If it is your
job to prep a patient for a colonoscopy, they may ask many questions,
especially if it is their first one, or if they have to get one due to an
underlying condition.
A colonoscopy
is a test that enables a doctor to look at the in inner lining of your large
intestine, which is the rectum and colon.
They use a very thin flexible tube to look at the colon, which allows
the doctor to check for ulcers, colon Polyps, tumors, or inflammation and
bleeding. Tissue samples may be
collected and sent to a lab to check for cancer or precancerous growths. The tube is very flexible, and has a small
video camera attached at the end, so that the doctor can take pictures and
videos of the colon. The test allows the
doctor to view the entire colon and lower part of the intestines.
A colonoscopy
is more complete than a sigmoidoscopy, which shows only the rectum and bottom
portion of the colon.
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Preparing for the Colonoscopy
You have
probably heard from anyone that has undergone this procedure, the worst part is
the preparation. If you regularly take
aspirin or ibuprofen products, you’ll be advised not to take them 5 days prior
to the procedure, and for 3 days after.
(Due to bleeding complications) The preparation procedures take a day in
most cases, and involve eating no solid foods for an entire day. Liquids, broth, and jello can usually be
eaten, however, it is very important to not consume red jello, or drink
anything red or purple. That can
resemble blood, and make for complications in the test. You will be required to begin drinking a solution
mix at some point during the day, along with taking laxative pills to ensure
your colon is clean. The preparation
requires that you are close to a restroom as it begins to work. Do not be tempted to have a snack outside of
the acceptable list provided by your doctor.
This will stop the test completely, and insurance may not pay for
another for some time. You may eat
directly following the procedure, so you may want to schedule it for early
morning.
What to Expect
A colonoscopy
is painless, as you are asleep. The test
only lasts about 20 minutes, and recovery is less than one hour. There is no pain afterwards, and the process
itself is painless. Some people
experience minimal cramping after the procedure. You will arrive for your test,
and provide information to your nurse.
They will have you change into a gown, and an IV will be started with
saline, so that later the anesthesiologist can provide medication to have you
sleep. You will be asked questions by
your nurse, and then the anesthesiologist will go over a series of questions as
well. Be sure you have a list of any and
all medications that you take, including those over the counter. Once you are rolled into the procedure room,
you will be instructed to lie on your side.
The anesthesiologist will administer sleep medication, and the next
thing you will be aware of, is waking up in recovery. Your doctor will come and discuss the results
of your procedure while you are in recovery.
As soon as you feel alert enough to walk, you will be discharged.
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When to Have a Colonoscopy
As a general
rule, age 50 is the recommended age to start routine colonoscopies. There are exceptions to this, if you suffer
from any bowel disorder or have a strong family history of colon cancer, your
doctor may recommend a Colonoscopy before age 50. For routine colonoscopies, the follow ups are
generally 3-5 years, or what your physician prescribes.
Many people
dread colonoscopies, let's face it, that is not an area of the body that people
want worked on. The fact is, it won't
hurt, and it can save your life. This is
a simple procedure that will require one day off work. With some preliminary
prep time, and a few hours for the outpatient visit, you are back to
normal. You will be required to have a
ride the day of your procedure, as you will be put to sleep, you cannot drive
the remainder of the day. The entire
stay at the hospital can be up to 4 hours, however, is usually less than
2. Any polyps found during the procedure
will be removed and examined in a lab to determine if they contain cancer cells. Most polyps are benign; however, they are
removed to ensure they do not develop further.
Colon
cancer that is caught early is treatable and curable. Without early intervention, it may not be treatable;
a colonoscopy is worth having for peace of mind. A quick and painless procedure is well worth
your time, and your life. It is important for each one of your patients over 50
to keep this in mind.
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