A colonoscopy is an exam which is done to examine the changes, such as irritated tissues, polyps or cancer and swelling in the rectum or colon (large intestine). During the procedure of colonoscopy, a colonoscopy or long tube is inserted into the rectum. A video camera (tiny) is present at the top of the tube, which allows the doctor to see inside the entire colon. They look for abnormal tissues or polyps inside, and if found any, it is removed during a colonoscopy through the scope. Also, biopsies or tissue samples might be taken during a colonoscopy. Now, this procedure sounds too long to most people, and the reason why people firstly want to know- how long does a colonoscopy take?. So if you also have this question in mind or want to know about it, then you will find it out in this article.
As you scroll down, you will find out complete details about colonoscopy, such as how long does it take to do colonoscopy, what happens during it and what it might feel like to you, thighs that can happen after a colonoscopy and more important things related to it. So just continue to read below to check out all the info.
How long does a colonoscopy take?
So there is a general perception among people that colonoscopy is a very long procedure and it takes a lot of time to complete, but this is definitely not the case. The procedure of colonoscopy usually takes only 30 minutes & surely it does not take all the day. And so for the fact that why people think it takes a long time is because, even though the procedure or test takes only 15 to 30 minutes, the pre-op/post-op and preparations time makes the whole procedure seem very lengthy to people.
What happens on the day of Colonoscopy?
So on the day of colonoscopy, you firstly need to stop eating and drinking. Your letter basically tells you when you need to stop. You also need to bring any medications with you that you take. Now, a lot of things happen on the day of this test and that’s why people have the question: how long does a colonoscopy take?. But as you know by reading the above para, you will better understand now why it is said so. So below we have provided a step-by-step guide, from your arrival in the hospital to giving consent, the whole preduce of colonoscopy and its after effects. So heck out below-
Arrival for Colonoscopy
As you arrive at the hospital, you will be speaking with the nurse about all the things that are going to happen. They will be asking to change into a hospital gown. You might be offered some things so that you can feel more comfortable and make the test easier, like-
- Sedation- This is a medicine which is given in your arms through a small tube to help you get relaxed. (You cannot drive for at least 24 hours if you are in sedation).
- Gas and air- You have to breathe this in so that it can help you relax.
- Painkillers
Giving Consent for Colonoscopy
A specialist or a nurse will eb explaining all the possible risks to you. Like in rare cases, some people might-
- Experience heavy bleeding after the whole process
- Get a tear, usually small, in their bowels
- Have a reaction to the sedation
So you will be asked to sign the consent form by the nurse. The purpose of it is to confirm that you have understood the risks associated with it, but they are very rare. So if anything happens, a team of specialists will take proper care of you.
Details of Colonoscopy Procedure
- What happens during the procedure?-
- A thin and flexible tube with a small camera inside it goes into your bottom.
- Then, air is pumped in to open up the bowels.
- Then, the tube goes through all the large bowels.
- And if there are any polyps or growths present in the bowel, a sample of cells is taken or it is just removed.
- What might it feel like to you?- Now, correspond to all the things mentioned above, here is what a person might feel for each of it-
- It might feel that the camera is going in, but it should not hurt you.
- It might feel a bit bloated or like you need to do the toilet.
- Might feel some stomach cramps on this step.
- And on this final step, a person will not feel anything, if this happens.
What are the things that might happen after a Colonoscopy?
Now, as you know how long does a colonoscopy take and other important things about it, there are a few other things or experiences that a person might feel happening in the body after it, such as-
- You might feel stomach cramps for at least 2 to 3 hours after a colonoscopy or even bloated.
- You may also get some blood in your poop or bleeding from the bottom for at least a couple of days. These things are actually quite common, so nothing to worry about.
But you should definitely call the hospital where you had colonoscopy, if-
- You are feeling hot, shivery or a high temperature.
- There is a severe stomach pain or it’s getting worse.
- If the bleeding from the bottom is getting heavy or worse
Conclusion
Colonoscopy is an important examination test which is used to detect colon cancer. In the procedure of this test, doctors look for polyps, and if they find them, they just remove them. And one of the main questions that people usually have about this test is how long does a colonoscopy take?, because people have a perception about it that it is a very long test. But in reality, it is a short-time procedure, and its preparation takes a long time. And so for more details on it, just read out the complete article to find all the essential things related to colonoscopy!
