Colonoscopy in Wausau and Central Wisconsin: Who Needs One, What to Expect and How to Prepare
Plenty of people put off a colonoscopy because they aren’t sure what it involves, and the prep has a reputation that keeps them from booking. If you have been searching for a colonoscopy in Wausau or elsewhere in central Wisconsin, it helps to know who needs one, how to get ready and what the day itself is like. In brief, the exam is quick, you are sedated, and most people are back to their usual routine the next day.
What a colonoscopy is
A colonoscopy is an exam of the inside of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. A gastroenterologist uses a long, flexible tube with a small camera on the end, called a colonoscope, to look at the lining.
If the doctor finds a polyp (a small growth), it can usually be removed during the same exam. Biopsies (small tissue samples) can be taken at the same time. Finding and removing polyps in one visit is what sets colonoscopy apart from other screening tests. Some polyps can turn into cancer over time, so taking them out early lowers that risk before it has a chance to grow.
Who needs a colonoscopy in Wausau and central Wisconsin
Doctors usually recommend a colonoscopy for one of three common reasons, and it helps to know which one applies to you.
Routine screening is the most common reason, and it is meant for adults who have no symptoms. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society both recommend that adults at average risk start colorectal cancer screening at age 45. A colonoscopy is one of several screening options. If the result is normal and you are at average risk, it is generally repeated every 10 years.
Higher risk changes the timing for people with certain family histories or health conditions. If a parent, brother, sister or child has had colon cancer or certain advanced polyps, you may need to start earlier and be checked more often. The same is true if you have inflammatory bowel disease or a known inherited condition.
Symptoms or an abnormal test can also lead to a colonoscopy. It is used to find the cause of rectal bleeding, a lasting change in bowel habits, belly pain, unexplained weight loss or iron-deficiency anemia. If you had a stool-based screening test (such as a FIT or a stool DNA test) that came back positive, a follow-up colonoscopy is needed to finish the screening.
How to prepare
The prep empties the colon so the doctor can see the lining clearly. Small polyps can hide behind stool, and a poor prep can mean repeating the exam, so it is worth following the steps closely.
Diet in the days before
Your care team will give you written instructions, and you should follow those first. You may be asked to avoid high-fiber foods such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and raw vegetables. Depending on your risk of a poor prep, this may start two or three days beforehand, or only the day before. On that last day you will switch to clear liquids, or to low-fiber foods early in the day followed by clear liquids, depending on your instructions.
Clear liquids include water, fat-free broth, plain coffee or tea without milk or cream, apple or white grape juice without pulp, and gelatin or sports drinks in light colors. Skip anything red or purple, since the dye can look like blood in the colon.
The bowel prep itself
The prep is a laxative, usually a liquid you drink in two parts. You drink one portion the evening before and the second portion the morning of your exam, a few hours before you arrive. This is called a split dose, and current expert recommendations favor it because it cleans the colon better. Expect frequent, watery trips to the bathroom for a few hours after each dose.
Many people find it easier to chill the prep and drink it through a straw. It also helps to stay close to a bathroom with soft wipes on hand. Finish the whole prep, even if your stool already looks clear. If nausea or vomiting stops you from getting it down, call your care team for advice.
Medicines
Tell your care team about everything you take, especially blood thinners, diabetes medicines, iron and weight-loss injections. Some may need to be adjusted before the exam. Don’t stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own; ask your doctor how to handle each one.
Arrange a ride
You will receive sedation, so you cannot drive yourself home afterward. Plan ahead for an adult who can take you home after the procedure, since the medicine takes a while to wear off.
What happens on the day
You will change into a gown, and a nurse will place an IV in your arm or hand. Through the IV you receive medicine that keeps you comfortable, and most people don’t remember the exam. You lie on your side while the doctor gently passes the colonoscope through the rectum and colon. The exam itself usually takes less than an hour, and often much less. Afterward you will rest in a recovery area for about 30 to 60 minutes while the sedation wears off.
Recovery and results
Some cramping, bloating or gas is common in the first hour, from the air used to open up the colon during the exam. Most people return to their normal diet and feel fully recovered by the next day. If a polyp was removed or biopsies were taken, a small amount of bleeding from the rectum can be normal. Your doctor can often tell you what was seen before you leave. Lab results on any biopsies or polyps come later, and they help decide when you need your next colonoscopy.
Risks
Colonoscopy is a common and safe procedure, but no procedure is free of risk. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, bleeding happens in about 15 of every 10,000 screening colonoscopies. A tear in the colon wall (perforation) happens in about 3 of every 10,000. Bleeding can show up as late as two weeks after a polyp is removed, and reactions to sedation are also possible.
When to see a gastroenterologist
Get emergency care if, after a colonoscopy, you have severe belly pain, a fever, bleeding from the rectum that won’t stop or keeps getting heavier, or you feel dizzy or weak. The same applies at any time if you pass large amounts of blood or black, tarry stool.
For problems that are not an emergency, make a regular appointment with a gastroenterologist if you:
- Are 45 or older and have never been screened
- Have a family history of colon cancer or polyps
- Had a positive stool-based screening test
- Notice blood in your stool, a change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days, or unexplained weight loss
GI Associates performs colonoscopies for patients across central Wisconsin, with clinics in Wausau and Stevens Point and a new clinic in Wisconsin Rapids. If you are due for screening or have symptoms you want checked, you can request an appointment online.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Follow the prep instructions your care team gives you, and talk with your doctor before changing any medication.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force; Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;325(19):1965-1977. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/colorectal-cancer-screening
- American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Colonoscopy. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diagnostic-tests/colonoscopy
- Jacobson BC, Anderson JC, Burke CA, et al. Optimizing Bowel Preparation Quality for Colonoscopy: Consensus Recommendations by the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2025;120(4):738-764. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003287
- Shaukat A, Kahi CJ, Burke CA, Rabeneck L, Sauer BG, Rex DK. ACG Clinical Guidelines: Colorectal Cancer Screening 2021. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2021;116(3):458-479.