Discover More About Getting A Colonoscopy In Houston, Texas
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a procedure that involves using a small, flexible tube to view the inside of your colon. Colonoscopy doctors routinely perform colonoscopy evaluations to check for colon abnormalities, manage a digestive treatment, or screen for colorectal cancer.
At Allied Digestive Disease Center of Houston, we are committed to providing the full range of diagnostic testing, including colonoscopies, in a comfortable and compassionate setting. Our team of providers has years of experience providing diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of issues, from routine colon cancer screenings for healthy adults to complex digestive disease monitoring.
Why is a colonoscopy test used?
At Allied Digestive Disease Center of Houston, we might recommend a colonoscopy to help diagnose, monitor, or treat a wide range of digestive diseases, which includes:
- Colorectal cancer
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Digestive problems / digestive pain
- Ulcerative colitis
What does a colonoscopy involve?
Before your colonoscopy with Dr. Adeyefa, you’ll be given specific instructions on how to prepare. In general, you’ll be asked to adjust your diet for a day or two leading up to your procedure. Speak with your doctor to learn specific foods and drinks to avoid during your colonoscopy preparation.
During the procedure, your colonoscopy doctor will make sure you are completely comfortable, usually lying on your side. Then, a very thin and flexible camera will gather images of the inner lining of your lower intestine and colon. Other procedures, like a colon biopsy or colon polyp removal surgery, might be done at the same time, using the camera to guide the surgery.
After the colonoscopy procedure, your colonoscopy doctor will go over the results of your colonoscopy with you and discuss next steps. Usually, you are able to return to your regular daily activities with little or no discomfort on the day following the procedure.
What are the benefits of undergoing a colon cancer screening at Allied Digestive Disease Center of Houston?
At Allied Digestive Disease Center of Houston, our team ensures that each patient is cared for as an individual and with special attention to your unique digestive and dietary needs. In addition to providing us with important diagnostic information, visiting us for a colonoscopy can offer you the following benefits:
- Can detect colorectal cancer and other digestive diseases
- Minimally invasive
- Little or no downtime
Here’s What You Need To Know Before Seeing A Colonoscopy Doctor in Houston
Now, you already have an idea of what colonoscopy is. However, to many, it may seem like an effortlessly routine procedure. The fact is, our colonoscopy doctor follows a series of thorough preparations which involve sedation.
Here at Allied Digestive Disease Center, we make a point of encouraging everyone who walks in for a consultation to ask any questions and clear any concerns they have regarding various medical procedures.
We believe that the best doctor for colonoscopy in Houston is one that takes the time to walk their patient(s) through the entire procedure beforehand, as well as openly suggest suitable alternatives where necessary.
Colonoscopy Preparation
The patient needs to provide the doctor with a list that includes all the medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements he or she takes. Please be thorough with this list because there are some products that can affect the colonoscopy results.
Find a Chauffeur
Since patients receive anesthesia during their colonoscopy, they need to bring a driver with them to Allied Digestive Disease Center on the day of their procedure.
At least 4 days before their colonoscopy, patients need to purchase:
- An approved over-the-counter laxative or the prescription laxative provided by their physician.
- Clear broths, juices (e.g., apple and white grape) and sports drinks.
- Low-fiber foods (e.g., pasta, rice, skinless fruits without their seeds).
- Diaper-rash ointment.
- Medicated pads, if the patient has hemorrhoids.
- Flushable cleaning wipes.
Temporary Diet Changes
Low-fiber foods are easy to digest and exit the system rather quickly; therefore, patients should eat a low-fiber diet for the 3 days leading up to their colonoscopy. During this timeframe, patients also need to stop taking the vitamins, herbal supplements and medications that can alter their test results. Nonetheless, patients must never change the dose or discontinue taking a prescription medication without their doctor’s approval.
Fasting
The day before a colonoscopy, patients need to refrain from eating anything solid, however, they can consume clear liquids. Gelatin and popsicles are acceptable as long as they are not red, purple, pink or blue. Patients who disregard this requirement make it harder for the physician to see inside their colon, which may result in the need for another colonoscopy in the near future.
How to Prep for Colonoscopy
In order to clear their digestive tract, patients drink one half-gallon of their laxative in the evening and the other half-gallon approximately 6 hours before their colonoscopy.
Tips to help the laxative go down:
- Use a straw and place it as far back on the tongue as possible.
- Keep it cold.
- After drinking it, suck on a yellow lemon drop or some other clear hard candy.
- Mix it with a powdered drink mix that is not purple, red, pink or blue in color.
Applying the diaper cream at this point is highly beneficial. Once the laxative takes effect, frequent diarrhea with the possibility of bloating and cramps is expected. Gently use medicated wipes or flushable wipes to stay clean, reapplying the cream as needed. Some patients become nauseated and vomit.
Patients do best when they remain in the washroom throughout this process. To prevent boredom, bring a book, laptop or cell phone.
Colonoscopy Recovery
Recovery usually only takes about 24 hours, patients can prevent complications by following their post-procedure instructions.
These instructions may include:
- Replacing fluids lost during preparation by rehydrating oneself.
- Resting the remainder of the day.
- Returning to a normal diet.
- Refraining from alcoholic beverage consumption for at least 24 hours.
If a patient has growths removed or tissue samples taken, he or she needs to avoid the use of certain medications (e.g., blood thinners, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]). In addition, due to the anesthesia the patient receives during a colonoscopy, he or she must avoid operating machinery (e.g., a vehicle, a riding mower) and making life-changing (e.g., financial) decisions for at least 24 hours.
Symptoms Requiring Medical Attention
Mild cramping is expected.
Patients experiencing any of the symptoms below need to visit their nearest emergency room:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Chest pain.
- A swollen leg.
- An excessive amount of blood in their stool.
- The chills.
- Feeling nauseous and vomiting.
- A fever.
- Intense or long-lasting pain in the abdomen.
- Abdominal tightening or inflammation.
- An inability to pass gas.
How Does Colonoscopy Differ from A Stool Test?
In the field of oncology, the question of whether stool tests can be an alternative to colonoscopy comes up a lot. Not surprising because stool tests, to many people, feel a bit less invasive. A major upside is that the techniques used to detect possible DNA mutations, through stool tests, that may cause cancer are sophisticated nowadays.
However, stool tests may also present false negatives – especially if the tumor-causing polyps are too small. On the other hand, a positive stool test result will still require you to see a colonoscopy doctor in Houston. Besides, the oncology community advises against stool tests for people with a family history of colon cancer.
Should I Be Concerned About Sedation?
We understand that sedation is a cause for concern. Today, the most commonly used sedation drug by colonoscopy doctors is Propofol. It is a highly potent induction agent whose effects last less than an hour.
In other words, you will not have to stay at your colonoscopy doctor’s office for hours waiting for the drug’s effects to wear off. Interestingly enough, some patients decline sedation and prefer to be fully conscious during the procedure. Be warned though, it can be very painful.
What Professional Credentials Qualify a Doctor to Perform Colonoscopy in Houston, Texas?
The best doctor for a colonoscopy in Houston is one that is highly trained, experienced, and Board Certified by the Texas Medical Board to provide gastroenterology services. In Houston, Texas colonoscopy doctors are required to take ongoing training and education to remain as Board-certified gastroenterologists.
Besides Board-certification, ask your gastroenterologist for their Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR). In simple terms, this is a metric formed by the American College of Gastroenterology that defines the proportion of patients presenting adenomas (polyps or outgrowths) in their colon.
For patients older than the age of 50, positive ADR in men is at least 25 percent; while for women, it is at least 15 percent. Highly rated colonoscopy doctors are those whose ADR either meets or surpasses the given figures.
Schedule Your Consultation For A Colonoscopy In Houston Today!
If you are suffering from a digestive issue, visit a colonoscopy doctor in Houston. Our team strives to provide excellence in gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition services for patients in North Houston and the surrounding areas. We believe quality care begins with a patient-centered approach to diagnosing and treating both minor and chronic GI conditions. Schedule a colonoscopy at our practice today by calling 832.912.4481 or fill out the form on this page.
