Related Posts. Patient testimonial: Greg Dominick. The signs of appendicitis everyone should know. Diagnostic imaging exams explained. What to expect during an endoscopy procedure Anterior approach hip replacement: What to expect. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. How is virtual colonoscopy different from colonoscopy?
Why do doctors use colonoscopy? How do doctors perform a colonoscopy? What should I expect after a colonoscopy? What are the risks of colonoscopy? Seek Care Right Away What is colonoscopy? Virtual colonoscopy may not find certain polyps as easily as a colonoscopy can. Your health insurance coverage may be different for the two procedures.
A colonoscopy can help a doctor find the cause of symptoms, such as bleeding from your anus changes in your bowel activity, such as diarrhea pain in your abdomen unexplained weight loss Doctors also use colonoscopy as a screening tool for colon polyps and cancer. How do I prepare for a colonoscopy? Talk with your doctor You should talk with your doctor about any health problems you have and all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take, including arthritis medicines aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin blood thinners diabetes medicines nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen vitamins that contain iron or iron supplements Change your diet and clean out your bowel A health care professional will give you written bowel prep instructions to follow at home before the procedure so that little or no stool remains in your intestine.
In most cases, you may drink or eat the following: fat-free bouillon or broth gelatin in flavors such as lemon, lime, or orange plain coffee or tea, without cream or milk sports drinks in flavors such as lemon, lime, or orange strained fruit juice, such as apple or white grape—avoid orange juice water Different bowel preps may contain different combinations of laxatives —pills that you swallow or powders that you dissolve in water or clear liquids.
Your doctor will tell you how long before the procedure you should have nothing by mouth. For the procedure, you will lie on a table while the doctor inserts a colonoscope through your anus and into your rectum and colon. After a colonoscopy, you can expect the following: The anesthesia takes time to wear off completely.
You may feel cramping in your abdomen or bloating during the first hour after the procedure. After the procedure, you—or a friend or family member—will receive instructions on how to care for yourself after the procedure.
While unlikely, this may occur immediately or in the first few days after the procedure, but may be delayed for up to one to two weeks. A colonoscopic examination involves gently inserting a fiber-optic colonoscope into your rectum and large intestine to view your lower gastrointestinal tract. A colonoscopy is considered positive if the doctor finds any polyps or abnormal tissue in the colon.
Most polyps aren't cancerous, but some can be precancerous. Polyps removed during colonoscopy are sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine whether they are cancerous, precancerous or noncancerous. Depending on the size and number of polyps, you may need to follow a more rigorous surveillance schedule in the future to look for more polyps.
If your doctor finds one or two polyps less than 0. If you have a polyp or other abnormal tissue that couldn't be removed during the colonoscopy, your doctor may recommend a repeat exam with a gastroenterologist who has special expertise in removing large polyps, or surgery.
If your doctor is concerned about the quality of the view through the scope, he or she may recommend a repeat colonoscopy or a shorter time until your next colonoscopy. If your doctor wasn't able to advance the scope through your entire colon, a barium enema or virtual colonoscopy may be recommended to examine the rest of your colon.
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Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Colonoscopy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Colonoscopy During a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a colonoscope into your rectum to check for abnormalities in your entire colon. Spending time with loved ones, listening to music or a podcast, and watching movies are great ways to help you get through this potentially nerve-wracking time.
Keep in mind that a colonoscopy is one of the most useful cancer screening tools. Not only can it pick up cancer in the earliest, most treatable stages, but it can also prevent cancer by removing harmful growths.
The follow-up after your colonoscopy depends on several factors including:. Any tissue samples or polyps need to be examined by an expert known as a pathologist.
The pathologist determines if the tissue is healthy, if cancer is present, or if the tissue is likely to become cancerous. It can take a few days to get these results. Some healthcare providers will discuss the findings over the phone or mail you and your primary care provider a copy of the report. Other healthcare providers may want to discuss the results in person at a follow-up appointment.
If you have not heard back from your healthcare provider within seven to 10 days, be sure to call their office. It's important that you get a full report of the colonoscopy findings. There are several possible colonoscopy results your healthcare provider may discuss with you. A normal colonoscopy means that none of the following were seen:.
If your colonoscopy is considered normal and you have an average risk of developing colon cancer, your healthcare provider will likely recommend another procedure in 10 years. An average-risk individual is someone who has none of the following:. An abnormal colonoscopy means that a polyp, adenoma, cancer, or another problem was found.
If yours is abnormal, you will likely need to have another colonoscopy in three years. You may also be referred to a specialist. If colorectal cancer is found during your colonoscopy, you will need to have a follow-up within a few days with an oncologist. An oncologist is a doctor who provides treatment and care for those with cancer. Depending on your colonoscopy results, you may also be referred to a gastroenterologist , a doctor who treats conditions related to the digestive tract. A normal colonoscopy result means that you have an average risk of developing colon cancer in the future and can wait 10 years before having another colonoscopy procedure.
An abnormal colonoscopy result means that you will need to have another colonoscopy in three years or sooner and will likely be referred to a specialist for further evaluation. A colonoscopy is a procedure that helps detect cancer as well as other issues related to the digestive tract. Colonoscopy recovery is usually very quick, with most people resuming normal activity the next day.
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