The Importance of a Colonoscopy

Tips for Easing Preparation Discomfort

Oct 28, 2008 Venice Kichura

Although no one enjoys getting a colonoscopy, it could save your life. According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is the second leading form of death (next to lung cancer) in both men and women, with about 50 thousand Americans dying of the disease each year. Tragically, many of these lives could have been saved if only the cancer was detected and arrested in time.

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a medical examination of the large intestines and rectum, usually done by a gastroenterologist. The procedure is done by attaching a small video camera to a thin tube called a colonscope, measuring four feet to six feet long.

Purpose of a Colonoscopy

Detects colon cancer

Diagnoses other gastrointestinal problems. Often people experience abdominal pain due to polyps, ulcers and tumors. Even more frightening, sometimes blood is found in their stools. It’s only by having a colonostopy that your doctor can determine the problem and cure for your discomfort.

Who Should Get a Colonoscopy?

• Anyone over 50 – Once you turn 50, your primary care physician should urge you to get a colonoscopy. Although it’s tempting to ignore it, following through on your doctor’s advice could save your life.

• Anyone with changing bowel patterns

• Anyone experiencing blood in stools

• Anyone with constant stomach pain

• Anyone with Crohn’s disease who has a family history of the disease

• Family history of colon cancer – Even if you’re younger than 50, it’s wise to get a colonoscopy if anyone in your biological family had colon cancer. In addition, if you have someone in your family who struggled with colon polyps or Crohn’s disease, you should also get a colonoscopy, even before age 50.

How to Prepare

It’s not so much the actual procedure that people dread, as patients are sedated. Instead, the home preparation is known to be more taxing. Because your doctor needs a clear view for an accurate picture, it’s necessary to clean out your colon the night before the procedure. This ordeal involves one to two days of preparation, depending on what your doctor tells you to do. Preparation involves drinking a particular powdered solvent. If you still pass a stool the next day after flushing out your colon, you'll need to give yourself an enema.

The Golytely solution – The Golytely powdered mixture is only one of three solutions for colon cleansing. Other methods for cleaning out the colon include using phosphor-soda and sodium phosphate tablets. For Golytely, your doctor will give you a prescription for a powder that’s to be mixed with a gallon jug of water of which you’ll need to drink one 8-ounce glass mixture every ten minutes. Do this until either the gallon runs out or eliminations are clear, signaling all fecal matter is gone from the colon.

Tips for Reducing Discomfort

• Spend the day on the toilet – Instead of worrying about all you have to do, give yourself a day off work. Now is an excellent time to read that novel.

• Use Wet Wipes rather than toilet paper.

• Add ice or freeze the solution.

• Don’t sip, but drink it in one sitting.

Do not add any flavoring to the solution and be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions perfectly. If you’re not totally sure what to do, don’t hesitate to call your doctor. After all, you wouldn’t want to repeat the preparation process because you misunderstood or altered the directions. By undergoing a little discomfort, you’ll only have to suffer once rather than twice. Most importantly, a colonoscopy could add years to your life.