A colonoscopy allows your health care provider to evaluate the lining of your large intestine to diagnose and treat various conditions. At Surgical Clinic, PC in Auburn & Opelika, Alabama, the team of board-certified general surgeons provides a broad range of treatments so you can stay local to get the care you need. They offer the colonoscopy procedure to screen, diagnose, and treat gastrointestinal problems. To find out more about colonoscopies at Surgical Clinic, PC, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
A colonoscopy is a diagnostic test that allows your doctor to see the lining of your large intestine without the need for a large surgical incision. Instead, they use a colonoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera that transmits images of your colon onto a computer screen.
Your doctor slowly advances the colonoscope through the entire length of your large intestine, looking for abnormalities.
Surgical Clinic, PC provides colonoscopies to screen, diagnose, and treat conditions that affect the large intestine.
Your doctor or surgeon may recommend a colonoscopy for any number of reasons. If you have ongoing abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or blood in your stools, then you might need a colonoscopy to determine the cause.
Your surgeon uses the colonoscopy to diagnose gastrointestinal conditions such as:
Your doctor may also recommend a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. You should start screenings for colon cancer at age 45, or earlier if you have colon cancer risk factors such as a family history.
The Surgical Clinic, PC team provides very specific instructions on how to prepare for your colonoscopy. Bowel prep is one of the most important steps for getting accurate readings from the diagnostic procedure.
The purpose of bowel prep is to remove all waste and debris from your large intestine to improve visibility during the colonoscopy.
For bowel prep, you need to limit fiber intake a few days before the procedure, follow a clear liquid diet the day before your procedure, and take a laxative solution to remove all waste.
After changing into an exam gown, you lie on your side on the exam table. You will be provided anesthesia to help you relax and minimize discomfort.
Your surgeon inserts the colonoscope in your anus and slowly advances the instrument through your colon. They remove all colon polyps and take a biopsy of any suspicious tissue. Most colon polyps are benign, but may turn cancerous.
After your colonoscopy, you go to the recovery area where you’re monitored, and your doctor talks to you about their findings. You must have someone drive you home after your colonoscopy, and plan on taking it easy for the rest of the day.
To schedule your colonoscopy, call Surgical Clinic, PC, or book online today.