A colonoscopy is a vital procedure for preventing and detecting colorectal issues, including colorectal cancer. Proper preparation significantly enhances the experience and effectiveness of this essential screening tool. Questions about this procedure are very normal and understanding what to do before and after your appointment is key to a successful colonoscopy experience.
Preparing for a colonoscopy is a crucial step in maintaining your digestive health. Before your colonoscopy appointment, a few key actions can make the process more seamless and effective. Let's delve into these steps to ensure you are well-prepared for this important examination.
Before delving into the preparation steps, it's essential to have a clear understanding of what a colonoscopy involves. Your doctor will provide you with detailed information about the procedure, its purpose, and what you can expect during and after.
Schedule a colonoscopy consultation with your healthcare provider to discuss your medical history, current medications, and any concerns you may have. This is also the time to share information about allergies or health conditions that might be relevant to the procedure.
Your healthcare provider will provide specific instructions on how to prepare for the colonoscopy. This usually involves dietary restrictions and a bowel preparation regimen to ensure the colon is clear for examination. Following these instructions carefully is crucial for optimal results.
In the days leading up to the colonoscopy, you will likely be instructed to follow a low-fiber diet. This may include avoiding certain foods such as nuts, seeds, and raw vegetables. Additionally, you may be required to stop consuming solid foods a day or two before the procedure.
Bowel preparation is a critical aspect of the process. Your doctor may prescribe a laxative solution or tablets to help cleanse your colon thoroughly. It's essential to stay hydrated during this process and follow the recommended schedule for taking the prescribed medication.
While some dietary restrictions are in place, it's crucial to stay hydrated. Clear liquids, such as water, clear broth, and sports drinks without red or purple dye, are typically allowed. Dehydration can complicate the colonoscopy and make vein access for anesthesia more challenging.
After your colonoscopy appointment, thoughtful post-procedure care plays a pivotal role in a smooth recovery. In the immediate aftermath of the examination, as well as in the days that follow, there are essential steps to follow for optimal healing and overall well-being. Let's delve into what you should do after your colonoscopy to promote a swift and comfortable recovery.
After the colonoscopy, you will spend some time in a recovery area as the effects of any sedation wear off. It's normal to feel a bit drowsy, so arranging for someone to drive you home is advisable.
Your doctor will provide guidance on when and what you can eat post-procedure. Initially, you may be advised to start with easily digestible foods and gradually reintroduce your regular diet.
Continue to drink plenty of fluids after the procedure. Hydration aids in recovery and helps eliminate any remaining traces of the bowel preparation solution.
Your doctor will discuss the findings of the colonoscopy with you and may recommend further action based on the results. If any polyps were removed during the procedure, they will be sent for analysis.
While complications are rare, it's essential to be aware of any potential signs of complications, such as persistent abdominal pain, fever, or heavy rectal bleeding. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
A colonoscopy is a vital tool for preventing and detecting colorectal issues, including colorectal cancer.Proper preparation is key to a successful and comfortable experience. By understanding the procedure, following pre-colonoscopy instructions, and taking care during the recovery period, you contribute to the examination's effectiveness and overall health.
Ready to prioritize your digestive health? Schedule your colonoscopy with Northeast Digestive today. Your journey to digestive vitality begins now! Our specialists are here to address any concerns you may have before your appointment, ensuring your well-being is our top priority.
Gastroenterology patients no longer have to travel to Charlotte, Winston-Salem or Durham to benefit from endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) – the most modern and minimally invasive technique used to assess digestive issues. The imaging-guided procedure is now performed locally by Dr. Vinay Patel, a specially trained gastroenterologist who joined Northeast Digestive Health Center in 2013.
“We wanted to provide a service to our patients and the community that wasn’t there before,” Dr. Patel said. “Now, patients don’t have to travel elsewhere to have their advanced therapeutic procedure done. We have the technology and expertise to do it locally.”
As one of only five physicians in the region trained in EUS technology, Dr. Patel has performed more than 500 procedures during his fellowship at the University of Louisville and through his role as EUS director at Carolinas HealthCare System NorthEast, which purchased and houses the equipment.
EUS technology is far-reaching and used for a variety of treatments, including assessing tumors, determining the stage of cancer and if it has spread, identifying stones and masses in the bile duct, draining pseudocysts or other abnormal collections of fluid, evaluating abnormal imaging studies and guiding treatment.
Dr. Patel noted that EUS does not take the place of imaging modalities such as a CT or MRI, but rather it provides a more dynamic and refined view with the opportunity to provide tissue diagnosis and therapeutic intervention immediately.
“If someone has cancer in the esophagus, rectum, stomach, small bowel, pancreas or biliary tree, we can stage it locally, identify it, provide immediate tissue diagnosis and direct therapy,” he said. “Before the patients leave – more often than not – they know exactly what kind of cancer it is, what stage it is and what the next plan of treatment is.”
Additionally, Dr. Patel is using EUS technology for pain intervention and relief through precise targeting of medication. “If a Stage 3 pancreatic cancer patient has pain, we’re able to use EUS to affect the nerves with a neurolysis or a block and help control severe pain and reduce the patient’s narcotic requirement.”
EUS procedures can take as little as 20 minutes or as long as 90 minutes, Dr. Patel said, and there is very low risk of complication. “With this procedure, I never tell a patient how long it’s going to take because I want to be thorough. We are done only when I am satisfied that all the information needed has been gathered.”
In the recent case of a 34-year-old woman, the EUS findings and subsequent treatment was swift and may have helped prevent a longer hospital stay and worsening infection. Just eight weeks after giving birth, the patient developed acute upper abdominal pain and fever. When she arrived at the hospital, she was septic with cholangitis. A CT scan indicated the bile duct was enlarged, but didn’t show the reason why.
“We did an EUS, and in just a few seconds, we were able to tell that there was a stone obstructing the bile duct. We switched her over to an ERCP, took out the stone and relieved the obstruction, thereby treating the infection,” Dr. Patel said. “EUS helped direct the patient’s therapy and likely shortened the course of an infection-related hospitalization.”
Staying on the forefront of new technology is important to the physicians at Northeast Digestive Health Center, but only if the technology helps patients. “There are so many new things coming out – different types of needles, balloons, techniques and technologies – but we have to see what best works for our patients,” Dr. Patel said. “Just because we know how to do something doesn’t mean we should do it, especially if it’s not beneficial or if the risk far outweighs the benefit.”
With EUS, all signs point to continuing advancements. “Although endoscopic ultrasound technology has been around for more than 30 years, it’s only recently become interventional,” he said. “It will continue to evolve and we’re excited to see where this technology takes us to help our patients and improve their outcomes.”
One would be hard-pressed to come up with something positive to say about hemorrhoids. Despite being a common medical condition, it is fraught with negative connotations and is a topic that many people are embarrassed to discuss.
As painful as hemorrhoids are to have – and talk about – there is a remedy that is simple and painless. Hemorrhoid banding is the most widely used and effective treatment for internal hemorrhoids. The minimally invasive procedure helps remove or destroy internal hemorrhoids by tying them off at the base with rubber bands, cutting off the blood flow.
It works like this: The physician inserts a viewing instrument into the anus and uses a special syringe-like device to place a tiny rubber band (about 1/25th of an inch) around the base of the hemorrhoid. With no more blood flow, the hemorrhoid shrinks and falls off in about a week. A scar eventually forms in place of the hemorrhoid, holding in nearby veins so they don’t bulge into the anal canal.
All of the physicians at Northeast Digestive are certified to perform hemorrhoid banding using the CRH O’Regan System – an FDA-approved technology that was invented in 1997 by laparoscopic surgeon Dr. Patrick J. O’Regan. Dr. Geanina Anghel is the most recent physician at Northeast Digestive to undergo the training, which involves working with a board-certified surgeon trainer and hands-on patient banding sessions.
The procedure takes place at the Northeast Digestive office and lasts about a minute. Patients can expect their total visit to last between 15 and 30 minutes as there is no prep or sedation required. Some may experience mild discomfort during the treatment, whereas other patients have very little discomfort at all.
The procedure is more than 99-percent effective and is used to treat about 95 percent of internal hemorrhoid patients. Another benefit of the single-use, disposable technology is that it protects against cross-patient infection.
“More than half of adults will get hemorrhoids before the age of 50, yet many people are hesitant to get treatment or talk about them with their doctor,” Dr. Anghel said. “There’s no reason for that because banding is a great option for those who suffer from hemorrhoids. Not only is it safe with a very low complication rate, there’s also a low likelihood of recurrence. We can treat them painlessly in a matter of seconds right in our office.”
Upper Endoscopy vs. Colonoscopy
An Upper Endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD is a procedure performed by a trained gastroenterologist or surgeon passes a flexible tube with light and camera through the mouth with direct visualization and assessment of oropharynx, esophagus, stomach, and proximal duodenum.
Indications: Dysphagia, foreign body, nausea and vomiting, bleeding, IBD, obtain tissue biopsy, abdominal pain, iron deficiency anemia
What to expect before, during, and after procedure?
A colonoscopy is a procedure performed by a trained gastroenterologist or surgeon inserting a long flexible tube through rectum while the patient is sedated. The tube is attached with light and a camera that will assess and interpret findings from the exam.
Indications: screening, history of colon polyps, positive cologuard, heme positive stool, lower bleeding, iron deficiency anemia, abnormal imaging, IBD (ulcerative or Crohn’s).
What to expect before, during, and after procedure?
Call us today to talk to one our providers about whether you need an upper endoscopy or colonoscopy, (704) 783-1840!