COLONOSCOPY & SIGMOIDOSCOPY

However uncomfortable these two words may sound, they may save your life. Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are procedures that are performed by a gastrointestinal doctor, often times in the comfort of the doctor's office.

The colonoscopy lets the physician look inside your entire large intestine, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine. The procedure is used to diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits. It is also used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, bleeding, and muscle spasms.

The sigmoidoscopy enables the physician to look at the inside of the large intestine from the rectum through the last part of the colon, called the sigmoid colon. Physicians may use this procedure to find the cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain, or constipation. They also use sigmoidoscopy to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. With sigmoidoscopy, the physician can see bleeding, inflammation, abnormal growths, and ulcers.

For both procedures, you will lie on your left side on the examining table. For the colonoscopy you may be given a pain medication and mild sedative to keep you comfortable and to help you relax during the exam. The physician will insert a long, flexible tube into your rectum and guide it into your colon. For the sigmoidoscopy you will not need any medication and it is guided into the rectum to a short portion of the colon. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the rectum and colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of these organs. The scope also blows air into these organs, which inflates them and helps the physician see better.

The colonoscopy will take approximately 30 to 60 minutes and the sigmoidoscopy will take 10 to 20 minutes. If the physician sees any abnormalities in the colon, a sample of the tissues may be taken. Some bleeding can occur if a sample has to be taken. The colon and the rectum has to be completely empty for the physician to perform this type of test. The preparation for the test is very important and this information will be supplied to you by your doctor's office when you call to schedule the appointment. There are also times when the physician will want to schedule an evaluation before the actual procedure. This is to obtain a full history of any current problems and family illnesses that may be passed on through genetics. The physician will also want to perform a physical examination. Be sure to tell the physician if you are experiencing any pain during the examination. Most importantly, try to understand that there may be some discomfort, but this procedure could save your life.