If you choose to have sedation for your colonoscopy, you must arrange for someone to drive you home afterward because the sedation will take up to 8 hours to wear off. Discuss this with your doctor when you make your appointment.
You will receive instructions for a special bowel prep before your colonoscopy. These instructions usually include a laxative to clean out your colon.
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows doctors to see the inside of your large intestine (colon) and rectum (back passage). During the test, you lie on your back as the doctor inserts a long, flexible tube called a colonoscope into your anus and then through your rectum and colon. The doctor may also inject a small amount of air or carbon dioxide into your bowel to expand the lining for better viewing.
The doctor uses a camera attached to the end of the colonoscope to look for early signs of cancer, abnormal growths, or other problems in your large intestine. The doctor can also biopsy (sample) cells from areas of concern. If the tests show a problem, the doctor can often treat it right away.
A colonoscopy can also help find the cause of blood in your stool or rectal area, recurring diarrhea, iron deficiency anemia, or unexplained stomach or rectal pain. In some cases, your doctor may also use a colonoscopy to treat a problem such as a polyp or an ulcer in the colon or rectum.
Doctors recommend that most people get regular screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 50 or sooner if you have a family history of the disease. Your doctor can tell you how often you should have a colonoscopy, depending on your risk for the disease.
Colonoscopies are done in outpatient centers, hospitals, and some doctors’ offices. They can be very expensive, but many medical insurance plans cover the cost. You should check with your insurance provider to learn what your coverage is.
During the procedure, you wear a hospital gown. A health care professional puts an intravenous line into a vein in your arm or hand to give you sedatives or anesthesia, so you do not feel any pain or awareness during the procedure.
The day before your test, you should not eat solid foods and drink only clear fluids. You also take a laxative to empty your large bowel before the test. Then, on the day of the test, you lie on your back and a doctor puts a long flexible tube with a camera attached to the end of it into your anus and then through your colorectum and colon.
Preparation for a Colonoscopy
For this test, your doctor needs to clean out your colon before they can fully examine it. This prep can take one to two days and may require some dietary changes. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions exactly. If you do not, the test might need to be rescheduled.
During a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist inserts a long flexible tube called a colonoscope into your rectum. This tube has a light and a small camera on the end. The doctor uses the camera to look for a number of issues, including polyps and colon cancer. The doctor can also remove tiny amounts of tissue for biopsy if needed.
The test is done while you are lying on an exam table, and you may be given sedation for comfort. Generally, you can return home shortly after your procedure is over. However, since you will be sedated, it is important to have someone drive you home. If you cannot arrange for transportation, your test might need to be rescheduled.
In most cases, you should start preparing for your colonoscopy three days before the test. During this time, you should eat low-fiber foods and stop taking fiber supplements or anti-diarrheal medications. You should also drink only clear liquids, such as water, tea and coffee without milk and broth.
You should continue this liquid diet until the day of your procedure, when you should switch to a solid-food diet. On the day of your procedure, you should only consume food that is easy to digest, such as bananas and apples. You should also avoid eating foods with high fat content, such as fried foods or red meats.
During the actual test, you will lie on your back while the doctor inserts the colonoscope. When the tube is in place, it may cause a slight cramping sensation. Once the tube is inserted, air is pumped in to inflate your colon and make it easier for your provider to see its lining.
The gastroenterologist can use the camera on the end of the colonoscope to identify any stool that has gotten into the colon. If the bowel is obstructed by stool, your provider will try to remove it with a brush or suction device. Stool that is left in the colon can hide polyps or cancer, and it may also lead to complications such as diarrhea, abdominal pain or bleeding.
During a Colonoscopy
During the colonoscopy, doctors look at the inside of the large bowel. They are looking for abnormal growths and can determine if the cells are cancerous. If they are, they can also learn the type of cancer and whether it has spread, which will help doctors plan a treatment strategy.
The test is done in a hospital or clinic. A person is asked to wear a hospital gown and lies on an examination table. They may receive sedation to make them sleepy. A gastroenterologist (a doctor who specialises in the colon) uses a long, firm, flexible tube called a colonoscope to examine the large bowel. It has a small digital camera at one end and lights at the other. This enables doctors to see the colon lining clearly on a monitor and to take biopsies and remove polyps, which can then be sent for analysis in a laboratory.
A person might have some pain or pressure in their tummy during the procedure. This is usually because of the air or carbon dioxide that the doctor puts into the bowel to open it up for a better view. There is sometimes bleeding, too. This is often due to the removal of polyps and can be stopped with medicine. Rarely, a tear in the bowel wall can happen and would need surgery to repair.
After the test, people go home. Because of the sedation they receive, it is important that someone drives them home because it will affect their judgment and reflexes.
People can eat and drink normally after the test but should follow their discharge instructions carefully. They may need to stop taking certain medications, such as blood-thinning medicines (including aspirin), newer anticoagulants like dabigatran or rivaroxaban (Pradaxa and Xarelto) or heart medications that affect platelets, for example, clopidogrel (Plavix). It is also important to talk to your doctor about any pain you experience after the procedure, especially if it is heavy or continues for a few days. You should also tell your doctor if you have had any bleeding, as this could mean that the polyps or tissue they removed were cancerous and might be causing it.
After a Colonoscopy
A person will be given sedation or anesthesia to make them sleepy and unconscious during a colonoscopy. This is usually combined with painkillers that are injected into a vein (IV). It is a good idea to arrange for someone to drive you home after the test. The sedatives will take about 30 to 60 minutes to wear off.
A doctor will then put a small tube, called an endoscope, into your rectum. This tube has a camera that transmits real-time video to a screen for the doctor to view. The doctor will also insert instruments through the endoscope to perform biopsies or remove polyps if necessary. The lining of the colon and rectum will be inflated with air to allow for a better view. After examining the lining, the doctor will slowly pull the scope out of your colon.
Most people don’t feel any pain or discomfort during a colonoscopy, although some may experience bloating and cramping for 2 to 3 hours after the test. They may also notice a little blood in their stool. This is normal, but it’s important to tell your doctor if the bleeding is heavy or continues for more than a few days.
If the doctor removed any polyps or tissue, it will be sent to a lab for testing. It’s possible that the removal of a polyp can lead to cancer. The results of the tests won’t be available right away, but the doctor will discuss them with you before you leave.
Some people will be given a prescription for painkillers and stool softeners to help with any discomfort or diarrhea they might have after a colonoscopy. It is important to take these medications as directed and only as long as needed. If you have any questions about the medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Some people will need to follow up with a gastroenterologist or another specialist, depending on what the test results show. The doctor will be able to provide more information about what caused any symptoms and how to manage them in the future.