Abdominal pain after colonoscopy

Colonoscopy can effectively detect pathological changes in the rectum and large intestine, so if you find anything abnormal in your rectum and large intestine, you can go for a colonoscopy. Colonoscopy mainly uses an endoscope to conduct in-depth examinations inside the human anus, so the images usually reflected are relatively clear. However, some patients found that they had abdominal pain after colonoscopy. Is this normal?

Generally, under the guidance of an experienced doctor, with necessary changes in body position and assistance from an assistant, the examination can be performed with minimal pain if the patient cooperates well. If this is your first time to have the examination, you are overly nervous or you are unable to cooperate after repeated attempts, the examination under anesthesia or sedation can minimize the pain.

Some subjects may experience abdominal distension and pain after the examination. The symptoms may be relieved or disappear within 1 hour. This is mainly related to the residual gas injected during colonoscopy. After the examination, you can go to the toilet to pass gas and defecate to relieve discomfort. If there is no obvious discomfort after the examination, you can eat normally after 1 hour.

Some patients who need a biopsy may have a little bleeding at the lesion site, but it will stop on its own, so there is no need to be nervous. After the examination, you should eat easily digestible food such as porridge and soup, which should be at room temperature or slightly warmer. If there is a large amount of fresh blood in the stool or unbearable abdominal pain, please seek medical attention in time.

When should a colonoscopy be performed?

Although colonoscopy is a very effective examination method, not all diseases or patients can undergo colonoscopy. So, in what situations is a colonoscopy necessary?

1. If bleeding occurs in the digestive tract without any damage or irritation, a colonoscopy is required to find the cause.

2. If you have not eaten expired or spoiled food, have not caught a cold or taken diarrhea medicine, but you suddenly develop diarrhea, you need to undergo a colonoscopy.

3. Sudden and long-term absence of bowel movements is found to be caused by low intestinal obstruction, and colonoscopy is required.

4. If there is a tumor at the end of the large intestine or ileum, a colonoscopy is required.

5. If the patient has colon polyps or tumors with bleeding, a colonoscopy is required.

6. Colonoscopy is required after colon surgery and for colorectal cancer screening.

7. If there is a family history of colorectal cancer or adenoma, a colonoscopy is required.

8. If you have never undergone any gastrointestinal examinations during physical examinations before the age of 40, it is recommended that you undergo gastroscopy and colonoscopy.