Colonoscopy alternatives

[jyl]

I was overdue to have my first colonoscopy. Just never found a week when it was convenient to drink bowel prep, scour my bowels clean all night, go into the hospital, go under general anesthetic, and recover. Silly, but there it is.

So when I went to the doctor this week and they offered me the option of an outpatient screening test, I took it. This is a FIT (fecal immunochemical test). You are sent home with a vial, a plastic stick, and an envelope. Poop, push the end of the stick in the poop, drop it in the vial and seal said vial, put in envelope and mail.

My understanding it, the FIT test does a good job of finding colon cancer, but doesn't find polyps, so the test has to be repeated annually, unlike a colonoscopy which is done every several years. But - I'm not a medical person, so I'd like to hear others' views on this and other alternatives to colonoscopy.

[flatbutt]

never had that done. Seems that the FIT requires cancer to be formed whereas the scan can spot pre-cancerous polyps.

[John Rogers]

What I do is to get the doctor to schedule the test on Friday, then I can do the prep on Thursday and have the weekend to recover. So far that has worked for most any tests I have had to do except for the stress test which was done on a Tuesday and I was not expecting it to turn into a heart attack and have then keep me for a couple days and check to see how bad things were and if stents could be used (they could not). I figure my health is more important than most other things, especially work or hobbies!

[dad911]

I'm glad doc convinced me to go at 50, found pre-C polyps, so I go back now at 53.

I'd much rather find them pre-cancerous. Easy, you won't be down a week, 1-2 days max. Eating Jello & easily digestible food like soups and eggs make the prep much easier.

[Crowbob]

Gerbils?

[pavulon]

I'm unaware of any place routinely delivering true general anesthetics for colonoscopies. Varying depths of sedation are ubiquitous, may seem like GA to patients and may be coded/billed as GA for reimbursement purposes. Insurance companies are well known to balk at paying for anesthetist provided sedation unless "medically indicated".

I can't offer an opinion on FIT but the prep for a colonoscopy is typically the worst part of the process. While there are remote but real risks to having the procedure and sedation, it remains the gold standard for identification of (hopefully) early colon masses.

Originally Posted by jyl

go under general anesthetic, and recover.

I'm not a medical person, so I'd like to hear others' views on this and other alternatives to colonoscopy.

[BE911SC]

Colonoscopy is quite easy. Even the cleanse is no big deal. They put me under and then I woke up, seemingly a second later, all finished. I had a drink of juice, said I was okay and then went home. No polyps so I'm on the ten-year return plan.

[Racerbvd]

Well, I just had my 2nd one this year, and am listed as a "High Cancer" risk, based on all and the size of the polyps, I just turned 50 in August. I am now on the yearly plan
It just isn't worth the risk not to be sure.

I had to take my Mother in for one this week, they found a very large mass, the Doc said it would be too risky to try and remove at one time, so she had to go through the prep & not eat again, 2 days in a row, got it all out, waiting on biopsy.

As others have pointed out sedation is risky, and 2 days in a row, increase that, she is close too 80 and and came out like a champ.

[herr_oberst]

First one this year, 3 polyps, one possibly Pre-C, so I'll have another in three years.

You don't have to be put under, I watched the whole thing on TV in real time under a local. Didn't feel a thing.

Get one.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

Colonoscopy is quite easy. Even the cleanse is no big deal. They put me under and then I woke up, seemingly a second later, all finished. I had a drink of juice, said I was okay and then went home. No polyps so I'm on the ten-year return plan.

I had a colonoscopy at 50 and there were no polyps. As such, the 10 year plan was also recommended. That was 7 years ago. I did the occult blood screen a few times and those were negative also. It looks for RBC's in the stool which could indicate a sizeable polyp, but not necessarily cancer, so it's worth doing annually. But, 10 years is a long time. Considering going again before 10 years are up. We'll see.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by jyl

I was overdue to have my first colonoscopy. Just never found a week when it was convenient to drink bowel prep, scour my bowels clean all night, go into the hospital, go under general anesthetic, and recover. Silly, but there it is.

I went to work, came home and did the 'prep'.

Next day in to the doc early... they didn't knock me out but hoo boy whatever they gave me reeeealy relaxed me... I dosed off, woke in the middle of the procedure, looked up and thought "that is a weird video they are watching?' then realized I was looking at my innards so I closed my eyes and woke in the recovery room.

Went to work next day.

[Jrboulder]

its not even an all day kind of event. I got one a month ago and I came home before noon and was doing house projects in the afternoon.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Gerbils?

Ninja robot gerbils!

[gchappel]

I had a screening colonoscopy at 50.
No symptoms. No family history. No nothing.
They found a large colon cancer- size of a can of tennis balls. Stage IIIa- ready to spread.
Cured with surgery, going now on year 12.
Test is easy. Might save your life. Did me.
Test is no big deal, I have had 11 of them. Prep Thursday after work. Ready to go back to normal routine fri afternoon.
Your life, your call.
Gary

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

never had that done. Seems that the FIT requires cancer to be formed whereas the scan can spot pre-cancerous polyps.

There is no substitute for visualization and biopsy of any sketchy looking spots.


John,

Please, make time. If not for yourself, for your loved ones.

Toby

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Gerbils?

You gonna come clean my computer now? Best laugh I have had in a long time

[LeeH]

My brother in law was too busy, too. My sister will probably be a widow before this time next year.

[dan88911]

I do the FIT (fecal immunochemical test) annually jyl.
Did the short version of the colonoscopy some years ago, probably should do the long version.
That being said I think there is a CT scan you can get however,it may not be covered by insurance.

[URY914]

My colonoscopy saved my life so I kinda think it was worth my time. But if you have better things to do with your time your family I'm sure will understand. Maybe they will have time to come to your funeral. Unless they have better things to do too. It's your call.....

[Steve Carlton]

Prep morning of exam!