HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How often does your GI recommend for you to get a colonoscopy?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/19/2011 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
I'm just newly diagnosed with proctitis. The rest of my colon is fine and there were no polyps. But, my GI has not mentioned how often he's going to recommend that I have a colonoscopy done. I have an appt with him the end of the month so I guess we'll discuss it then.

Based on your diagnosis, how often does your doctor have you coming back for colonoscopy?
Posted 5/19/2011 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
Now that I am past the 10 year mark, I go every two years. But before that, I had my initial, then another 3 years later (got a new GI) and then after that 5 years. It all depends on several things, how often you flare, problems found (polyps, cancer, dysplasia, family history etc.) and/or getting a new doctor.
Posted 5/19/2011 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
I go yearly. I had severe uc throught my whole colon.  The remicade has helped it and now my left side is completely healed and my right has mild inflammation.  She does them yearly for me because we like to see if the remicade is still working.  She also said because I was so severe before. So, lucky me.
Posted 5/19/2011 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm at 7 years with UC and my GI wants a scope done once a year from now on.
Posted 5/19/2011 3:33 PM (GMT 0)

Here's an approach from the Cleveland Clinic:

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/

  1. Cleveland Clinic said...

The frequency with which colonoscopic screenings should be performed varies according to the extent of colitis, duration of disease, and history of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Because the risk of cancer is low throughout the first decade after the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, surveillance need not be performed more frequently than every 3 years. As the cancer risk increases, the testing interval should shorten. One reasonable approach calls for tests every 3 years for 12 years, then every 2 years for 10 years, and annually thereafter. Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis have an increased risk of colorectal cancer, so endoscopic surveillance examinations should be performed annually.

Posted 5/19/2011 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
I have had UC for 5 years. Since I started having symptoms I've had 2 flex sigs and 2 colonoscopies. I think it depends on your condition partially. I was having symptoms but I was on prednisone and my GI wanted to confirm that I had inflammation and not IBS and where the inflammation was located/severity to know the best way to treat. I have never been given a schedule because I always have a problem and end up needing one sooner than later. Hopefully I can go a few years without having one. I did have a precancerous polyp once, maybe that puts me in a higher risk category.
Posted 5/19/2011 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
After I've had the disease for 7-10 years, I'm supposed to get one every other year. I've had two so far: one at diagnosis, one when I changed GIs, and a sigmoidoscopy (with no sedation during severe flare...never again...) when I went to see my first GI.
Posted 5/19/2011 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with moderate left side colitis in 2009 and my GI said every two years for a colonoscopy, I think partly because I was also diagnosed with IBS about 10 years prior. Lialda got me out of that flare and I was good for about 18 months but started to flare again. In April I had my next colonoscopy which shared inflammation in the sigmoid colon. I am still at every two years for a colonoscopy.
Posted 5/19/2011 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
in the 22+ years, I had a scope for diagnosis and another one at the end of the first year. Then every 3 years. The last 2 times were every 2 years, and I'll stay at that.

All my scopes are clear regarding precancer....

q
Posted 5/20/2011 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Yearly. I've had UC for 14 yrs now. I believe one of the main reasons for my yearly colonoscopies is because I was adopted with no family history to consult for possible cancer issues. My UC has also been very aggressive and is throughout my whole colon. When I was in remission for 6ish years I went every other year for one.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply