Your Colonoscopy

The GI Tract

Before we talk about the colonoscopy procedure itself, let’s talk a little bit about the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The lower GI tract is composed of the small intestine and the large intestine (colon or bowel). Nutrients are absorbed from food in the small intestine. The undigested portion passes into the colon, which is a six-foot-long tube that ends at the rectum. The colon forms waste into solid stool and stores it until it is evacuated.

Your doctor can look at the inside of your colon directly by using a long, thin, flexible instrument called a colonoscope. This is the tool used in a colonoscopy.

About the Colonoscopy Experience

A colonoscopy is a relatively simple and safe procedure. It can be a valuable tool in helping your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

The Colonoscopy Exam

Your healthcare professional will ask you to lie on your side. This allows your doctor to gently insert the colonoscope through the anus and rectum into the bowel, then draw it out slowly while carefully examining the inside surface. You may be asked to change your position so your doctor can focus on a particular area. If there is an abnormality, the colonoscope may be used to remove a sample of tissue for closer examination.

The exam can take from 15 to 60 minutes. It can cause slight, temporary cramping. To help you feel as comfortable as possible, you will be lightly sedated before the procedure begins. When you are taken to the recovery area, you may experience a gassy feeling.

Because you will be sedated, it is important that you make arrangements to be picked up and taken home.

Your Role in the Colonoscopy Procedure

For your doctor to have the clearest look at your colon, it must be flushed clean of all waste. This enables your doctor to give you an accurate exam and diagnosis and avoids your having to undergo another colonoscopy if the first test isn’t clear enough.

The cleaner your bowel is, the clearer the view of your colon is for your doctor.

To read answers to frequently asked questions about the colonoscopy procedure, click here.

To learn more about how to prepare for your colonoscopy procedure, click here.