Colonoscopy in Dallas, TX

How We Can Help

Our professional physicians are experts in performing this procedure, typically taking between 30 to 60 minutes. All patients are given a sedative which will take around one hour to recover from. If a polyp was removed during the colonoscopy, the doctor might advise you to eat a specialized diet for a short time.

Should our doctor find a polyp less than 0.4 inches in diameter, you may be recommended to undertake another colonoscopy in the next 5 to 10 years. While a small amount of blood may be present in your bowel movement after a colonoscopy, this is normal. Our doctors will be able to provide you with expert advice should you feel persistent pain, pass blood, or experience blood clots.

Start looking after your body and address any uncomfortable signs and symptoms inside your body by getting a quick consultation with us. At DFW Digestive Care, we care about your well-being, so we ensure that you’re one step ahead of any conditions you may have. To make sure that you’re healthy inside and out, consider getting a colonoscopy to make sure that everything is in working order.

Low-Residue Diet Leading to the Procedure

Rarely is a colonoscopy a procedure you can have at the spur of the moment. Quite the contrary, chances are high that you need to have one scheduled with your gastroenterologist.

Upon scheduling the procedure, your gastroenterologist will have prescribed a certain diet. Whatever the diet is, its purpose is to facilitate visualization of your lower gastrointestinal tract.

In most cases, the prescribed diet is a low-residue diet. A low-residue diet consists of food that does not stay in your gastrointestinal tract for a long time. Even on a low-residue diet, your food choices may not be as limited as you might think.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid anything with large traces of dietary fiber. These can include:

• Vegetables (most of them)
• Nuts, seeds, legumes
• Corn
• Brown rice (white rice is fine)
• Whole grain products
• Fruits

Avoid high-fiber foods for 48 to 72 hours before your colonoscopy. If your gastroenterologist learns that you have not followed the diet, they can postpone your colonoscopy.

Clear Liquid Diet 24 Hours Before the Colonoscopy

Twenty-four hours before your procedure, your physician will help you prepare for a colonoscopy with a clear liquid diet. Liquids do not stay in the intestines for a long time, unlike solid food. Also, the liquids need to contain no dye or any sort of coloring.

Any dye or coloring may affect the color of your intestinal walls. Discoloration will make viewing your colon difficult for the gastroenterologist.

On a clear liquid diet, your food options go from broad to restrictively narrow. Twenty-four hours before the procedure, your intake needs to be monitored strictly.

You can have the following during this phase of your bowel preparation:

• Clear, electrolyte-rich drinks (sports drinks)
• Clear juice
• Water
• Coffee and tea without milk or creamer

After 24 hours of your clear liquid diet, you will have to fast and drink the prescribed laxative solution.

Fasting and Laxative Solution

For about five to six hours before your procedure, you will be asked to stop your intake. This will allow adequate gastric and intestinal clearing.

In the past, enemas were the go-to ways to prepare for a colonoscopy. However, nowadays, the enema is deemed outdated by many health professionals and physicians. Instead of an enema, patients like yourself can take laxatives and laxative solutions.

Laxative solutions are usually mixed in water or any other clear liquid. Many gastroenterologists have made it a practice to mix laxatives in flavored beverages for patients. At the time of writing, the prescribed amount of laxative solution is a gallon.

Don’t worry. You do not need to drink a gallon in one sitting. You can gradually consume the laxative solution until you have finished it.

It is common to experience inconvenience hours before the procedure since the laxative will cause frequent diarrhea. So, if you find yourself going to the bathroom frequently, don’t worry. This is expected.

Anesthesia Administration

An hour or so before the procedure, your physician and anesthesiologist will prepare you for sedation. For a colonoscopy, a sedative like Propofol is the anesthetic agent of choice due to its safety. Once the anesthesia takes effect, you will be ready for the procedure.

What Happens After You Prepare for a Colonoscopy?

If you have followed your bowel prep correctly, you will be ready for your colonoscopy. The colonoscopy rarely lasts for more than an hour. In fact, your gastroenterologist may complete the procedure in as little as half an hour!

During the colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist views your intestines using a colonoscope. The procedure is painless since you will be sedated. Once the procedure is complete, your gastroenterologist can give you the findings after your post-anesthesia assessment.

Final Thoughts

Nobody looks forward to a colonoscopy. However, it is actually a procedure that is quick and painless. What takes a bit of planning is the bowel preparation before the procedure. Follow your gastroenterologist’s instructions to a tee, and your colonoscopy will be a breeze!