Colonoscopy with a pacemaker - Page 4

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Trailrun23 wrote:
DH is supposed to have this three year colonoscopy after getting a letter saying he was overdue fo it...at his last one they found two benign polyps. He called to schedule the procedure and when they found out he had a pacemaker out in last summer and was also on Eloquis, he could not have the colonoscopy at the same outpatient clinic he had his others. He wa told he had to be admitted to the hospital and it would be done as an inpatient and he would have to stay overnight.

****************************************
Medicare says they only cover colonoscopies if they are outpatient, not done in the hospital as inpatient. Aetna also says the same. Anyone had experience with this scenario?

@Trailrun23

Medicare does cover In-patient Colonoscopies. Of my 16 Colonoscopies, all under Medicare, all but 2 were performed as an In-patient. My most recent Endo-Colonoscopy last fall, was done in a hospital, as an Out-patient.

While costs may vary by what part of the country one lives, that should not make a difference when it is being paid by a federal entity.

As far as 21 pills versus 1 gallon of Go/NuLytely? If I add my 5 Double Balloon Enteroscopies, to my total, of 16 Colonoscopies? I have drank 21 gallons of GoLytely or NuLytely. Given the Choice? It would be to drink gallon #22. I have never found it to be as bad as others that feel it is some type of torture.

Hope DH gets this all figured out.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@Trailrun23 wrote:
DH is supposed to have this three year colonoscopy after getting a letter saying he was overdue fo it...at his last one they found two benign polyps. He called to schedule the procedure and when they found out he had a pacemaker out in last summer and was also on Eloquis, he could not have the colonoscopy at the same outpatient clinic he had his others. He wa told he had to be admitted to the hospital and it would be done as an inpatient and he would have to stay overnight. Medicare says they only cover colonoscopies if they are outpatient, not done in the hospital as inpatient. Aetna also says the same. Anyone had experience with this scenario?

The dr doesn't want him to bleed to death if they have to remove a polyp. A hospital is the safest place for anyone on blood thinners having a colonoscopy.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@CalminHeart wrote:
@Trailrun23 wrote:
DH is supposed to have this three year colonoscopy after getting a letter saying he was overdue fo it...at his last one they found two benign polyps. He called to schedule the procedure and when they found out he had a pacemaker out in last summer and was also on Eloquis, he could not have the colonoscopy at the same outpatient clinic he had his others. He wa told he had to be admitted to the hospital and it would be done as an inpatient and he would have to stay overnight. Medicare says they only cover colonoscopies if they are outpatient, not done in the hospital as inpatient. Aetna also says the same. Anyone had experience with this scenario?

The dr doesn't want him to bleed to death if they have to remove a polyp. A hospital is the safest place for anyone on blood thinners having a colonoscopy.

@CalminHeart

I agree, for the most part. It can depend on which blood thinner a patient is taking.

Before my friend, which is also my Spinal Surgeon, would remove my ruptured L-3 lumbar disc, I had to be off Coumadin/Warfarin for 10 days.

Along with that, my INR blood number had to be a 2.2 to a 2.5, or he would not have performed it. Had I still been on Plavix, it would have been 20 days.

He did the surgery in his office, and I got to watch it all on a monitor. I was in and out of his office in less than 3 hours.

As far as Eliquis or Pradaxa, I was only on Eliquis for 8 weeks for a blood clot in my left arm. How they check for clotting time on these types of blood thinners? I have no idea. With Coumadin/Warfarin it is strictly INR/ProTime blood numbers, of which I am way too familiar with over many years.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

Friend of mine who is 80, has a pacemaker, she just booked what she believes will be her final colonoscopy. Said her plan for the test is same as in the past outpatient at a surgi ctr. She said her gastro doc never even mentioned her pacemaker , I told her to discuss it with him before the test. She plans on doing that.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Shelbelle wrote:
Friend of mine who is 80, has a pacemaker, she just booked what she believes will be her final colonoscopy. Said her plan for the test is same as in the past outpatient at a surgi ctr. She said her gastro doc never even mentioned her pacemaker , I told her to discuss it with him before the test. She plans on doing that.

@Shelbelle

Agree with you. It is always a good idea to discuss these things with the doctor, or their nurse, prior to having the procedure. My Gastro Doctor requires an office visit before either of my many procedures, Endoscopy or Colonoscopy.

Her final Colonoscopy? Here I am at 83, and?? I of course had/have a big Colon bleeding issue, and Barrett's Esophagus.

hckynut 🇺🇸