What Should I Do Before A Colposcopy
Your doctor may suggest that, for 24 to 48 hours before a colposcopy, you stop using vaginal medicines, creams, powders, or foams. During this period, you should also stop having vaginal sex, using tampons, or placing any other products in your vagina. Dont schedule a colposcopy during the week of your period, and be sure to let your doctor know if youre pregnant or might be pregnant before your appointment. You may also want ask your doctor if you should take an over-the-counter pain medication before the examination in case you have a biopsy.
Preparing For The Examination Of The Colon
Before the procedure, it is very important to follow all the recommendations of the doctor and properly prepare. If all the rules are not followed, it may be necessary to repeat this not very pleasant examination.
It is important to first discuss with your doctor the topic of the menstrual cycle, there may be contraindications in some cases with menstruation. It is important to understand that every moment requires an individual approach and discussion.
For a qualitative and informative examination of the intestine by means of a colonoscope, the following preparatory measures are required:
Before a colonoscopy in about a week, bakery products should be eliminated from the diet, as well as some vegetables and fruits that cause gas formation.
Three days before the examination, food products containing fiber are completely removed from the diet.
The patient may consume white meat in small quantities, dairy products, meat and vegetable broths, but fresh vegetables and fruits cannot be eaten anymore. In the last day you can eat for 12 hours before the examination of the large intestine.
During menstruation, the preparatory stages are exactly the same no additional measures are required.
What Happens On The Day Of A Colonoscopy
Take a shower in the morning if you like, but do not use lotions, perfumes, or deodorants. Leave your jewelry, other valuables and contact lenses at home.
During the procedure itself:
- You are asked to wear a hospital gown and an IV will be started.
- The procedure can be done with conscious sedation, often referred to as twilight, or deeper sedation referred to as general anesthesia. You are given a pain reliever and a sedative intravenously . You will feel relaxed and somewhat drowsy. This step means that the colonoscopy will not hurt.
- You will lie on your left side, with your knees drawn up towards your chest.
- A small amount of air is used to expand the colon so the doctor can see the colon walls.
- You may feel mild cramping during the procedure. Cramping can be reduced by taking slow, deep breaths.
- The colonoscope is slowly withdrawn while the lining of your bowel is carefully examined.
- The procedure lasts about 30 minutes. It takes about 12 minutes to move the scope five or six feet and another 12 minutes to take it out. If there are polyps to remove, the procedure will take longer.
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Q: What Is The Difference Between A Screening And Diagnostic Exam
A screening exam refers to a colonoscopy being done with no specific symptoms but as a matter of routine, for example to check for polyps. A diagnostic exam is generally being done to evaluate specific issues such as blood in the stool, anemia, or diarrhea. Insurances can be fussy about paying for screening versus diagnostic examinations.
Features Of The Procedure
The choice of painkillers is carried out by a doctor, especially this applies to the examination of women in a situation where not all types of anesthesia are applicable. In the case of pregnancy, patients are usually limited to local anesthesia. In this case, the risk of harm to the unborn child is minimal. The problem also lies in the fact that the device is treated with special substances to facilitate the passage through the intestines. The patient may have the urge to defecate, and this is especially harmful for future mothers.
Before the procedure, pregnant women are prohibited from taking sedatives. Usually patients before the procedure, put the drip with sedatives. Such substances are contraindicated for pregnant women. Also, the patient is warned in advance about the dangers of a long stay in the supine position. At this time, the tone may rise, and open the cervix. As a result, the fetus has hypoxia. All these problems may occur during the procedure.
Therefore, before the doctor prescribes this procedure, the degree of risk must be weighed and the need for examination determined. When addressing the issue should be remembered that the danger is quite high. A survey is justified only if there is a real threat to the life of a woman. In addition to the dangers associated with pregnancy, there are risks of intestinal perforation and bleeding.
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Is A Colonoscopy Painful Or Uncomfortable
The biggest complaint about having a colonoscopy is the preparation beforehand, when you must drink a solution that clears the bowel of all solid matter . During the actual procedure, you might feel some pressure, bloating or cramping, but it is not usually painful. You will be given moderate sedation through an intravenous line to make you relaxed, drowsy and comfortable, but you will not go to sleep. The procedure itself takes 30 to 60 minutes, although you should plan on two to three hours for waiting, preparation and recovery.
The Feasibility Of Colonoscopy During Menstruation
Doctors recommend manipulating a few days before or after menstruation. If the procedure is urgent in nature and is associated with the hospitalization of a woman, then critical days are not a stopping factor. During a routine or prophylactic examination without definite complaints from the patient, the examination is transferred to their termination.
If the examination is planned, but there are complaints about atypical sensations, discharge, pain, then the examination is carried out regardless of the activity of the menstrual cycle.
The following 6 reasons for performing a colonoscopy on critical days are distinguished.:
Colonoscopy is performed in the first 2-3 days of menstruation, when there is suspicion about endometriosis of the intestinal regions. Symptoms of inflammation of the endometrial layer of the intestinal mucous are enhanced in the first days of menstruation.
Attention! Intestinal endometriosis is a serious disease that affects the integrity of mucous structures and leads, in advanced cases, to the germination of endometrial cells in adjacent tissues, organs or proliferation of the walls of the intestinal regions. If you suspect endometriosis, the study is prescribed only for menstruation.
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Why Do Doctors Use Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy can help a doctor find the cause of symptoms, such as
- bleeding from your anus
- changes in your bowel activity, such as diarrhea
- pain in your abdomen
- unexplained weight loss
Doctors also use colonoscopy as a screening tool for colon polyps and cancer. Screening is testing for diseases when you have no symptoms. Screening may find diseases at an early stage, when a doctor has a better chance of curing the disease.
What Are The Indications For A Colonoscopy
Some of the indications for colonoscopy include screening for color cancer, change of bowel habits, blood in your stool, abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia, constipation, diarrhea, family history of colon cancer, family or personal history of colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, and other symptoms that may be related to gastrointestinal disturbances.
What are the indications for an upper Endoscopy or EGD? Some of the indications for an upper endoscopy include anemia, abdominal pain, bloating belching, loss of appetite, weight loss, heartburn, acid reflux, difficult or painful swallowing, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms that may be related to gastrointestinal disturbances.
What do I need to prepare for a procedure? If you are scheduled for an endoscopy procedure, you will be instructed on how to prepare for the exam by our office. Please bring your insurance card, photo ID, copy of Advance Directive , list of current medications including dosage and frequency, list of known allergies to medicines, and a responsible driver that can stay with you throughout your entire stay.
Is there any way that I can make the preparation taste any better? You can try sucking on hard candy. You can rinse your mouth with water or mouth wash.
Why avoid red liquids during the preparation? The red artificial dye stains the lining of the colon and can look like blood.
May I chew gum or suck on candy? Yes, but nothing with soft centers or red color.
May I brush my teeth? Please do.
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How Do I Reach The Doctor With Questions After My Appointment
To efficiently handle telephone calls, our trained medical assistants may help you with common questions. They will also ensure that doctors are updated about ongoing concerns. You can be sure that the doctors are involved in all steps of your care and will be available promptly for any emergencies.
Q: What If I Have The Test And Im Not Clean Enough
Unfortunately, you will have to repeat the test. Sometimes be will have you drink extra preparation, and come back the next day to take advantage of the head start that you have. Sometimes we will ask that you reschedule on a different day with a different type of prep. In rare cases, if we feel that we have seen the majority of the colon but not all of it, we might reduce the usual follow-up interval to a shorter time span but not one in the immediate future.
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Can You Have A Colonoscopy During Your Period
When a doctor makes an appointment for an examination, he usually does not take into account the menstrual cycle. The presence of menstruation at this time creates a rather psychological problem. There are no medical contraindications for the procedure during this period. But it is better if the woman herself relates her menstrual cycle and the time of the examination. She may ask the doctor to schedule an examination for any other day.
Colonoscopy with menstruation is not dangerous for women. Is it possible to prepare for an examination in case of menstruation or pregnancy? How accurate will be the result, and will not harm the child or the woman herself?
Colonoscopy is performed using an endoscope. This device is equipped with accessories: optics and a light bulb for lighting. The device is gently inserted into the rectum and slowly moves through the intestines, straightening its curves with a stream of air until the device reaches the cecum cone.
Then the apparatus begins to reverse, during which the state of the intestinal mucosa is assessed. On average, the entire procedure takes no more than 30 minutes. If the intestine is filled with feces, the examination will be meaningless, because nothing will be seen. The result of the survey depends entirely on how well the preliminary preparation for the survey will be carried out.
A prerequisite for preparing for the survey is to comply with a special diet:
Who Should Have A Colonoscopy
The American Cancer Society and the American College of Gastroenterology recommend that all adults have this screening test beginning at age 50. If you are having unusual symptoms have a family member with colon cancer or if you are African American, your doctor may recommend that you have the test sooner.
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What Are Some Signs And Symptoms Of Colon Cancer
Colon and rectal cancer most often is diagnosed by colonoscopy before any symptoms are present. Often symptoms indicate more advanced disease. Symptoms may include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, or change in bowel habits . These symptoms are not specific and may be representative of other disorders of the colon, rectum, and/or anus. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should be evaluated by your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist.
Q: What If I Throw Up Drinking The Prep
Generally, we advise taking a break from drinking the prep and letting your stomach settle. You can reattempt to drink the rest of the prep later, or drink an alternative prep such as magnesium citrate. Magnesium citrate is available over-the-counter in a green bottle. If you know you have thrown up in the past, or have a sensitive stomach to this type of thing, we can arrange to give you an anti-nausea medicine if you let us know beforehand.
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Is It Possible To Do A Colonoscopy During Menstruation
Menstruation is not a direct contraindication to the study. It is possible to do a colonoscopy for menstruation, although doctors recommend postponing the procedure for the period before or after the bleeding. It all depends on the condition of the woman and the flow of menstruation. If the woman feels well, the symptoms of PMS are mild, the bleeding is moderate, the emotional background is normal – you can do a colonoscopy.
If a woman is too sensitive, emotionally tense, the bleeding is intense, the procedure is postponed. According to the testimony of a colonoscopy can only be done with monthly in 1-2 days. In medical practice, there are rare cases of endometriosis, which, in addition to the uterus, develops in the large intestine. To confirm the diagnosis, the study is carried out in 1 day of bleeding, when the endometrium reaches its maximum size and begins to reject.
What Happens When The Biopsy Results Come Back
If a biopsy taken during your colposcopy shows that you have precancerous tissue, the tissue may need to be removed to keep cancer from developing. Your doctor will explain the different removal methods that may be right for you. If the biopsy shows that cancer is present, you may need to have more tests before you begin treatment. Your doctor will likely refer you to a gynecologic oncologist, who specializes in treating gynecologic cancer. During treatment for any precancerous tissue or cancer, you may have additional colposcopies to see how well a treatment is working and to look for additional abnormal changes over time.
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Tour A Giant Colon With A University Of Michigan Health System Expert
Important reminder: This general information is for educational purposes only it is not a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment. It is very important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.
Q. Are there any videos about what to expect with a colonoscopy exam? Watch and learn: You can access a number of patient education videos about colonoscopy and other tests at the website for The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy . Or view a video showing how a colonoscopy is performed demonstrated by U-M Dr. D. Kim Turgeon and Dr. Reena Salgia.
Q. What is a colonoscopy? A colonoscopy is an examination that enables your doctor to examine the lining of your colon . The doctor will take a flexible tube about the size of a finger and slowly move it into the rectum and through the colon to look for signs of cancer or pre-cancerous lesions.
Q: Are there different types of polyps? There are two types of polyp shapes and five types of polyps. Visit our Colon and Rectal Polyps page to learn more.
Q: What is a complex polyp? In general, a rectal or colon polyp is considered complex if it meets any of the following criteria:
- Size greater than 2 centimeters
- Located in a difficult area or is too flat to be removed during a standard colonoscopy
- When the doctor performing your colonoscopy does not feel they can safely remove the polyp and decide to refer you to a specialist
Screening For Colon And Rectal Cancer
Your doctor will recommend screening for colon and rectal cancer also called colorectal cancerstarting at age 45 if you dont have health problems or risk factors that make you more likely to develop colon cancer.1
You have risk factors for colorectal cancer if you2
- are male
- have a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease
- have Lynch syndrome, or another genetic disorder that increases the risk of colorectal cancer
- have other factors, such as that you weigh too much or smoke cigarettes
If you are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, your doctor may recommend screening at a younger age, and more often.
If you are older than age 75, talk with your doctor about whether you should be screened. For more information, read the current colorectal cancer screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force .
Government health insurance plans, such as Medicare, and private insurance plans sometimes change whether and how often they pay for cancer screening tests. Check with your insurance plan to find out how often your plan will cover a screening colonoscopy.
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What Is A Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which the entire colon is inspected with a flexible thin probe inserted through the anus. At the end of the device is a cold light source and a miniature camera. The image from it is transmitted to the monitor. During the examination, the doctor has the opportunity to examine in detail the intestinal walls, to identify all existing neoplasms and defects of the mucous membrane: areas of erosion, polypous growths, diverticula, ulcerative lesions. With its help in the early stages they diagnose gastrointestinal diseases, confirm or dispel suspicions of the development of oncological tumors.
The colonoscopy is more informative than radiography and rectoromanoscopy. In addition to diagnostic purposes, it is able to perform therapeutic functions:
- remove polyps up to 2 mm,
- remove foreign bodies, fecal stones,
- prevent and stop intestinal bleeding,
- restore normal permeability with a narrowed gap between the walls,
- take puncture material for histological examination.