It's normal to feel a bit low on energy after your colonoscopy. Plan to take it easy afterward and take the rest of the day off work. It can take about 24 hours for the sedative to wear off, so don't drive, operate machinery, make any important legal decisions or drink alcohol for the rest of the day.
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.
Take the day off: It is recommended that you take the day off work on the day of your procedure. You should not make any important decisions for the rest of the day following the procedure. You should not drive for the rest of the day. Pick up your prep at least three to five days before your procedure.
After the exam, it takes about an hour to begin to recover from the sedative. You'll need someone to take you home because it can take up to a day for the full effects of the sedative to wear off. Don't drive or make important decisions or go back to work for the rest of the day.
The First 24 Hours of Recovery
Because a colonoscopy is performed with the patient under the effects of sedation, the patient will need to arrange for a ride home. Once they are at home, patients should allow themselves at least 24 hours to rest and recover.
After a colonoscopy, eat foods that are soft and easy to digest to ease side effects such as bloating or gas. This may include eggs, white toast, and applesauce for breakfast. For lunch or dinner, choices could include lean chicken without skin, mashed potatoes, and soft-cooked carrots.
These include avoiding foods, such as seeds, nuts, and popcorn, for an additional two weeks. Foods and drinks to avoid the day after your colonoscopy include: alcoholic beverages. steak, or any type of tough, hard-to-digest meat.
You should be able to go back to your usual activities the day after the test.
Following your colonoscopy
The air pumped into your colon may cause continued bloating and cramps for an hour or so. You should, in fact, pass gas during and after the procedure to relieve the lingering cramps. You'll feel groggy after the procedure and should arrange to have a friend or family member take you home.
How many days do I need to take off work? You will need to take off work the day of the procedure. Some patients who work evenings also take off work the day before the procedure to do the bowel prep.
You may experience loose stool or no stool for up to three days following the procedure.
If you have had a local anaesthetic, it should take around an hour to completely wear off. Sedation can take up to 24 hours to completely wear off, and it is recommended that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery, so it is important to organise alternative transport home.
It is recommended that you do not go back to work, do any strenuous exercise, drive, or sign any legal documents for 24 hours after the procedure. If you are taking any anti-coagulant medication (i.e., Coumadin, Heparin), please be sure to notify your doctor.
Getting Home
Medicines you were given can change the way you think and make it harder to remember for the rest of the day. As a result, it is NOT safe for you to drive a car or find your own way home. You will not be allowed to leave alone. You will need a friend or family member to take you home.
Absolutely no straining. You may go up and down stairs and carry on normal activities otherwise. 5. You may have a light meal following the colonoscopy and resume your regular diet the same day or following day.
Colonoscopies performed in the afternoon (PM) have been shown to have lower adenoma detection rates (ADR) compared to those in the morning (AM). Endoscopist fatigue has been suggested as a possible reason. Colonoscopies tend to be technically more challenging in female patients.
Will I be up all night with colonoscopy prep? Probably not, if you start on time. While everyone's body is different, most people are able to complete their round of purging before going to sleep for the night.
Liquids to avoid after a colonoscopy include: Alcohol. Coffee with cream. Carbonated drinks.
After a colonoscopy you should eat low-fat meals and foods, which are easy to digest. For example, you can eat soup, chicken, a sandwich or plain yogurt. You should also drink still water or tea to re-hydrate.
After an upper GI endoscopy, you can expect the following: to stay at the hospital or outpatient center for 1 to 2 hours after the procedure so the sedative can wear off. to rest at home for the rest of the day.
After a colonoscopy, you will need to recover from the effects of the sedation, which usually wear off within 30 minutes, and you may need to rest after your colonoscopy preparations. You may experience some discomfort and mild pain in the abdominal area as air is relieved from the procedure and leaves your colon.
You can return to work the day after your procedure. If you have taken any work to do at home please be aware that the sedation you have been given may affect your judgment.
Pain after the procedure: Some people have stomach pain after a colonoscopy. A person may also experience mild irritation to their rectum, gas, or other digestive problems. These symptoms are usually mild and tend to go away in a few days.
Make sure to schedule a day off work for the actual colonoscopy procedure. Unless you work night shifts, patients find they are fine to work the day before – even during the liquid diet phase – without any problems.
During the Colonoscopy
You will need to arrive early for your appointment so you can check in and fill out paperwork. Once the nurse calls you back, the procedure will move along quickly. Most colonoscopies are performed with anesthesia or sedatives that put you to sleep, so you won't even remember the procedure.