Here’s are four such myths:
1. “I don’t have any symptoms. I’m not at risk for colon cancer.”
Polyps don’t cause symptoms and can only be detected through a colonoscopy. So even though a patient might not have any symptoms, they could still be at risk.
2. “A colonoscopy is too painful.”
Propofol is used to eliminate all pain. The practice said, “Most people say, ‘That was the best sleep I have had in years.'” Although there may be mild cramping associated with propofol, it quickly goes away.
3. “The preparation is unpleasant.”
Bowel preps today have minimal taste, and no longer require a patient to drink a whole gallon. Instead most preps are a half gallon, delivered through a split dose, half the night before a procedure and half the morning of a procedure.
4. “It takes too long. I’ll miss too much work.”
The entire process takes less than 1.5 hours. A patient arrives at a facility 45 minutes before a procedure to complete paperwork and have an IV started. The procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes, then a patient spends up to 30 minutes in recovery. After that a patient is advised not to drive for four hours, and then everything returns to normal.
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