Red flags after a colonoscopy are having severe abdominal pain/distension, significant rectal bleeding, fever and chills, cardiovascular issues and respiratory issues, persistent nausea and or vomiting and an inability to poop or pass gas.
If you have any intense pain that does not improve with passing gas or walking or you pass more than a couple of tablespoons of blood or have continuous bleeding that lasts longer than normal or you have any fever or chills with a fever over 100.4 F, or you feel faint, dizzy, lightheaded, or experience chest pain or shortness of breath or you cannot keep fluids down or have a sign of potential bowel obstruction you should seek medical attention.
Bleeding can occur several days after polyp removal, but if it continues or gets worse you should see a doctor.
Complications after a colonoscopy and polyp removal are rare, although if you experience any of the above issues you should see a doctor or go to the ER.
Any mild discomfort like gas or slight bloating after a colonoscopy is normal and should go away within the first 24 hours to 48 hours after the colonoscopy and or polyp removal.
5 or more polyps is considered too many on a colonoscopy.
Having more than 5 polyps during a colonoscopy is often considered high risk and requires a follow up within 3 years instead of the normal 5 to 10 years.
Having 3 or less polyps in a colonoscopy is often considered low risk, with a follow up colonoscopy within 5 to 10 years.
Having 3 or 4 polyps in a colonoscopy might require you to have a follow up colonoscopy in 3 years to 5 years.
And having 5 to 10 polyps in a colonoscopy is considered high risk and requires follow up colonoscopies within 3 years or sometimes sooner.
However it's also better to have 5 benign polyps like hyperplastic polyps, than it is to have 2 higher risk polyps, like tubular adenomas.
The most common thing found on a colonoscopy are colon polyps, which are often small growths that are benign or non cancerous.
The polyps that are often found during a colonoscopy are located on the lining of the colon and are found in around 30 percent to 50 percent of adult colonoscopy screenings.
Most colon polyps that are found on a colonoscopy are harmless and are often easily removed during the colonoscopy procedure to prevent any potential development into colon cancer.
Other common findings on a colonoscopy are hemorrhoids and diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis are small, bulging pouches in your colon wall and are common in older adults.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your anus or lower rectum and the most common type of polyp found in a colonoscopy screening are adenomatous polyps, which is considered precancerous if not removed.
Although in many cases, the colon is found to be healthy during a colonoscopy.
A doctor may not remove a polyp during a colonoscopy if the polyp is too large like (>20 mm), flat or if the polyp is located in a difficult area.
Or if the risk of bleeding or a bowel perforation is too high then the doctor may not remove a polyp during a colonoscopy.
The complex polyps often require the use of specialized and separate procedures to safely remove, like surgery or endoscopic mucosal resection.
Very large or flat polyps that are sometimes called sessile polyps are harder to snare and remove during a colonoscopy and can require advanced and specialized techniques to remove safely and completely.
After polyp removal you may need to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 hours after waking up from the anesthesia.
Unless the polyp is large, complex or required surgical resection, then you can go home the same day after the polyp removal.
But if the polyp is large, complex or did require any surgical resection, then you may need to stay in the hospital for 2 days to 7 days.
After polyp removal you should not eat any solid foods immediately after undergoing the colon polyp removal.
Instead of eating solid foods, immediately after the colon poly removal, you should begin by drinking a few spoonful's of water 2 hours.
After the first day of the colon polyp removal, you can start eating solid foods again.
The healing process after colon polyp removal can take up to 2 weeks.
And you don't have to change your general activity during the 2 weeks of healing, although you might be advised by the doctor to avoid all heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least 2 weeks after the colon polyp removal, which includes heavy housework, sports and work.
Colon polyp removal is not painful as the lining of your colon lacks pain receptors.
Because the colon lining has no pain receptors, removing the colon polyps from the colon results in no pain.
However the colon polyp removal procedure is done during a colonoscopy and during sedation, which also ensures that you feel no pain during the colonoscopy or colon polyp removal as well.
During a colonoscopy and colon polyp removal, you may feel some slight pressure or minor discomfort and possible cramping instead of any sharp pain.
The colon has no nerve endings for pain, so any cutting or burning also known as cauterizing the polyp for removal does not hurt.
During the colonoscopy itself, you are often sedated and under light sedation or twilight sleep, which makes the experience of a colonoscopy and or colon polyp removal comfortable, and most people who have a colonoscopy or colon polyp removal have no memory of the procedure.
If you do feel anything during the colonoscopy and colon polyp removal, it's often just vague pressure or a dull period like cramp feeling.
And after the colonoscopy and colon polyp removal, you may feel bloated or have gas pains for up to a day, which is normal and can be relieved through walking and moving around.
And while it's generally safe, if you experience any severe abdominal pain that persists after the colonoscopy or colon polyp removal you should let your doctor know.
And most often you can return to your normal activities the day after the colonoscopy or colon polyp removal procedure.
My dad had a colonoscopy and colon polyp removal and he said he didn't feel a thing and it was over with pretty quick.