When you have a colonoscopy in Singapore, you're usually doing so for one or two primary reasons: to ensure that you don't have any blockages in your colon and to get a look at your rectum and lower portion of your large intestine for assessing your health and lifestyle habits for the future.

Having a colonoscopy in Singapore isn't something to take lightly, especially if you're a first-timer. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about what to expect when you have this procedure in the city-state, from the details you should know to how long you'll likely need to stay in the hospital afterward and the risks involved.

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a non-invasive procedure involving the doctor inserting a flexible tube through your anus and into your colon to look at the inside of your large intestine. It's done to evaluate the health and condition of your colon, along with any possible blockages and debris that may be present.

If you have any polyps, benign nodules, or other growths in your large intestine, then a colonoscopy can help you find them and remove them before they become cancerous.

 A colonoscopy also helps assess whether or not you suffer from constipation, diverticulitis (pouches in the digestive tract), ulcerative colitis (inflammation in the large intestine), and diverticulosis (small pouches in the digestive tract), cancer, Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

Why have a colonoscopy?

If you're in Singapore for a colonoscopy, your doctor or physician is likely to tell you that it helps to assess the health of your large intestine and rectum. This is the first step to detecting problems within those areas.

A colonoscopy can also help detect bowel cancer, polyps, and other conditions. It can also identify pre-cancerous cells or abnormal tissue that might require further testing or treatment.

In some cases, a colonoscopy might be recommended if you have recurring diarrhea or a change in bowel habits.

What to expect during a colonoscopy?

-The process of having a colonoscopy usually starts with you having an endoscopic examination, which is when they insert a flexible tube with a camera down your throat to look at the inside of your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.

-After the examination, doctors will check for any abnormalities in your condition. If you were found to have an abnormality on endoscopic examination, a colonoscopy would be scheduled for the next day or later.

-When the doctor does perform the colonoscopy procedure on you, it will take about 30 minutes or less to complete. The doctor will use a small scope (a narrow tube) to get views from different angles inside your body. You may feel some pressure and cramping as the doctor moves around. Once he reaches your rectum and lower portion of the large intestine, he'll give you a sedative so that it's less painful during this part of the procedure.

-Once all is said and done, you should be able to go home after 4 hours or after an overnight stay in the hospital if necessary.

 -If you were found not to have any abnormalities in an endoscopic examination, then they will likely schedule colonoscopy within 12 months.

-During colonoscopy, doctors could find polyps that require removal or other changes that need further study.

-Polyps are most commonly found in rectum.

 After a colonoscopy

You'll need to stay in the hospital for a few days, a colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure that typically takes around an hour. However, it can take up to 12 hours or more, as your doctor needs to make sure they've removed all traces of fecal matter from your rectum and lower part of your large intestine. Since you'll be sedated while the procedure is being conducted, you might not remember everything that happened. To ensure that everything went according to plan, you'll need to stay at the hospital for a few days afterward. This means that you'll have plenty of time for recovery and physical therapy to get back on your feet quickly.

Risks of a colonoscopy

One of the biggest risks associated with a colonoscopy is that it may cause bleeding, leading to infections and other complications.

When you have a colonoscopy, your doctor will likely use an endoscope to examine your large intestine for abnormalities or blockages. This instrument has a thin, flexible tube that's about the length of your forearm. The endoscope can be pushed through the anus into the rectum and large intestine. It allows you to see inside areas that are normally difficult to view because they're so deep inside the body.

If you're having a colonoscopy in Singapore, you'll likely need significant sedation during this procedure because it can be uncomfortable and boring. Like the general anesthesia used at many hospitals worldwide, sedation during a colonoscopy slows down your nervous system so that you don't feel any pain or discomfort as your doctor moves and examines large amounts of tissue during this one-hour-long procedure. You might also receive IV fluids if your doctor suspects dehydration from vomiting might occur.

Bottom line

If you're going to have a colonoscopy in Singapore, it's important to research the procedure and be prepared so that you're able to make it through the process. It is also important for you to understand what your doctor will do during the procedure and what risks are involved.

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