Getting a colonoscopy every five or ten years over the age of fifty is a must, but it’s fair to say that it isn’t the most pleasant procedure to experience. Both the need to only eat certain foods and the invasive nature of the procedure can make it unpleasant, but colonoscopies also necessitate patients have some recovery time afterwards. If you’re not prepared for the recovery step, you may very well experience some unpleasant and unexpected consequences, which is why it’s so important to be prepared. In this article, we take a look at what you can expect from colonoscopy recovery and give you a few tips to make the process a little bit easier.
Getting prepared for colonoscopy recovery
If you’re looking to get a colonoscopy in Adelaide, you’ll hopefully have considered what occurs after the procedure concludes. Generally, after the colonoscopy is complete the patient will be observed in a recovery area until the effects of the sedative or anaesthetic medication wear off. This is why it’s so important to have someone drive you home after the operation – operating heavy machinery is the last thing you should be doing after being knocked out for a surgical procedure, so make sure that you’re not driving yourself home. In terms of follow-up symptoms, the most common issue people experience after a colonoscopy is a feeling of bloating and gas-related cramps. To get rid of this feeling, try and expel the gas – although this might be a socially embarrassing thing, doing it in the context of a colonoscopy is a highly accepted thing (because so many people feel the same way after the procedure). By passing this gas you should be able to relieve the unpleasant sensation and feel much less bloated.
Complications that might arise after a colonoscopy
As with many other invasive surgical procedures, there is always a chance that complications will arise (although colonoscopy is considered a particularly safe procedure for the most part). Complications can include bleeding as a result of biopsies or the removal of polyps, but this bleeding is usually able to be controlled. Accidents are also possible – the colonoscope (the instrument used to survey your bowel) can tear a hole in the wall of the bowel, and this is usually an issue that must be managed with further surgery (but is very uncommon). It is also not uncommon for people to be negatively affected by the anaesthesia, but it will usually be known by patients to expect this due to prior experience with anaesthesia. If at home after the operation you experience severe pain, bloated abdomen, vomiting, fever or a significant amount of rectal bleeding, it is recommended that you contact your doctor immediately.
What to do right after your colonoscopy
As soon as you’ve recovered from the sedative you were given, it should be alright for you to resume your schedule, which includes being able to eat (but do make sure you avoid drinking alcohol on the day of the operation). Otherwise, it is quite normal to feel right as rain after the procedure, so there is little to worry about. You’ll just have to keep in mind that if complications do arise, you’ll need to contact your health doctor as soon as possible.
