Colonoscopy in Forest Hills, Queens, NY
A colonoscopy is a screening procedure that allows a gastroenterologist to examine the inside of your colon using a thin, flexible camera - detecting and removing polyps before they can develop into colorectal cancer. At Gastroenterology & Nutrition P.C. in Forest Hills, Queens, Dr. Samuel Davidoff, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist and hepatologist with over 15 years of experience, performs colonoscopies in our AAAASF-accredited on-site endoscopy suite. From prep to recovery, our team is with you every step of the way.
What is Colonoscopy and Why Is It Important?
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a gastroenterologist uses a flexible camera (colonoscope) to examine the inside of your large intestine (colon). This allows us to detect and remove polyps, identify inflammation or tumors, and catch early signs of colorectal cancer. Why does that matter? Early detection saves lives. Colon cancer usually starts as small polyps; if we find them early during a colonoscopy, we can remove them on the spot, preventing them from turning into cancer. The American Cancer Society now recommends starting routine colonoscopy screenings at age 45 (earlier if you have risk factors like family history). In fact, colonoscopy can reduce the risk of colon cancer by detecting precancerous growths before they cause problems. It’s a safe, routine outpatient procedure and it can be truly life-saving. We emphasize this to encourage our patients not to put off their colonoscopy. After all, a one-day prep and exam every 10 years is a small investment in your long-term health and peace of mind.
Patient Safety
Your safety is our top priority. Colonoscopies are performed under sedation in our AAAASF-accredited endoscopy suite, with an anesthesiology professional monitoring you throughout the procedure.
Why Choose Us for Your Colonoscopy?
Choosing a provider for your colonoscopy is important. Here’s why patients in Forest Hills and across Queens trust us:
Experienced, Compassionate Specialists
Our colonoscopies are performed by Dr. Samuel Davidoff and our team of board-certified gastroenterologists. We have decades of combined experience and have successfully performed thousands of procedures, yet we treat every patient with individualized care and attention. You’re never just a number to us.
Comfort-Focused Care
Your comfort and safety are our top priorities. We use modern sedation techniques (administered by anesthesiology professionals) so you’ll be comfortably asleep during the exam and won’t feel any pain. Nervous about the idea of a colonoscopy?
State-of-the-Art Facility
Our office features an AAAASF-accredited on-site endoscopy suite. This means you can have your colonoscopy right in our Forest Hills location, which meets the highest safety standards (the same as a hospital). Our equipment is modern, and we even utilize high-definition scopes and the latest polyp detection techniques to make sure nothing is missed.
Convenience & Personal Attention
Being a private practice, we offer prompt scheduling including early morning appointments on weekdays and even Sunday morning slots to fit your busy life. Unlike a big hospital or clinic, you’ll consult directly with your GI doctor before and after the colonoscopy. We’ll personally call you with results and next steps. Continuity of care is a hallmark of our practice.
Comprehensive Digestive Health Approach
As our name suggests, we look at the whole picture of gastroenterology and nutrition. If your colonoscopy reveals any issues (like ulcerative colitis or polyps), we’ll not only treat them but also counsel you on diet and preventive care going forward. Our aim is to keep your digestive system healthy for the long run, not just perform a one-time test.
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The Colonoscopy Procedure
A colonoscopy is generally performed as an outpatient procedure. The patient is positioned on the left side and a sedative is administered intravenously.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Many patients are surprised how quick and simple the actual colonoscopy is compared to the prep. Here’s an overview of what will happen on the day of your colonoscopy at our Forest Hills endoscopy suite
Before the Procedure
After check-in, you’ll meet with our nursing team to review your medical history and allergies. You’ll sign a consent form (if you haven’t already) and change into a gown. We’ll start an IV line, through which you’ll receive fluids and later, sedative medication. You’ll also meet your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, who’ll be monitoring you. In the procedure room, we’ll have you lie on your left side on a comfortable stretcher. We attach small monitors for your blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen. Safety is always paramount. Then we administer the sedation medication through the IV, which will make you drift off to sleep within a minute or two.
During the Colonoscopy
Once you’re sedated, the gastroenterologist will gently insert the lubricated colonoscope into the rectum and slowly advance it through the colon. The scope is a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and light at the end. As we carefully navigate through your colon’s curves, we may put a small amount of air (or carbon dioxide) inside to inflate the colon slightly. This gives us a better view of the colon walls. Don’t worry, you won’t feel this due to sedation (at most, some patients have mild cramping or pressure that they don’t recall later). The camera sends high-definition video to a screen, allowing us to examine every segment of your colon. If we spot any polyps or abnormal tissue, we use miniature instruments passed through the scope to remove them or take biopsies. Polyp removal (polypectomy) is painless and done during the same session. Polyps are cut off using a wire loop or burned off safely, and the tissue is collected for lab analysis. The procedure usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes (it can be a bit longer if multiple polyps are found and removed, or shorter if everything looks normal). Throughout the exam, your vital signs are monitored continuously. Our team will adjust your position gently if needed (sometimes we reposition you to help the scope pass a tricky angle).
After the Procedure
When the colonoscopy is finished, the scope is slowly withdrawn and the exam is complete. We escort you to a recovery area, where you’ll rest as the sedative wears off. Most patients wake up within 5 to 10 minutes after the procedure ends, but can be groggy for about half an hour. You might not even realize the colonoscopy happened. Many people say, “Are we done already?” because the sedation has an amnesia effect. We like to see a smile on your face when you hear it’s all done! In the recovery area, you may feel bloating or cramping; this is normal and simply due to the air introduced into the colon. We encourage you to pass gas - yes, farting is expected! to help relieve the bloating. Nurses will monitor your blood pressure and make sure you’re feeling okay. We’ll also offer you something to drink as you wake up (your throat and mouth might be dry). Once you’re fully awake and our doctor has spoken with you about initial findings, you’ll be discharged to go home with your companion. From check-in to check-out, expect to spend around 2–3 hours at our facility.
Recovery from a Colonoscopy
Recovering from a colonoscopy is usually quick. There’s no incision (everything is internal), so physical recovery mainly involves shaking off the sedation effects. Here’s what to do and expect after you leave
- Heading Home: You must not drive or return to work the same day because of the sedation. Go home and rest. Plan to take the remainder of the day off. Most people feel back to normal by the next morning. You might feel a bit drowsy or unsteady on your feet for a few hours, this is normal. Take it easy and let your body relax. Have a light meal when you feel up to it; start with something gentle on the stomach. You’ve been on clear liquids, so you may be hungry but it’s wise to avoid a heavy, greasy meal as your first meal post-colonoscopy. Resume your normal diet as tolerated.
- Side Effects: It’s common to experience bloating or gas cramps for a few hours due to any remaining air in the colon. This should resolve by the evening. You might also notice a small amount of blood in your first bowel movement post-colonoscopy if a biopsy or polyp removal was done. A few drops on the toilet paper or a slight tinge in the stool is okay. However, call us if you have heavy rectal bleeding (more than a few tablespoons), severe abdominal pain, fever, or dizziness. These symptoms are very rare (<0.5% of cases) but we want to hear from you immediately if they occur. Our staff will provide you with a simple info sheet listing these signs to watch for, though significant complications are rare. Overall, colonoscopy is considered a very safe procedure.
- Results Discussion: Before you go home, Dr. Davidoff (or your GI doctor) will let you know how things looked internally. We will tell you if we found polyps and whether we removed them, or if everything looked healthy. We send any removed polyps or biopsy samples to a pathology lab, those results take about 5-7 days to come back. We will call you with your pathology results as soon as they’re available, and of course, we’ll explain what they mean and if any follow-up is needed. If everything is normal and you have no risk factors, the standard interval for the next colonoscopy is 10 years. If we removed polyps or found something that needs sooner surveillance, we’ll let you know the appropriate follow-up interval (e.g., 3 or 5 years).
- Resuming Activities: Most patients are fully back to routine by the next day. That means you can return to work, exercise, and normal activities within 24 hours. The sedative medications are mostly out of your system after a good night’s sleep. We do advise no alcohol, driving, or signing important documents for at least 24 hours post-procedure, since sedation can linger in subtle ways. Otherwise, focus on rehydrating (drink plenty of fluids to make up for the day before) and eating healthy meals. If we gave you specific post-care instructions (for example, if a large polyp was removed, sometimes we suggest avoiding aspirin/NSAIDs for a day or two), be sure to follow those. We’re always here to answer questions even after the procedure, don’t hesitate to call our office if you’re unsure about anything during your recovery.
Common Questions About Colonoscopy
We understand you may have concerns about your procedure. Here are answers to questions our Forest Hills patients frequently ask.
Q:
at what age should patients begin routine colonoscopies?
A:
According to multiple professional society guidelines, the average patient without symptoms should start doing screening colonoscopies at age 45. Patients who are at an increased risk of colon cancer – those who have a first or second degree relative with colon cancer – should start doing screening colonoscopies at age 40 or 10 years prior to the age that that relative was diagnosed, whichever comes first. There are other less common high-risk criteria, which should be discussed with your gastroenterologist.
Q:
what are red flags that might require a colonoscopy sooner?
A:
Rectal bleeding, unintentional weight loss, new-onset unprovoked constipation or diarrhea, or any change in bowel habit.
Q:
what can a patient expect on the day of a colonoscopy?
A:
The patient comes into the office, fills out some paperwork and goes to the changing room, where they change into a gown. We then bring the patient into the procedure room, where they lay down on the bed and the anesthesiologist inserts an IV that will be used to put them to sleep. We then ask the patient to lay on their left side. The anesthesiologist injects the sedative. After the patient is fully asleep we insert a flexible tube with a camera (the colonoscope) into the anus and pass it through the whole colon. Once we reach the “end” of the colon (the cecum) we start to slowly withdraw the colonoscope looking for polyps (growths that can turn into cancer); if we find a polyp, we remove it right there and then. When the procedure is over, the patient wakes up and is ready to go home within 30 minutes. The procedure itself takes an average of about 20 to 30 minutes.
Q:
how do you ensure safety and comfort during a colonoscopy?
A:
We are an AAAASF certified facility using state of the art equipment. Our gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists, and medical assistants have a tremendous amount of experience in doing colonoscopies as well as endoscopies. Patient safety and comfort are our top priority.
Q:
is the bowel prep available in pill form or only liquid?
A:
Yes, the bowel prep is available in pill form. It is called Sutab.
Q:
how soon can i get an appointment for a screening colonoscopy?
A:
You can make an appointment for a consultation usually the same week that you call us and we can schedule you for a colonoscopy soon thereafter.
Q:
do you offer colonoscopy on weekends?
A:
Yes, we do endoscopies and colonoscopies on Sunday.
Q:
do you accept my insurance for a colonoscopy?
A:
We accept the majority of commercial insurances, Medicare and the various types of Medicaids. Please contact us directly at 718-261-0900 for more details.
Ready to Schedule Your Colonoscopy
Taking care of your health is the best gift you can give yourself. If you’ve been putting off a colonoscopy, or if your doctor recommended you get one, don’t wait, early detection is key. Our friendly staff at Gastroenterology & Nutrition P.C. is ready to answer any remaining questions you have and to find an appointment time that works for you. We’ll guide you through each step, from prep instructions to recovery tips, so you feel supported throughout the process.
When you schedule with us, we’ll send you a detailed prep instruction packet and be available to address any concerns during the lead-up to your appointment. Our goal is to make the entire experience from the first phone call to the follow-up after the procedure as smooth and patient-friendly as possible.
Your digestive health is our priority. By choosing us for your colonoscopy in Queens, you’re partnering with a team that is committed to your well-being every step of the way. Call 718-261-0900 today and take the next step toward a healthier future with the premier gastroenterology practice in Forest Hills. We look forward to caring for you!
Schedule Your Appointment
Complete the form below, and our team at 108-16 72nd Ave, Forest Hills will contact you within one business day to confirm your appointment with Dr. Davidoff.