Colonoscopy - how often do you get one?

When in the first few years of UC, you don't really need a colonoscopy til you flare (in my opinion). However, after having the disease for 10 years, it's recommended you get a colonoscopy every 2 years to screen for colon cancer.

I get them on average every 3 years. Last time was 2 years after the one before.

I had one at diagnosis and then a year later....all biopsies were clear of precancer, so 3 years later was the suggestion. Anything earlier was if things were wonky and out of my pattern of symptoms.

q

I'd say it's overkill.

USGE guidelines suggest colonoscopy for diagnosis; when it will provide a major alteration in treatment; periodically after 8-10 years.  These guidelines suggest against (or used to suggest against) colonoscopy to visualize the disease, otherwise "to check things out."

Most guidelines suggest a doctor rely on symptoms to treat the disease.

It's just not necessary. 

The treatment of UC is fairly routine:  5-ASAs and their counterparts (rectal and oral); immunodialators (Imuran/ 6-mp); monoclonal therapies like Remicade; predisone as needed; surgery. 

In most cases, treatment doesn't change.  There are plenty of posts here that report a colonoscopy and a GI's recommendation that treatment continue as usual.  Or, reports that a GI suggests Imuran because the ASAs aren't cutting it.  In that case, what's the point of a colonoscopy?  Treat the symptoms.

As an imprecise analogy, cadiologists don't order a stress test, holter monitor, or echo every time a BP medication is ineffective.  They prescribe a different medication.

Going back to the late 80s and early 90s to current, there are GIs who suggest that the overuse of colonsocopy is, at best, an annoyance for the patient, but the prep, sedation, and procedure do all carry risks and costs, not to mention loss of productivity.

Hmm, that makes a lot of sense in terms of determining treatment. On the other hand, I did have a polyp last time so I was glad they found it and removed it.

Thanks everyone for your experiences. I just had a follow-up today for regular bloodwork and did get pressure from the NP about the colonoscopy. We put it off for 2 months when i will meet with GI again and discuss it then. Quincy, it does seem like you had a colonoscopy one year after diagnosis, which is what this would be for me, but since my uc is well controlled on current dosage of 6mp I don't really see how it is warranted, especially without any prior history of polyps.

Thanks again!

I used to only get them after I got over a flare, if I hadn't had one for about 4 or 5 years. Not while in a flare, youch.

Now I am now supposed to get one every two years. Usually it was more than two years because I would still wait until I had a flare, and she would say, hey, it's time, after this flare has passed. Now I think she will be more strict about it since I am on Remicade and expected to see her once each year.

The downside in my view is the waste of healthcare resources. We all have to do our part to not agree to unecessary procedures just because the doctors like to keep their procedure schedules full and the healthcare dollars flowing. Ask if it's really necessary, don't agree to one "just to check things out" and trust your instincts.

To be really harsh, what difference does it make what they see in regard to the status of the disease? The treatment is the same, you keep trying things until something works and you can manage.