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Will take it just a bit further, if there's someone in your family who has had a history, you'll need it sooner.
"The national recommendations for an age for your first colonoscopy has been evolving over recent years. Because of the benefit of removing the polyps, the first exam should be at 50.
If there is someone in the family who has had colon cancer, the first colonoscopy should be at 40. If a patient has ulcerative colitis, the first colonoscopy should be at 20 years after the start of their disease. "
http://www.laplatamedicalsociety.com/Data/Directory/admin/Newspaperarticles.cfm?ID=52
And here's what you should expect before and during the procedure:
"Before your colonoscopy
Your doctor will give you a list of things to do to prepare for your colonoscopy. The day before your appointment, you will need to clean out your bowel by eating and drinking only clear liquids. This doesn’t mean you’ll be uncomfortably hungry, though, because you are allowed to have foods such as clear broth, juices, and gelatin.
Your doctor will also give you a prescription for a liquid that you will need to drink. Many patients used to find this step difficult because of the large quantity of liquid they had to drink, but the amount has decreased over the years. One more thing you will need to do to prepare for your test is to take laxatives, which will empty your colon.
During your colonoscopy
You will be made as comfortable as possible before your colonoscopy begins. You will then be given a medication to make you relax. Many patients fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the colonoscopy. You will be carefully watched during the procedure for any signs of discomfort.
Dr. Bresalier reminds his patients that if they begin to feel discomfort, their medication can be quickly adjusted. One interesting effect of the medication commonly used is that after the procedure is over, you probably won’t remember anything about it.
Occasionally, a patient feels mild discomfort after a colonoscopy. Your chances of feeling discomfort, though, are not increased if you have a polyp removed or if you have a biopsy. Complications during colonoscopies are very rare."
http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/07/9-sep/9-07-hc.html
"The national recommendations for an age for your first colonoscopy has been evolving over recent years. Because of the benefit of removing the polyps, the first exam should be at 50.
If there is someone in the family who has had colon cancer, the first colonoscopy should be at 40. If a patient has ulcerative colitis, the first colonoscopy should be at 20 years after the start of their disease. "
http://www.laplatamedicalsociety.com/Data/Directory/admin/Newspaperarticles.cfm?ID=52
And here's what you should expect before and during the procedure:
"Before your colonoscopy
Your doctor will give you a list of things to do to prepare for your colonoscopy. The day before your appointment, you will need to clean out your bowel by eating and drinking only clear liquids. This doesn’t mean you’ll be uncomfortably hungry, though, because you are allowed to have foods such as clear broth, juices, and gelatin.
Your doctor will also give you a prescription for a liquid that you will need to drink. Many patients used to find this step difficult because of the large quantity of liquid they had to drink, but the amount has decreased over the years. One more thing you will need to do to prepare for your test is to take laxatives, which will empty your colon.
During your colonoscopy
You will be made as comfortable as possible before your colonoscopy begins. You will then be given a medication to make you relax. Many patients fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the colonoscopy. You will be carefully watched during the procedure for any signs of discomfort.
Dr. Bresalier reminds his patients that if they begin to feel discomfort, their medication can be quickly adjusted. One interesting effect of the medication commonly used is that after the procedure is over, you probably won’t remember anything about it.
Occasionally, a patient feels mild discomfort after a colonoscopy. Your chances of feeling discomfort, though, are not increased if you have a polyp removed or if you have a biopsy. Complications during colonoscopies are very rare."
http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/07/9-sep/9-07-hc.html
Doctors recommend that you get your first colonoscopy at age 50 and then once every 5-10 years.
However, if a Polyp is found or you have survived colon cancer, you may want to do it ever 1-2 years.
However, if a Polyp is found or you have survived colon cancer, you may want to do it ever 1-2 years.
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