You have had this procedure today without sedation.
If you have inhaled Entonox during the procedure, you must not drive for 30 minutes after the last inhalation.
Unless otherwise instructed by your doctor, you may resume your normal diet. You are advised to have a plain diet for the next 24 hours, as you might experience diarrhoea until the bowel settles down from the procedure.
You may resume your normal prescription medicines unless otherwise advised on discharge.
There may be some slight soreness in your bottom and abdomen where the instrument has been but this will wear off in a day or so.
Some bloating may be experienced if air has remained in your bowel. This is not something to worry about; it will resolve itself naturally over the next few hours. However, if it gripes you, having a hot drink, or taking some peppermint tea/water and walking around, might help to provide some relief.
Light bleeding from your bottom may be experience if you have had biopsies taken or polyps removed. It may be spotting on the toilet paper or drops in the toilet which should settle in a day or two.
Side effects to look out for:
Side effects are extremely rare but we need to make you aware of symptoms to look out for.
Things to report to your doctor:
- Persistent moderate abdominal pain
- Moderate bleeding (an egg cupful)
- Slightly raised temperature
- If a cannula was inserted: Redness, tenderness and swelling around the IV cannula site that persists for more than 48 hours.
Attend Accident and Emergency department if you feel really unwell and have the following symptoms:
- Severe pain, nausea or vomiting
- Persistent/Continuous bleeding (more than an egg cupful)
- Temperature greater than 102°F / 39°C
- Weakness of dizziness
Please bring your Colonoscopy report with you to the Accident and Emergency department
Follow up arrangements
- You have been spoken to by the Endoscopist regarding your procedure
- You have been spoken to by a qualified nurse regarding the result of your procedure.
- A clinic appointment with your consultant will be made for you and will arrive in the post.
- Biopsies have been taken. In routine cases, these can take up to 12 weeks to be reported on. The results will be sent to your referring consultant and GP. Please contact the secretary of your referring consultant if you are chasing results.
Your biopsy results will not come to Endoscopy.
- If it is necessary for you to have this procedure again, an appointment will be made for you on the day if appropriate or sent to you in the post.
- No further follow up is required.
Further information and advice
If you have any urgent medical queries between the times of 6pm – 8am relating to the symptoms that we advise you to look out for on your discharge leaflet- please use our new dedicated Out of Hours Hot-Line. This will put you in contact with our partners at the L&D Gastro-Enterology Ward. They will not have access to your report for please have this handy when you make your call. 07815178199
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact your GP or NHS 111 for medical advice.
Bedford Hospital Endoscopy Unit:
(Monday to Sunday 8am to 6pm)
01234355122 ext. 6445
For appointment queries: 01234792269
FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE YOU MUST NOT DONATE BLOOD FOR 4-6 MONTHS
The reason for this is that your ability to donate blood in the future is dependent upon your diagnosis and the possibility that you might need to undergo further investigations or complete treatments (British Society of Gastroenterology, 2019).
National guidance recommends that you do not fly for 2 weeks following this procedure.