How long after colonoscopy can I drink water?

Many people need to empty their intestines when doing a colonoscopy, which will make them feel hungry and thirsty. However, considering that they have just completed a colonoscopy and their bodies are still in the resting stage, they are worried that the effect of the examination will be lost due to eating or drinking. Whether you can drink water after a colonoscopy depends on the doctor's instructions and arrangements.

Things to note after colonoscopy

Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy includes colonoscopy and small enteroscopy. Among them, colonoscopy is the most commonly used, also known as enteroscope. It can reach the ileocecal region and even the terminal ileum to understand the lesions of the small intestine and the entire colon. What should we pay attention to after colonoscopy?

First of all, we need to identify the intestinal lesions and check whether the operator performed any invasive examinations or treatments during the examination, such as biopsy or polyp removal, clips for hemostasis, etc. If the above examinations and treatments are performed, the patient should be instructed to fast or eat cold liquid food after the colonoscopy.

At the same time, according to the doctor's guidance, give drugs to promote mucosal repair, regulate intestinal flora, symptomatic fluid replacement treatment, etc. If no intestinal mucosal lesions are found after colonoscopy, or it is just chronic colitis, in this case you can take probiotics appropriately or observe.

Who needs a colonoscopy?

People over 40 have a high chance of developing colon and rectal cancer. Therefore, people over 40, regardless of gender, should undergo a complete colonoscopy and have a thorough examination, rather than just a partial one.

In addition, high-risk groups should also undergo colonoscopy. People who have a family member who has had colorectal cancer, such as a parent or sibling, or who have had colorectal polyps or rectal polyps, or who have had colorectal cancer and are still being monitored after surgery, are all high-risk groups.

There is an increasing trend in colorectal cancer and rectal cancer. In the past, most people ate simple vegetables, fruits and grains, and rarely had big fish and meat. Modern people’s high-fat and high-oil diet brings a heavy burden to the stomach and intestines. Colorectal cancer can be said to be a typical civilization disease. Although recent studies have shown that eating more fiber-rich foods may not necessarily prevent colon cancer, most doctors still recommend eating more high-fiber foods, less red meat, and exercising moderately to enhance metabolism. People over 40 and those in high-risk groups should undergo regular check-ups.

You must have a colonoscopy when you have the following symptoms: unexplained long-term chronic diarrhea or constipation; unexplained blood in the stool; abdominal masses that require a clear diagnosis; unexplained weight loss and anemia; suspected colon lesions in X-ray barium enema; need for colonoscopy (such as polypectomy); follow-up examinations after colon or rectal surgery, etc.

Because the length and tortuosity of the colon are longer or more than those of the upper digestive tract, colonoscopy has more complications than gastroscopy, such as abdominal distension, intestinal bleeding, intestinal perforation, intestinal tear and cardiovascular accidents. Therefore, patients with the following complications should not undergo colonoscopy: peritonitis, intestinal perforation, extensive intra-abdominal adhesions; advanced cancer with extensive intra-abdominal metastasis; acute inflammatory lesions in the rectum, anal canal, and around the anus; active bacillary dysentery; severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases who cannot tolerate the examination, etc.