Is it normal to have pain a week after a colonoscopy? No, any pain or discomfort after a colonoscopy should resolve in a day. If you are still in pain beyond a day after your procedure, contact your care team.
Up to one-third of patients experience abdominal pain, nausea, or bloating afterward, which may last hours to several days. Fortunately, severe complications including hemorrhage, perforation, and death are rare, with a total incidence of 0.28%.
Mild abdominal pain/discomfort immediately after a colonoscopy is not rare, occurring anywhere between 2.5% to 11% of the cases [2]. Though it may have a host of etiologies, it is most commonly a result of air insufflation, endoscope looping, and/or manual pressure maneuvers used during a colonoscopy.
The First Week after a Colonoscopy
After polyps are removed it can take up to a week for the patient to fully recover. During this time, patients should avoid all strenuous activities, which includes lifting anything over five pounds.
After the test, you may be bloated or have gas pains. You may need to pass gas. If a biopsy was done or a polyp was removed, you may have streaks of blood in your stool (feces) for a few days. Problems such as heavy rectal bleeding may not occur until several weeks after the test.
In the first few days after a colonoscopy, you may feel slight discomfort and tiredness, so allow yourself to take it easy. Avoid strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects or exercising until you get clearance from your doctor.
Some colonoscopies are done using gas and air as a patient preference, which can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded for a short period. After sedation, you may feel a little more tired for the rest of the day and will be advised to avoid driving for 24 hours, or operating any machinery and avoiding alcohol.
When will I stop moving my bowels? Most people stop moving their bowels about 2 – 3 hours after finishing the solution. People are different and some have liquid movements until the time of the procedure.
Colonoscopies are usually not painful, and patients generally do not feel anything at all. Most colonoscopies are performed using “intravenous sedation” or “twilight sedation” in which patients are drowsy, but comfortable and still breathing on their own.
Is a sedation-free colonoscopy painful or uncomfortable? Most patients report little or no discomfort during the procedure. You can request sedation during the procedure if you change your mind and feel you need it, although it has been my experience that this seldom occurs.
FAQ #3: “Can I Exercise After Getting A Colonoscopy?” It is recommended that you abstain from heavy lifting or strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after a colonoscopy. This way, the anesthesia has time to wear off, and you can resume properly fueling your body before expending energy.
Most colonoscopies take only 15-30 minutes to complete. As a reminder, most patients recall feeling minimal to no pain or discomfort during the procedure. After the colonoscopy is done, you will be observed in a recovery area until the effects of the anesthesia wear off.
Colonoscopy recovery is usually quick with most people resuming normal activity the next day. Even so, it is important not to rush back to work. It is best to take the remainder of the day to rest, recover from sedation, and replenish fluids and nutrition. The results of your exam should be available within a few days.
Eating the right foods can help you recover more quickly after a colonoscopy. Clear liquids and low-fiber foods will help rehydrate your body and provide the energy you need to get back to normal. It is also essential to drink plenty of water and avoid any foods that are high in fiber.
“How will I feel the day after a colonoscopy?” One day after your colonoscopy, you'll finally start to feel more like yourself again. In fact, most patients feel up to returning to normal activities within 24 hours.
This is a rough way to do it, but yes, you will have a very temporary weight loss of one to three pounds typically. But, just as with your bowel habits, these few pounds will return as well once you resume your normal diet.
Eat a diet rich in prebiotics. These are foods like fruits, vegetables, oats and whole grains that are high in fiber and feed probiotic bacteria. Avoid processed foods, wheat products, sugar, hydrogenated fats, alcohol and high fructose corn syrup for several days after your colonoscopy.
As already advised, you must not drink alcohol for 24 hours after your procedure. Alcohol in combination with any sedation is likely to have a more sedative effect. Otherwise you can eat and drink as normal, unless advised with specific instructions.
You may feel tired or sleepy and have difficulty concentrating. Once you get home, relax for the rest of the day. The air we placed in your colon may cause you to feel mild pain in your abdomen (stomach area) for a few hours after the procedure. This is normal.
The discomfort of the procedure can make it difficult to pass urine and empty the bladder. It is important that your bladder does not seize up completely. If you cannot get the urine flowing properly after six hours, contact the nurses or your doctor.
While a colonoscopy is not considered a surgery, the procedure does involve some risks and should be discussed with your doctor prior to undergoing the procedure. A colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that allows your doctor to view the inside of your large intestine, or colon.