Question 1

what is a colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

Look inside colon: You are sedated (very sleepy, but still breathing on your own).  The endoscopist places an instrument through your anus and then passes it into the colon to carefully exam the colon for polyps, cancer, etc.  If any abnormalities are found a biopsy may be done. Typically, it is painless - the only bother is cleaning out your bowels beforehand and even that's not so bad.

Question 2

do colonoscopies hurt?

Accepted Answer

No: Colonoscopy is usually performed with some form of sedation and if done correctly you should not feel anything or remember anything.

Question 3

what is a colonoscopy like?

Accepted Answer

A simple test: After appropriate colon preparation at home, arrive at the endoscopy center, change into a gown & IV is inserted. Once in the procedure room, final consent is obtained, IV sedation is given (there are options here--some patients choose no sedation, others want to be "out cold"), & a thin flexible tube with video camera is inserted per rectum & advanced, taking pictures, biopsies, & therapeutics.

Question 4

what results from colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

Colonoscopy: This is a good screening tool used for the appropriate age group in screening for colon cancer.

Question 5

how to prep for a colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

Lots of options: There are a lot of different regimens for doing a colonoscopy prep. It depends on your gastroenterologist what they prefer. Ultimate what they want is a clean prep, so you should not have any stool in your colon when they look. You will have a sense of whether your prep is complete when you look in the toilet bowl and you shouldn't see any solid material left.

Question 6

do i really need a colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

Age: When either 45 or 50 yrs old or of bleeding or other symptoms also pending family history.

Question 7

colonoscopy: what can i expect?

Accepted Answer

Not bad: The most annoying part is the bowel cleanout the day before.  You have to drink a fluid that makes you have enough bowel movements until your stool becomes clear.  The colonoscopy procedure itself is usually easy.  When you go home you will have some abdominal discomfort and bloating.  Sometimes you can have a little rectal bleeding as well.

Question 8

what may appear in a colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

Pretty much anything: Colonoscopies are mostly done for screening, looking for polyps which may be pre-cancerous, thus removing them in essence prevents a cancer. Colonoscopies are also done to evaluate for other problems, like diverticulosis, hemorrhoid bleeding, changes in bowels which may be from comparatively benign conditions, but infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases and other colon problems may be found too.

Question 9

when should i start colonoscopies?

Accepted Answer

50 unless...: The general guideline is age 50, but there are exceptions to that rule. For example, family history of colon cancer can move up the schedule.

Question 10

how can you die from a colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Dying during a colonoscopy or because of one is a very rare event.  The risk of a perforation or hole during a colonoscopy is about 1/1500.  The risks of dying would increase if one had a perforation that was not noticed.  Also there is a risk of having complications from the sedation. One could stop breathing from over sedation which could lead to death, again, a rare event.

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