What can a colonoscopy help treat?

Have you ever wondered whether or not a colonoscopy is painful to undergo? What about recovery from it? On hand in this article here to clarify these doubts that you might have is esteemed consultant colorectal and general surgeon, Mr Andrew Aldridge.

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a camera examination which allows us to look at the colon (the large intestine). It is the gold standard investigation to look at this area, and is very important as this is an area where things can go wrong. Colonoscopies are mainly carried out to either confirm or rule out bowel cancer.

What can a colonoscopy help treat?

A colonoscopy can help diagnose and treat bowel cancer, and polyps, and diverticular disease. Polyps, in particular, can be pre-cancerous, and so they need to be removed. The vast majority of polyps can be taken out via a colonoscopy.

What are the signs that you should have a colonoscopy?

The most important warning signs that should prompt patients to undergo a colonoscopy is a change in bowel habit, and rectal bleeding. Cases of abdominal pain and weight loss can also, in some cases, warrant a colonoscopy investigation.

How painful is a colonoscopy?

It shouldn’t be a painful procedure and for the vast majority of people, it is a fairly straightforward affair. Sedatives can be given, and when administered, people tend not to remember the procedure even taking place.

Are you awake during a colonoscopy?

Yes. The vast majority of people will undergo a colonoscopy via what we call “awake sedation”, where you are aware of your surroundings but you are comfortable. There are many people who choose not to have any form of sedation. There are rare cases when people find that they require a general anaesthetic.

What is recovery time like?

Recovery from a colonoscopy is generally very quick. If you have no sedation, recovery is immediate. If you have a bit of sedation, we will ensure that you don’t drive yourself home, and will make sure that you can walk unassisted.

Don’t hesitate to book an appointment with Mr Andrew Aldridge. To do so, you can head on over to his Top Doctors profile today.