Plan to take it easy afterward and take the rest of the day off work. It can take about 24 hours for the sedative to wear off, so don't drive, operate machinery, make any important legal decisions or drink alcohol for the rest of the day.
If you have sedation, you should be well enough to return to work after 24 hours.
Take the day off: It is recommended that you take the day off work on the day of your procedure. You should not make any important decisions for the rest of the day following the procedure. You should not drive for the rest of the day.
In the first few days after a colonoscopy, you may feel slight discomfort and tiredness, so allow yourself to take it easy. Avoid strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects or exercising until you get clearance from your doctor.
For your safety, do not drive, operate machinery, or power tools for at least 8 hours after getting sedation. Your doctor may tell you not to drive or operate machinery until the day after your test. Do not sign legal documents or make major decisions for at least 8 hours after getting sedation.
FAQ #3: “Can I Exercise After Getting A Colonoscopy?” It is recommended that you abstain from heavy lifting or strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after a colonoscopy. This way, the anesthesia has time to wear off, and you can resume properly fueling your body before expending energy.
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.
Schlondorff told Reuters Health that ``patients should understand that if they have trouble concentrating or are excessively sleepy after colonoscopy, they should check with their doctor about possible (blood chemical) problems. ''
Pain after a colonoscopy is usually caused by the discomfort of having air pumped into your colon during the procedure. Passing gas will, therefore, help ease your discomfort. Walking can help your body pass gas and ease discomfort.
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.
It is recommended that you do not go back to work, do any strenuous exercise, drive, or sign any legal documents for 24 hours after the procedure.
The day before your colonoscopy you will be put on a liquid diet around lunch. You can go to work during this. That evening, usually after work, you begin the bowel prep. This will keep you busy for the night so if you work graveyard shift you will want to take that shift off to be at home.
Will this help me lose weight? This is a rough way to do it, but yes, you will have a very temporary weight loss of one to three pounds typically. But, just as with your bowel habits, these few pounds will return as well once you resume your normal diet.
However, due to the expected side effects of sedation, a person should not drive home, as they would not be alert enough to drive safely. After the Colonoscopy, patients may suffer mild discomfort for up to 24 hours. After that, they may experience mild abdominal cramping, gas pains, and bloating.
Some colonoscopies are done using gas and air as a patient preference, which can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded for a short period. After sedation, you may feel a little more tired for the rest of the day and will be advised to avoid driving for 24 hours, or operating any machinery and avoiding alcohol.
Colonoscopy Recovery: After the Procedure
The effects of the sedation could last up to a day, so you should not drive or operate any machinery until the following day. You may feel gassy or bloated for a while after the procedure because of the air that was injected into your intestine during the colonoscopy.
Pain after the procedure: Some people have stomach pain after a colonoscopy. A person may also experience mild irritation to their rectum, gas, or other digestive problems. These symptoms are usually mild and tend to go away in a few days.
Typically, your doctor will recommend you eat soft or low-residue foods that are gentle on your digestive system. Heavy foods can cause discomfort, such as bloating or gas. Some light food suggestions include eggs, white toast, applesauce, lean chicken (without skin), mashed potatoes, or softly cooked veggies.
What if I've taken all my preparation and am still passing solid stool on the day of my exam? In this case, your procedure will need to be rescheduled. You may be prescribed a different preparation for your next procedure. Please call the triage nurse to reschedule your procedure with a different preparation.
A balanced, vitamin-rich and fibre-rich diet is particularly suitable for this. Wholemeal products, fruit and vegetables, nuts, legumes and dairy products provide valuable nutrients and minerals that serve as a nutritional basis for beneficial intestinal bacteria.
Following your procedure
It is not unusual to experience some diarrhoea for a couple of days post procedure until the bowel returns to its normal function. Abdominal pain due to air introduced into your colon during your procedure can be alleviated by hot drinks, moving around and taking peppermints.
So, the more polyps you have, the higher your cancer risk. Someone with just one or two small polyps is generally at lower risk of having or developing colon cancer than someone with three to nine, or more.
Most colonoscopies take only 15-30 minutes to complete.
Yes, you may go to work the day after an outpatient colonoscopy.