Is anxiety preventing you from scheduling a colonoscopy? Are you worried about what it might find? In spite of popular belief, having a colonoscopy is not nearly as bad as it seems. Here at Candela and Schreier Medical Corporation in West Hills and Thousand Oaks, California, we will work to make your colonoscopy as comfortable and swift as possible.
How a colonoscopy works
A colonoscopy is a procedure used to inspect your colon and rectum. Frank Candela, MD, FACS, or David Schreier, MD, FACS, may order the test to look for or to treat conditions or diseases that involve the lower gastrointestinal tract. The screening usually takes place in an outpatient setting and consists of the use of a tiny camera.
The small camera will transmit images of your colon on a screen for viewing and examination by your physician. If any irregularities appear during the test, your physician will treat or remove them. If any abnormalities are worrisome, your physician will send them to a lab for a biopsy.
What your physician is looking for
Experts recommend that anyone over the age of 50 have a colonoscopy performed once every decade. If you are younger than 50, your physician likely ordered your colonoscopy if they suspect an abnormality, such as severe symptoms like persistent constipation, continual diarrhea, unexplained abdominal pain, or rectal bleeding. During your colonoscopy, your physician will scrutinize the tissue of your large bowel for the following:
- Polyps
- Ulcers
- Signs of colon cancer
- Irritation
- Swelling
What to expect
Before your procedure, you will need to clear your bowel of any obstruction. To speedily remove waste, your physician will request that you abstain from eating any solid foods the day prior. If necessary, you may be asked to drink laxatives as well.
During your appointment, you will be given a sedative to help alleviate any physical or mental stress. To better assist the camera’s mobility, light air will be blown into your rectum to expand your colon’s walls. You may feel some abdominal cramping or discomfort, similar to the feeling of having gas.
After your procedure, you will be monitored as you rest for about 30 minutes before being sent home. You will be unable to drive yourself from the clinic, so be sure to have a ride scheduled in advance. If all goes well, your screening will be done and over with, and you won’t need another colonoscopy for at least ten years.
Although no one lists a colonoscopy as their idea of a good time, putting it off can have grave consequences. Early detection and intervention are vital. Save your own life and call or book online to schedule your colonoscopy with Candela and Schreier Medical Corporation today.