The large intestine is also known as the colon and scopy means to examine or study. Therefore, Colonoscopy simply is the procedure doctors do to see the diseases of the large intestine or colon.
We are posting this post in connection with our posts on screening colorectal cancer and colonic polyps to have a better understanding of this procedure.
What is colonoscopy?
As mentioned in the introduction, a colonoscopy is a test that looks at the inner lining of a person’s large intestine. The large intestine is also called the colon.
Often, people have a colonoscopy as a screening test to check for polyps or for cancer in the colon or rectum.
Polyps are growths in the colon that might turn into cancer. If you have polyps, the doctor can usually take them out during the colonoscopy. Taking polyps out lowers your chances of getting cancer. People can also have a colonoscopy if they have any of the symptoms listed below.
Cancer screening tests are tests that are done to try and find cancer early before a person has symptoms. Cancer that is found early often is small and can be cured or treated easily. Doctors can use 5 or 6 different tests to screen for colon cancer. But most doctors think that colonoscopy is the best test to screen for colon cancer.
When do doctors advise for colonoscopy?
Your doctor might order a colonoscopy if there is:
- Blood in bowel movements
- A change in bowel habits
- A condition called anemia, where blood hemoglobin is low enough to make one feel tired and weak, and the reason of anemia is unknown
- Long-term belly or rectal pain that one cannot explain
- Abnormal results from a different type of colon test
- A history of colon cancer or polyps in colon
What should I expect before a colonoscopy?
The doctor will give instructions about what to do before a colonoscopy. They will tell what foods one can and cannot eat. They will also tell if you need to stop taking any of usual medicines beforehand. Make sure to read the instructions as soon as you get them. You might have to stop some medicines up to a week before the test.
The colon needs to be cleaned out before a colonoscopy. Your doctor will give you a special drink that causes watery diarrhea. It is important to drink all of it to make sure your colon is clean. If the colon is clean, the doctor will get a better look at the inside lining of the colon. A clean colon also makes the test easier to do and more comfortable. Let your doctor know if you have trouble getting ready for your colonoscopy.
What happens during a colonoscopy?
Your doctor will give you medicine to make you feel relaxed. Then they will put a thin tube with a camera and light on the end (colonoscope in the image above) into the anus and up into the rectum and colon. Your doctor will look at the inside lining of the whole colon.
During the procedure, your doctor might do a test called a biopsy. During a biopsy, a doctor takes a small piece of tissue from the colon. Then they look at the tissue under a microscope to see if it has cancer. The doctors might also remove growths that they see in the colon. You will not feel it if the doctor takes a biopsy or removes a growth.
What happens after a colonoscopy?
The doctor will give you instructions about what to do after a colonoscopy. Most people can eat as usual. But most doctors recommend that people do not drive or go to work for the rest of the day as they want the effects of the medicine, they gave you to relax during the procedure, to wear off. Your doctor will tell you when to start taking any medicines you had to stop before the test.
When should I call my doctor?
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following problems after your colonoscopy:
- Belly pain that is much worse than gas pain or cramps
- A bloated and hard belly
- Vomiting
- Fever
- A lot of bleeding from anus