Healthy Tips Blog

Are you prepared for the colonoscopy prep procedures?

Some of the more common reasons for a colonoscopy are blood in stool, persistent abdominal pain, bowel habits change or anyone over 50 years of age.

Anyone over the age of 50 years old should have regular colon exams every 10 years. I your family has a genetic history of colon cancer your doctor may recommend a short waiting period between exams.

For most procedures you will be given a sedative or pain killers. I want a pain killer for the anticipation of pain. Something to keep me from worrying about the procedure.

You will need to plan for someone to drive you home after the procedure. You cannot drive after they give you the sedatives. It will also help to have someone to talk to before the procedure to keep you from getting even more nervous.

The doctors that you may talk to are the Proctologist and the Gastroenterologist. A Gastroenterologist is a doctor of the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract is the study of the path food takes when it enters and leaves the body. A proctologist is a doctor of the rectum or anus.

In order to clean the colon the body needs additional amounts of water to accomplish this goal. It can be very difficult for some people to drink the required amounts to prepare for a colonoscopy.

The colonoscopy prep included being on a liquid diet in the days before the colonoscopy. You may be able to drink plain coffee, plain tea, fat-free bouillon or broth, strained fruit juice or diet soda. No sugar or fat or food coloring is allowed.

In an attempt to improve the methods when preparing for a colonoscopy a pill has been developed. This pill allows for better cleaning of the colon and may allow the test be performed more quickly. Your doctor will tell you what is right for you.

I want a pill that works like a mars satellite mission. I take the pill and it discovers the secrets of my colon. Then sends data back to the doctors and I never leave my recliner. Maybe some day.