Overview

A colonoscopy is a routine test to examine the lining of your bowel, also called the large intestine or colon.

This is done using a flexible, thin tube which has a camera inside it. This is called an endoscope.

It is passed through your bottom (anus) and carefully moved around the large bowel by a specially trained doctor or nurse called an endoscopist.

Having a colonoscopy can feel daunting, and it’s natural to have questions about the procedure and how to prepare. 

Why you might have a colonoscopy

By looking down the endoscope, we will be able to get a clear view of the lining of your colon.

This will help us to diagnose your symptoms or check any bowel condition that you have had diagnosed in the past. You may have been advised to have a colonoscopy if you have:

• bleeding from your bottom
• pain in your tummy
• persistent diarrhoea
• changes to your bowel habits
• a strong family history of bowel cancer
• been placed on a bowel cancer screening pathway
• have an existing condition that needs reviewing such as Crohn's disease or colitis

Preparing for a colonoscopy

It is very important to follow our instructions before your colonoscopy.

Read our colonoscopy diet, medicines and bowel preparation instructions or ask us for a copy.

The information includes instructions for:

• stopping certain medicines, from 4 days before your colonoscopy
• eating and drinking, from 2 days before your colonoscopy
• bowel preparation, from 1 day before your conoloscopy

If you have any questions about preparing for your colonoscopy, you can talk to us:

• when you come to the endoscopy unit to collect your bowel preparation
• in the outpatient department when you are first referred for a colonoscopy

Tell us about your medicines

Tell your doctor or nurse if you: 

• take antiplatelet medicines (such as aspirin or clopidogrel)
• take anticoagulant medicines (such as warfarin or rivaroxaban)
• take regular medicines you buy yourself from a pharmacy or shop (including herbal or homeopathic medicines)
• have allergies to medicines
• have diabetes

You might need to stop blood-thinning medicines temporarily before your procedure.

We may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicines, as you will need to reduce your eating and drinking before the procedure.

Preparation checklist

• Make a note of the date of your appointment and where you need to go.
• Read and follow our instructions about medicines, diet and bowel preparation. 
• Make sure you've received your bowel preparation solutions. If you haven't, please contact the endoscopy department.
• If you are planning to have sedation, arrange for a friend or relative (18 years of age or older) to escort you home after your appointment. If you do not organise an escort, or if they are under 18 years old, we will not be able to give you sedation and the procedure may be cancelled.
• If you are taking medicines to prevent blood clots, please contact us for advice before your appointment.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes on the day of the test.

When you arrive at the endoscopy unit

On arrival, please give your name to the receptionist or nurse.

We have a health questionnaire that we ask you to complete which will help to speed up your admission or pre-assessment. This can be filled in on the day of your admission in reception.

At check in we will ask you to wait in the waiting area until you are seen by an endoscopy nurse, who will ask you about your medical history.

Please tell the nurse if you have had any reactions or allergies to other examinations in the past. The nurse will explain more about the procedure and answer any questions you may still have.

Waiting times

Please be aware that sometimes another patient who arrived after you may be called in before you are. This does not mean you have been forgotten, but that the other person is on a different list to you.

We also deal with emergencies. These can take priority over your appointment, meaning we may have to ask you to wait. We apologise in advance if this happens but please be patient with us and check at the reception desk if you are concerned.

We do everything we can to avoid keeping you waiting any longer than necessary, but because every procedure takes a different length of time to complete, sometimes it’s hard to give exact timings.

We’ll update you regularly as to how long you are likely to be with us. But please be prepared to be with us for the whole morning or afternoon, depending on whether you are a morning or afternoon admission.

Getting ready for the procedure

In case there are polyps  present, we will ask you to take off all your jewellery before the examination. This is because you should not wear any metal for the technique we use to remove polyps. Because of this, you may wish to leave any valuable jewellery at home, as we cannot be responsible for any valuables lost while in the unit.

You will be asked to remove all of your clothing and change into a gown and some dignity disposable underwear. You may want to bring your dressing gown and slippers with you (we do supply non slip socks).

Once you are ready you will be taken to the second waiting area, signposted ‘sub wait area.’ 

During the procedure

The test itself only takes about 30 minutes and an endoscopy nurse will be there throughout to reassure you.

This test is normally performed with sedation using Entonox (gas and air) or an injection of painkillers but you can choose not to have sedation if you prefer.

Read more about gas and air (entonox)

You will be asked to lie down on your left-hand side on a couch with your knees bent. The endoscopist will start by inserting a finger into your anus to perform a rectal exam, this will help lubricate the anal passage and identify if there are any significant haemorrhoids or growths able to be felt in your anal passage.

The endoscope will then be inserted into your lower bowel through your bottom (anus). Air will be passed down a channel in the endoscope, expanding your bowel to make it easier to see the lining.

This may make you feel slightly bloated and you may feel the urge to go to the toilet, but you will not be able to do this as your bowel will be empty.

Many people fart during the test. This is perfectly normal and is nothing to be embarrassed about.

If you have polyps, your endoscopist can remove these. You will not feel this. When a polyp is particular big or in a difficult position, you might need to wait for another time for it to be removed and re-booked on a specialised list.

Pain

You might have some cramping and discomfort due to the air used to inflate your bowel or brief periods of discomfort particularly when the endoscope is first inserted and when the scope passes around bends in your bowel.

Occasionally the nurse will press gently on your stomach or your position may be altered to aid the passage of the scope.

You will be given painkillers through a needle that will be inserted into a vein to help keep you comfortable. You will not feel anything if any biopsies are taken

Recovering after the procedure

After the procedure you will be taken to the recovery area.

If you have had sedation, you will need to rest quietly until your observations are stable (usually an hour). The nurse will check your blood pressure and pulse and will take you to the discharge area when you are stable.

You can bring your own sandwich or other snacks with you if you are concerned that you will be very hungry otherwise you will be offered some tea and biscuits in the discharge waiting area.

You must arrange for a relative or friend to take you home approximately one hour after the test. This person should be 18 years of age or older.

It is recommended that someone stays with you overnight. You will not be able to drive or operate any machinery for the rest of the day and will need to rest quietly at home.

Please note that your appointment will be cancelled on the day if you wish to have sedation but have not organised an escort home. If you are unable to arrange someone to collect you, please contact us to discuss alternative arrangements.

If you have not had sedation

If you have not had sedation you will be escorted to the discharge area where a nurse will explain your results and give you a copy for your own records.

You will be able to leave as soon as the nurse has given this to you.

Caring for yourself after you leave hospital

The sedation lasts longer than you may think. You must not:

• drive or ride a bicycle
• operate machinery or do anything requiring skill or judgement
• drink alcohol
• take sleeping tablets
• go to work
• make any important decisions, sign contracts or legal documents

You should rest at home following your procedure and should be able to carry out your normal activities 24 hours after the test.

Results

We give you a printed report describing the procedure and any extra treatment that you had. A doctor or nurse explains any findings from the colonoscopy before you leave the hospital. This test might be one of a few tests that you have and so the result might not be conclusive.

If you had a sedative, it is a good idea to have someone with you when we explain the results. You might not remember all of the details afterwards.

If you had a biopsy, the laboratory examines the samples of tissue. Our clinical team then review the results. We send you a letter explaining the results and next steps. This can take 8 to 10 weeks.

You and your GP will then receive an outcome letter informing you if you need to return to an outpatient clinic or if you can be discharged back to your GP.