I saw my GI 10 days ago and he didn't mention anything about scheduling another colonoscopy. But today I got a letter from his office saying that they recommend that I get another one. My GI knows that I'm not healed - what purpose would another colonoscopy serve?
The letter states: "Our records indicate that, in view of your medical history, a follow-up colonoscopy is needed." I suspect that the office staff are on autopilot and flagged my file to schedule one for me one year after my last colonoscopy - whether it's necessary or not. I sure don't want to have another one.
What do you think?
Gloria
Another Colonoscopy?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Another Colonoscopy?
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Hi Gloria,
There are differences of opinion concerning the preferred frequency of colonoscopies. If you had any polyps that were found to be malignant, or precancerous, after they were removed during the last colonoscopy, that would be justification for having another annual colonoscopy for a period of two years. If nothing were found in either of those two years, then the period would normally be extended to three to five years. This would be based on cancer screening guidelines.
If you had no polyps, and no significant risk of colon cancer in your family, then your GI doc apparently has some question about your MC diagnosis, (possibly because he suspects that something else is wrong, since you are still not "healed". Many GI docs think that eight weeks of Entocort should "cure" MC, and if it doesn't, then something else must be wrong.
Since I can't read your doc's mind, obviously I'm just guessing, here. Unless you qualify under the cancer screening guidelines mentioned in the first paragraph, or are bleeding, or have some reason to suspect that something else is wrong, I really don't see how another colonoscopy at this point would be beneficial. If the doctor is expecting to find no evidence of MC, just to satisfy his own curiosity, he will probably be disappointed, as one usually needs to be completely symptom free for several years, before the markers of MC will completely disappear. Remember that a stool test can detect antibodies up to a year after a patient adopts the GF diet, and as long as any antibodies are present, the lymphocytes will still be there, (and so will the thickened bands of collagen, in the case of CC).
I think that if I were in your shoes, I would politely ask specifically what it is in your medical history that indicates the need for a follow-up colonoscopy. As you are well aware, colonoscopies are expensive, inconvenient, time-consuming, and not without risk, (perforations occur in approximately 0.2 to 1 % of procedures, which of course means that immediate emergency surgery would have to be performed, in order to save the patient's life).
IOW, I think it's a "fishing trip", to see if he can figure out why you aren't "cured", but remember, I don't have your records in front of me - he does.
Tex
There are differences of opinion concerning the preferred frequency of colonoscopies. If you had any polyps that were found to be malignant, or precancerous, after they were removed during the last colonoscopy, that would be justification for having another annual colonoscopy for a period of two years. If nothing were found in either of those two years, then the period would normally be extended to three to five years. This would be based on cancer screening guidelines.
If you had no polyps, and no significant risk of colon cancer in your family, then your GI doc apparently has some question about your MC diagnosis, (possibly because he suspects that something else is wrong, since you are still not "healed". Many GI docs think that eight weeks of Entocort should "cure" MC, and if it doesn't, then something else must be wrong.
Since I can't read your doc's mind, obviously I'm just guessing, here. Unless you qualify under the cancer screening guidelines mentioned in the first paragraph, or are bleeding, or have some reason to suspect that something else is wrong, I really don't see how another colonoscopy at this point would be beneficial. If the doctor is expecting to find no evidence of MC, just to satisfy his own curiosity, he will probably be disappointed, as one usually needs to be completely symptom free for several years, before the markers of MC will completely disappear. Remember that a stool test can detect antibodies up to a year after a patient adopts the GF diet, and as long as any antibodies are present, the lymphocytes will still be there, (and so will the thickened bands of collagen, in the case of CC).
I think that if I were in your shoes, I would politely ask specifically what it is in your medical history that indicates the need for a follow-up colonoscopy. As you are well aware, colonoscopies are expensive, inconvenient, time-consuming, and not without risk, (perforations occur in approximately 0.2 to 1 % of procedures, which of course means that immediate emergency surgery would have to be performed, in order to save the patient's life).
IOW, I think it's a "fishing trip", to see if he can figure out why you aren't "cured", but remember, I don't have your records in front of me - he does.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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barbaranoela
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Gloria------as Tex said---usually if all is *A-ONE* they might say *C ya in *X* amount of years
But if U HAD POLLOPS than its more often--or family history-etc.
My friend Lorraine---always has--on the average 7 to 9 pollops--YES--everytime she goes which is YEARLY!!!
I would luve to hear WHY--also
luve Barbara
But if U HAD POLLOPS than its more often--or family history-etc.
My friend Lorraine---always has--on the average 7 to 9 pollops--YES--everytime she goes which is YEARLY!!!
I would luve to hear WHY--also
luve Barbara
the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control
Wow, I've never known anyone who had to go yearly!! My DH and my daughter both had polyps and they just had to go 3 years later. Guess different rules for different areas of the country (this was Pa & Fl) or even different doctors.
Love, Shirley
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
The only other finding in my last colonoscopy was that I have diverticulosis - which we both already knew. My brother had polyps years ago, but there isn't any other history of colon problems in my family.
This colonoscopy would make the third one in 20 months. He did one in October 2006 after I had diverticulitis (and before I got MC the following January). I haven't had diverticulitis since I've had MC. Nothing hangs around long enough. There's one benefit from having MC.
I think I'll call and ask if there's any compelling reason they want to schedule one. I wonder if my GI even knows that his office ordered one since he never mentioned it in my visit. If he's ordered it himself, I think Tex is right - it's to satisfy his curiosity.
I don't want to drink the GoLytely again.
Gloria
This colonoscopy would make the third one in 20 months. He did one in October 2006 after I had diverticulitis (and before I got MC the following January). I haven't had diverticulitis since I've had MC. Nothing hangs around long enough. There's one benefit from having MC.
I think I'll call and ask if there's any compelling reason they want to schedule one. I wonder if my GI even knows that his office ordered one since he never mentioned it in my visit. If he's ordered it himself, I think Tex is right - it's to satisfy his curiosity.
I don't want to drink the GoLytely again.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Gloria,
Hmmmmmmm. Based on your last post, if this would be the third one in 20 months, and he is actually requesting it, (IOW, his staff did not mistakenly inform you that you needed the procedure), then IMO, he is either using you as a "guinea pig", to learn more about MC, or he's simply exploiting a cash cow, (colonoscopies are relatively expensive) - IOW, maybe he does this with all/most of his patients, just to pad his bank account. I'm embarrassed to even bring that one up, because of the implications, but who knows - maybe he has too much time on his hands, and too many payments to make. LOL.
If he's using you as a "guinea pig", maybe he's writing a book. I'm like you though - drinking that stuff is not to be taken lytely, (pun intended).
Unless you're bleeding, a colonoscopy to check known diverticula would be rather pointless, I would think.
Tex
Hmmmmmmm. Based on your last post, if this would be the third one in 20 months, and he is actually requesting it, (IOW, his staff did not mistakenly inform you that you needed the procedure), then IMO, he is either using you as a "guinea pig", to learn more about MC, or he's simply exploiting a cash cow, (colonoscopies are relatively expensive) - IOW, maybe he does this with all/most of his patients, just to pad his bank account. I'm embarrassed to even bring that one up, because of the implications, but who knows - maybe he has too much time on his hands, and too many payments to make. LOL.
If he's using you as a "guinea pig", maybe he's writing a book. I'm like you though - drinking that stuff is not to be taken lytely, (pun intended).
Unless you're bleeding, a colonoscopy to check known diverticula would be rather pointless, I would think.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
The lower left pain is what scared me into my first colonoscpy in Feb. My oncologist had been after me for years and years to have one. When I took in the lab results to show him, I said I really hadn't needed it because my girlfriend had already diagnosed me with diverticulosis.
Did the sigmoidoscopy a few weeks ago. Boy, that prep ws so much easier.
I hope DB got his appointment at the VA soon (fat chance) so he can get properly diagnosed after 7 or so years of suffering. As I said previously, they said he had IBS. He's had every test including the pill camera but not a colon biopsy.
Did the sigmoidoscopy a few weeks ago. Boy, that prep ws so much easier.
I hope DB got his appointment at the VA soon (fat chance) so he can get properly diagnosed after 7 or so years of suffering. As I said previously, they said he had IBS. He's had every test including the pill camera but not a colon biopsy.
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barbaranoela
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Gloria---I dont think U need another *clean-out* due to the divertric.--
This entire thing sounds too outrageous==and 3 in 20 months???
And as U---I wouldnt go thru that *drink* if they paid the bill for me---that is the worse clean out I ever did have---and as I said before--they better come up with something better than that cus --no way am I going to drink that again!!
GOLYtELY --is not so LIGHTLY!!!!
Barbara
This entire thing sounds too outrageous==and 3 in 20 months???
And as U---I wouldnt go thru that *drink* if they paid the bill for me---that is the worse clean out I ever did have---and as I said before--they better come up with something better than that cus --no way am I going to drink that again!!
GOLYtELY --is not so LIGHTLY!!!!
Barbara
the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control