Getting scoped during remission

I don't really take any meds consistently, it's more on a when-needed basis. I know many people have many different opinions and we should always stay up to date on our meds. However, a question I never had answered that I asked before, was when you are all in remission, do you still schedule yearly/bi-yearly scopes? Honestly, like we all know, even if you feel good; your body could be reaping havoc on itself inside. Thus, I was just wondering for any of those in remission if you still get scoped as a precautionary measure. I figure if I keep going each year, at least they would be able to tell if I'm still doing okay or not on my current regiment of diet and exercise.

My husband's GI goes by symptoms and blood work. When he goes in every 6 months, he gets blood work for inflammation markers and for his kidney and liver function. If he finds his inflammation markers raised, even without symptoms, I think he'd then recommend a colonoscopy. His GI considers a colonoscopy pretty invasive if you are feeling well, and there are no indications of inflammation.

Of course my husband's case is such that usually anytime he has inflammation it shows up in his blood work. I know some people have active disease even when their inflammation markers are normal, so I think the decision of when a colonoscopy is warranted is based on the individual and the features of their disease.

PV

I go to my GI every 6 months if things are going well. He orders blood work and that is it. The only time he scopes is when I am having symptoms. He will then do a sigmoidoscopy without prep since my worst problems are in the last couple of inches of the colon. That tells him whether there is inflammation or where the bleeding is coming from. We can then talk about treatment of those symptoms and hopefully the treatment works (Pred etc.).

The problem with relying on blood work alone is that some types of Crohn's don't show in the blood work. I have been almost passing out from bleeding so much, in an acute flare, but it is all in the last 2 inches of my colon, so the blood work doesn't show any markers. I have only had full colonoscopies when I was first diagnosed, and then when I was hospitalized last year. My GI feels that since I have already been diagnosed it is not necessary to put me through the prep etc. unless we feel there is something new to learn.

I can survive the prep, but my experience with colonoscopies is that it takes me weeks for my digestive system to settle down afterwards. I am currently in remission and taking Pentasa daily. My GI says I only need a colonoscopy every three to five years, but more often if I go back into a flare.

My GI recommends scopes once a year after you've had CD for over 10 years because the incidence of colon cancer increases at that point. I push them to 1 1/2 to 2 years because of the cost.

I think 12-18 months apart for me.