Preparing for a proctologist: how best to cleanse the intestines

Who is a proctologist

A proctologist is a doctor who diagnoses, treats and prevents various ailments of the large intestine and perirectal area.

A proctologist treats diseases of the large intestine

Reference . You can find out more about who a proctologist is here.

This specialist treats the following pathological conditions:

• haemorrhoids;
• colitis;
• polyps;
• tumor formations;
• rectal prolapse;
• fistula;
• various types of injuries;
• proctitis, etc.

You can see a doctor either independently or through a therapist. In this case, the medical professional provides a consultation on how to prepare for an examination by a proctologist.

At the actual appointment, the doctor will make a diagnosis, determine the stage and nature of the disease, and select adequate treatment.

When they come to him

You should definitely and immediately visit a specialist’s office if the following symptoms appear:

You should visit a doctor if you experience pain

1. Defecation disorders (diarrhea/ constipation ) - such problems have a negative impact on the intestines. Chronic constipation can cause injury to the intestinal walls, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures.
2. Pain during bowel movements.
3. Hemorrhoids.
4. The appearance of bloody, purulent or mucous impurities in the stool may indicate serious pathologies (fistula, polyp, oncology).

You should not ignore pain of various types in the anus, as this is fraught with the development of dangerous diseases that require immediate treatment.

Proctological diagnostics

Both coloproctologist and proctologist are representatives of the same narrow specialization. Coloproctology is the new name of the medical branch “Proctology”, dedicated to the study of diseases of the large intestine. It was adopted in 1997.

In order to diagnose the disease more accurately, the use of minimally invasive instrumental methods is required. The examination is carried out by a proctologist after preliminary preparation of the patient. Briefly about each of the examination methods, we can say the following:

• Anoscopy is an examination of the mucous membranes of the rectum, which involves inserting an anoscope to a depth of 12 cm from the anal ring.
• Sigmoidoscopy. Unlike the previous method, this one provides the opportunity to study distant areas of the lower intestinal tract (approximately 25 cm from the anus). The doctor uses a device called a proctoscope.
• Colonoscopy. This technique is a variation of endoscopic examination, where using a special probe and a small camera you can view almost the entire large intestine.
• Irrigoscopy. An alternative to radiography, which is performed using a specific contrast agent and allows you to take pictures of the mucous membranes in the anus.

During the consultation, the proctologist will tell the patient how to properly prepare for any of these procedures. After examination and diagnosis, the specialist will continue to monitor the patient throughout the entire period of therapy. An important role in drawing up a treatment plan is played by identifying and eliminating the factor that provokes the disease.

It is important to determine such therapeutic and preventive tactics that will help alleviate the patient’s condition and prevent the progression of the disease

How to prepare for an examination

Any visit to the doctor requires compliance with certain preparation rules. When visiting specialist professionals, it is necessary to prepare more carefully.

The first thing you should do is take care of your diet before visiting a proctologist.

To do this, you must not eat foods that cause gas for several days before your visit to the hospital . These products include:

• beans;
• cabbage;
• peas;
• bakery products.

It is necessary to exclude all foods that contribute to gas formation in the intestines.

It is better to eat light, dietary dishes. As for drinks, it is better to give up soda and juices with pulp at this time.

Reference . It is recommended to take food at least 1.5 hours before visiting the doctor.

If you still experience bloating, you can take Espumisan before the visit.

Also, before visiting a proctologist, it is necessary to perform a bowel cleansing procedure. This can be done in two ways:

• mechanical rinsing using an enema;
• the use of laxatives.

A prerequisite for preparation is bowel cleansing.

If the patient experiences severe pain, then self-cleansing should not be done.

In this situation, the doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. After the pain is relieved, the specialist will conduct the necessary tests.

Preparation

Preparation for an appointment with a proctologist is the key to the effectiveness of the examination. The main condition is to first cleanse the intestines, otherwise the doctor will not be able to conduct an examination. The intestines are about four meters long; cleansing will take some time.

Is it necessary to do an enema before visiting a proctologist? There are two main methods of cleansing the intestines before consulting a proctologist:

• Chemical, using special preparations;
• Physical, using an enema.

Why an enema?

A cleansing enema before examination by a proctologist is necessary for an effective examination. A cleaned intestine will not complicate visual and hardware examinations, but on the contrary will contribute to better information content of the procedure.

The colon cleansing procedure is performed 3-4 hours before visiting the doctor. In this case, the patient will need to do 2 cleansing enemas, with a break between them of 45 minutes.

Reference. If taken in the morning, then the procedure should be performed in the evening before going to bed, if in the evening, then after the morning toilet.

To carry out the procedure, the following devices and materials are required:

1. Esmarch's irrigator.
2. Warm water - 36-37°C.
3. Oilcloth.
4. Soap.

After checking and preparing the devices, you can begin the procedure, which looks like this:

Esmarch mug for colon cleansing

• lay down an oilcloth and lie on your left side, bending your legs;
• raise the mug by 1 - 1.5 m;
• Lubricate the tip with Vaseline;
• carefully insert the tip into the anus;
• within 5-10 minutes all the water will enter the intestines;
• If discomfort occurs, you can stroke your stomach clockwise.

Some time after the procedure, you will feel the urge to defecate. You need to wait about 10 minutes and then have a bowel movement.

Why do you need Microlax?

If a regular cleansing enema is not suitable for the patient, then a laxative can be used.

Reference . Experts often recommend Microlax microenemas.

Before using Microlax, before visiting a proctologist, you should read the drug and instructions for use.

This medication is a combination medication. Its effect is to soften stool and increase the amount of fluid in the intestines.

The drug has practically no contraindications, except for individual intolerance to the components.

How to use Microlax before an appointment with a proctologist? The product is easy to use.

"Microlax" acts gently and effectively

In order to administer the drug you must:

1. Open the tube and press lightly so that the product lubricates the tip.
2. Insert the tip into the anus the entire length (for children under 3 years old - half).
3. Apply the product and remove the tip.

Cleansing the body will begin 15 minutes after administration of the product. Cleansing with Microlax must be carried out 3 hours before a visit to a specialist.

What to do if you have severe pain or bleeding

Numerous customer reviews claim that in the absence of pathologies, there should be no bleeding or pain. However, this may happen if the patient suffers from:

• abdominal pain of unknown origin;
• inflammatory processes in the anus;
• bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract;
• rectal tumors;
• appendicitis;
• hemorrhoids.

The presence of such symptoms is a contraindication to the use of enemas.

To relieve discomfort during this procedure, you need to:

1. generously lubricate the tip of the tube with an emollient;
2. breathe deeply;
3. stroke the stomach in a clockwise direction;
4. cleanse the intestines with chamomile infusion, not water.

What does a proctologist examine and how is the examination performed?

How is a proctologist examined? First, the proctologist listens to the patient’s complaints, asks questions and clarifies some important points, such as:

• frequency of bowel movements;
• the presence of a feeling of unemptied bowel;
• general health (whether there is a headache or weakness);
• the presence of blood, pus or mucus in the stool;
• nutritional features;
• possible independent treatment and in what ways;
• the presence of concomitant pathologies, especially gastrointestinal diseases.

Next, the examination itself is carried out. How is a proctologist examined by a proctologist for men and women?

The nurse accompanies the patient to the examination room and issues medical underwear for disposable use with an incision in the anus. The patient takes off clothes to the waist, lies on the couch on his side or stands in a knee-elbow position.

Next, the inspection is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Visual examination allows you to assess the severity of the ongoing pathological process.
2. Finger examination - the doctor first treats the hands and anus with an anesthetic, which alleviates discomfort. This stage allows you to assess the condition of the muscles and detect formations. This is also necessary to determine possible contraindications for performing endoscopic examination.
3. Anoscopy is a procedure for thoroughly examining the rectum and anus using an anoscope.

Examination by a proctologist is carried out in several stages

The appearance of discomfort and pain in intimate places is a very delicate problem. Therefore, it is important to know how a proctologist examines you, as this will help you mentally prepare for a visit to the hospital.

Laxatives

Cleansing the body can be done by taking laxatives internally. From the point of view of the process itself, this is the simplest method of cleansing the body. There is nothing complicated about just taking a medicine that will do all the necessary work. Typically, such products are sold in the form of powders dissolved in water.

Popular drugs - "Fortrans" and "Duphalan" are dissolved in one or two liters of water (each drug has its own individual characteristics, so rely primarily on the instructions).

A laxative is usually taken the day before the examination, and the doses are repeated every quarter of an hour, so the drug works most effectively. Make sure that you get enough fluid into your body. Drink water to stay hydrated.

Although the method under consideration is one of the most convenient, there are situations when laxatives are contraindicated. You should not take laxatives if there are signs of intestinal obstruction (prolonged absence of stool, nausea and vomiting, bloating). It is recommended to consult a doctor before the examination to subsequently select the drug that is optimal for you personally.

Visiting a doctor during menstruation

A doctor does not have the right to refuse to examine a patient if she is menstruating. However, it is worth carrying out preparatory measures and paying special attention to hygiene procedures. Before visiting a doctor, it is recommended to use tampons . These intimate hygiene products will not interfere with the examination.

However, it is very difficult to make a correct diagnosis during menstruation. Therefore, the proctologist is usually limited to a visual examination and medical history. He can also perform a digital examination and anoscopy, but most likely the procedure will have to be repeated after the end of menstruation.

During menstruation, the doctor does not prescribe medical therapy. Therefore, if the situation is not an emergency and it is possible to wait for the end of menstruation, then it is better to visit a doctor after that.

An appointment with a proctologist scares many people. However, there is absolutely no reason to worry. Even the most detailed examinations are usually painless, and if necessary, the patient is put into a state of sleep. The procedures themselves are carried out quickly in a separate closed room.

Although seeing a proctologist frightens many people, there is absolutely no reason to worry. Even the most detailed examinations are usually painless, and if necessary, the patient is put into a state of sleep. The procedures themselves are carried out quickly in a separate closed room.

If the appointment is scheduled for lunch?

The day before the visit in the morning you need to drink 200 ml of liquid: water, broth, juice, compote, tea or coffee. After this, take the drug by dissolving the contents of the bottle (45 ml) in 120 ml of water.

Instead of lunch, you also need to drink up to a liter of liquid. Dinner also consists of a glass of liquid. Another dose of the drug is taken. If you wish, you can drink again later.

The day before your visit, you can have broth instead of lunch. Instead of dinner, up to 500 ml of liquid. The product is taken in the evening after dinner, also dissolving the contents of the bottle in half a glass of water and washing it down. Before going to bed, you can drink 3 more glasses of liquid.

In the morning - a glass of liquid, and after - take the drug in the same proportion - 1 bottle per half a glass of water. The stool will appear within a time period of 30 minutes to 6 hours.

Carrying out the procedure

How to prepare for a proctologist with enemas? 2 enemas are prescribed - the night before and in the morning, with a gap of 6 hours between them, no less. They also often practice 2 enemas in the evening and 1 in the morning.

2 enemas in the evening should be carried out with an interval of 45 minutes to an hour, so that the rinsing waters after the first enema come out completely.

How to prepare for a proctologist in terms of nutrition? Products that increase fermentation in the intestines are not recommended: milk, cabbage, fresh vegetables, brown bread, baked goods. If your stomach is still filled with gas, take Espumisan or a couple of tablets of activated charcoal.

The patient lies on an oilcloth, on his left side, with his legs adducted. The body is as relaxed as possible. The tip is first advanced 4 cm straight, then slightly directed downwards. Open the valve and drain the water. When an obstacle is sensed, the tip is pulled back and the valve is opened. Then the feces soften.

A person immediately has a feeling of filling the intestines, but the water should not be released immediately. It is better to lie on your back after the injection for about 10 minutes, breathing deeply, but not frequently. For abdominal pain, stroke your stomach clockwise. The bowels can then be emptied.

Esmarch's mug cleanses the intestines better than a pear enema, since its volume is larger. It is more convenient to have someone else do the enema for you.

Method No. 2 - according to Hegar: the technique is the same, but the position is knee-elbow. You can do an enema yourself in this position on all fours in the bathroom. No more than 1.5-2 liters of water can be administered at a time.

To examine the internal cavities of the colon, doctors have developed a special tool that allows them to identify the disease in the early stages of its development. The colonoscope has a fairly high degree of resolution and is a flexible structure 180 cm long with a miniature camera and a flashlight attached to the end. The kit includes a device for performing mini-operations.

A colonoscope is not a disposable instrument, but there is no need to worry about this.

Colonoscopes special and universal

Diet

It is also necessary to follow some nutritional rules. This is the second moment of preparation. How to prepare for a visit to a proctologist? How to eat properly? The diet must be followed for 2 days before the visit. It is not recommended to consume foods that produce gas: dairy, brown bread, cabbage, legumes, some vegetables and fruits, soda. The food during the day the day before is only light - broth, boiled eggs, tea, biscuits.

It is best to fast if possible. The intestines will then be easier and better cleaned, and the procedures will be carried out with the greatest results. How to properly prepare for a proctologist and is it possible to have breakfast? If the visit is scheduled for the morning, it is better not to have breakfast.

If the visit is in the afternoon, a light breakfast is possible.

How to prepare for a proctologist using other methods? Another option is to drink 2 tbsp the day before visiting the doctor. l. castor oil or 2-3 capsules. The oil can be replaced with Epsom salt.

At the same time exclude:

• greenery;
• all vegetables;
• berries - they contain fiber.

On the day of your appointment, it is better to drink more, you can drink a glass of sweet tea.