Occasionally a colonoscopy can cause mild abdominal cramping and bloating for around a day after the procedure. This feels similar to trapped wind and is caused by the air pumped into your colon during the procedure to help your doctor better see the inside of your colon.
Pain. If you have any bloating or abdominal discomfort this may be from the air that was put into your bowel by the endoscopist during the examination. This is normal and should settle within 24 hours.
Mild abdominal pain/discomfort immediately after a colonoscopy is not rare, occurring anywhere between 2.5% to 11% of the cases [2]. Though it may have a host of etiologies, it is most commonly a result of air insufflation, endoscope looping, and/or manual pressure maneuvers used during a colonoscopy.
It's normal to feel bloated and gassy after the procedure; abdominal cramping may also occur. You'll be encouraged to pass gas to help reduce bloating. You may pass liquid and/or liquid stool after your colonoscopy but, within one to five days, your bowel movements should return to normal.
Colonoscopy prep isn't fun for several reasons, the main one being how much you will poop. You may have diarrhea for 12 to 16 hours after beginning the process of getting your bowels ready for this procedure.
Eat a diet rich in prebiotics. These are foods like fruits, vegetables, oats and whole grains that are high in fiber and feed probiotic bacteria. Avoid processed foods, wheat products, sugar, hydrogenated fats, alcohol and high fructose corn syrup for several days after your colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy recovery is usually quick with most people resuming normal activity the next day. Even so, it is important not to rush back to work. It is best to take the remainder of the day to rest, recover from sedation, and replenish fluids and nutrition. The results of your exam should be available within a few days.
The First Week after a Colonoscopy
If polyps are found and removed during a colonoscopy procedure, the recovery period will be slightly longer. After polyps are removed it can take up to a week for the patient to fully recover.
Why does my abdomen hurt after a colonoscopy? Your abdomen may hurt after a colonoscopy due to bloating — air is pumped into your colon during the procedure to help your doctor better see the inside of your colon.
After having a colonoscopy, it's normal for bowel movements to be irregular at first. You may notice loose bowels, which can be a side effect of the medication used during the test. If bowel movements are still abnormal after a week, let your doctor know.
Preparing for a colonoscopy requires clearing the bowel with fasting, a laxative drink and, in some cases, an enema. While such preparation can alter the microbiome, the rich array of microbes that are present in the gut, research suggests that the microbiome bounces back in about two to four weeks.
It is clear that the bacteria count in the gut drops dramatically (31-fold) after the preparation, and that the types of bacteria in the gut change in the weeks following a colonoscopy. I suspect that it isn't the total number of bacteria, but rather their type that has the greater effect on bowel movements.
The medicine you received during the procedure may stay in your body for up to 24 hours. You may feel tired or sleepy and have difficulty concentrating. Once you get home, relax for the rest of the day.
Abdominal pain that continues for two weeks after a colonoscopy is a reason to talk to a healthcare provider. Some people may have gas, bloating, or discomfort in the first few days after a colonoscopy. Having abdominal pain that goes on for longer than that could mean there is a problem that needs to be treated.
Another type of food that is recommended after a colonoscopy is low-fiber food. This includes foods like white bread, rice, and pasta. These foods are easy to digest and will not strain your system, which is essential during recovery.
Your Colon Is Never Empty
Many people believe they have emptied out their colons after multiple episodes of diarrhea or that they can keep their colons empty by avoiding food. However, since stool is made up in large part of bacteria, fecal matter is continuously being formed.
7. I already have diarrhea before taking the prep, do I still have to take the preparation? Yes, you must take the prep as directed by your physician. Your colon is approximately 6 feet long and must be emptied completely for your physician to see the colon clearly.
You may have a bloated, gaseous feeling in your abdomen after a colonoscopy. Passing gas and belching will help. Walking or lying down on your left side with your knees flexed may relieve the discomfort.
In conclusion, bowel preparation has a profound effect on the gut microbiome and metabolome, but the overall composition recovers to baseline within 14 days of bowel prep. Bowel cleansing before colonoscopy appears to be a safe procedure from the viewpoint of the human gut microbial ecosystem.
You may not have a bowel movement for several days after a colonoscopy. You should, however, pass gas normally after a colonoscopy.
An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of your oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum using a flexible telescope. A colonoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of your large bowel (colon) using a flexible telescope.