For your safety, do not drive, operate machinery, or power tools for at least 8 hours after getting sedation. Your doctor may tell you not to drive or operate machinery until the day after your test. Do not sign legal documents or make major decisions for at least 8 hours after getting sedation.
As a general rule, it is best to take the rest of the day off from work after a colonoscopy and give yourself 24 hours to feel 100% normal again.
You may feel bloated or pass gas for a few hours after the exam, as you clear the air from your colon. Walking may help relieve any discomfort. You may also notice a small amount of blood with your first bowel movement after the exam. Usually this isn't cause for alarm.
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.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Staying hydrated is essential for recovering from any medical procedure, and it is especially important when dealing with post-colonoscopy discomfort. Make sure to drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks throughout the day, and avoid caffeine or alcohol, as they can dehydrate you further.
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.
Another type of food that is recommended after a colonoscopy is low-fiber food. This includes foods like white bread, rice, and pasta. These foods are easy to digest and will not strain your system, which is essential during recovery.
Postoperative consumption of coffee is a safe and effective way to accelerate the establishment of the bowel function after colorectal resection surgery.
You may pass liquid and/or liquid stool after your colonoscopy but, within one to five days, your bowel movements should return to normal. If you've had a biopsy, it's normal to experience anal bleeding or bloody stool after the procedure. Delayed bleeding may also occur for up to two weeks afterward.
What if I've taken all my preparation and am still passing solid stool on the day of my exam? In this case, your procedure will need to be rescheduled. You may be prescribed a different preparation for your next procedure. Please call the triage nurse to reschedule your procedure with a different preparation.
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.
You may not eat anything the morning of your procedure, but you may continue to drink clear liquids up until 2 hours before your procedure. You may shower and brush your teeth. Will I be shaved before my colonoscopy? You will not be shaved.
Once you start to “wake up” from sedation, you may find yourself feeling a little sluggish and bloated. For relief from your cramps during the first hours after your colonoscopy, you'll be encouraged to pass gas, and—until you stop feeling groggy—your doctor may recommend you limit your activity.
Occasionally a colonoscopy can cause mild abdominal cramping and bloating for around a day after the procedure. This feels similar to trapped wind and is caused by the air pumped into your colon during the procedure to help your doctor better see the inside of your colon.
Aftercare. Take it easy for the rest of the day after you get home following your colonoscopy. You can shower and do most activities straight away.
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.
Everyone's experience is different, but you can rest assured that the colonoscopy itself is painless. You will receive anesthesia so that you don't feel pain or remember the procedure. Most centers use medications that stop working quickly. That means you shouldn't feel any lingering side effects.
We conducted a study to compare time of day and polyp detection. It turned out that polyps were common, but they became mysteriously less common as the day progressed. Early-morning procedures found more polyps than procedures conducted later in the day. Hour-by-hour, there were fewer and fewer polyps detected.
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.
If you begin drinking the colonoscopy prep in the evening, start a few hours earlier to prevent running to the toilet all night. Each person's body is different – for some, it works right away, and for others, it takes several hours. Give yourself plenty of time for the laxative to start working.
Foods you can eat after a colonoscopy include: – Clear liquids such as broth, juices, tea, and coffee without cream. – Bland foods like plain toast or crackers. – Bananas, applesauce, pudding and other soft fruit.