Colonoscapy questions

I also had thickening in the bladder and rectosigmoid colon, felt to be consistent with radiation, vs just not well distended at the moment of the scan. I didn't get sent for colonoscopy over that ... I was told my CT was fine. I'll be curious to see how my next one compares. 

I have heard that age 45 is recommended now. Can't say that my HMO has changed to that yet. I do know that different agencies make different recommendations, and some are conservative and some are not. 

Radiation does increase the risk of CRC (colorectal cancer), but my understanding is that this is usually a later complication (like after 10 years), and that extra screening isn't necessarily recommend, but to definitely be on top of any symptoms and not just assume it's radiation side effects. 

I just had my first colonoscopy a couple weeks ago. Prep isn't fun, but there are a number of different types, so it's hard to advise.  However, i will say make sure you fully comply, as an inadequate prep makes the colonoscopy miss things.

Pertinent for us endometrial cancer women - previous pelvic surgery causes adhesions and makes the procedure more difficult. My GI had to switch to a pediatric colonoscope, use a stiffener, and also have the nurses push around on my abdomen. Uncomfortable and not pleasant, but not horrid. I had sedation but not so much that I couldn't watch the screen and remember it all, and I would choose that again. 

Good luck!

And BTW, my colonoscopist, who was recommended by a GI doc who trained under her, always uses a pediatric sized scope.

Whatever prep they give you, you are going to want to be home from work when you start it. If they want you to start at say 1pm, you may need to take half a day off besides the day of your test. Some have you start after 4pm because they know people are working, but then you're potentially up later into the night running to the bathroom.The diarrhea the prep induces is pretty forceful without much warning and will be more than once. That's why everyone hates the prep more than the test itself. Even the Miralax solution is concentrated from what you normally take and you need to drink 2 quarts of it in a short period of time and that's not so easy when you get towards the end of it. Other preps have you drink a gallon of a different solution or drink 2-3 bottles of magnesium citrate. They all work, but are a chore to get down. 

You can have the test with just sedation or anesthesia depending on your preference or needs. They will not do the test if you don't have someone there with you either way. I've had both, with the anesthesia this last time, and it made me incredibly dizzy the next morning when I tried to get up. It passed quickly, but I've never experienced that before and think I'll have just sedation the next time. If you have nothing, you run the risk of nausea and real discomfort during the procedure, but I think you have an IV in for just in case and they could fix that for you during the procedure if it's needed. The test itself is a cake walk for the most part, but having it for the first time is always the hardest because it's hard to believe that until you go through it.

I have had several colonoscopies now. Since I have Lynch, I have them with an endoscopy every two years. I agree with MA, the procedure isn't bad but the prep is a challenge. I am always sedated with mine and prefer it that way. I have no desire to know what the heck they are doing!  My first one included a prep that was a gallon of stuff that I added some "flavor" to. It was impossible to finish. By the time I got to my last glass, I was throwing up. So, after that I refused to use that kind for the clean out.  What I use is called something like preppak but I can't remember for sure. Also, I always was required to drink a bottle of the mag. citrate to kick start the clean out.  All of this is much easier than anything we went through for our cancer. You can do this Janae! 

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

janaes said:

Okay thanks again for your

Okay thanks again for your stories and experiences. I called my insurance company today to see if the colonoscapy is covered. It could be way worse but something just bothers me. I guess i feel like im being punished because i had cancer. Let me axplain. So my doctor had told me he wants the colonascapy done because i was over 45 and also because of the thickening of the blatter. So the insurance called the doctors office to get the codes they needed and i find out he ordered the colonoscapy not as a preventative mesure but because of the thickening. Well preventative colonoscapies are covered 100% and doing them for reasons like my doctor is is only covered 95%. I realize thats not a bid difference but if i do them often that could add up.  Thats why i feel im being punished.  This might sound extravigant but i got uterine cancer because the radiation the doctors gave me for my other cancer. Boy this sounds silly but the doctors should be paying that 5 percent.

Im sorry im sounding so negative. 

Am i being too harsh? Im sure ill go ahead with this but just wanted to get it off my chest.  I guess im upset that the doctor didnt tell me to get a colonoscapy last year when i turned 45. It would have been free then.

What do you think? Is there something i can do?

I had to pay $125 copay instead of free for the same reason, and I had just turned 50. But you shouldn't have to do one often. 

Yes, they are recommending preventive colonoscopy at earlier age than 50 because so many people are younger when diagnosed. As far as having to pay more for a “diagnostic” colonoscopy verhe’s a “screening” colonoscopy it is the same way with mammography. Go figure! The United States Preventive Task Force is the organization who mandates what preventive screening procedures insurance companies must pay for and the frequency of the screenings. 

The prep for colonoscopy is hard because of the sheer volume of solution one has to drink. Plus by the time you are about 1/2 to 3/4 through drinking the prep you likely will be gagging on it. I have had 4 colonoscopies and am 63 yrs old. If they find a polyp then you ar put on an every 3 year plan. Plus your siblings should be under a more frequent colonoscopy schedule as well. The prep can cause you to have lower potassium, sodium or magnesium. So some may get restless leg syndrome or calf cramps after. All in all it is doable and so very important for cancer screening. 

There are alternatives such as Cologuard stool testing but that is only for people at low risk. There also are other stool sample tests like FIT-DNA, FIT, FOBT or other stool based tests varying from having to be done yearly or every few years. But if any of these tests are positive one would need to have a colonoscopy anyway. 

Lori

I have a friend who was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 49 in 1999, the same year I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer.  We went through our treatments together.  She and I often spoke about how the recommendation for first colonoscopy at age 50 was too late, as my friend had no family history of colon (or other) cancers.  In fact, both of her parents lived well into their 90's without ever having been diagnosed with cancer.  Because of the advanced stage of her cancer at the time of diagnosis, my friend had to have extensive surgery, chemo, and radiation.  If she had had her colonoscopy at age 45 like they are now recommending, I suspect she may have gotten away with just surgery, or even just polyp removal.  She's fine now, but she went through a grueling treatment that likely could have been avoided under the new recommendations.  I'm so happy to hear that these colonoscopy age recommendations have finally been changed.  It's my understanding that people are being diagnosed with colon cancer at earlier and earlier ages in recent years. 

janaes said:

Thanks every one. Im not sure

Thanks every one. Im not sure what my doctor ordered for the all the stuff i have to take. I was about to make the appointment for the colonoscopy and then realized i needed to figure out the insurance stuff.  Just before i decided i wanted to talk to the insurance the lady on the phone asked where i wanted all the meds sent to. 

I guss my question is what do i do if the meds they give me are to much for me and i cant handle them.? I dont know who to call. It sounds liike its stuff i take rhe night bere. Doctor wont be open to call them. I was thinking about doing the procedure on monday so sunday would be thday im taking the stuff. 

So how do you get different meds? Should i do it a different day?

When they say meds it generally means a so-called "bowel prep" package: some packets of junk for you to mix into water and drink, and maybe a mixing bottle. They say it's prescription but I really don't understand why. If you can't take it for any reason, there are alternative things you can do at home; I've had friends pursue that option w/their doctor's approval and it was fine. Good luck, you can do this!

Michaelynn said:

COLONOSCOPY

I couldn't drink the mix kept throwing it back up so the doctor prescribed me cologuard which is a test good for 5 years that you can do at home with no prep. I did that and it came back okay. It is a fairly new test and the doctor said the accuracy is very good and you can do it at your convience. They also have a program that will pay for the cost if your insurance doesn't cover it. As it is a preventative test most insurances will cover it. They report the results to your doctor and then you get a call. If its positive than you have to do the regular sedated test anyway. Hope this helps.

I had the FIT test last summer because I had already had a virtual colonoscopy in 2016. I'll have the FIT test every year unless it comes back positive. Then I'll have another virtual one. I refuse to have a regular one since they perforated my mother's colon.

Love,

Eldri