The question that many people ask is how long the colonoscopy procedure will take, how they will manage their work during the procedure, and when they can return to their normal life. As a healthcare provider, I often hear a lot of speculation and scary stories that many people have about colonoscopies.

The procedure of colonoscopy does not take as long as most people think it does. The primary process does not occupy as much time as a normal television program. However, the entire process consists of several stages, which are time-consuming. The following are the details.

What is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy allows doctors to examine the inside of your large intestine using a small camera attached to a flexible tube. As a medical procedure, it utilises an endoscope, a flexible tube that is inserted into your body and features a lighted camera at its tip. Endoscopes come in various forms for different body sections. A colonoscopy involves the colonoscope entering your colon by your rectum and anus. It shows clear images of the interior of your big intestine on a screen.

What are The Benefits of Performing Colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is an intensive examination of the large digestive tract (colon). The doctor operates using a thin, flexible tube with a small camera attached to it. That camera enables them to view the inner part of the colon on a television screen. It is as though a little explorer is being sent inside the bowels to take photographs and investigate issues.

The Reason Why People Undergo Colonoscopy.

• Prevention of cancer. This is the most crucial reason. Small growths that develop before becoming cancerous are called polyps and can be detected using a colonoscopy. Searching for them early will literally save your life.
• Health issues: When you experience pain in your stomach, changes in your bathroom habits, or other digestive problems, a colonoscopy can help determine the cause.
• Routine examinations: After reaching a certain age, typically 45 or 50 years, doctors recommend regular colonoscopies to monitor the health of the colon.
• Family history: If cancer is in your family, you may be required to have colonoscopies earlier or frequently.

The goal is to detect issues at an early stage.  They can be cured more easily by addressing minor problems before they escalate into major and costly ones.

How much time does a Colonoscopy really take?

The question everyone wants to know is how long it takes, which is between 15 and 45 minutes. In most cases, it is typically 20-30 minutes.

The reason behind the range?

• Typical colonoscopy time: 20-30 minutes. This is what most people feel. The doctor spends enough time examining everything.
• Complex colonoscopy: 30-45 min. Perhaps they need to clear a polyp, or your colon is winding and twisting, requiring more time to assess.
• Very complicated procedures: It may take almost an hour, but this is rare and mostly occurs when numerous polyps need to be removed or when other complications are present.

The doctor will never rush your procedure. They strive to do a good job and ensure that everything is in order. Additional minutes of the process help avoid much more significant issues in the future.

Do I require sedation, and does that take time?

The majority of them do receive sedation, and yes, it does take some time from the total length of your visit. As an experienced doctor, I want to explain how this works and what it means for your schedule.

There are two types of Sedation:

• Light Sedation: You will be calm and sleepy but not unconscious. It is the most widespread one. You are very likely to forget most of the procedure.
• Deep Sedation: You will be in a deep sleep and will not recall any of the events. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who are highly anxious or have previously undergone challenging procedures.
• No Sedation: Some individuals opt to undergo the procedure without sedation. It can be done, although most individuals would prefer to be sedated, as it is much more comfortable.

The Effect of Sedation on Your Time:

• Pre-procedure: The procedure will require you to wait up to 15 to 30 minutes to get sedated and to ensure that the medical team has you comfortable.
• In the process, the sedation does not actually affect the duration of the actual colonoscopy.
• Post-procedure: It will take you 30-60 minutes to wake up and ensure you are on your feet before you can leave.

In case of sedation, you will not be able to drive home yourself. You will have to have someone pick you up. This is one of the safety regulations that all medical facilities are adhering to.

What is the recovery time of a Colonoscopy?

The recovery time of a colonoscopy is almost always fast and painless! The post-procedure recovery phase, or the recovery time right after your procedure, usually takes 1-2 hours in case you received sedation. Throughout this period, you will be in a recovery room, spending between 30 and 60 minutes feeling somewhat groggy or sleepy. You may also experience some gas or bloating, which is normal, as the procedure uses air to assist the doctor in obtaining a clearer view. The medical team will examine your blood pressure and ensure that you are fine before releasing you to go home. To recover on the same day, most individuals are totally fine in 2-4 hours following the procedure. Most of the time, you can eat regular food immediately, but you may feel a bit tired due to the sedation.

How frequently will I need a Colonoscopy exam?

This likely is one of the most significant questions, and the answer lies in what the doctor finds during your colonoscopy. In case the results of your examination are normal, you will not have to take another colonoscopy at all until 10 full years. If you have small polyps during your procedure, you will likely require another colonoscopy in 3-5 years. Small polyps are quite common and are not particularly dangerous. The doctor simply wants to monitor the situation to ensure that things do not change. In case of a family history of colon cancer, you might require colonoscopies every 3-5 years rather than every 10 years. They may be required in 1-2 years in people with a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease.

Where to Get a Colonoscopy?

People are often confused, and it doesn’t have to be difficult to choose a place for a colonoscopy. You desire to have the trusted colonoscopy services, which are also affordable. The following are the key considerations.

Colonoscopy services are available in several kinds of facilities:

• Gastroenterology hospitals
• Outpatient surgery units
• Full screening centres

A comprehensive screening centre like ViaScan can also offer packages that simultaneously screen multiple components of your health. That is convenient and smart. Other health screenings available at the best centres include wellness body scans, lung scans, heart scans, angiograms, and CT scans. This is a plus since you will be able to handle several screenings at a location, which saves you time and money.

What does a comprehensive scan include?

• Full body wellness scans to identify any abnormalities discovery
• Heart scans to detect any early symptoms of heart sickness
• Scans of the lungs of individuals who smoke or those with breathing issues
• CT images of a detailed view of areas
• Angiograms to test the health of blood vessels

Having multiple screenings at the same time saves you the time of travelling to various medical institutions numerous times, i.e., time off work, time spent on the road, and, in many cases, it is more affordable to get the tests done in one visit than individually.

Conclusion

Delaying this health screening is not worth it! The quicker you do it, the faster you can forget about it and move on with your good life.ViaScan offers top-notch colonoscopy procedures and a comprehensive range of other health checks. Their professional staff realises that you are a busy person and will do everything they can to ensure that your screening process is fast, comfortable, and complete.

ViaScan is dedicated to offering a range of screening services under one roof, allowing you to access your colonoscopy and other essential health checks, including a heart scan, lung scan, and comprehensive full-body wellness scan. This saves you time and helps you stay on track with your overall health. Keep in mind that a few hours of your day to have a colonoscopy may save you literally. And now that you understand precisely how long all of this will take, you can plan your day to the maximum and enter the whole process with confidence.