Bad Colonoscope Experience

[UncleEd]

To clarify an earlier post by me regarding
not getting the procedure. At a certain
point in one's age, the risk of damages
from the procedure outweighs the
benefits. I've had three but as I got along
in years, the doctor advised against any more.

 

[Golddollar]

To clarify an earlier post by me regarding
not getting the procedure. At a certain
point in one's age, the risk of damages
from the procedure outweighs the
benefits. I've had three but as I got along
in years, the doctor advised against any more.

Is there any sort of table of risk in colonoscopies at a given age? My one medical provider wants me to get one but since I spent 3 days in the hospital from a botched attempt to stent my heart I've been a little skittish about anybody poking around in my innards.

 

[prairieviper]

I had a colonoscopy last week and had intense abdomen pain afterwards. They were so severe I went to the E.R. and had a C.T. of my small intestines which didn't show anything either. I am still having abdominal pain so I guess my next step is a visit to a G.I. Specialist.

O.P. Next time have a Colongard test instead. It is non-invasive and claims to be 99.9% accurate.

Yes, but if the Cologuard test is positive, isn't the next step a colonoscopy?

 

[soFlaNative]

As mentioned by several, having a colonoscopy is a very import procedure. It can save your life
That said we can't have a thread on the subject without Dave Barrys article. Very funny writer He also has some videos.

The article was graphic enough, I'll pass on the video.
Vodka in the prep?
"staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house."
Good stuff from a local writer.

 

[lkabug]

I had my first colonscopy at age 50. Nothing of a concern to be found. 26 years later I had my second. 4 polyps were found and removed, one rather large, which explained a few issues I was having. However, none were cancerous.
Get the test, be safe.

 

[oger]

I get a colongard test every year, well the last 2 were false negative and just had about 1/3 of my colon removed. So far so good the cancer didn't penetrate the colon wall and everything tested neg after the surgery. Get the colonscopy it could save your life.

 

[UncleEd]

Is there any sort of table of risk in colonoscopies at a given age? My one medical provider wants me to get one but since I spent 3 days in the hospital from a botched attempt to stent my heart I've been a little skittish about anybody poking around in my innards.

I believe patients have to be evaluated
regarding their physical health, etc. before
answering yes or no.

While this is an interesting thread with plenty
of anecdotal material offered, it's still the
doctors and the patients that must decide
on individual bases.

 

[Onomea]

I get a colongard test every year, well the last 2 were false negative and just had about 1/3 of my colon removed. So far so good the cancer didn't penetrate the colon wall and everything tested neg after the surgery. Get the colonscopy it could save your life.

Oger, very glad you are okay.

Thanks for posting this. It makes an important point: Fecal testing is no where near as accurate as a colonoscopy.

 

[jem102]

Sorry, but I have to completely disagree with this! A colonoscopy found my stage 4 rectal cancer, as well as, my affected lymph nodes and polyps. Thank goodness, I am now in remission! I am so sorry to hear about the problems Steve K had. I have never heard of that. You are ALWAYS taking a risk, however small, when you have any procedure done. I pray that your problems are corrected easily. Did your procedure show any possible cancerous issues? I will always preach the importance of getting a colonoscopy until I am no longer able!

"Cologuard can only detect 42% of large polyps, while a colonoscopy can detect 95% of large polyps. When polyps are detected during a colonoscopy they are removed at the same time. If polyps are detected with Cologuard, a colonoscopy must be performed to remove them." Also Cologuard has many more false positives and negatives than a colonoscopy.
Larry

Absolutely agree! Found my stage 3B. Surgery and a rough chemo regimen but working on year 4 clear. Will be going in this year at age 72 for another colonoscopy and if all OK may be my last. As with others I have had 2 and no side effects but the prep is far from a pleasant experience.

Best to you Steve!

 

[brucev]

Identical twin brother died of cancer at age 48. I kept finding excuses to not get tested until my wife got after me. Got tested. OK. Four polyps which were removed. Have had several more colonoscopies. No more polyps. My wife is a very excellent nurse. She said the colonoscopy is the gold standard. Nothing else comes close. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Delta Expatriate]

I think I have had four colonoscopies, and due to polyps, now on the three year plan, instead of the five year plan, and just got an email telling me it is time to schedule another. I had no major problems with any of them, but the first one seemed to go the best. I am one that believes it is prudent to get them. I do not look forward to the prep.

However, I will speak to your question abouth anethesia maybe being the cause, because that experience is still very much on my mind. Nearly two years ago, I had the Urolyft procedure, for my enlarged prostate. The next day, after I took the catheter out that I was sent home with, according to the urology clinic's instructions, I could not urinate. It got worse during the day, and finally, just before rolling around on the bathroom floor in pain, I gave in and called 911 and was taken to the emergency room, where I was recatherized, given a leg bag, given an Uber ride home in the middle of night, and told to wear it for close to a week, when I went back to the clinic to have it taken out. I think I was told the anesthesia might have caused it. BTW, the Urolyft, over time, has definitely helped, but I recommend anyone considering it ask a lot of questions about urinary retention.

Then, a week ago tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, I had back surgery (the TLIF procedure I recently started a thread on). It was supposed to be outpatient as well, but while I was in recovery, it was discovered that I had urinary retention again. I was catherized, hopitalized for a night, and sent home with a leg bag that I had to wear nearly a week. I again was told anethtesia might be the cause. The catheter was taken out early this afteroon (Monday). So after a couple of issues with urinary retention after anesthesia, I will certainly make my doctors of aware of it before anymore surgeries. I have never had a serious issue with urinary retention after any colonoscopy (the most recent in 2020).

BTW, the TLIF surgery otherwise seems to be helping, but if I have anymore to say about it, I will do on the appropriate thread.

 

[Igiveup]

I have had several colonoscopies thru the years. Colon cancer got my grandfather and my father. I have had polyps removed and the last few times I have opted for what I call a "top and bottom", which is an endoscopy and colonoscopy. They discovered cancer in my esophgus, which has been surgically removed and several follow up endoscopies later. The strange thing is I did not clean out good enough for the colonoscopy. Now, a couple years later, I have to reschedule the colonoscopy. This thread has reminded me of that.

 

[Rustyt1953]

My last colonoscopy was over 15 years ago. Since then I've done the box three times with all negatives. All were ordered by my PCP.

As to which route one should take I say "you poo you and I'll poo me".

 

[martyd]

This is why they call it:

"The Practice of Medicine"

 

[Kinman]

PS: I, too, do my business in a box.

My dad died of colon cancer, I've had at least four or five starting when I was around fifty, seventy two years this June. The best one I ever had was with the V.A., lots of good drugs, great people working on me. They had me so doped up I came to sitting on the table with my clothes on, the little nurse told me "Your wife is here, you can go." I asked her "Who put my clothes on?" She said "Oh you did, don't make any internet purchases today." The last one was with the V.A. this past fall, it was almost like a comedy hour, they took my picture while all gowned up and wrote "If you see this man, call Security" and posted it on the wall. I love the V.A.
The prep is by far the worst part. My wife refused to be sedated, they are tougher than we are for sure.

 

[Doug M.]

Is there any sort of table of risk in colonoscopies at a given age? My one medical provider wants me to get one but since I spent 3 days in the hospital from a botched attempt to stent my heart I've been a little skittish about anybody poking around in my innards.

*
Chat this up with your doctor(s)? I don't blame you for being more than a little nervous after that. I got a stent (actually 2 end to end) about 18 months ago. The experience was unpleasant for a lot of reasons, and that hospital was unimpressive. I had more review done as part of the transplant screening and the difference was night and day. At this bigger, more experienced place, the level of care was obviously better. I could tell that the evaluation and then angiogram were done by people who are smoooooth as a result of experience. Not cocky, but confident and decisive. I had to have a bypass as a result, which made me pretty anxious, but it was as positive an experience as one could want. Fun? No. Good care? Yup.

I don't like needles. I am a control freak, so being knocked out is hard to contemplate. Still beats the hell out cancer, every day.

 

[hemiram]

I had a colonoscopy last week and had intense abdomen pain afterwards. They were so severe I went to the E.R. and had a C.T. of my small intestines which didn't show anything either. I am still having abdominal pain so I guess my next step is a visit to a G.I. Specialist.

O.P. Next time have a Colongard test instead. It is non-invasive and claims to be 99.9% accurate.

I had a Cologard and it was positive, and I did have a polyp, but my doctor said, "They give false positives and negatives, so just have the damn Colonoscopy!". I've had 4 actual ones and a "virtual", where you do the prep, same as a "real" one, and take some sort of dye, then they stick you in an MRI machine and pump air into your colon. I have a longer than normal colon, and the normal probe won't see the last 12" of it. I'll be going in for both again soon. I can hardly wait.

 

[hemiram]

Had my first one at 62, after a positive Cologard test. I had a polyp they removed. I had to have another one to make sure the entire polyp was gone, and then they found a flat polyp. Had to have ANOTHER ONE with a different doctor, to remove the flat polyp, then another one to make sure it was 100% gone. And then a virtual one, which is the same prep without being asleep, while they pump air into your colon. I hated it.That was all within about a year and a half. It's almost time for both again. Joy.

 

[jag312]

....I then went to a urologist who said it was the anesthesia causing the problem....

Nothing for me to worry about. I do the colonoscopy without anesthesia. I want to be awake when anyone is back there. The procedure is not painful, but it feels really weird.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

The recovery room was like being in a John Philip Sousa concert.

Actually it was more like a Yamaha two stroke outboard smoke off!!