What a colonoscopy is looking for

A colonoscopy can be done to look for a number of things.

The cause of your bowel symptoms

A colonoscopy is often done to check what's causing your bowel symptoms, such as:

• bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo
• diarrhoea or constipation that does not go away
• losing weight or feeling really tired for no reason

Most of the time it will not find anything to worry about.

But sometimes it might find something that needs a closer look or further testing.

Growths in your bowels (polyps)

Lots of people have growths in their bowels, and most of the time they're harmless. But they can sometimes become cancer, so if they're found they need to be checked.

They can be removed during the colonoscopy and tested.

Your results will tell you if you need any further tests or treatment.

Signs of bowel conditions

A colonoscopy can be used to look for bowel conditions like:

• Crohn's disease
• diverticular disease or diverticulitis
• ulcerative colitis
• bowel cancer

These conditions can be hard to diagnose, so you may also have other tests.

Getting your letter

Once you've been referred you'll get a letter, in the post or by email, telling you when your colonoscopy will be.

Some hospitals will phone you to book you in, but you should also get a letter – call the hospital if you do not get one.

Your letter will:

• tell you what you need to eat and drink in the days before your test
• tell you when you should stop eating and drinking
• have laxatives with it for you to take before the test, or information on how to get them
• tell you how to take the laxatives

2 days before

For 2 days before a colonoscopy, you should only eat plain foods like:

• plain chicken not in a sauce
• white rice, pasta or bread
• clear soup

Your letter should tell you what you can eat and drink.

1 day before

The day before your colonoscopy you'll need to drink sachets of laxatives to empty your bowels ready for the test.

Most people:

• need to drink a few sachets
• need to drink the sachets at different points throughout the day
• get diarrhoea a few hours after taking the first sachet

Stay at home and be near a toilet after you've starting drinking the laxatives.

On the day of your colonoscopy you'll need to stop eating and drinking – your letter will tell you when to stop.

You should also bring any medicines you take with you.

When you arrive

You'll speak with a nurse about what's going to happen. They will ask you to change into a hospital gown.

You may be offered things to make you more comfortable and make the test easier, such as:

• painkillers
• sedation – medicine given through a small tube in your arm to help you relax
• gas and air – you breathe this in to help you relax

Not all hospitals offer all these things – ask about what you can have.

Giving consent

A nurse or specialist will explain possible risks.

In rare cases, people may:

• have a reaction to the sedation
• have some bleeding afterwards
• get a small tear in their bowels

You'll be asked to sign a consent form. This is to confirm you understand the risks and agree to have the procedure.

It's important to remember these things are rare. If anything happens, the team will take care of you.

The procedure

It should take 30 to 45 minutes to have your colonoscopy.

But you might be at the hospital for around 2 hours from getting there to going home.

You’ll usually be told if any growths (polyps) have been removed.

You'll then be moved to the recovery room. The nurses will monitor you until you're ready go home.

How you might feel after a colonoscopy

You might feel bloated or have stomach cramps for 2 to 3 hours after.

You may also have some blood in your poo or bleeding from your bottom. These things are common.

You should get a letter or a call with your results 2 to 3 weeks after a colonoscopy.

If your GP sent you for the test, they should also get a copy of your results – call the hospital if you have not heard anything after 3 weeks.

Normal results

This means no growths (polyps) or cancer have been found in your bowel.

You might be asked to have a colonoscopy again in 5 years to check everything is still okay.

Growths (polyps)

Your results may show they found and removed growths (polyps).

Your results will also say if, after testing the growths, they think you need any further treatment.

Or they may just say you need to come back in the future for a check-up colonoscopy.

Bowel cancer

If your results say you have cancer, you'll see a cancer specialist for treatment as soon as possible.

The earlier anything is found, the easier and the quicker it can be treated.

A bowel condition that's not cancer

A colonoscopy can help to confirm if you have a bowel condition that's not bowel cancer.

This could be:

• piles
• Crohn's disease
• diverticular disease or diverticulitis
• ulcerative colitis

If you have one of these conditions you may need more treatment.

Speak to a GP to find out the next steps.

Support is available

Most of the time a colonoscopy will not find anything to worry about.

But it might help to speak to someone if you're feeling worried about your results.