A colonoscopy is a type of exam that the staff at GI Physicians Inc. uses to look at your large intestine, or your colon, without the need for a single incision.
During this procedure, your GI Physicians Inc. provider uses a specialized endoscope called a colonoscope. This is a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera attached to one end. By feeding the tube into your rectum, your provider can examine your colon.
A colonoscopy is an extremely effective diagnostic tool because it allows your provider to see what’s going on inside your body. Your GI Physicians Inc. provider may recommend a colonoscopy to identify what’s causing your symptoms if you’re experiencing unexplained:
With a colonoscopy, your provider can often provide you with a quick, highly accurate diagnosis so you can start an effective treatment.
With regular colon cancer screenings, you can be proactive about protecting yourself against this type of cancer. Generally, you should start getting screened for colon cancer at age 45.
To screen you for colon cancer, your GI Physicians Inc. provider performs a colonoscopy, looking for any polyps, which can develop into colon cancer.
If your GI Physicians Inc. provider detects colon polyps during your colonoscopy, they can use the colonoscope to remove the polyp. They then send the biopsied polyp to a lab to determine if it’s cancerous or not.
No. The team at GI Physicians Inc. uses a sedative to keep you comfortable during your procedure. They also help you prepare for your colonoscopy, giving you a specialized diet to eat in the days leading up to the exam to ensure your colon is clear and your colonoscopy can be as effective as possible.
You may notice a small amount of blood in your stool a couple of days after your colonoscopy, but this is normal.
If you have questions about colonoscopies or you need to schedule one, call the office or request your appointment online today.
