examination.
Most people who have a colonoscopy do not experience any serious complications from the procedure. However, it is important to understand that there are risks associated with any medical test or procedure. These include damage to the bowel (stricture) or bleeding from the procedure. It is also possible for the test to miss a small cancer or polyp because it was covered by a piece of stool.
Some discomfort after the test, such as gas and cramping, is normal. It may be caused by the air or carbon dioxide that was passed into the bowel during the test, but should resolve within a few hours. It is also common to see a little blood in the first bowel movement after the test, but this should stop soon.
A colonoscopy is a simple and relatively safe test that can save lives by detecting cancer or polyps early, when they are smaller and easier to remove. It is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American College of Gastroenterology that adults ages 45 to 75 have a routine colonoscopy every 10 years.
Preparation for a colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a painless test but you need to prepare your bowels for it by following special diet guidelines and taking laxatives. This bowel preparation, which causes diarrhoea, is essential for a successful colonoscopy as it helps the doctor see inside your large intestine clearly.
You must start the bowel prep on the day before your colonoscopy and follow the instructions exactly. If you have any questions or concerns ask your doctor or nurse. If you are having sedation for your colonoscopy, it is important to arrange someone to drop you off at the hospital before the procedure and take you home afterwards as you will be too drowsy to drive.
The bowel preparation for a colonoscopy involves drinking a mixture of laxatives in liquid or tablet form and having an enema. The next day you must not eat solid foods, but you can drink clear fluids until two hours before the procedure. You may also need to have a rectal laxative suppository or an enema on the morning of the procedure.
Having a colonoscopy is very safe and can detect many problems. However, there are some risks, such as infection or bleeding from the bowel. This risk can be minimised by avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, as well as following the bowel preparation instructions.
It is very important to tell your doctor about any health conditions you have and all medications you are taking, including vitamins and supplements. Some medicines, such as blood thinners (including aspirin and ibuprofen) and some antidepressants, can interfere with the results of your colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is a painless examination and is done in your doctor’s office or hospital outpatient clinic. Before the procedure you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and the doctor will insert a long flexible tube with a camera on its end (a colonoscope) through your anus, up your rectum and into your colon. The doctor will be able to see the lining of your colon and identify and remove polyps (abnormal growths that can develop into cancer). The doctor will also be able to take samples from your colon if needed for further testing.
During the colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a safe procedure, but it can cause some discomfort. The main discomfort comes from the preparation, when you drink a bowel-cleansing solution. Some people also have pain or cramping during the actual colonoscopy. The test itself usually takes no more than 30 minutes, but it may take longer if the doctor removes polyps.
You’ll be taken to a recovery area after the procedure is over. Before the procedure, a health care professional will put an intravenous (IV) needle in a vein in your arm or hand to give you sedatives and/or anesthesia. This is to keep you calm and comfortable throughout the procedure.
Once in the recovery room, a nurse will check your vital signs. Then, a lubricated tube — called a colonoscope — will be inserted into your anus. Then, it will be moved into the rectum and colon, where the doctor will look for any abnormal growths, such as polyps or cancerous growths. The doc might take a sample of the growth for further testing.
The dilating effect of the bowel-cleansing solution and the sedatives used during the colonoscopy can lead to dehydration. It’s important to get enough fluids after the test, particularly water and clear broth. You may also need electrolyte-repleshing drinks.
Some cramping and bloating after the test is normal. Some people also have small amounts of blood in their first bowel movement after the procedure, but this isn’t dangerous. However, if the bleeding persists or you see large amounts of blood in your stool after the procedure, talk to your doctor.
After the colonoscopy, it’s important to rest. You may feel drowsy from the sedatives, but you should stay in bed until the doctor or nurse looking after you says you’re ready to go home. Make sure you have someone to drive you because the sedatives can make it unsafe to drive. It’s also a good idea to wear loose, comfy clothing. Your doctor will give you instructions on when you can return to your regular routine, including how soon you can have a bowel movement.
Post-colonoscopy care
A colonoscopy gives your doctor a clear, close-up view of the lining of your colon (large intestine) and rectum using a tool called a colonoscope. You will probably be given a laxative and told to drink only water in the days before the procedure. It is important to follow your colonoscopy instructions exactly. Doing so can prevent an unnecessary procedure cancellation and ensure a safe, effective test.
During the procedure, you will be given medicine through a vein (IV) to help you relax. Then the doctor will gently insert the scope into your anus and move it down your large intestine. The doctor may take tissue samples from the bowel wall to check for polyps or cancer. They might also remove small polyps to help prevent cancer or kill cancer cells that are already growing.
Sometimes the lining of the colon bleeds during the procedure. This is rare but can be serious. If you have any bleeding after the procedure, call your doctor right away. You might have some bright red blood in the stool after the colonoscopy, but it is not always a sign of something serious. If you have any dark red or maroon blood, contact your doctor immediately.
After the procedure, you will stay in the recovery area for about two hours while the sedation wears off. You will be able to leave the hospital or outpatient center once your vital signs are stable and you can drive. You should arrange for someone to drive you home because of the sedation.
You may have some cramping or bloating in your abdomen after the procedure. This is usually from the air introduced into your colon during the test and should go away within a few hours. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, to control any discomfort.
It is important to get back to your regular routine as soon as you can after a colonoscopy. Your doctor will give you discharge instructions that should include phone numbers to call for any problems that arise after your procedure. You will likely be told to avoid exercise until your doctor tells you it is okay. It is also important to remain well-hydrated after the procedure.