Wellness

[hckynut]

@Xivambala 

Over the years I have had most, or many tests, that involve the the upper and lower intestines. I don't see how anyone could forget if they had a Barium Enema! As one with 15 Colonoscopies and 4 lower Double Balloon Enteroscopies done? The Barium Enema is the most unforgettable to me.

hckynut 

[Xivambala]

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@hckynut wrote:

@Xivambala 

Over the years I have had most, or many tests, that involve the the upper and lower intestines. I don't see how anyone could forget if they had a Barium Enema! As one with 15 Colonoscopies and 4 lower Double Balloon Enteroscopies done? The Barium Enema is the most unforgettable to me.

hckynut 

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@hckynut - Don't blame you, however, many people were sent for lower GI's with strictures, preventing them from having a complete colonoscopy.

[AspenGrove]

@Nataliesgramma  -- I urge you to have a colonoscopy instead of trusting Cologuard. As I've posted here before, I am the poster child for why!  I did the Cologuard test and it came back totally negative. My doctor instructed me to have a colonoscopy as well.  And thank goodness for that. Guess what? Cologuard was 100% wrong. I had a cancerous polyp removed during the colonoscopy. Luckily, I had to have no further treatment -- other than repeat colonoscopies every few years. I remain totally healthy and free of polyps that could potentially turn cancerous. My gastro made it very clear that had I trusted Cologuard, the outcome would have been very different. I might not be here typing this note. No exaggeration. The ONLY medically proven way to accurately check your colon's health is a colonoscopy. It can save your life. It saved mine. 

[chrystaltree]

Yes, I did it two years ago.  I did not want to do a colonoscopy, I'd put it off for several years.  Since I had no risk factors for colon cancer and I agreed to do the colonoscopy if Cologuard was positive; my doctor ordered the Cologuard for me.  Read the directions very carefully and be calm when you do.  I did it wrong the first time!  I called the customer service number and they were so nice and helpful.  She said I wasn't the only one and she sent me a new kit at no additional expense.  Got it done the second time.  You have do it every 3 years so I'm due next October.  

[chrystaltree]

@Goldengate8361 

You are right.  Over 90% accurate for colon cancer.  About the same as a colonoscopy which is about 95% accurate. .  But Cologuard is less accurate for polyps, which is why they recommend doing it every 3 years.  

[hckynut]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

 But Cologuard is less accurate for polyps, which is why they recommend doing it every 3 years.  

@chrystaltree 

 And if during those 3 years, then what? A Colonoscopy! Who in their right mind wants to wait until a test shows they do have cancer, when there is a procedure that tells you before you have cancer?

Makes absolutely no sense to me. Cologuard can be used to DETECT CANCER, it however cannot and will not prevent cancer. Again, why would anyone want to know they have cancer as opposed to preventing it ?

Many might not know that Colorectal Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of Cancer Deaths in the United States. 

The friend I mentioned in my other post? You think he didn't regret passing on getting a Colonoscopy? He had 2+ plus pretty miserable years to think about it before that Cancer killed him!

hckynut 

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[Shelbelle]

If you really want to be 100% sure of your results, bite the bullet and have the colonoscopy, it is 2 days of inconvenience, but what a relief when the doc says you are fine, come back in 5 to 10 years, at least that is how it was for me twice. I did have a few small benign polyps removed, something Cologuard would probably have missed. Cologuard is like a bandaid, it does not spell accuracy. 

[depglass]

My GP said OK after I told him my last one was under general anesthesia and they couldn't even complete it.  It seems there is too much in our files for doc's to be aware of everything.  Negative.

[Still Raining]

2019 Cancer Deaths in Females by Percent

• 22% - Lung & Bronchus
• 15% - Breast
• 9% - Colon & Rectum
• 8% - Pancreas
• 5% - Ovary
• 5% - Uterine
• 4% - Liver
• 3% - Leukemia 
• 3% - Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 
• 3% - Brain & Nervous System
• 23% - Other

So we won't smoke -22%

Do get our annual breast exam,

Do get our mammogram (no problem with the tugging or squeeze) -15%

Do get our annual exam with smear (please slide down more while I turn on the high beam) -(5% + 5%)

but a colonoscopy????  Ewwwwwe +9%

[hckynut]

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@depglass wrote:

My GP said OK after I told him my last one was under general anesthesia and they couldn't even complete it.  It seems there is too much in our files for doc's to be aware of everything.  Negative.

@depglass 

Not really sure what your post is addressing other than "my GP said OK". Maybe that is addressed in another one of your posts in this thread. Anyways, this I can tell you.

For most of my 15 Colonoscopies I was given Fentanyl and Versed, which is not considered a general anesthesia, at least not that I know. 2 were done with Zero anesthesia/the last one I had they were using Propofol, which is a general anesthesia.

Too much in "our files" for doctors to  be aware of everything, what does that even mean? My files alone are a pretty big stack of many different serious issues, and in the hands of several doctors. Throw in my wife's starting with 12 abdominal surgeries and a stroke?

I am missing your point in the above post that is "quoted".

hckynut 

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