Since a colonoscopy is a routine procedure, there are typically few lasting effects from this test. In the vast majority of cases, the benefits of detecting problems and beginning treatment far outweigh the risks of complications from a colonoscopy. However, some rare complications include:. If you opt for it instead, you can avoid some of the complications associated with traditional colonoscopy. However, it comes with its own disadvantages.
For instance, it may not detect very small polyps. Your doctor will give you instructions for a bowel preparation bowel prep. You must have a clear liquid diet for 24 to 72 hours before your procedure. Make sure not to drink any liquids containing red or purple dye because they can discolor your colon.
If they can affect your colonoscopy, your doctor may tell you to stop taking them. These might include:. Your doctor may give you a laxative to take the night before your appointment. You may want to arrange for a ride home after your appointment. Most people get a sedative and pain medication through an intravenous line. Your doctor may position you with your knees close to your chest to get a better angle to your colon.
A camera on the end of the colonoscope transmits images to a monitor that your doctor will be watching. Once the colonoscope is positioned, your doctor will inflate your colon using carbon dioxide. This gives them a better view. Your doctor may remove polyps or a tissue sample for biopsy during this procedure. The entire procedure takes 15 minutes to an hour. Give this time to get out of your system. If the doctors spot polyps, they can quickly and painlessly remove them during the same colonoscopy.
Colonoscopies employ monitored anesthesia. A nurse anesthetist will administer the medicine and watch you intently—monitoring your heart, breathing and blood pressure—for the duration of the procedure, so the doctors can focus on the colonoscopy.
You might pass gas with some startling force for a couple of hours after the procedure. This is normal and not painful. The actual procedure can take as little as 15 minutes. You can meet your doctor and have the procedure in the same short session. People like to talk about the unpleasantness of colonoscopy preparation.
But over the past 15 years, colonoscopy preparation has been improved and refined. Doctors use split prep, which means you drink a prescribed laxative that will cause diarrhea for a couple of hours, starting around 7 p. You should be done around 10 p. Then, in the morning, you take the second half of the laxative. Good job! After all, this procedure might save your life.
No matter your age, if you have blood in your stool, weakness and fatigue, or a major change in your bowel habits, talk to your doctor. Recent research from the American Cancer Society found a sharp rise in colorectal cancer rates among adults in their 20s and 30s ; in fact, a person born in has double the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer compared with people born in There are screening methods besides a colonoscopy, but none comes with as many advantages.
For one, a colonoscopy usually needs to be repeated only every 10 years if results are normal. The procedure takes approximately 30 — 60 minutes. There could be bloating or minimal bleeding following your exam and this is completely normal.
However, if blood continues to pass or is accompanied by fever or abdominal pain, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor will share the results of the colonoscopy with you and provide a recommendation for when to get your next exam. Or, to schedule a follow-up appointment if any abnormalities were discovered. Visit this page to learn more about how they can help you or to schedule an appointment.
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