Anyone ever use Cologuard?

[Greyman50]

Had a Good friend in N.C. that was retired State Trooper, he Never went to a doctor. He started having stomach pain and problems, after over a year finally went to doctor. Sadly way to late as stomach cancer had reached end stage. We all miss him.

 

[DWalt]

Some clinics are now using a new technology for performing colonoscopies called an Endorotor. The optical clarity is better and polyp removal is more complete and much safer than older snare methods. It works on somewhat the same principle as a Norelco electric razor.

I just had my fourth colonoscopy about a year ago. It’s never been that traumatic. I agree the worst part is the prep. For one of my procedures I was prescribed some laxative called Moviprep that made me so sick I thought I was going to die. I refused it after that. Epsom salts in lemonade works very well.

 

[oldbrownhat]

S... It works on somewhat the same principle as a Norelco electric razor....

I remember those... not sure that's all that reassuring, but of course one's imgination does tend to run amok when contemplating such things.

I had my first one a year ago at age 69. This is my gf's (60) second one. She figures that by the time we are due for our next round, there may be other ways to do this.

But agreed- the procedure is really no big deal. But "if they can send a man to the moon, surely they can improve the prep."

I have developed a liking for orange Gatorade, however

 

[RCL-09]

Word of warning to those putting off a check:

No matter the method used by your doctor don't skimp on your colonoscopy when it is due.

A friend I worked with put his off and when he finally went in to take it, it was to late. Sadly he was able to retire but didn't get to enjoy much after that. May he RIP.

I personally had some blood issues when I was 42 (yes 42) and when all the testing was done Stage 3 colon cancer. I was lucky because it hadn't done damage and was just hanging around.

I have been scoped more times than a sniper's rifle but that is a small price to pay and sure beats the alternative.

Lots of colon cancer in my family. I've seen the devastation and pain it causes.

I go in every three years and actually want to do it more. I'd do it every year if I could.

Please folks, don't put it off. If not for you, then for you your wife... children ... siblings... It is a survivable cancer but devastating when not caught in time.

Edited to add: The prep is the worst part and what I hate about the ordeal.

 

[RCL-09]

boykinlp, thank you for sharing. I saw my father go through that but he did not survive.

 

[dave1918a2]

When I was with Kaiser in Colorado, they did the Cologuard thing. I did one every January. Always came back negative. Year later I got a colonoscopy at the VA. Had 13 polyps, none bad. Don't take Cologuard for granted. Get a colonoscopy. Only thing I hate is the prep. Be prepared to sit on the throne for awhile. Take a book to read.

 

[DWalt]

This sort of demonstrates how the endorotor chews up polyps. Interscope EndoRotor Now Cleared in U.S. as New Way to Remove Colon Lesions | Medgadget
It’s now being used in many other surgical applications besides colon polyp removal.

 

[Ranger17]

The prep is far worse than the procedure from what I have experienced. Had my first colonoscopy at 50 and they did find polyps, thankfully caught before they could turn into anything cancerous. Now i get the full procedure every 5 years, and I am just fine with it. I would rather deal with that prep then what could happen if I avoided it all. And for others, a clean procedure at 50 may mean just every 10 years.
I would say get the colonoscopy when first needed (usually at 50 barring other considerations) to get a good baseline for what your system is like. Then build a long term plan off that, whether it involves a home test or not.

 

[glenwolde]

When I was with Kaiser in Colorado, they did the Cologuard thing. I did one every January. Always came back negative. Year later I got a colonoscopy at the VA. Had 13 polyps, none bad. Don't take Cologuard for granted. Get a colonoscopy. Only thing I hate is the prep. Be prepared to sit on the throne for awhile. Take a book to read.

Yeah, the prep isn't fun. But the aftermath kind of is. I was breaking wind like a black rhino that just ate 100 pepperoni pizzas. Went on for hours.

 

[Golddollar]

I did go to pick up a gun at the UPS facility once and those Cologuard boxes were all over the place. Ewwww.

Just think about the Receiving Department at Cologuard.

 

[boykinlp]

I can only imagine how difficult it was for you to relive all that you went through in order to share it with us...but you might very well have saved some lives with your post. Thank you, and best wishes to you for continued good health.

Thank you very much for your best wishes. I don't mind reliving it, in many gory details, and believe me, some of the worse ones I wouldn't even share here. But, sometimes you have to slap some people in the face with reality, for their own good. I know I have saved lives since my ordeal through telling my story.

One of my good friends was having problems similar to mine, but refused to go to the doctor. He came and saw me in the hospital, after not seeing me for a few months (we talked on the phone) and couldn't believe how I looked. I told him my story in FULL graphic detail! The next day he scheduled his colonoscopy. During his colonoscopy, the doctor removed 5-6 polyps and sent them off to be tested. Thankfully, they came back non-cancerous. But, the doctor told him if he hadn't removed them, in time, they would have become cancerous. Again folks, PLEASE GET A COLONOSCOPY! It used to be 50 years old to get your first, but the age number is lowering, don't wait, your life could depend on it.
Larry

 

[slickracer]

A colonoscopy is nothing. Cologard does not find pre-cancerous polyps.

 

[hemiram]

I did the Cologuard and it came back positive. My doctor told me that IHHO there were too many false positives and negatives and to just have the regular old colonoscopy, and get it done with, so I did. I had (they thought) one very large polyp and it was removed. There's a followup done six months later to check to make sure the original polyp was gone. It was, but they found a largish "flat" polyp, and that had be be done by another doctor, who was the "Flat polyp guy". Great. On top of that, my colon is about a foot longer than normal, and the end if it can't be seen with a regular colonoscopy, so I had to have a "Virtual" one, which is drinking some sort of contrast solution, and having an MRI. Oh, that includes them shooting air into your colon. It wasn't pleasant, I would have preferred to be asleep. Not pain from the air, I kept telling them that, I had back and neck pain from the positions I was in on the table. That turned out to involve a scare that wasn't necessary at all. They said in the results that they found a cyst on one of my kidneys that needed to be followed up on. They didn't mention this at all! I was pretty worried over the weekend and I called the doctor Monday morning, and asked about why they hadn't said anything. "Oh, you had that cyst over 12 years ago, and it was the same size, so we aren't worried about it!". I never knew about it, but they showed me it was mentioned in a file folder of stuff that another doctor had sent them. In that file, it mentioned the damn thing had been there since I was about 14! Six months later, I had my fifth prep and 4th "real" colonoscopy and I was due again about the time Covid hit. It looks like my hip replacement will come after another real and virtual scopings. Wonderful..

 

[Puller]

I got my Colarguard results back and all was good.

 

[Doug M.]

I wrote about mine a few weeks ago. The prep is unpleasant and left me trapped for about 2 hours at a time the day before and morning of. The procedure itself was no big, although I am a major needle sissy and dislike the IV, but most people like me sedated more often.

In that string, "robvious" wrote of his experiences. Now we also have "boykinlp" telling us something similar. The prep is a few hours of discomfort or even misery, but beats the tar out of what they describe. Colon cancer is as I understand it one of the easier to prevent and if caught early is not a big deal. Miss it and you are in deep trouble.

If asking nicely works, good. If it doesn't, I can do a credible impression of R. Lee Ermey, and am a vigorous advocate of slap therapy.

 

[oldbrownhat]

Dave Barry’s colonoscopy journal

GF sent this to me last night and had to share it. As Forum rules frown on complete cut-and-paste, I'll just post this link. Most will know what to expect....

 

[lkabug]

I had a colonscopy middle of May. My first in approximately 16 years.
Three polyps found and removed. No issues.
But the nurses in recovery did award me the big toot award! Imagine 7 old men in a chorus. Not a pretty image,

 

[Sixgun100]

Just please get the Colonoscopy. I had my first one a year ago. Some polyps removed and told to go back in one year. Didn’t really want to, but I did in June. Currently recovering from my Rectal-Colon Cancer surgery. Radiation and Chemo to follow. This all developed in just one year. I expect a full recovery, hopefully. So, please just get’er done……..Jay

 

[JH1951]

Just get the colonoscopy. I just had one this month. While on the table before sleep, I asked about the Cologard as an alternative. Four staff present agreed that Cologard is an alternative, but not one that they would take advantage of. Several 'reasons' followed. The non invasive method is not 100% accurate. That inaccuracy could go either way, positive or negative. Actually 'going in' and looking is much more accurate. Further, if Cologard indicates positive, you must follow up with a colonoscopy. A catch seems to be (in this region, anyway) that many insurance companies will not pay for both. That indicates that if Colorgard gives a positive, you are on the hook for the cost of the colonoscopy. Sounds potentially expensive to me. Now, I will temper that with the fact that those that I polled were all in the business of giving colonoscopy exams. That could have influenced the information they gave me. I worked in the health insurance industry for thirty years, and will say that not all insurers use the same criteria for allowing or disallowing payments. So, it would be best to check with your insurer on the payment issue prior to taking what seems to be the easy way out.
For most people a colonoscopy is a pain in the butt, and they go back to life as they knew it the day before. For some it is a life altering event, which many times can be remedied. Why risk your long-term wellbeing by avoiding an unpleasant diagnostic procedure?
I am glad I had it done. I had delayed having it done for a couple years knowing it wasn't the smart move. Results came back showing some cells the doctor didn't like. Now I must have one next year.

 

[Golddollar]

I've done Cologard twice, no problems indicated at all.

One of my medical providers wants me to get a colonoscopy, but I'm a little bit reluctant to do it. The last time somebody was poking around in my innards it did not go well for me.