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Colonoscopy, how often ??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/27/2008 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Just wondering how often we should have colonoscopy's done?? I hear different things all the time. When I was first diagnosed via colonoscopy I was told yearly... then when I asked about it a year later I was told not to worry about it since I wasn't having any symptoms. I asked a different doctor, and was told every 5-10 years. Now that I have symptoms, I am told that I may have one done unless the symptoms clear up in the next month and then I won't have one done.

??

confused.
Posted 4/27/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
My doc does every two years then every year after ten years with UC. I'm not sure whether he's doing them closer together because my mom had colon cancer (but not IBD.)
Posted 4/27/2008 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
my doc says every year when having problems.  once every 3-5 years after having UC for 10 or more years, when things are quiet.(remission)

Posted 4/27/2008 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have one every 3 years....all things are clear regarding cancer. If I were to be having problems that were out of the ordinary and not being helped by meds, my GI would probably do another one before the normal time.

I've had 7 c-scopes in the 19 years so far.
One at diagnosis, one after the first year and then one every 3 years.

quincy
Posted 4/27/2008 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
I go once a year
Posted 4/27/2008 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
I asked my GI recently (I've been in Remicade remission for a year and a half) and he said eight years from now.
I might have one just to set my mind at ease in the next year or two. It just seems like a good idea.
James
Posted 4/27/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
My docs insist on yearly.
Posted 4/27/2008 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
every 2 years unless your having problems.

I just had one last month and we're going ot do another 1 after 1 year of remicade to see the progress
Posted 4/28/2008 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all... :O)

Another question too.....

If you have a colonoscopy during a flare can the procedure and/or prep make the flare any worse ??
Posted 4/28/2008 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
It all depends on the doc for the most part on how often colonoscopies should be done...and yes, it can worsen or even bring on a flare when getting a colonoscopy but the risk isn't necessarily really high and it's still better to get scoped than not.

:)
Posted 4/28/2008 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
agreed. I only had a flare be exacerbeted by the clean-out...the first two times I was already flaring so it didn't matter. Other times I wasn't flaring.

Best to have it than not.

quincy
Posted 4/28/2008 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
well, now that I have pancolitis and have had UC for 8 years I have to go yearly now.
I forget which one my GI said was why I had to go yearly???

my understanding (could be wrong) that you have colonoscopies every 5 years (or if you have a bad flare earlier) up to 10 years (so you go two times in 10 yrs) then you go every two years after that.

Uuugh, the worst part for me is the prep, I hate that, I get so nauseated and hurl!! I think I like the phosfo soda the best (the least amt to drink) I am going to see if I can do that for my next one. The miralax stuff made me barf!
Posted 4/29/2008 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
During my recent hospitalization I asked the doc about this.

He said unless you're having problems that are not being resolved by regular treatment methods - resistant flare - colonoscopies should be done at the 10 year mark and then yearly (maybe every two) after that for cancer screening.

Each GI I have had usually has his own opinion - except this one and the last one whom I really liked - they both seem to have the same opinion.
Posted 4/29/2008 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all... very helpful !! :O)
Posted 4/29/2008 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I have been going every year to 18 months
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