Colonoscopy

What is Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a flexible endoscope is used to examine your entire colon (large bowel or large intestine). The most common reason a colonoscopy is recommended is for the purpose of colon cancer screening. The recommended age for a first-time colonoscopy is 45. Patients with a family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or any other risk factors for colon cancer may need to begin screening earlier.  Other common reasons a colonoscopy may be recommended include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, constipation and/or diarrhea.

How to Prepare for Your Colonoscopy

You will receive instructions from your physician’s office that clearly explain how to prepare for your colonoscopy. You will be on a clear liquid diet 1 to 2 days before your colonoscopy, and will be prescribed a medication to clean out the bowel completely. You will also be required to fast for a number of hours on the day of your procedure. You may need to stop certain medications a few days prior to your procedure, such as aspirin, prescribed blood thinners, and/or GLP-1 agonists (weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Trulicity, etc.).

What Does a Colonoscopy Involve?

Upon arrival to your appointment, a nurse and anesthesia provider will review your medical history and medications, and then place an I.V. prior to your procedure. You will then be taken to a private procedure room for the procedure. When it is time to begin the examination, you will be asked to lay on your left side. The anesthesia provider will then begin intravenous (IV) sedation. Once the sedation takes effect, the colonoscope will be carefully inserted through the rectum and moved gently around the bends of the colon. The gastroenterologist will view the interior lining on a video monitor and will take pictures, remove colon polyps (polypectomy) and/or take tissue samples (biopsy). On average the procedure takes 30 minutes. You will be closely monitored throughout the procedure. Any tissue samples or polyps will be sent to a laboratory to be analyzed.

What Happens After?

You will be taken to our recovery area for about 30 minutes. You will be monitored closely until you are fully awake. You may feel bloated and feel the need to pass gas. You will be given water to drink and your I.V. will be removed. You will be provided with instructions explaining the procedure results, dietary instructions and any follow-up needed. You must have someone available to drive you home. You should rest and not drive or go to work for the remainder of the day. Our nursing staff will call you the following business day to see how you are feeling and answer any questions you may have. Your physician will notify of any laboratory results once he/she receives them.