What are the signs that you should have a colonoscopy?

How do I know if I need a colonoscopy?

If you are having trouble with diarrhea, constipation, or changes to the look of your stools, pay close attention. If your stools are more narrow than normal (ribbon like), or the other symptoms last longer than a few days, it may be time to see Digestive Health Services and schedule a colonoscopy.

What are the early warning signs of bowel cancer?

When should a female get a colonoscopy?

The American Cancer Society recommends that women (and men) who are at an average risk for colon cancer begin screening at age 45 and then receive a colonoscopy once every 10 years until age 75 if they are in generally good health.

Do I need a colonoscopy if I have no symptoms?

The test is equally valuable as a screening tool if you have no symptoms at all. The American Cancer Society and Dr. Abboud agree that everyone age 45 or older — even those with no symptoms or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps — have a screening colonoscopy.

Who should get a colonoscopy and when?

Can I avoid a colonoscopy?

If your goal is to prevent colon cancer, you really need to have a colonoscopy. If you choose an alternative, stool-based screening method and you have important pre-cancerous polyps, it's really a flip of the coin (or worse) whether these polyps will be detected.

Who should not get a colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is not recommended in pregnant patients, patients 75 years or older, patients with limited life expectancy, or in patients with severe medical problems making them high risk for sedation.

How is a colonoscopy performed on a woman?

The long and winding female colon. A colonoscopy works like this: A patient lies on their side while a gastroenterologist inserts a colonoscope — essentially a camera on the end of a long, flexible tube — into their anus. From there, the doctor can use the scope to navigate through the entire large intestine.

Are you put to sleep for a colonoscopy?

Almost all colonoscopies in the United States are performed with patients under a level of sedation or anesthesia that prevents them from feeling anything. Often, patients are asleep for the entire procedure.

Why would a woman get a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is the best way to detect colorectal cancer and can even reduce your risk by up to 60%. Some people think colorectal cancer is a men's disease, but women are just as much at risk. Some people are scared to have colonoscopies so they avoid it. But a colon screening is usually painless.

Where is colon cancer pain felt?

Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following may indicate colon cancer: Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.

What are the top 10 signs of colon cancer?

What are the signs of bowel problems?

How painful is a colonoscopy?

Colonoscopies are usually not painful, and patients generally do not feel anything at all. Most colonoscopies are performed using “intravenous sedation” or “twilight sedation” in which patients are drowsy, but comfortable and still breathing on their own.

How long will it take to recover from a colonoscopy?

The First Week after a Colonoscopy

After polyps are removed it can take up to a week for the patient to fully recover. During this time, patients should avoid all strenuous activities, which includes lifting anything over five pounds.

Do they put a tube down your throat for a colonoscopy?

The doctor will put a flexible, lighted tube called a gastroscope into your mouth and slowly guide it through your esophagus into your stomach and part of the small intestine so that he can see these areas. If anything abnormal is seen during the exam, like inflamed tissue, the doctor can remove all or part of it.

How will I feel after colonoscopy?

You will probably feel a bit tired or groggy even then, so you cannot drive yourself home. Your doctor will not release you unless there is someone there to bring you home. The effects of the sedation could last up to a day, so you should not drive or operate any machinery until the following day.

What is the new procedure for a colonoscopy?

Virtual colonoscopy is a special X-ray examination of the colon using low dose computed tomography (CT). It is a less invasive procedure than a conventional colonoscopy. A radiologist reviews the images from the virtual colonoscopy to look for polyps on the inside of the colon that can sometimes turn into colon cancer.

How much of your body is exposed during a colonoscopy?

Your gastroenterologist will then insert into your rectum a colonoscope — a thin, flexible, hollow tube with a tiny camera on the end — to view the entire colon. Many patients are so comfortable that they do not even realize the procedure was completed. Your body is completely covered during the exam.

How long will I be on the toilet for colonoscopy prep?

Most people stop moving their bowels about 2 – 3 hours after finishing the solution. People are different and some have liquid movements until the time of the procedure.

Who is in the room during a colonoscopy?

Your doctor and nurse will be in the room at all times. The procedure usually takes about 20-45 minutes. The amount of time depends on how well your at-home preparation worked, the length of your colon, and how many polyps are found and removed.

Can you have a CT scan instead of a colonoscopy?

A traditional colonoscopy is the most widely known colorectal cancer screening procedure, but many patients are choosing a non-invasive CT (computerized tomography) Colonography instead. A CT Colonography doesn't require sedation and is just as accurate at detecting most precancerous polyps.

Is colonoscopy worth the risk?

While there are risks associated with even the most routine medical procedures, the benefits of a colonoscopy significantly outweigh the associated risks for people ages 45 to 75. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy estimates that only three in 1,000 colonoscopies leads to serious complications.

Can a colonoscopy detect IBS?

No, a colonoscopy can't detect IBS, a condition also known as irritable bowel syndrome. You may wonder why a colonoscopy can't detect IBS when it can diagnose the IBD conditions we outlined earlier. IBS is different from IBD.

Is stool test as good as colonoscopy?

The DNA stool test is less sensitive than colonoscopy at detecting precancerous polyps. If abnormalities are found, additional tests might be needed. The tests can suggest an abnormality when none is present (false-positive result).