AboutJohn Thai, MD Expertise Gastroenterology, Hepatobiliary diseases, Infectious Diseases - including Viral Hepatitis A/B/C/D/E/G, liver transplant, surgical procedures including biopsies, pancreatic diseases, bariatric surgery, endoscopy (EGD, colonoscopy, etc), and Nutrition
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Expert: John Thai, MD Date: 4/27/2008 Subject: colonoscopy prep
Question Hello Dr. Thai, I just had my 4th colonoscopy and the doctor said that everything was fine. I'm very relieved because my father died from colon cancer. However, unlike my previous three procedures, I felt that the prep I used this time (4 laxative tablets and 2 10-oz bottles of citrate of magnesia)didn't clean me out as well as it should have. Right before the test, I was still experiencing urgency for the restroom and was expelling yellow, not totally clear, liquid with some flecks. And immediately after the procedure I still experienced the same urgency and had to run to the bathroom, and then again about 2 hours later. Do you believe the doctor could have had a clear view of my colon with all that yellow fluid and flecks still there? I apologize for being so blunt, but it's difficult to be delicate with this subject matter. I thank you for your assistance.
Answer Hi Ruthie,
I cannot comment on the procedure as I was not the physician performing it. I highly recommend that you obtain the answer from him/her directly.
In reality, the answer is yes. Your doctor could get an excellent view of your colon because your doctor may inject saline to clean your colon while examining it. Thus, s/he will stop the procedure if there is a huge impaction of stool that could not be manually removed.
The urge to defecate is normal after colonoscopy as the laxatives taken have yet to fully leave your body.
