Short answer: A colonoscopy is a camera test of the large bowel, done through the back passage under sedation. You need one if you have blood in stool, a lasting change in bowel habit, unexplained anaemia, a family history of bowel cancer, or you are around 45 or older for screening. Dr Raman Garg performs it at BGCI, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
What a colonoscopy actually is
The large bowel (colon) is the last 5 feet of your food pipe, where water is absorbed and stool is formed. A colonoscopy uses a soft, bendable tube about as thick as a finger with a tiny camera and light at the tip. The doctor passes it slowly through the whole colon and watches the lining on a screen.
If something looks wrong, a small piece can be taken for testing (biopsy), or a small growth called a polyp can be removed during the same test. That is why colonoscopy is both a checking test and, at times, a treatment.
Who needs a colonoscopy
Not everyone with a stomach problem needs one. These are the real reasons.
| Situation | Why a colonoscopy is advised |
|---|---|
| Blood in stool (potty me khoon) that lasts more than a few days | Piles are common, but polyps, colitis or cancer can look the same from outside |
| Change in bowel habit for more than 3 weeks (new kabz, loose motion, thin stool) | Sometimes a growth narrows the bowel |
| Anaemia (low haemoglobin) with no clear cause, especially in a man or after menopause | Slow bleeding inside the bowel is a common hidden cause |
| Unexplained weight loss or constant tiredness | May point to a bowel disease |
| Close relative with colon cancer or polyps | Your own risk is higher; start earlier |
| Age 45 or older with no symptoms | Screening finds polyps before they turn serious; ask the doctor about your own timing |
| Long-standing colitis or Crohn's disease | Regular checks are needed |
| Earlier polyp removed | A repeat test is scheduled on the doctor's advice |
Take a 48 year old shopkeeper from Mansa who noticed bright red blood after passing stool for two weeks. He assumed it was piles and used an ointment. A colonoscopy was done to be sure. Even if it turns out to be piles, he now knows the rest of the bowel is clear. If you have the same worry, read blood in stool: causes and when to worry.
Red flags: same-day hospital care
Heavy bleeding, black tarry stool, severe belly swelling with vomiting and no passage of gas or stool, or fainting with pain. Do not wait for an appointment. Go to the nearest emergency room and call BGCI on +91 82641-60001.
How to prepare: the bowel prep, step by step
The bowel must be completely clean, or small growths can hide behind stool. This is the part patients worry about, but it is just a day of liquids and a laxative drink.
- At the OPD visit: Dr Raman Garg checks your history, medicines and old reports. You get a written prep sheet with the exact timings for your slot.
- 2 to 3 days before: Switch to a low-fibre diet: white rice, plain roti, dal water, curd, boiled egg, plain biscuit. Stop seeds, nuts, raw salad, sabzi with skin, rajma, chhole and sugarcane.
- The day before: Clear liquids only: water, nimbu pani, clear soup, coconut water, tea without milk, fruit juice without pulp. No red or purple drinks.
- Evening before: Start the prescribed laxative solution as instructed, usually in two parts, one the evening before and one on the morning of the test. Drink plenty of clear fluid with it.
- Morning of the test: Take the second dose. Stop all fluids about 2 to 3 hours before your slot, as advised by the desk.
- Success check: By the end, your stool should be a clear or pale yellow liquid, with no solid bits.
Medicines to ask about before prep
| Medicine | What to do |
|---|---|
| Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin) | Tell the doctor; do not stop by yourself |
| Diabetes tablets and insulin | Dose changes are needed on liquid-diet days; ask us |
| Iron tablets | Usually paused for about 5 days; the doctor will confirm |
| BP tablets | Mostly continued with a sip of water; confirm with us |
The test day
Come with an attendant. After a short check, you get a light sedative through a small drip and lie on your left side. The test usually takes about 20 to 45 minutes, longer if a polyp is removed. Most patients stay comfortable, and many do not remember it. You may feel a little bloating or cramping as air is passed in to open the bowel, which settles quickly once the test ends.
A farmer from Barnala, about 70 km and 1 hr 30 min away, can plan it as a one day trip: bowel prep at home the day before, test in the morning, rest, light meal and return by afternoon with a family member driving.
After the test
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| First hour | Sleepiness; gas passes easily, which brings relief |
| Same day | Light khichdi or dal rice; do not drive or sign legal papers |
| Next day | Most patients are back to normal work |
| If a polyp was removed | Avoid heavy lifting and blood thinners until Dr Raman Garg says it is safe |
Call the same day for heavy bleeding, black stool, fever, severe belly pain or a hard, swollen belly.
What is the normal charge for a colonoscopy?
Many people ask "How much does a colonoscopy charge?" before anything else. Published ranges from Mohali and Chandigarh hospitals are about Rs 4,000 to 10,000 for a diagnostic colonoscopy, and metro hospitals often charge more. These are the typical BGCI Bathinda figures.
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 4,500 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy or polyp removal | 7,000 | 10,000 | 18,000 |
| Biopsy report (histopathology), per sample | 800 | 1,500 | 3,000 |
| CEA tumour marker | 500 | 650 | 1,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on whether a biopsy or polyp removal is done during the test, the number of tests needed and your health.
More detail is in colonoscopy cost in Punjab.
Cashless insurance
BGCI works with Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Care Health Insurance, ICICI Lombard, Medi Assist TPA and almost all other major insurers and TPAs. Send your card or policy number and our insurance desk will check what applies and arrange pre-authorisation. Ayushman Bharat: call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used.
Is a colonoscopy safe?
It is a well-established test and is generally safe when done by an experienced doctor, but no test is 100% safe. Possible problems include bloating, a reaction to sedation, bleeding after a biopsy or polyp removal, and very rarely a tear in the bowel wall. Good preparation and telling the doctor about your heart, lungs and tablets keep these risks low.
When to see a doctor
See Dr Raman Garg if you have blood in stool, bowel habit changes beyond 3 weeks, unexplained anaemia or weight loss, or a family history of colon cancer. Dr Raman Garg is a surgical gastroenterologist, a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates, so one doctor can scope, advise and, if needed, operate. Read more at colonoscopy in Bathinda, blood in stool treatment, gastro treatment in Bathinda and Dr Raman Garg. To know the early warning signs, see early signs of colon cancer.
Patients from Mansa, 50 km and about 1 hr away, and from Barnala, 70 km and about 1 hr 30 min away, can send reports on WhatsApp first and plan the visit in one trip.
FAQs
Who needs a colonoscopy?
People with blood in stool, bowel habit changes beyond 3 weeks, unexplained anaemia, weight loss or a family history of colon cancer need one. Many doctors also advise screening from around age 45, even without symptoms. Dr Raman Garg decides the right timing for you after examination.
Is a colonoscopy a painful test?
Most patients do not find it painful because they get light sedation, and many do not remember the test. Some feel bloating or mild cramps afterwards as the air passes. Severe or lasting pain is not expected, so call us if it happens.
What is the normal charge for a colonoscopy in Bathinda?
A diagnostic colonoscopy at BGCI typically costs Rs 4,500 to 12,000, with an average of Rs 7,000. If a biopsy or polyp removal is done, the typical range is Rs 7,000 to 18,000. OPD consultation is Rs 500 to 1,000. The final cost is confirmed after examination.
Is a colonoscopy 100% safe?
No test is 100% safe, but colonoscopy is generally safe in experienced hands. Risks include bloating, sedation reactions, bleeding after biopsy or polyp removal, and very rarely a tear in the bowel. Proper prep, honest medical history and the right doctor lower these risks.
Colonoscopy kab karwani chahiye? (ਕੋਲੋਨੋਸਕੋਪੀ ਕਦੋਂ ਕਰਵਾਉਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ?)
Karwani chahiye jab potty me khoon aaye, kabz ya dast 3 hafte se zyada chale, khoon ki kami ho ya parivar mein bowel cancer ho. Bina lakshan ke bhi 45 saal ke baad screening ki salah di jaati hai. Pehle OPD mein Dr Raman Garg se milein.
Colonoscopy ki taiyari mein kya khana chahiye? (कोलोनोस्कोपी की तैयारी में क्या खाएं?)
Test se 2 se 3 din pehle halka, kam fibre wala khana lein: safed chawal, saada roti, dal ka paani, curd. Ek din pehle sirf saaf taral lein. Dawai wali safai ki khurak batayi gayi samay par peeyein. Beej, kachcha salad aur rajma chhole band rakhein.
At what age should I get a colonoscopy?
Many doctors advise a first screening colonoscopy around age 45 for people at average risk. Start earlier if a close relative had bowel cancer or polyps, or if you have long standing bowel disease. If you have blood in stool, do not wait for an age. Dr Raman Garg sets the right timing for you.
How long does a colonoscopy take?
The camera part usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. With sedation and recovery, plan for about half a day at the hospital. Most patients go home the same day with an attendant. If a polyp has to be removed, it can add some time.
Is colonoscopy covered by cashless insurance?
Many policies cover it when a doctor advises it for a medical reason as a planned procedure, though terms differ by policy. BGCI is empanelled with insurers such as Niva Bupa, Care Health Insurance, ICICI Lombard and Medi Assist TPA. Call +91 82641-60001 with your policy details and the insurance desk will guide you.
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.