what to expect after a colonoscopy
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Colonoscopy
Find out what happens on the day of your colonoscopy.
- Colonoscopy
On the day of your colonoscopy you'll need to stop eating and drinking – your letter will tell you when to stop.
You should also bring any medicines you take with you.
When you arrive
You'll speak with a nurse about what's going to happen. They will ask you to change into a hospital gown.
You may be offered things to make you more comfortable and make the test easier, such as:
painkillers
sedation – medicine given through a small tube in your arm to help you relax
gas and air – you breathe this in to help you relax
Not all hospitals offer all these things – ask about what you can have.
Important
You cannot drive for 24 hours if you have sedation. Someone will need to pick you up from hospital in a car or taxi.
Giving consent
A nurse or specialist will explain possible risks.
In rare cases, people may:
have a reaction to the sedation
have some bleeding afterwards
get a small tear in their bowels
You'll be asked to sign a consent form. This is to confirm you understand the risks and agree to have the procedure.
It's important to remember these things are rare. If anything happens, the team will take care of you.
The procedure
It should take 30 to 45 minutes to have your colonoscopy.
But you might be at the hospital for around 2 hours from getting there to going home.
What happens during a colonoscopy and how you'll feel during each stage
What happens What it might feel like
A thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside goes into your bottom You may feel the camera go in, but it should not hurt
Air is pumped in to open up your bowels You may feel a bit bloated or like you need the toilet
The tube goes through all of your large bowel You may have some stomach cramps
Any growths (polyps) in your bowels will be removed or a sample of cells taken You will not feel anything if this happens
You'll usually be told if any growths (polyps) have been removed.
You'll then be moved to the recovery room. The nurses will monitor you until you're ready go home.
Video: What happens during a colonoscopy?
In this video, a nurse explains what happens during a colonoscopy.
Media last reviewed: 25 November 2019
Media review due: 25 November 2022
How you might feel after a colonoscopy
You might feel bloated or have stomach cramps for 2 to 3 hours after.
You may also have some blood in your poo or bleeding from your bottom. These things are common.
Urgent advice:
Call 111, or the hospital where you had a colonoscopy, if:
You have any of these things after having a colonoscopy:
heavy bleeding from your bottom or bleeding that's getting worse
severe stomach pain or pain that gets worse
a high temperature or you feel hot or shivery
What we mean by severe pain
Page last reviewed: 07 June 2019
Next review due: 07 June 2022
Colonoscopy
Learn why doctors perform colonoscopy, how you prepare for it, what to expect during and after colonoscopy, and the risks of colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy
On this page:What is colonoscopy?
How is virtual colonoscopy different from colonoscopy?
Why do doctors use colonoscopy?
Screening for Colon and Rectal Cancer
How do I prepare for a 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?
Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor uses a colonoscope or scope, to look inside your rectum and colon. Colonoscopy can show irritated and swollen tissue, ulcers, polyps, and cancer .
How is virtual colonoscopy different from colonoscopy?
Virtual colonoscopy and colonoscopy are different in several ways:
Virtual colonoscopy is an x-ray test, takes less time, and you don’t need anesthesia .
With virtual colonoscopy, your doctor doesn’t view the entire length of your colon.
Virtual colonoscopy may not find certain polyps as easily as a colonoscopy can.
Doctors can’t remove polyps or treat certain other problems during a virtual colonoscopy.
Your health insurance coverage may be different for the two procedures.
Why do doctors use colonoscopy?
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 . Screening is testing for diseases when you have no symptoms. Screening may find diseases at an early stage, when a doctor has a better chance of curing the disease.
Screening for Colon and Rectal Cancer
Your doctor will recommend screening for colon and rectal cancer —also called colorectal cancer—starting at age 45 if you don’t have health problems or risk factors that make you more likely to develop colon cancer.1
You have risk factors for colorectal cancer if you2
are male
are African American
or someone in your family has had polyps or colorectal cancer
have a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
have Lynch syndrome , or another genetic disorder that increases the risk of colorectal cancer
have other factors, such as that you weigh too much or smoke cigarettes
If you are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, your doctor may recommend screening at a younger age, and more often.
If you are older than age 75, talk with your doctor about whether you should be screened. For more information, read the current colorectal cancer screening guidelines External link from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Government health insurance plans, such as Medicare, and private insurance plans sometimes change whether and how often they pay for cancer screening tests. Check with your insurance plan to find out how often your plan will cover a screening colonoscopy.
How do I prepare for a colonoscopy?
To prepare for a colonoscopy, you will need to talk with your doctor, change your diet for a few days, clean out your bowel, and arrange for a ride home after the procedure.
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. A complete bowel prep lets you pass stool that is clear and liquid. Stool inside your intestine can prevent your doctor from clearly seeing the lining.
You may need to follow a clear liquid diet for 1 to 3 days before the procedure. You should avoid red and purple-colored drinks or gelatin. The instructions will include details about when to start and stop the clear liquid diet. 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. Some people will need to drink a large amount, often a gallon, of liquid laxative over a scheduled amount of time—most often the night before and the morning of the procedure. Your doctor may also prescribe an enema.
The bowel prep will cause diarrhea, so you should stay close to a bathroom. You may find this part of the bowel prep hard; however, finishing the prep is very important. Call a health care professional if you have side effects that keep you from finishing the prep.
Your doctor will tell you how long before the procedure you should have nothing by mouth.
What to expect after a colonoscopy
It’s normal to wonder about what to expect after a colonoscopy. Learn more about what to happens during recovery from the cancer screening procedure.
FROM THE BLOG
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A COLONOSCOPY
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Even though it’s a common cancer screening procedure, it’s completely normal to wonder about what will happen after you get a colonoscopy.
FIND OUT WHY EARLY DETECTION IS CRUCIAL FOR BEATING COLON CANCER
Most people between the ages of 50 and 75 will only need to get a colonoscopy once every five or ten years. Whether it’s your first time or it’s been a few years, here’s a primer on what to expect after a colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy aftercare FAQs
“What happens once the doctor finishes the colonoscopy?”
Colonoscopies are quick, generally taking around 20–30 minutes. Most patients “sleep” during the procedure because they are sedated to increase their comfort and aid in relaxation.
Unless you’ve chosen not to be sedated during your colonoscopy, the nursing staff will move you to a recovery area to rest comfortably until anesthesia medication you’ve been given wears off. This part of the recovery typically takes about a half-hour.
After this period, you’ll be free to go home under the care of a family member or a good friend for the first 24 hours.
Some patients report having only a vague memory of everything that happened during their colonoscopy because of the effects of conscious sedation. Once you start to “wake up” from sedation, you may find yourself feeling a little sluggish and bloated. For relief from your cramps during the first hours after your colonoscopy, you’ll be encouraged to pass gas, and—until you stop feeling groggy—your doctor may recommend you limit your activity.
The drugs will gradually wear off entirely during the rest of the day. You owe it to yourself to take it easy and give your body time to heal.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT COLON CANCER
“What happens if my doctor finds something?”
If your doctor sees any abnormalities during your colonoscopy, they will discuss their findings with you after the procedure. In some cases, your doctor may find and remove polyps to prevent cancer from developing or take tissue samples from your colon wall for cancer screening; you can expect to get results from those biopsies within three to five days.
“What can I eat after a colonoscopy?”
Before your colonoscopy, you will have to avoid eating and drinking certain things. You will also need to be mindful of abiding by certain restrictions for the first 24 hours after your procedure, including:
Getting plenty of liquids, especially beverages with sorbitol—like prune juice—which can alleviate constipation by softening your stool
Avoiding high-fiber foods or taking any over-the-counter fiber supplements)
Not drinking any alcohol
If you had to stop taking medications as part of your colonoscopy prep, your doctor will give you advice on when you should restart taking those treatments.
“How will I feel the day after a colonoscopy?”
One day after your colonoscopy, you’ll finally start to feel more like yourself again. In fact, most patients feel up to returning to normal activities within 24 hours.
It’s highly recommended that patients take it easy with scheduled activities for the first week after to allow enough time to get back to normal, especially if your doctor found and removed polyps during the procedure.
Colonoscopy aftercare basics
Having complications after a colonoscopy is rare but not impossible, which is why it’s so important to follow all post-procedure self-care recommendations from your doctor.
You also need to be on alert for any warning signs of complications from a colonoscopy, such as:
feeling extreme abdominal pain or severe bloating
vomiting rectal bleeding
experiencing irregular heartbeats
having chills or a fever
If you notice any of these symptoms or feel unwell and like something isn’t right, don’t hesitate to go to the emergency room or call your doctor.
Colonoscopies at Logansport Memorial Hospital
Now that you know more about what to do after a colonoscopy (and what to expect), you’ll be better prepared to make the healing process go as smoothly as possible.
Have questions about screening for colon cancer and maintaining good colon health? Set up a time to meet with one of the LMPN Surgical Services general surgeons by calling (574) 753-2222.
You might also like:
When Do You Need to Get a Colonoscopy?
Why Early Detection Is Crucial for Beating Colon Cancer
How Do You Know If You Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
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