Colonoscopy Tips

Unless you are a normal healthy person with no illness what so ever, it is better to get seen by a provider to make sure that all safety aspects are addressed properly.

Evaluation prior to a screening colonoscopy only is usually at no cost to patients.  

Many choose to skip this step. 

Places with very high volume of colonoscopies many times may not be the safest place to have a colonoscopy.  

Colonoscopy is not without risks even though rate of complications is low. 

A facility that is not rushing the doctors and nurses is safer.

All polyps are not easy to find or remove. Experience of the colonoscopy may make a big difference if patient happens to have unsuspected complicated problems or surprising complications.

If stool is blocking the view, the doctor may not be able to see everything he wants to. Important problems can  be missed. 

Do not take short cuts with the prep. Some patients are better off with more extensive prep. If you have to have a repeat colonoscopy because of bad prep, it is a double jeopardy for you.

There have been huge advances in the endoscopy field. But a facility that is using more than ten years old colonoscopes may not offer all those advantages.

Do not go by the glitter. Ask how old are the colonoscopes and if Carbon dioxide  insuffulator is available and/or will be used.  

You are expected to be educated by your doctor about the specific risks, benefits and alternatives. A special consent form for a colonoscopy is the standard of care. You should take the opportunity to know what risks you are agreeing to take before taking the prep for a colonoscopy.