A doctor inserts a long, flexible colonoscope tube into your back passage (rectum). It has a light and camera that sends real-time images to a screen.
To prepare for the test, you must only eat solid food the day before or drink clear liquids a few hours before your procedure. You may also take laxatives. Click https://www.drwesleyhigh.com/ to learn more.
More than 15 million colonoscopies are performed each year in the United States. A colonoscopy is a telescopic and visual examination of the large intestine (colon). Doctors use it to look for polyps, which may be precancerous or cancerous, and other problems, such as inflammation, bleeding, and abscesses.
The person having a colonoscopy should be prepared for a thorough exam, which can take about 30-60 minutes. They should also plan on spending 2-3 hours at the hospital, as they will be there for the test, prep, and recovery.
Before the procedure, the individual will need to follow a special diet and clean out their bowel. Generally, this means eating a low-fiber diet for two or three days, then following a clear liquid diet on the day of the colonoscopy. They will also have to take a laxative in pill or liquid form. The preparation is important for a successful exam because a doctor cannot see or remove a polyp if it is full of stool.
In addition, if the bowel isn’t empty, the doctor might be unable to perform the biopsy that can confirm whether or not a polyp is cancerous. Therefore, it’s important to follow the exact instructions for bowel prep given by your doctor.
During the colonoscopy, the person will wear a hospital gown and be sedated or put under anesthesia. They will not be able to drive after the test, so they should arrange for a ride home.
Bleeding during a colonoscopy is rare, but it can happen and can be dangerous. Most cases of bleeding stop right away or can be controlled with medication. In very serious cases, however, the person might need to have a blood transfusion or surgery.
Before a colonoscopy, people should talk to their doctors about any health problems they have and about all the medications, vitamins and supplements that they take. People should also tell their doctors if they are taking aspirin or other drugs that thin the blood; newer anticoagulants, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto); or heart medications that affect platelets (clopidogrel). In some cases, these medicines might interfere with the results of a colonoscopy.
How is a colonoscopy performed?
A colonoscopy is performed using a lighted instrument, called a colonoscope, that passes through the anus and into the rectum and colon. This allows the doctor to see and remove precancerous and cancerous growths. The doctor can also detect and treat many other conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease. During this procedure, the doctor can also collect samples of tissue for biopsy.
To prepare for the test, you must empty your bowels. This is done by taking medications (laxatives) the day before and on the morning of your colonoscopy. You must also avoid eating solid foods and drinking anything other than clear fluids for two hours before the test.
Before the test, a nurse will give you medicine to make you sleepy and painkillers to help with any discomfort. You will then lie on a table as the doctor puts the colonoscope in your back passage and up into your large bowel. Throughout the examination, you will be able to see pictures of your colon on a TV monitor.
During the procedure, the doctor may use water or air to inflate parts of your colon so they can be seen better. The doctor may also remove polyps, which are usually benign but can become cancerous. If they find any abnormal tissue, they will send it to a lab for further testing. You will not feel the polyps being removed.
While the procedure is very safe, it can cause complications such as bleeding or an allergic reaction to the sedative used during the exam. Bleeding is more common in people who have had a previous bowel operation or a history of colon polyps. If this happens, the doctor can control it with clips or other methods.
Once the doctor is finished, they will carefully put the scope back through your anus and out of your colon. They will then check your vital signs and wait for you to wake up from the sedative. You should plan on staying at the healthcare center for about an hour after your colonoscopy, so the sedative has time to wear off. Then, you can go home.
What should I expect during a colonoscopy?
When you’re scheduled for your colonoscopy, make sure you arrange for a ride home from the hospital. You’ll be given sedatives or anesthesia, which can affect your ability to drive safely. In addition, the sedatives or anesthesia may take a while to wear off, and you’ll need someone to drive you if you don’t have a ride.
Before your colonoscopy, you’ll need to follow a special diet and drink a large amount of clear liquids. This includes water, Gatorade, and other clear drinks, as well as tea and coffee without milk or creamer. You should start the liquid diet the day before your procedure and continue it until about two or four hours before your procedure. You’ll also be given strong laxatives to take the night before and on the morning of your colonoscopy.
Once you’re at the hospital for your procedure, a health care professional will place an intravenous (IV) needle in a vein in your arm or hand. This allows the doctor to give you sedatives or anesthesia, which will help keep you comfortable throughout the exam.
Then the doctor will insert the colonoscope, which is a long tube mounted with a light and camera. It will travel down the rectum and into your colon, where the doctor can watch for polyps or other abnormalities. The doctor can also remove tissue for testing if he or she sees something suspicious.
Polyps are growths that can be cancerous. If the doctor finds any, he or she can use the colonoscope to remove them and send them to a lab for analysis. The test will usually take 30 minutes if the doctor doesn’t find anything abnormal. But it can take longer if the doctor removes tissue samples.
Before the procedure, talk to your doctor about any medications or supplements you’re taking. You’ll probably need to stop or change the dosage of some of them, especially blood-thinning medicines, such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and dabigatran or rivaroxaban (Xarelto), which are used to reduce the risk of clots. Your doctor might also ask you to avoid fatty, fried, spicy foods and alcohol for a few days before the procedure.
What should I expect after a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a safe procedure that provides valuable information about your colon health. It can help your doctor detect early stage colorectal cancer, a common and potentially deadly disease. The test is also important for identifying and treating abnormal polyps, which are small growths that sometimes lead to colon cancer.
To prepare for a colonoscopy, you may need to take laxatives to empty your large bowel. You should avoid eating solid food the day of the exam, but you can drink clear liquids up to two hours before the procedure. You will probably need to stay at home or in the office for a few hours after your colonoscopy, and you should arrange for a ride home. The sedatives and anesthesia from the procedure will need time to wear off before you can drive safely.
During the procedure, your doctor may insert a long, flexible tube (colonoscopy) into your back passage and then up into your large bowel. You will be awake but sedated, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
If the doctor sees anything suspicious, he or she may remove a sample of tissue to send to a laboratory for testing. You may have a small amount of blood in your stool for a few days after the colonoscopy, but this is normal.
Most people are able to return home shortly after the procedure. However, you should give yourself 24 hours to recover from the sedatives and anesthesia. During this time, it is best not to drive or make major decisions. You should also arrange for someone to escort you home, as the sedatives will affect your judgement and reaction times.
Once at home, you should try to eat only soft foods that don’t irritate your intestines. You may want to start with broth, Jell-O, water, or Gatorade, and then move on to other liquids, as well as fully cooked vegetables, crackers, and applesauce. Your doctor will review these dietary instructions with you before the procedure and will provide written instructions for you to take home. It is important to follow these instructions carefully, as rushing your diet back to your regular routine could lead to complications.