blood in stool?

Question

For the last few stools there has been blood and I now need a colonoscopy and just have a few questions about the procedure!!
I have heard the preparation is hideous. Is it really that bad?
Also will I be alseep during the procedure?
If not a sleep will I be able to feel everything happening and will my eyes be open?
Do I have to move around during the procedure?
Will the procedure go fast or slow for me?
Anything else that might help to please!!
Thanks heaps and please answer ASAP it is in 3 days :)

Answer 1

Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon). He or she uses a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope to look at the colon. A colonoscopy helps find ulcers, polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding. During a colonoscopy, tissue samples can be collected (biopsy) and abnormal growths can be taken out. Colonoscopy can also be used as a screening test to check for cancer or precancerous growths in the colon or rectum (polyps).

The colonoscope is a thin, flexible tube that ranges from 48 in. to 72 in. long. A small video camera is attached to the colonoscope so that your doctor can take pictures or video of the large colon. The colonoscope can be used to look at the whole colon and the lower part of the small colon. A test called sigmoidoscopy shows only the rectum and the lower part of the colon.

Before this test, you will need to clean out your colon (colon prep). Colon prep takes 1 to 2 days depending on which type of prep your doctor recommends. Some preps may be taken the evening before the test. For many people, the prep for a colonoscopy is more trying than the actual test. Plan to stay home during your prep time since you will need to use the bathroom often. The colon prep causes loose, frequent stools and diarrhea so that your colon will be empty for the test. The colon prep may be uncomfortable and you may feel hungry on the clear liquid diet. If you need to drink a special solution as part of your prep, be sure to have clear fruit juices or soft drinks to drink after the prep because the solution tastes salty


Why It Is Done
Colonoscopy is done to:

Find problems or diseases of the anus, rectum, or colon. These tests are often done to because you have had problems such as bleeding from the rectum, ongoing diarrhea or constipation, blood or pus in the stool (feces), or ongoing lower belly pain.
Check the colon after abnormal results from a barium enema test.
Check for colorectal cancer or polyps.
Most experts, including the American Gastroenterological Association, recommend that people with no risk factors for colorectal cancer start screening tests at age 50. Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) or a sigmoidoscopy test may be recommended or a colonoscopy or double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) may be used. If results from FOBT or sigmoidoscopy show a problem, a follow-up colonoscopy is recommended.
The American Gastroenterological Association recommends that people with risk factors for colorectal cancer start screening tests at age 40. Tests may include FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, or colonoscopy. If you are at increased risk of colon cancer, talk to your doctor about which test is best for you and how often you should do the tests. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you may need a colonoscopy at age 40 or before age 40 in special cases.
Colonoscopy also may be done to:

Check for colon or rectal cancer that has come back in people who had treatment.
Watch the growth of polyps that cannot be completely removed.
See whether treatment of inflammatory bowel disease is working.
Take out polyps or take tissue samples (biopsy).
Take out foreign bodies.
Check for the cause of chronic diarrhea.
Check for the cause of bleeding inside the colon

How To Prepare
Before you have a colonoscopy, tell your doctor if you:

Are taking any medicines, such as insulin or medicines for arthritis. Check with your doctor about which medicines you need to take on the day of your test.
Are allergic to any medicines, including anesthetics.
Have bleeding problems or take blood thinners, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin)
Have heart disease or heart problems. If you take antibiotics before dental procedures, ask your doctor whether you will need them before your colonoscopy.
Had an X-ray test using barium, such as a barium enema, in the last 4 days.
Are or might be pregnant.
You may be asked to stop taking aspirin products or iron supplements 7 to 14 days before the test. If you take blood-thinning medications regularly, discuss with your doctor how to manage your medicine.

You will be asked to sign a consent form that says you understand the risks of colonoscopy and agree to have the test done. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

Before this test, you will need to clean out your colon. The following information gives you a general idea of the preparation for a colonoscopy. Your doctor will give you specific instructions before your test.

One to two days before a colonoscopy, you will stop eating solid foods and drink only clear fluids, such as water, tea, coffee, clear juices, clear broths, Popsicles, and gelatin (such as Jell-O). Do not eat or drink red food items such as red juice or red Jell-O. Some new products, such as the Nutraprep meal kit or Visicol tablets or oral phospho-soda, are other methods of preparing for a colonoscopy. Ask your doctor whether another method will work for you.
Your doctor may have you take a prescription laxative tablet or drink a laxative solution (such as Nulytely or Golytely) the evening before your colonoscopy. This solution will be given to you as a powder that you will mix with 1 gal of water. You are often asked to drink this laxative solution over 1 to 2 hours. This solution may taste very salty and may make you feel sick to your stomach. Each time you drink some of the solution, you may also drink some water or clear fluids (like apple juice) to help get rid of the salty taste in your mouth.
You will want to stay home the evening before the test because the colon prep will make you use the bathroom often.
Drink plenty of clear fluids during the prep so you will not get dehydrated. This will also help clean out your colon completely after you finish the colon prep.
Do not eat any solid foods after drinking the laxative solution.
Stop drinking clear liquids 6 to 8 hours before the colonoscopy.
Your doctor may have you use an enema 30 to 60 minutes before the test to completely clean out your colon.
Arrange to have someone take you home after the test because you may be given a medicine (sedative) to help you relax before the test


How It Is Done
Colonoscopy may be done in a doctor's office, clinic, or a hospital. The test is most often done by a doctor who works with problems of the digestive system (gastroenterologist). The doctor may also have an assistant. Some family doctors, internists, and surgeons are also trained to do colonoscopy.

During the test, you may get a pain medicine and a sedative put in a vein in your arm (IV) . These medicines help you relax and feel sleepy during the test. You may not remember much about the test.

You will need to take off most of your clothes. You will be given a gown to wear during the test.

You will lie on your left side with your knees pulled up to your belly. The doctor will gently put a gloved finger into your anus to check for blockage. Then he or she will put the thin, flexible colonoscope in your anus and move it slowly through your colon. The doctor can look at the lining of the colon through the scope or on a computer screen hooked to the scope.

You may feel the need to have a bowel movement while the scope is in your colon. You may also feel some cramping. Breathe deeply and slowly through your mouth to relax your belly muscles. This should help the cramping. You will likely feel and hear some air escape around the scope. There is no need to be embarrassed about it. The passing of air is expected. You may be asked to change your position during the test.

Your doctor will look at the whole length of your colon as the scope is gently moved in and then out of your colon.

Anatomy of the colon
Step 1: The colonoscope is put in .
Step 2: The doctor looks at the lining of the colon .
The doctor may also use tiny tools, such as forceps, loops, or swabs, through the scope to collect tissue samples (biopsy) or take out growths. You will not feel anything if a biopsy is done or if polyps are taken out.

The scope is slowly pulled out of your anus and the air escapes. Your anal area will be cleaned with tissues. If you are having cramps, passing gas may help relieve them.

The test usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, but it may take longer, depending upon what is found and what is done during the test.

After the test, you will be watched for 1 to 2 hours. When you are fully awake, you can go home. You will not be able to drive or operate machinery for 12 hours after the test. Your doctor will tell you when you can eat your normal diet and do your normal activities. Drink a lot of fluid after the test to replace the fluids you may have lost during the colon prep but do not drink alcohol


How It Feels
This test can be uncomfortable and you may feel embarrassed. The colon prep will cause diarrhea and cramping which may make you use the bathroom often during the night.

During the test, you may feel very sleepy and relaxed from the sedative and pain medicines. You may have cramping or feel brief, sharp pain when the scope is moved or air is blown into your colon. As the scope is moved up the colon, you may feel the need to have a bowel movement and pass gas. If you are having pain, tell your doctor.

The suction machine used to remove stool (feces) and secretions may be noisy but does not cause pain.

You will feel sleepy after the test for a few hours. Many people say they do not remember very much about the test because of the sedative.

After the test, you may have bloating or crampy gas pains and may need to pass some gas. If a biopsy was done or a polyp taken out, you may have traces of blood in your stool (feces) for a few days. If polyps were taken out, your doctor may instruct you to not take aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 7 to 14 days.

Risks
There is a small chance for problems from a colonoscopy. The scope or a small tool may tear the lining of the colon or cause bleeding.

People who have certain types of heart murmurs, artificial heart valves, or past infections of a heart valve will need antibiotics before and after the test to prevent infection. An irregular heartbeat may occur during the test but usually goes away without treatment.

After the test
After the test, call your doctor immediately if you:

Have heavy rectal bleeding.
Have severe belly pain.
Develop a fever.
Are very dizzy.
Are vomiting.
Have a swollen and firm belly.
Results
Colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon). If a sample of tissue (biopsy) was collected during the colonoscopy, it will be sent to a lab for tests.

Samples of colon tissue are usually sent to a pathology lab, where they are looked at under a microscope for diseases.
Other samples of colon tissue may be sent to a microbiology lab to see whether an infection is present.
Your doctor may be able to tell you the results immediately after the procedure. Other test results are ready in 2 to 4 days. Test results for certain infections may be ready in several weeks.

Colonoscopy Normal: The lining of the colon looks smooth and pink, with a lot of normal folds. No growths, pouches, bleeding, or inflammation are present.

Abnormal: Some common abnormal findings of colonoscopy include hemorrhoids (the most common cause of blood in the stool), polyps, tumors, one or more sores (ulcers), pouches in the wall of the colon (diverticulosis), or inflammation. A red, swollen lining of the colon (colitis) may be caused by infection or inflammatory bowel disease.

Types of colon polyps
Cancer in the colon


What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

Having a barium enema a week before the test. Barium can block your doctor's view of the colon.
Having stool (feces) in the colon, a colon that has many turns, past surgery on the colon, or a lot of pain during the test.
Taking iron supplements. This may make your stool turn black and make it hard to clean out the colon. Do not take iron supplements for several days before a colonoscopy.
Drinking red fluids or eating red gelatin. This can change the color of secretions in the colon and may be mistaken for blood

Things to consider:

Colonoscopy is a more expensive procedure than a barium enema and other endoscopic colon tests (such as proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy), but it can be done less often over time if results are normal. Colonoscopy is recommended every:
10 years for people with normal results.
3 to 5 years for people with increased risk factors for colorectal cancer or when problems are found during the colonoscopy.
Most experts, including the American Gastroenterological Association, recommend that people with no risk factors for colorectal cancer start screening tests at age 50. Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) or a sigmoidoscopy test may be recommended or a colonoscopy or double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) may be used. If results from FOBT or sigmoidoscopy show a problem, a follow-up colonoscopy is recommended. For more information, see the medical tests Fecal Occult Blood Test, Sigmoidoscopy, and Barium Enema.
The American Gastroenterological Association recommends that people with risk factors for colorectal cancer start screening tests at age 40. Tests may include FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, or colonoscopy. If you are at increased risk of colon cancer, talk to your doctor about which test is best for you and how often you should do the tests.
Talk to your doctor if you are considering virtual colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. This procedure is a newer method that uses a CT scan to take two- or three-dimensional pictures of the colon.
Virtual colonoscopy is less uncomfortable than standard colonoscopy and may be a good test for people with an average risk for colon cancer. However, if you have a virtual colonoscopy and a problem is found, you may need a standard colonoscopy so a biopsy can be done. Virtual colonoscopy may not find small colon polyps as well as a standard colonoscopy.
For people with a risk for colon cancer, standard colonoscopy may be a better choice because a biopsy can be done or a polyp can be taken out.
Virtual colonoscopy is not covered by all health insurance plans. Check with your insurance plan before having the test.
Virtual colonoscopy uses the same colon prep as colonoscopy. For many people, the prep for a colonoscopy is more bothersome than the actual procedure

Answer 2

Although I am no doctor I have researched those symptoms in depth because my mother was having the same problems and it got to the point where there was enough blood to make her think something really terrible is happening... In any case I found out that the softer most frequent vowel movements have to deal not only with what you eat and drink, but also with your emotional routine and life schedule as well as hormonal changes that we women always go through. I think that in order for you to really narrow it down you need to start keeping a journal of what you eat, when you eat, how much or little are you resting and how stable is your emotional health. I know you're schedule is very fast phase, but unless you want to take the time to go to the doctor and have him or her run a variety ox exams and diagnose you this is the best way to narrow down the cause of your problems. So here it goes: 1. Take note of your daily fiber intake 2. If you are taking vitamins and/or prescribed medication try to investigate the possible side effects. 3. Keep count of the amount of water you drink 4. Also keep record of your cycle to try to determine whether or not that can be a cause. Also check for possible food allergies (especially lactose intolerance which can cause the softer stools). And check for hemorrhoids which are ruptures in the rectum and small intestine that can cause you to bleed. Or maybe even a vein could be ruptured or it could be one of the many symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS If after you take all of these steps you are still experiencing the same problems, then I will advise you to have your doctor refer you to a gastroenterologist and have him perform a Colonoscopy and an Endoscopy to rule out the possibilities of any life threatening illnesses. I hope this helps......and by the way, My Mom just had both the Colonoscopy and Endoscopy done like two days ago and it was determined that she just has a bad case of Hemorrhoids along with Gastritis and intolerance to Lactose. Good luck and I hope you get better soon

Answer 3

Ok, relax, it's not that bad. The prep is not always that bad, either, it depends on which prep your doctor chooses based on your health.

Either prep is tolerable and only takes the evening before the procedure to do. Yes, you can have some upset stomach and yes, you're going to spend much of the evening on the john. But consider, if you don't do the prep properly, they can't do the procedure and you'll have to go thru the whole thing again.

Finally, you will be asleep during the procedure, and the drug they administer causes you to have no recollection of it at all. Most importantly, there is NO pain under normal conditions, even after the procedure.

Relax.

Answer 4

I had hemorrhoids problems for different years. I was basically simply excessively embarrassed to go to a doctor or to the pharmacy to request a hemorrhoid treatment. At last I went to a doctor that tried to do everything in her power to help me, yet unfortunately the prescription didn't work. Surgery was impossible! By then, I was powerless, embarrassed and with just about no social life, so I've chosen to try something else. Then I discovered this method: http://treathemorrhoid.kyma.info I purchased this book on the most proficient method to dispose of hemorrhoids naturally notice it helped me a great deal! I don't feel torment anymore! I wish I had it years before. I can't accept how rapidly I got relief (just about overnight!) they've never returned and I don't worry about it anymore in light of the fact that on the off chance that they do, I know precisely what to do. After reading the book and making a move in 48 hours the ache, irritation, tingling and draining was gone. To my surprise I could permanently cure my hemorrhoids 100% naturally. Hemorrhoids are fundamentally engorged veins. The veins return the blood to the heart and those from the lower parts of the body work against gravity to push blood again to the heart. At the point when the blood becomes thicker because of one's absence of water admission, the blood gets pooled in the veins in light of the fact that blood is more hard to stream. This makes them get engorged and become bigger. On the off chance that this happens in the rectal area, it becomes hemorrhoids. I can assure you that I tackled my hemorroids problems with this system: http://treathemorrhoid.kyma.info It's definitly the most ideal approach to effectively dispose of hemorreoids.

Answer 5

Colonoscopy is a medical procedure wherein a small fiber-optic lens or camera is inserted to your intestines to view for any lesion and obstruction... it is not painful, doesn't hurt at all...Just like camera in a dark cave.. haha! goodluck!

Answer 6

you know those half sized foot balls that you see on school play grounds?? one of those is going to be shoved up your back side. the prep is not that bad, you just have a night of the runs, its the part of not being able to sit down for the week afterward that is the pain in the but. (the meds they give you at the time take care of the pain during the procedure)

Answer 7

a study was done on 200 obese and ideal sized humans, the obese homosapiens produced three time as much waste from food wrappers and such than the normal sized homosapiens, and the obese primates also defecated twice as often. Should obese homosapiens be fined or imprisoned for their humankind destructive patterns?