The Dangers of Putting off That Colonoscopy

Do you have anxiety at the thought of a colonoscopy? Or maybe you have concerns about the procedure or what results it might find.

We’re here to put your worries to rest. At Imperial Digestive Health Specialists, board-certified Oforbuike Ewelukwa, MD, MSc, leads our team in understanding and treating gastroenterologist issues. Not only is a colonoscopy an easy procedure, but it allows us to get answers quickly.

The importance of a colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is one of the most common screenings among adults, especially if you’re 45 or older. It can help us find the root cause of your gastrointestinal symptoms, including:

• Bloody stools
• Abdominal pain, bloating, or gas
• Stools that are abnormal in appearance or color
• Recurrent diarrhea
• Recurrent constipation
• Unexplained weight loss
• Malnutrition

In some cases, we may need additional testing for your issues, but a colonoscopy is the first step that allows us to see the inside of your colon.

More importantly, a colonoscopy provides one of the easiest ways to prevent colon cancer. Polyps in your colon can become cancerous. During a colonoscopy, we can remove them, which stops the development of cancer, possibly saving your life.

What to eat and drink before and after a colonoscopy

A few days before your procedure, we give you a low-fiber diet to follow to prepare your body. 

The day before your colonoscopy, you shouldn’t eat any solid foods. Only consume clear or light-colored liquids, and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and drinks that have a dark-colored dye.

You can have liquids like broth, apple juice, and sports drinks. You can also have ice pops and gelatin. 

The day and night before your colonoscopy, we give you a recommended amount of laxatives to take to fully clean your digestive tract. Then two to four hours before your procedure, you will stop consuming liquids.

After your colonoscopy, we recommend that you eat sparingly for the rest of the day to avoid any irritation to your colon. A colonoscopy can dehydrate your system, so it’s imperative that you replenish your body with drinks that have electrolytes.

How a colonoscopy works

The procedure allows us to inspect your rectum and colon to identify signs of disease or find the root cause of conditions that involve your lower gastrointestinal tract. 

To perform your colonoscopy, our anesthesiologist puts you under conscious sedation to make sure you don’t feel anything. 

We begin the procedure by inserting a long, flexible instrument into your anus. It has a tiny camera on the end of it that transmits images of your rectum and colon for our viewing and examining. 

If we see any irregularities, we treat them at that time or remove them. If we see serious abnormalities, we take a biopsy and send them to a lab for further review.

The procedure only takes 30-60 minutes, and the entire process is painless. We also walk you through every step and are here to answer your questions.

To learn more about a colonoscopy and why it may be time for you to have one, contact us at Imperial Digestive Health Specialists today. Call us at 281-397-3499, text 832-639-5725, or request an appointment online.