Preparing for a colonoscopy
Find a GI specialistA colonoscopy is a screening test that checks for early signs of colorectal cancer. Having colonoscopies on a routine basis increases your chances of finding cancer early, when it’s much easier to treat.
Aurora Health Care provides colonoscopies and other health screenings in multiple convenient locations in Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Green Bay and eastern Wisconsin. Keep reading to learn how to prepare for your colonoscopy before your appointment.
Colonoscopy prep
Your doctor needs a clear view of your colon and rectum, which is why you must empty your colon completely before a colonoscopy.
There are several types of colonoscopy prep, including prescription and over-the-counter options. All colonoscopy prep kits include a laxative to empty your bowels and electrolytes to decrease the risk of dehydration. Some people may also need to use an enema kit. This involves injecting a liquid and stool softener through the rectum to stimulate bowel movements.
Your doctor gives you a few options for colonoscopy prep. You’ll receive written instructions for the type of prep you choose. In general, your doctor instructs you to:
- Avoid all solid foods and colored liquids for 12 to 24 hours before your test
- Fast (no food or liquids) starting after midnight on the day of your appointment
- Take a laxative in liquid or pill form
You may also need to adjust your medications or temporarily stop taking them up to a week before your colonoscopy. Your doctor will tell you whether you need to make any medication changes.
Plan to take the day off and stay home during your colonoscopy prep. It’s important to follow your doctor’s directions exactly. If your colon isn’t completely empty, you may need to reschedule your colonoscopy for another day.
What happens during a colonoscopy?
When you arrive for your colonoscopy, a staff member walks you to a preop room. After you change into a hospital gown, a nurse takes you to the procedure room. Before the doctor begins, you typically receive intravenous (IV) sedation so that you remain asleep during the procedure.
During a colonoscopy:
- You lie on your side on an exam table with your knees bent.
- Your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube (colonoscope) through your anus. The colonoscope has a tiny camera and light at the end, which allows your doctor to examine your rectum and large intestine (colon).
- Your doctor sends air or carbon dioxide into your colon to inflate it. They check your colon and rectum for irregular tissue changes or growths (polyps).
- If your doctor finds any polyps, they can remove the growths by inserting special tools through the colonoscope.
- Your doctor may take a small sample (biopsy) of any irregular tissue for testing.
Common questions about a colonoscopy
Most people receive deep sedation for a colonoscopy so that you’re asleep during the procedure. Some people prefer conscious sedation, where you stay awake but don’t remember the procedure. Your doctor will discuss anesthesia options with you before your appointment.
Colonoscopies aren’t painful. You receive a sedative that causes you to fall asleep for the procedure.
Your doctor sends air into your colon during the procedure. As a result, you may have some mild cramping or abdominal pain afterward. If you had a biopsy, you may have some minor pain or bleeding.
A colonoscopy usually takes 30-45 minutes. With preop and recovery time, you should plan to be at your appointment for up to two hours.
After your colonoscopy, you’ll spend about an hour in a recovery room while the effects of the sedative wear off. It can take up to a day for the sedative to fade completely.
You’ll need to have someone drive you home after the procedure. Plan to take the rest of the day off work and other usual activities. You can typically return to your usual activities the next day.
After you wake up, your doctor visits you in the recovery room to give you the results. They tell you if they found any irregular tissue and whether they performed a biopsy or polyp removal. You receive written results of the exam within a few days. Biopsy results take longer – usually several days or weeks.