The prep is the hardest part. Colon cancer screenings save lives, but many people are nervous about getting colonoscopies.
RW A difficult colonoscopy is any colonoscopy in which the endoscopist has trouble achieving cecal intubation without significant effort or discomfort to the patient.
Belly Pain or Discomfort
This is the most common side effect of colonoscopy. You might feel cramping or bloating afterward. Your doctor may use air to inflate your colon so they can get a better view. They might use water or a suction device as well as certain surgical tools to take off a polyp.
A nurse will administer a sedative through an IV to numb your body, so you feel no pain. You will feel sleepy during this procedure, but you will not completely fall asleep. It is sedation, not anesthesia. Still, it means your colonoscopy is not painful.
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 mechanism of pain during colonoscopy is similar to that of childbirth. Both are caused by the spasm of smooth muscle. But the pain during colonoscopy is artificially caused by the insertion of endoscope. Also, severe pain is caused by the knotting of endoscope during operation.
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.
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.
Colonoscopy (koh-luh-NAH-skuh-pee) lets the physician look inside your entire large intestine, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine. The procedure is used as a tool for routine colon cancer screening and prevention in people beginning at age 45.
After the procedure
You may feel bloated or pass gas for a few hours after the exam, as you clear the air from your colon. Walking may help relieve any discomfort. You may also notice a small amount of blood with your first bowel movement after the exam. Usually this isn't cause for alarm.
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.
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.
Is a sedation-free colonoscopy painful or uncomfortable? Most patients report little or no discomfort during the procedure. You can request sedation during the procedure if you change your mind and feel you need it, although it has been my experience that this seldom occurs.
1.)
In fact, patients are sedated prior to the procedure so no pain is felt during a colonoscopy. Patients have a range of options from a mild sedative to general anesthesia. During a colonoscopy, your doctor will use a tiny camera attached to a thin, flexible tube to identify any colorectal abnormalities.
To eliminate looping and help the doctor advance the scope, endoscopy nurses and staff routinely apply abdominal pressure in roughly 60% of colonoscopies. If manual pressure doesn't work, patients are typically repositioned onto other side or onto their stomach.
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.
The doctor can use the scope to take small samples of the colon wall (biopsies) and to remove polyps, ultimately preventing a cancer from developing in that area. The entire procedure usually takes 20-30 minutes. Thanks to the sedatives you were given, you'll likely sleep through the whole thing.
Following a normal colonoscopy, most patients are ready to return to work and all other routine activities 24 hours after the procedure.
The endoscopist will first check your back passage for any abnormalities. They then gently put the colonoscope into your back passage and up into the large bowel. This is uncomfortable but is not usually painful. They put gel on the colonoscope to make it more comfortable.
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.
During recovery, you may be offered something to drink and/or eat. It's normal to feel bloated and gassy after the procedure. You'll also be encouraged to pass gas to remove any of the bloating. Typically, patients can resume eating normally the next day unless the doctor advises otherwise.
If you can't pass gas soon after surgery, it may mean that a post-operative ileus, or gastric delay, is happening. A post-operative ileus or POI is when there's a slowdown in your body's ability to digest food. It could be caused by changes in your nervous system or the after-effects of having your intestines handled.
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).
You will not be shaved.