A colonoscopy is an important test that can help spot cancer and other problems. It is usually done in a hospital or medical office.

You will be given a sedative for the test. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home afterward, because the sedation can affect your judgment and reaction time. Keep reading the article to Learn More.
A colonoscopy is a simple procedure that can help doctors find cancer or other abnormalities. It can also show how far bowel cancer has spread, and the tissue sample may be tested for changes that could influence treatment. It’s important to follow the doctor’s instructions for preparing for the test. This can involve eating a clear liquid diet and taking laxatives to clean out the colon before the procedure.
Before your procedure, discuss all of your options for anesthesia with your doctor. If you have a health condition such as heart or lung disease, or if you’re over the age of 75, you may need to choose general anesthesia. Your doctor will also consider your general health and the level of sedation you’re comfortable with, including whether or not you have a fear of needles.
Depending on the type of colonoscopy, you may need to drink a special bowel preparation solution to clean your colon. Some of these solutions can be a bit unpleasant. They may cause diarrhea and frequent trips to the bathroom. Some people may not be able to tolerate the preparation, especially in older adults. It’s important for patients to talk to their gastroenterologists about this and any other concerns they may have.
If you’re getting a colonoscopy for the first time, your doctor will give you specific instructions about preparing. You’ll need to avoid solid foods beginning four hours before your procedure and only drink clear liquids. Your doctor may recommend a certain type of prep for you, and if you do, it’s best to start drinking it the day before your test.
You should also tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, including any over-the-counter vitamins or supplements. Some of these can interfere with the bowel prep or affect your reaction to anesthesia during the procedure. For example, if you’re taking an iron supplement, your doctor might recommend that you stop taking it five days before your test.
You should also make arrangements to have someone drive you home after the procedure. Because you’ll be under sedation, it’s unsafe for you to drive.
Procedure
The procedure for colonoscopy involves clearing your bowels so your gastroenterologist can examine the inside of your large intestine to screen for cancer. Your doctor will give you instructions about eating, drinking, and taking laxatives. You might be able to drink less of the required laxative liquid (which many find has an unappetizing taste), choose a better-tasting prep, or take pills instead. The most important thing is to follow the directions so that your bowels clear completely and you get a good view during the test.
Before your colonoscopy, talk with your doctor about any health problems and all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. This information helps your doctor decide whether you can safely have sedation or anesthesia for the test. You may need to stop taking some medicines before the procedure, especially if you have heart or lung problems.
You will lie on a hospital table and wear paper shorts or a gown. You might receive painkillers through a tube in your vein (IV) or a medicine to make you drowsy (sedation). Your doctor will insert a flexible tube with a camera on the end (called a colonoscope) through your anus into your rectum and colon. This tube inflates the lining for a better view. The video image shows your doctor any polyps or other abnormal tissue. The doctor can also remove small pieces of tissue for biopsy.
Once the doctor is done, they will slowly pull out the scope. You might have some cramping in your tummy from the air or carbon dioxide they put into your bowel. You might also have a small tear in the lining of your colon (perforation) or some bleeding from polyps removed during the test. Bleeding or perforation happen in about 5 out of 1,000 colonoscopies.
When the sedation has worn off, you can go home. You should not drive after the sedation and should have someone take you home and stay with you until you can safely drive. The test results can take a few days to arrive, and a health care professional will call or schedule an appointment to discuss them with you.
Recovery
A colonoscopy can cause some discomfort, such as gas pain and cramping. It’s important to remember that this is temporary and will stop after a few hours. Some people also experience some bleeding from the biopsy or removal of polyps. This is usually a small amount of blood that will clear up within a few days. However, very rarely a tear may occur in the bowel wall (perforation). This is usually more serious and will need to be treated with surgery.
If you have a perforation, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible, even if the symptoms don’t seem severe. The sooner the tear is repaired, the less likely it will lead to a more serious condition, such as colon cancer.
Before the procedure begins, it’s important to discuss all your medical history with your doctor. This includes any allergies and previous negative reactions to anesthesia. It’s also a good idea to talk about the medications you take, including both prescribed and over-the-counter ones as well as vitamin supplements. Some medicines can interfere with the sedatives used during the test or make you more prone to bleeding from the polyps removed.
The day before your colonoscopy, it’s important to eat a light diet of only clear liquids. You can also drink tea and coffee (without milk or cream), but don’t have red drinks as the dye could be mistaken for blood during the test.
It’s important to avoid eating solid foods for a few hours after your colonoscopy, as the laxatives you consumed during the prep can affect your digestive system. Once your digestive system is back to normal, you can gradually reintroduce solids like bananas, rice, toast or crackers.
After the colonoscopy, you’ll be moved to a recovery area to rest until the sedation wears off. The staff will give you a number to call if you have any concerns or problems after the test. It’s a good idea to arrange for someone to drop you off and take you home afterward as it is unsafe to drive while under the influence of sedation.
Results
After the procedure, you’ll need to rest for a few hours to let the sedative wear off. You may pass gas (from the air pumped into your colon) or experience abdominal pressure and cramping that should go away. If these symptoms persist, contact your doctor.
The majority of individuals undergoing a colonoscopy get the reassuring news that the exam was normal and nothing life-threatening was found. However, some patients are told that they have polyps or other abnormalities that need to be removed and studied in the lab. This can help prevent cancer from forming in the future or allow the doctor to treat a bowel condition before it becomes severe.
During a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a long, flexible tube into the anus and throughout the entire colon. It is fitted with a camera and light, as well as a snare and water jet to remove any polyps or other debris. The doctor will also take a few tissue samples or biopsies for further testing, which can be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of bowel diseases.
In some cases, polyps that were removed during a colonoscopy could turn into cancer. This is why it’s important to see a specialist as soon as possible after the test. You’ll probably be referred to a gastrointestinal oncologist, who will discuss your results with you and provide additional treatment recommendations if needed.
If you have a family history of bowel polyps, or if you’re at high risk for colorectal cancer, your doctor may recommend regular screening colonoscopies. This is especially true if you have a genetic predisposition, such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis or Lynch syndrome, that increases your risk for the disease.
It’s essential to follow the dietary guidelines provided by your doctor, and use any bowel-cleansing medications as directed. A bowel cleanse is a critical part of preparing for a colonoscopy and is necessary for accurate results. For your safety, it’s important to have a friend or family member drive you home from the clinic after the colonoscopy, as it can take a while for the effects of the sedative to wear off.