What type of prep for colonoscopy
Patients will spend about 30 minutes in the recovery room as the sedative wears off, and although they will need to have someone drive them home, they will likely feel normal soon after the procedure. Most insurance plans cover a colonoscopy as a preventative screening, even if a polyp is found and removed.
However, depending on your insurance company, the prep solution and the anesthesiologist may not be covered. Check your policies carefully and be sure and discuss options with your clinician.
While a colonoscopy is a valuable tool that can be used to diagnose and evaluate a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders, most people will get a colonoscopy as an important step in preventing colorectal cancer.
The test is strongly recommended for those age 50 and over. Early detection for cancer can make a significant difference in recovery and can potentially cure the cancer that you would have had in the future.
Learn more about a colonoscopy and talk with your doctor about a referral. Read the the difference a colonoscopy screening made in the life of Lincoln City resident Vallie Gibby. Back to News Print. Why Get a Colonoscopy? A colonoscopy allows physicians to detect polyps and remove them to prevent further growth. What Happens During a Colonoscopy A colonoscopy is considered a low-risk procedure that takes less than an hour.
New Options Make Colonoscopy Prep Better For years, patients were told to drink the entire four liters about a gallon of the laxative-fluids solution at one time the night before the procedure. Preparing for the holidays? Screening colonoscopy is key to preventing colon cancer, and preparing for the procedure is easier than ever. If you're apprehensive about your next colonoscopy , you're probably dreading not the procedure itself, but the preparation for it—and for good reason. Getting ready for a colonoscopy can occupy an entire day of dietary restrictions, powerful laxatives, and diarrhea.
If your fears are based on your last colonoscopy prep, you may be pleasantly surprised by your next one. She cites new low-volume preps that are much easier to take and antinausea medications to help them go down. It may help to keep in mind that colonoscopy can save your life.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Colonoscopy enables gastroenterologists to detect and remove polyps—the small growths that can develop into colon cancers—as well as small cancers before they have spread to other parts of the body.
A clean colon is a key requirement for a successful colonoscopy, Dr. Cheney emphasizes. She notes that polyps that lie flat against the colon wall are especially difficult to detect if stool or liquid coat the bowel wall. Different medical centers recommend different ways to prepare the bowel for a colonoscopy. Here's a suggested sequence:. A few days before the colonoscopy: Start eating a low-fiber diet: no whole grains, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or raw fruits or vegetables.
The day before the colonoscopy: Don't eat solid foods. Instead, consume only clear liquids like clear broth or bouillon, black coffee or tea, clear juice apple, white grape , clear soft drinks or sports drinks, Jell-O, popsicles, etc. The afternoon or evening before the colonoscopy: Drink the first dose of the prescribed laxative preparation. The exact instructions depend on the bowel prep used and the time of your colonoscopy.
The day of the colonoscopy: As on the previous day, clear liquids only. Don't eat or drink anything two hours before the procedure. Six hours before your appointment: Drink the second dose of the prep. The American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Gastroenterology recommend the split dose because it cleans the colon more thoroughly.
Even after a thorough cleansing, your stomach and pancreas are still making fluids, which flow into the colon. Cheney explains. The American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy offers a list of questions that you can ask. But improvements in the liquid you drink and the timing of the prep make the whole process easier to swallow. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles.
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