What is a colonoscopy? Why do so many people dread them?

Question

They say you're supposed to start getting them after you turn 50. I know it checks for colon cancer. But what IS it?

Answer 1

I've had 4 colonoscopies in the past 3 years - I found some blood in my stool and my GI doc needed to take a look. Basically a fiber optic tube is inserted in your rectum and pokes its way around your intestines looking for whatever shouldn't be there, such as cancers or polyps. If polyps are found, they are snipped out. Polyps can be a forerunner of cancers so they are removed. Usually the first colonoscopy is at 50 then if your bowels look good, every 3 years after that. However, if polyps are found, then every year until the bowel is clear of them. (Yeah! No polyps this time, 1 month ago.)
The first answerer talked about the stuff you need to drink before the colonoscopy. It really is vile swill and you have to drink about 2 quarts of it. Plus another laxative. Plus the very popular enemas before the colonoscopy can commence. Your bowel needs to be clean so your doc can get a good look.
Have it done, it doesn't hurt and is just annoying. Best of luck!

Answer 2

Colonoscopy Procedure
What is a colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure in which the rectum and the inside of the lower large intestine (colon) are examined.

Colonoscopies are commonly used to evaluate bowel disorders, rectal bleeding or polyps (usually benign growths) found on contrast x-rays. Colonoscopies are also performed to screen people over age 50 for colon and rectal cancer.

What happens during a colonoscopy?
During a colonoscopy, a physician uses a colonoscope (a long, flexible instrument about 1/2 inch in diameter) to view the lining of the colon. The colonoscope is inserted through the rectum and advanced to the large intestine.

If necessary during a colonoscopy, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis (called a biopsy) and polyps can be identified and removed. In many cases, colonoscopy allows accurate diagnosis and treatment without the need for a major operation.
now you no why people dread it.

Answer 3

Colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the interior lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon) through a thin, flexible viewing instrument called a colonoscope.
Thought I think it's the thought that people dread more than the actual procedure. My sister said that they gave her a sedative and it was fine. You have to "cleanse" your colon before the test. My friend said that was worse than the actual test. You can read more about it at WebMD.
It is an important test to have. My mom passed away from colon cancer so I have to have the test by age 40.

Answer 4

It is a camera on the end of a flexible instrument that is inserted in the sphincter and slowly up through the rectum into the colon ( lower intestine ) in order to check the condition of the bowel and to look for polyps which can be potentially cancerous. The procedure can be painful and some people choose to receive anesthetic before the procedure. Having said this, if there is any incidence of bowel cancer in your family it is still a very good idea to get one.

Answer 5

It is a procedure to examine the large intestine. A camera and thick cable are inserted in the anus and threaded up inside the large intestine (about 5 feet). The patient is usually conscious, but sedated during the procedure.

The procedure is only half the problem. The patient must cleanse the colon before the procedure. This involves a day of drinking a vile solution that causes EVERYTHING inside the colon to be 'passed'.

Answer 6

A preventive measure intended to detect early forms of colorectal cancer before symptoms occur, when the disease is most treatable. The procedure involves the insertion into the colon of a long, flexible, lighted tube called a colonoscope, which provides the administrating physician with an image of the colon's inner lining.

Answer 7

A little info I think should be considered about this drug Versed ( Midazolam ) that is used for Sedation for many medical procedures..Sedation and General Anesthesia are not the same and quite a few people being given Sedation
think they are being given General Anesthesia!

There is simply no good or valid reason to ever purposely induce amnesia during a medical procedure. It is only a recent development in medical thinking that amnesia is somehow a "benefit" to the patient. On occasion some
some patients will remember a bad experience. Forgetting does not mean it did not happen!!
I feel that if people were aware of the effects of this drug they would Opt For Another Drug!
Erasing someones memory of what was done to them is wrong!!
In fact, many people who use Versed for " IV Sedation,Conscious Sedation" Twilight Sedation, during a procedure are Awake For The Entire Procedure but remember nothing, often Believing They Were "Out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like setting broken bones,colonoscopies,endoscopies, dental procedures like extractions,conscious sedation,twilight sleep, so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort.HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE SENSATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPERIENCED!!!!

A note from an anesthesiologist
I agree that using midazolam alone in painful situations is wrong. I've heard people getting colonoscopies and screaming, and maybe they remember, maybe they don't.

A note I got from someone on Yahoo Answers who did have a bad experience..This is very disconcerting... My sister said she heard me screaming from the waiting room but assumed it wasn't me. When we left we heard another female patient screaming. I did a lot of research since your post, thanks so much for the info.

Here is a note from a Dentist Who uses Versed
I've used Versed 1000+ times during oral surgery procedures and I've never had a complaint. It's a miracle drug because it is safe and it causes you to not remember an unpleasant experience. My answer to him is isn't it better to have not experienced the pain than to have forgot it. No wonder you have had no complaints they have no memory of the procedure.....

I feel that giving a drug for amnesia is cruel I would not want it done to me!

A strange development in medical thinking that it's okay for a patient to have
pain as long as they don't remember it and think they slept thru the procedure..


Here is a link for some info

http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/manages-meds/sedation

Answer 8

They take this scope with a camera on the end and stick it up your butt and take it through the whole colon to check for cancer and polyp's. I've known people who had it done and said it's not that bad because they knock you out to do it. The worst part is the stuff you have to drink the day before to clean out your system.

Answer 9

Basically, a colonoscopy is having a camera on a stalk stuck up your backside.

It's undignified, having a camera stuck up your whatsit by a man you've only just been introduced to. And it's hard to make casual conversation while this is going on.

I didn't enjoy it at all. But really, in terms of medical interventions, there are worse things that can happen. Like having a baby, for instance. No dignity there!

Answer 10

A Colonoscopy is when they stick a camera up your butt to search for cancer or disease. Not only is the thought of something going up your poop-shute uncomfortable to most people their is the fact that you cannot eat 24 hours before and you have to be sedated because of the pain.

Go here for more details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonoscopy