Question hello i am a 25 female and im sceduled for a colonoscopy on tuesday, i have been reading about it and i have a few questions about the procedure. they are doing it for heme positive stool. if not cancer what elese could cause this? i have read that the citrate of magnesium and peg solution that you prep with can do you alot of harm and actuially can cause death is this true and how often does that occur? is a colonoscopy dangerous? my paperwork says theres a risk of bleeding for two weeks and that scares me since im a very active mom. any insight would be appriciated.
Answer Dear Tiffany,
I couldn't find a better website for you to check out and see:
The questions you've asked are answered here and much more. The risks of any type of procedure can always occur but the statistics show they are not common for colonoscopies.
The solutions used to cleanse the bowel prior to the testing is very important as it allows the doctor to visualize the colon. They are used frequently with other types of procedures also for the same reason. I have been a nurse for 18 years and have never seen or heard of anyone dying from these preps. I am sure it has happened, I've just never heard of it myself.
Guidelines are currently recommending that anyone over 50 years old have a colonoscopy on a routine basis, I personally believe the test is well worth all of the inconveniences.
