If you’ve never had a colonoscopy, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about what to expect. For many adults, that first colonoscopy comes with a lot of questions — and often, a fair amount of anxiety.
The truth is, colonoscopy screening is a lot more straightforward than many people realize. Here, our team at Digestive Disease Specialists in Moline, Illinois, and Bettendorf, Iowa, reviews five things you should know to feel more confident and prepared.
OK, it’s not exactly a fun time, but proper preparation is essential. During this step, you clear your bowel so we can see the lining of your colon and look for anything unusual, including early signs of cancer.
During prep, you need to follow a clear-liquid diet and drink a solution designed to clean out your colon. That means lots of pooping — and that you’ll need complete and total access to a bathroom.
Read your prep instructions carefully, and be sure to ask any questions ahead of time. If your prep isn’t complete, there’s a good chance you’ll be sent home and need to do it all over again.
Many people worry that a colonoscopy will be uncomfortable. The truth is that just before your screening, you receive sedation, so you’ll be relaxed — and likely fast asleep — during the procedure. Most patients remember little to nothing about the screening afterward.
The entire exam only takes about 30 minutes. Because you’re sedated, you won’t feel the scope as it moves through your colon. Afterward, there’s no discomfort, but you may feel bloated as a result of the air used to expand your colon for better viewing.
Most people think of colonoscopies as a detection tool for cancerous growths, and the screening does do that. But we can also identify precancerous growths called polyps and remove them during your screening.
Colorectal cancer often develops slowly over many years. By identifying and removing abnormal growths early, a colonoscopy dramatically lowers your risk of developing cancer in the future.
We also look for any other unusual areas, including inflammation that could be associated with diverticulosis or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Because you’re sedated for the screening, you’ll still be groggy afterward. That means you won’t be able to drive yourself home. Even if you feel alert, your judgment and reflexes are likely to be impaired for several hours.
Have a friend or family member available to drive you home. Take it easy for the rest of the day, and avoid driving or using heavy equipment until the next day.
For adults at average risk, colorectal cancer screening typically begins at age 45. However, we may recommend starting earlier if you have certain risk factors, like a family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or certain genetic conditions.
Your recommended screening schedule can also depend on what we find during your colonoscopy (if anything). If we don’t find any polyps, you may not need to schedule your next colonoscopy for another 10 years. If we do find polyps, you’ll probably need to be screened again sooner or more frequently.
A colonoscopy is one of the most powerful tools available for diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages and for preventing cancer.
If you have questions about your upcoming colonoscopy or if you need to schedule a screening, book an appointment online or over the phone with Digestive Disease Specialists today.
