The Steps Required for Colonoscopy
We understand what's on your mind. Your doctor has recommended a colonoscopy, and you've been putting it off long enough. Colon cancer screening is something that we all need to undertake at some point in order to be healthy and catch colon cancer early.
A colonoscopy isn't as frightening as you might assume. You can take actions to make your operation more comfortable. Getting over your nervousness and booking your appointment is one of the most difficult parts. Don't know where to begin? Here are the steps:
Find a gastroenterologist with the help of a primary care physician. A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal system and liver. Gastroenterologists are specially trained in colonoscopies and they know it better than any other medical specialty.
Make contact with your insurance carrier to find out how much your policy will cover. Make sure you understand the precise benefits of your health insurance plan, including whether or not the doctor is on enlisted as "in-network" providers by insurance company. You might have to pay more from yourself if the doctor is not in your network.
Make an appointment to get the treatment done. Consider arranging your colonoscopy on a Monday morning if your doctor is available, so you may spend Sunday resting, relaxing, and preparing for the operation. You'll want to stick close to home and your reign, trust us. If you work, you will normally only need to miss work on the day of the colonoscopy. The majority of people can stay active the day prior and the day following the surgery.
Make a pre-colonoscopy shopping list to help you prepare. You should begin eating a low-fiber diet a few days before the surgery, avoiding nuts, whole grains, popcorn, dried fruit, seeds and fresh fruits and vegetables. You can eat a light breakfast the day before the surgery and then just drink clear liquids for the remainder of the day. Clear liquids such as clear broth, clear juice black coffee or tea or clear soft drinks, Jell-O, and popsicles should all be on your shopping list. As much as possible, stay away from red liquids.
Request that someone to pick you up from the procedure and drive you home. Prior to the procedure, follow all instructions the doctor issued you. You don't want to do this twice if you don't have to, so reread all of the instructions again. You'll need to empty your colon before your colonoscopy. During the exam, anything left in your colon could obstruct your vision of your colon and rectum. The instructions from your doctor will guide you what to do and when to. If the directions are unclear, contact your physician's office and request an explanation.
Make sure you're ready for the colonoscopy. Preparation is generally regarded as the most difficult aspect of the technique. Your doctor will prescribe a laxative and a clear liquid diet for you. The drink's flavor is unlikely to appeal to you, but there are a few things you can do:
Combine it with a flavoring
Keep it refrigerated
It's best to drink it with a straw that's positioned far back on your tongue
After that, take a sip of something delicious
After you've finished your drink, eat a lemon slice or a hard candy
Make sure you're prepared by grabbing an iPad and a decent book or magazine to pass the time in the toilet while you prepare
Make an appointment for a colonoscopy. During the colonoscopy, the physician will use a colonoscope, which is a thin, flexible, semi-hollow, illuminated tube with a tiny video camera on the end. The colonoscope will be inserted into your colon and will transmit live images to a monitor in the room. You'll most likely be sedated during the surgery, so you won't feel anything but bloating. Polyps, a precancerous development in the colon that can progress to cancer, will be checked by your doctor. If polyps are discovered during the colonoscopy, they will be removed and submitted to a laboratory for study. It will take between 30 minutes to an hour to complete the exam.
Return to your regular routine. Most patients can eat and drink as soon as the surgery is completed. For a few hours following the surgery, you may feel tired or have a minor rumble in your stomach, but these feelings will pass.
The doctor will go check results with you when the operation is completed. Depending on your family history, you may not need another colonoscopy for next 10 years if no polyps were discovered.
The preparation isn't fun, but it doesn't last long. Don't let your fear or horror stories prevent you from discovering pre-cancerous alterations in the colon early on, when they're most treatable. And for early diagnosis and treatment, see us at Digestive Disease Specialists.
**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.
