Colonoscopy is generally a painless procedure. It’s important that you arrange for someone to drop you off and take you home afterwards, as the sedation takes some time to wear off.
You’ll be given pain medicine and a sedative through an intravenous tube (IV) in your arm or hand. This is to help you relax and avoid discomfort during the procedure.
The gastroenterologist performing the colonoscopy will instruct you to drink a special cleanser to clean out your colon before the procedure. You must follow these instructions exactly to ensure the test is accurate and complete. If you do not, the results may be unsatisfactory (the lining of your colon cannot be visualized), or the test will have to be repeated or a less-accurate test performed in its place.
During the procedure you will be lying on your left side, and a healthcare provider will insert an intravenous line in a vein in your arm or hand. You will then receive anesthesia, making you fall asleep. The doctor will then insert a long, thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope into your anus and move it through your rectum and large intestine, examining the interior surface of your colon for abnormalities on video monitors. The doctor will also remove polyps or other types of abnormal tissue as needed.
When the doctor is finished, you will be taken to a recovery room. You will be monitored until your vital signs return to normal, and the anesthesia effects wear off. You can expect to be in the recovery room for about two hours. It is important that you arrange for someone to drive you home because you will not be able to drive until the sedation has worn off.
You will be asked to fill out some forms before your colonoscopy begins, including a consent form. You may want to write down your answers in advance and bring them with you to the appointment, to make it easier to remember them. It is a good idea to have your driver’s license or other photo identification on you, so that the healthcare providers can verify your identity if necessary.
Be sure to tell the medical team about all medications and supplements you are taking, especially aspirin products, ibuprofen, arthritis medicines, anticoagulants (blood thinners such as warfarin or heparin), clopidogrel, iron products, and diarrhea medicines such as loperamide (Imodium). You will be given a specific plan for the bowel preparation and a time when you must start drinking the Gatorade/MiraLAX solution.
Procedure
The bowel preparation process and the sedation used for colonoscopies can leave you feeling drowsy and weak. It is important to arrange for someone to drop you off at the hospital before your procedure and take you home afterward. It is also important to follow your doctor’s instructions regarding food and drink before the exam. If you do not follow the bowel prep plan exactly, your doctor may not be able to view the colon lining and you will have to repeat both the bowel preparation and the exam.
For the procedure, you will be asked to lie on your side with your knees drawn up toward your chest. You will receive medication usually through an IV line to help you relax and reduce pain. You will be monitored for heart rate, breathing and oxygen levels during the procedure. During the test, the doctor will insert a lubricated tube called a colonoscope into your anus and into the rectum. This tube has a light and camera on the end, which allows the doctor to see the bowel lining. Sometimes air or carbon dioxide is inserted into the colon to open it up for better viewing. The doctor will look for polyps, abnormal tissue and take samples (biopsy) for further testing.
You may feel pressure, cramping or bloating in your abdomen as the doctor inserts the colonoscope. This is normal and should subside quickly. If the doctor removes a polyp or biopsy, you may have some bleeding. This is usually very minor and stops on its own within a few days. Rarely, a biopsy or polyp removal can cause a small tear in the bowel wall which would need to be surgically repaired.
After the test you will be given discharge instructions by the staff in the recovery room. You should be careful not to drink anything that contains caffeine, as this can increase the chances of a complication. It is important to contact your doctor immediately if you have severe abdominal pain, rectal bleeding that lasts more than a few minutes or fever and chills.
Recovery
The bowel preparation, the colonoscopy procedure, and the sedation all take a toll on your body. It’s important to get rest and follow your doctor’s instructions on how to recover.
During the recovery process, you may experience stomach cramping and gas pains. The discomfort is usually mild and goes away within a few hours. You may also have some bleeding if the doctor removes polyps or biops, although this is not common. If you’re having any severe symptoms, such as persistent bleeding or severe pain, contact your doctor immediately.
After the procedure, the nursing staff will move you to a recovery room until the sedation wears off. During this time, it is important to have someone available to drive you home. It is illegal to leave a hospital after a colonoscopy without a ride home, and it’s unsafe to drive after sedation.
When you return home, it is important to start eating a bland diet. Stick to a low-fiber diet and avoid high-fat foods that can cause digestive upset. It may also be a good idea to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to help flush out your system and support your recovery.
You should be able to resume light activities in 24 to 48 hours after your colonoscopy, but it is a good idea to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for a week. Also, if the doctor removed polyps or took biops, you should avoid vigorous activity for two to three days to allow the area to heal.
If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen may help. However, you should avoid taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, because they can increase your risk of bleeding.
Be sure to bring a list of all your medications, including prescription and over-the-counter, as well as supplements and herbs. This information will help your doctor determine whether you can safely have a colonoscopy. It’s also a good idea to talk about your medical history with the doctor, including any allergies and past negative reactions to anesthesia or medication.
Results
Many people have concerns about their colonoscopy and what the results will mean. It’s important for everyone to know that this is a safe procedure and the risk of complications from it are very low. During the exam, doctors can easily remove any polyps that are found and can biopsy tissue if needed to check for colon cancer or other abnormalities.
If your gastroenterologist doesn’t find anything wrong with your bowel, you will be told the same day and a follow-up appointment may not be necessary. However, if they did find polyps or other tissue that needs to be tested, you will have to wait for your results, which can take up to a week. Your doctor will likely call or send a letter with your results, and your GP should also receive a copy.
The results of your colonoscopy will depend on what the gastroenterologist found. If the test is negative, your gastroenterologist will recommend future screenings, usually every 10 years. However, if you have a family history of polyps or colon cancer, you may need to get screened more often.
A positive colonoscopy result means that the gastroenterologist saw and removed polyps or other abnormal tissue from your large intestine. These will be sent to a lab for further testing to determine whether they are precancerous, cancerous, or benign (non-cancerous).
Polyps are small growths on the inside lining of your large intestine and can lead to colon cancer if they aren’t removed. However, they can also be a sign of other health issues such as inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.
Getting a colonoscopy can be a scary thing, but it is one of the most effective ways to screen for colorectal cancer and other serious conditions. It’s important to remember that it only takes about 20-30 minutes and most patients are sedated during the procedure, so they don’t feel any pain or discomfort. Most of us don’t think about our colon until it’s a problem, but this is an important part of your overall health that shouldn’t be ignored.