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DESCENDING
COLON
SCOPE
CUTAWAY
VIEW
a colonoscope into your rectum.
Puffs of air will inflate the colon as
the scope is guided along. A small
camera on its tip will send real-time
images to a computer screen. If your
doctor sees unusual tissue or pol-
yps, he or she can pass small tools
through the scope to remove them
or take samples for biopsy.
Q.
How do I prepare for the exam?
A.
There are several different ways
to clean your colon, called bowel
prep. Your doctor’s office will give
you written instructions on the
method you should use. The purpose
of any prep is to clean all solids from
your digestive tract. You’ll likely start
some type of special diet a day or
two before your exam date. At some
point you’ll be restricted to liquids,
such as fat-free broth, clear fruit
juice, and plain coffee or tea.
You also may be given an enema
or a laxative solution to drink. In
short, you can expect to spend
a good amount of time in the
bathroom the night before your
procedure.
These steps for cleaning the colon
are important because they contrib-
ute to an accurate exam.
Q.
Is there anything else I
should do in advance?
A.
Yes. Arrange for a ride home
after the procedure, since you’ll still
be groggy from the sedative. Also, let
your doctor know about any medica-
tions you take, including aspirin or
vitamin supplements. Some medi-
cines can interfere with the prep or
the procedure.
Q.
What if I have questions during
the prep?
A.
Call your doctor’s office. There
also may be a number to call listed
on your prep instructions.
Q.
Will I need to take time off
work the day of the exam?
A.
It’s a good idea. The colonoscopy
itself can take up to an hour. Plus,
you’ll spend time in recovery and
won’t be able to drive.
Q.
Will the exam hurt?
A.
Again, the sedative will probably
send you to sleep. Even if you are
awake, you’re not likely to remember
anything about the procedure.
“The last thing I remember is being
on a gurney and having the IVmedi-
cation started,” Lake says. “And when I
woke up, it was all done.”
Q.
What happens when I wake up?
A.
The doctor will discuss the exam
and whether anything was found.
Lake’s doctor, for example, told her
that he’d removed a polyp and showed
her photos of the inside of her colon
taken during the procedure.
“That was interesting,” she says.
Complications are rare, but some
people experience gas and bloating
afterward. You’ll be given instruc-
tions for follow-up, including a list
of symptoms that should prompt a
call to your doctor—such as pain,
bleeding or fever. In most cases,
you’ll be free to eat solid food.
As for Lake, she says she is doubly
relieved. Both her third colonoscopy
and a possibly dangerous polyp are
history. “I’m glad I didn’t put it
off,” she says.
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