On the day of the procedure, you will likely be given an anaesthetic so you don't feel any pain or discomfort. As you may feel drowsy or weak prior to and after the colonoscopy it is best to arrange someone to drop you off at the hospital before the procedure and take you home afterwards.
Most patients choose to be sedated during a colonoscopy, and wake up in the recovery room with little memory of the procedure. Because the bowel does not feel pinching or burning sensations, no pain is experienced if the colonoscopist removes polyps or tissue during the procedure.
Everyone's experience is different, but you can rest assured that the colonoscopy itself is painless. You will receive anesthesia so that you don't feel pain or remember the procedure. Most centers use medications that stop working quickly. That means you shouldn't feel any lingering side effects.
Most procedures at the DEC are performed with sedation given through a small plastic tube (an IV cannula) in the arm. The drug used for sedation is generally Propofol, although midazolam may be used at the discretion of the anaesthetist. Oxygen is administered but no intubation or anaesthetic gases are used.
What happens during the procedure and straight after? The colonoscopy lasts for between 25 to 45 minutes. Most people have a mild anaesthetic or sedation to minimise any pain or discomfort. The sedation also means you may remember very little of the procedure or nothing at all.
After your procedure:
You will be discharged when you are alert and stable. The doctor or nurse will speak to you about your plan of care. Remember you must have an escort to drive or accompany you home. You may return to work the morning after your colonoscopy (Not the evening of the colonoscopy).
Following a normal colonoscopy, most patients are ready to return to work and all other routine activities 24 hours after the procedure.
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. Nurses will make sure your vital signs are stable and monitor you until the sedation wears off.
The biggest culprits that will show up in a colonoscopy and obscure our view are foods like nuts, seeds and high-fiber cereals. You also want to avoid granola, coconut, dried fruit and fresh fruit with the skin on, like apples and pears, or fruit with seeds, like strawberries and raspberries.
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.
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.
Pain after the colonoscopy
Some people experience mild stomach pain for a day or two after the procedure. A person may also have temporary changes in digestion, such as constipation or diarrhea. If the tube irritates the rectum, anus, or intestines, there may be some discomfort when having a bowel movement.
The prep is the hardest part. Colon cancer screenings save lives, but many people are nervous about getting colonoscopies.
There's no discomfort and you'll be done with the procedure in less than an hour. Think of colonoscopy prep as dealing with a stomach bug; unpleasant, but you'll get through it with a little willpower and humor.
Within a few minutes, the patient is asleep, and the doctor then begins the colonoscopy. According to Dr. Rock, many people are surprised when they wake up and learn their procedure is over.
The doctor or nurse carrying out the procedure will look inside your bowel and may also remove polyps (small growths) or samples for testing. The procedure itself takes about 20 to 30 minutes and you will usually be able to go home about two hours later, after the effect of the sedation wears off.
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.
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.
How long does it take a colonoscopy prep to clear bowels completely? It can take 12 to 16 hours for the bowels to completely clear. Eating a low-residue, soft diet for a day or more before starting the prep can help make it easier and faster.
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.
Usually if a suspected colorectal cancer is found by any screening or diagnostic test, it is biopsied during a colonoscopy. In a biopsy, the doctor removes a small piece of tissue with a special instrument passed through the scope. Less often, part of the colon may need to be surgically removed to make the diagnosis.
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.
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.
Q. How many days do I need to take off work? You will need to take off work the day of the procedure. Some patients who work evenings also take off work the day before the procedure to do the bowel prep.