Colonoscopy is proven to reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Due to the limitations of existing hospital gowns, the buttocks and genitals are often exposed during the procedure.
People in the room during the procedure will include the gastroenterologist performing the procedure, the anaesthetist and one or two nursing staff and/or assistants. During the procedure, you will only wear a gown and nothing else (underwear is removed for obvious reasons).
Please wear loose comfortable clothing. You may keep most clothing on for upper endoscopy as well as comfortable shirt and socks for colonoscopy. Women may keep their bra on for the procedure. Please do not wear lotions, oils or perfumes/cologne to the center due to the monitoring devices.
Do not shave your abdomen (stomach) or pubic hair. Shaving before your surgery gives you a higher chance of getting an infection. A person from the health-care team will use clippers to get you ready for surgery if hair needs to be removed.
Yes. The procedure can still be performed. It is preferable that you wear a tampon instead of a pad; however, this is not required.
Hair is removed to avoid problems during and after surgery, for example when stitching up wounds or applying dressings. However, some studies claim that removing hair could cause infections after surgery and should be avoided.
Most people stop moving their bowels about 2 – 3 hours after finishing the solution. People are different and some have liquid movements until the time of the procedure. The instrument used during the colonoscopy will suction out any liquid left in the bowel. You will not have an “accident” during the procedure.
Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes and socks to keep you warm. Do not wear heavy or bulky sweaters. Avoid girdles, pantyhose, or tight-fitting garments. You will be required to change into a hospital gown for your procedure.
Most colonoscopies take only 15-30 minutes to complete.
Rock explains. Propofol works quickly; most patients are unconscious within five minutes. "When the procedure is over and we stop the intravenous drip, it generally takes only 10 to 15 minutes before he or she is fairly wide awake again.”
After the colonoscopy is completed, you'll move to a recovery area where you'll remain for about 30 to 45 minutes while you fully wake up from your sedation.
One of the causes of pain during insertion of the colonoscope is stretching of the mesenterium by loop formation of the instrument and the degree of the pain is different from types of looping formation.
The prep is the hardest part. Colon cancer screenings save lives, but many people are nervous about getting colonoscopies.
The most likely result of a colonoscopy that shows up with abnormal findings is the presence of polyps. These are growths that can be found in the colon. In most cases these polyps are benign, but they do have the possibility of becoming cancerous.
Many patients are so comfortable that they do not even realize the procedure was completed. Your body is completely covered during the exam. You may be wondering how much of your body is exposed during a colonoscopy.
If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of the procedure, take them with only a sip of water. Take a bath or shower before you come in for your procedure.
Some patients may be experiencing the effects of the laxative even just before the exam. If that's the case, consider wearing an adult diaper just for the time being.
Will I be up all night with colonoscopy prep? Probably not, if you start on time. While everyone's body is different, most people are able to complete their round of purging before going to sleep for the night.
What to Do if You're Still Passing Stool. If come the morning of your colonoscopy you haven't finished your prep or your bowel movements aren't reduced to clear liquids, contact your healthcare provider's office. They may want to reschedule your procedure or recommend additional steps to finish clearing your colon.
The Day of Your Colonoscopy
Be sure to have a bath or shower the morning of the test and wear comfortable clothing. Body piercings and/or jewelry should be removed before the procedure.
Studies have indicated that colonoscopies done during the morning hours have actually contributed to more accurate findings due to a number of varying factors. Although it might not be a thrill to wake up earlier than usual, it could just help your overall health.
Routine shaving should be stopped at least two days before your surgery on all areas of your body, including the legs and underarms. This is to prevent any skin irritation which could lead to an infection.
Clipping immediately before surgery (rather than shaving) will likely have an even lower incidence of surgical site infection than shaving. Clipping of some hair-bearing areas should be avoided (such as the eyebrows), while other areas (such as the pubic regions) are very commonly clipped.