What your gastroenterologist in Wesley Chapel wants you to know

You should have a colonoscopy if you are 50 years old or older. It’s the best procedure to detect colon cancer, a potentially deadly disease. Dr. Saeed Ahmed at Digestive Disease Associates of Central Florida in Wesley Chapel, FL wants to share the facts about when you should schedule a colonoscopy.

Along with age, there are other reasons you may need to have a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy may be needed to determine why you have:

• Pain in your abdomen
• Chronic constipation
• Chronic diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool

To prepare for a colonoscopy, you will be given medications and diet instructions to begin one day before the procedure. The procedure itself takes between 2 and 3 hours and is performed on an outpatient basis under anesthesia.

During the procedure, a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera at the end is inserted into your colon through your rectum. The camera allows your gastroenterologist to view the inside of your colon. He will be looking for any growths, polyps, and other abnormalities. He may take a biopsy to check for tissue changes, and remove any growths or polyps.

You will feel groggy for a few hours after the procedure, so it’s vital to bring a driver with you to take you home. For more detailed information about a colonoscopy, please visit the Understanding Colonoscopy page on the Digestive Disease Associates of Central Florida website at https://www.gitampa.com/colonoscopy.html

When you have a colonoscopy, you are protecting yourself from colon cancer. Don’t become a colon cancer statistic! Instead, pick up your phone and call Dr. Ahmed at Digestive Disease Associates of Central Florida in Wesley Chapel, FL today at (813) 994-4800!