Colonoscopy?

[Pebbledash]

Hi all,

I hope you are faring as well as you can at the moment. Glad you are here.

Quick question: is it unwise to go for a colonoscopy (check up) right now given the covid conditions (my last one was probably 9 years ago)?

Is there any correlation of MC with colon cancer that one should be cautious about?

Many thanks.

Best wishes,
Paul

[tex]

Hi Paul,

Here are my thoughts:

There's no known correlation between MC and cancer risk (as long as the diet is followed. Research shows that celiac disease is associated with an increased risk of developing several forms of cancer, including intestinal lymphoma and small bowel cancer, if a gluten-free diet is not followed. It's very likely that risk also applies to MC patients who do not follow a GF diet.). That said, even that risk (when a GF diet is not followed) is a small percentage.

We've found by experience that keeping one's vitamin D level up will prevent the future development of new colon polyps, thus reducing the need for future colonoscopies.

In some cases, the cleanout solution is so caustic that it will cause enough inflammation to provoke an MC flare. On the other hand, in some cases it will temporarily stop a flare. A colonoscopy is a very invasive procedure with a 3–4 % risk of a puncture that will require emergency surgery to try to prevent a life-threatening infection. In many cases, it can be replaced by a simple stool test (that can be sent to a lab) that detects invisible blood in the stool, unless your family has a history of colon cancer. If the test detects blood, a regular colonoscopy will need to be performed, or course.

I've heard of a few colonoscopies being done locally, and the patients had no problem with COVID-19, but that risk will depend on your local situation, and the environment at your clinic. The risk is probably low, because most medical facilities and the doctors there seem to be extremely cautious about coronaviruses.

But obviously, other's opinions may vary.

All my best,

Tex

[brandy]

Hi Paul,

I was also due for a colonoscopy. I did the stool test that is on the market now. I can't remember the name of the test. My insurance company sent the test to me in an envelope (unsolicited). Test was pretty benign. You rub a stool in the toilet with a paint brush and put the results on a card and send it away.

My results came back negative, no blood in stool.

I have not talked with my PCP to see if this is sufficient.

[Martha]

I was also due for a colonoscopy. I asked my doctor if I could do the Cologuard test, and she agreed and ordered that. It's a mail-in test; you collect a stool sample and send it back to them in a pre-paid box. It was easy to do. They send all the equipment and clear directions. They don't want you to send back diarrhea, though.

Martha

[Pebbledash]

Thanks everyone for your replies, which are super helpful. I did inquire with my consultant about a non-invasive alternative, but she replied that Kaiser doesn't offer this; that said, I might push it a little more given the examples supplied above.

Cheers,
Paul

[brandy]

Hi Paul,

I'm not sure if you are in the US or not? I believe the Cologuard (and similar tests are covered by the Affordable Health Care Act)
if you are between age 50 and age 75. It looks like they are covered to include no Co pay or other fees if you have insurance in the US and you are between age 50 and 75.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rec ... 20(USPSTF).

If you are in the US, and have Kaiser, are between 50 and 75 I would question your consultants statements.

[brandy]

If you have a grandfathered health plan from prior to 2010 the cologuard may not be covered in the US (per link above)

Out of pocket cost looks to be around $500 in the US. (Probably much cheaper in the rest of the world.)

[Pebbledash]

Hi Brandy,

Yes, I'm in the States, lucky to have excellent Kaiser cover with my employer. I'll follow up with my consultant, though I think she's pretty much set on my having a colonoscopy (if I could find another way, I would).

Cheers
Paul