“Should I have a colonoscopy if I have abdominal pain?”
I have abdominal pain for the last 5 days. I don't know what to do. Should I have a colonoscopy if I have abdominal pain?
5 Answers
There are numerous causes of abdominal pain. Please see your physician, then appropriate tests will be ordered by him/her. Colonoscopy could be one of the tests recommended.
Go see a doctor
Colonoscopy is the best test available for colon cancer screening. It’s utility in the workup of abdominal pain depends on the specifics of your pain and associated findings. If you have symptoms that are in line with diverticulitis, then it’s likely more appropriate to consider imaging of the abdomen and antibiotics before pursuing colonoscopy. Other associated symptoms such as blood in the stool may warrant more urgent endoscopic evaluation. A key first step is to meet with a gastroenterologist to review the characteristics of your abdominal pain; together you can determine the best course of action.
Yes to rule out a cancer causing abdominal pain.
It depends on the specific details regarding the pain. Need to know the location of pain, what triggers it or relieves it, the duration, etc. After the pain is evaluated properly, a colonoscopy might be needed if the pain is thought to arise from he colon.
