If you’re searching or Katy TX Colonoscopy Near Me, you should definitely visit the medical clinic of Doctor James Maher. As a Board Certified Gastroenterologist, Dr. Maher can definitely help you take care of all those stomach problems. Call to learn more about our procedures, including Colonoscopy.
What Is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is an exam that detects changes or abnormalities in the rectum and colon. A flexible tube is inserted into the rectum with a camera on the end. If necessary, polyps or other types of abnormal tissue can be removed through the scope during a colonoscopy. Additionally, biopsies can be taken during a colonoscopy as well.
Doctors will recommend a colonoscopy when:
- Investigating intestinal signs and symptoms: A colonoscopy can help your doctor explore possible causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, and other intestinal problems.
- Screening for colon cancer: A doctor may recommend a colonoscopy if you are older than 50 and at average risk of colon cancer. This is because they want to screen for colon cancer. This is one of the options for colon cancer screening.
- Look for more polyps: If you’ve had polyps anytime before, the doctor could recommend a follow-up colonoscopy to search for and remove any polyps found. This all done to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
How to Prepare
Before a colonoscopy, you’ll need to clean out your colon. Any type of residue in your colon will obstruct the view during testing. To empty the colon and prepare for the procedure, a doctor may ask you to:
Follow a special diet
Usually, you won’t be able to eat solid food the day before the exam. You should only drink clear liquids before the procedure. Coffee and tea can only be had without milk or cream. You’ll want to avoid red liquids because they may be mistaken as blood. One thing that you’ll want to avoid is red liquids, which can oftentimes be confused with blood during the Colonoscopy. It is best to avoid drinking or eating anything after midnight the night before the procedure. This is to ensure the lower half of the GI tract has no obstructions.
Take a laxative
You may have to take a laxative, in pill or liquid form. The doctor may instruct you to take the laxative the night before the Colonoscopy. Moreover, you may be asked to use the laxative both the night before the procedure and the morning of the procedure.
Use an enema kit
In certain scenarios, you may need to use an over-the-counter enema kit. You’ll be asked to use this either the night before the exam or a few hours before the exam. The reason for this is to empty your colon. Generally speaking, this is only effective to empty the lower colon and is usually not recommended as a primary way of emptying your colon.
Adjust your medications
You should always let your doctor know of any medications you take, especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart problems. You should also talk to your doctor if your medications or supplements contain iron.
Additionally, you should let your doctor know if you take medications like aspirin, which thin the blood, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). If you take any of these or other types of mediations, you may need to adjust the dosages or stop the medication intake temporarily.
What to Expect During
During the procedure, you’ll have to wear a gown, and probably nothing else. We recommend sedation as it helps you relax. At certain times, a mild sedative is given in pill form. In other cases, the sedative is combined with intravenous pain medication in order to minimize any discomfort.
This exam will begin with your lying on your side, usually with the knees drawn toward the chest. The doctor will follow up with a colonoscopy into your rectum. The scope is long enough to reach the entire length of the colon. It also contains a light and a tube that enables doctors to pump air or carbon dioxide into the colon. The air or carbon dioxide inflates the colon, which provided a much better view of the colon’s lining.
Whenever the scope is moved, or air is pumped in, the patient could feel nominal cramping or the urge to have a bowel movement. This scope also contains a tiny video camera at its tip. The camera sends images to an external monitor so that the doctor can study the inside of the colon. If necessary, the doctor could definitely insert instruments through the channel so they can get samples (biopsies) or remove any areas with abnormal tissue. The takes 30 to 60 minutes.
After the Procedure
After the Colonoscopy, you’ll need about an hour to begin recovery from the sedative. As such, someone will have to take you home as it could possibly take up to a day for the full effect of the sedative to wear off. We recommend that you don’t drive or make important decisions, such as going back to work for the remainder of the day. If your doctor removed a polyp during the Colonoscopy, you could very well be advised to eat a special diet temporarily.
Additionally, you may feel symptoms such as bloating or flatulence after the procedure. This is due to your clearing the air from your colon. To relieve this discomfort, you should walk for a while. You may also experience a small amount of blood with the first bowel movement after the exam. For the most part, this should not be a major cause for concern. Still, consult with your doctor if you are passing blood or blood clots or if you have a fever or abdominal pain.
Lastly, a negative result means that the doctor wasn’t able to find any abnormalities in the colon. A positive result means that doctors found polyps or abnormal tissue in the colon.
Katy TX Colonoscopy Near Me
There’s a reason why your “Katy TX Colonoscopy Near Me” search led you here. Dr. Maher is among the most qualified Colonoscopy doctors around. Call today at (281) 945-5190. Visit our website if you need more information on our services or if you would like to save time with patient forms. Your “Katy TX Colonoscopy Near Me” led you here, so take advantage.
Katy TX Fun Facts
- Located in Harris County
- Katy was incorporated in 1945
- The demonym for the city is Katyite
- Learn more about Katy here