does it makes sense to get a coloniscopy while in a flare?

Dr. Wants me to get a colonoscopy while in a flare. Doesnt make sense to me cause all he will see is that i am having a flare. I guess i cant help but doubt my dr cause he always wants me to get a coloniscopy. Thoughts?

My previous GI doc wanted to scope me when I was flaring 2 years ago. I had been sick with pancreatitis and cdiff so I don't think he believed me when I said I was flaring. I couldn't even do the prep so he had me do a fleets enema and one of his partners did a flex sig. My current doc scoped me a year ago when I was having symptoms but only after he had me use canasa for a month with no response. I think some docs prefer to see with their own eyes what's going on in there. I also think it depends on how they were trained.

My first scope was during a mild flare for my diagnosis. That was 4 years ago and my flares have become much worse so my new GI wants a scope in 2 weeks. She already put me on pred tho to get this flare under control. Of course, a colonoscopy its the last thing I want to do, but realistically I know that she needs to see how much my condition has progressed so we can treat this right.

I'd guess thats what your doctor wants as well, but i dont know your UC history so I couldnt tell you for sure. If its been a while or If your disease changed, they need to check disease progression; or if you have pancolitis for 8+ years they need to check for polyps regularly. You could always try getting a second opinion if you feel your doc recommends unnecessary procedures.

For me it would depend on several things but generally I'd decline a c-scope during flare unless:
1) symptoms were different than any in the past and worried me
2) it has been several years since the last c-scope and flare was not getting better

I have said "no" to getting a scope and my GI did not bat an eye.

Maybe they teach GI's in school not to be empathetic but going through that prep while flaring is cruel and unusual punishment in my book. Bad enough when not flaring. My last c-scope was a nightmare because I live an hour away from the scope center and I got in the worst traffic jam ever because of an accident on the Interstate made everyone pile onto the main road. I had no idea what was causing the gridlock and it was pure hell for an hour (added an hour onto drive time).

Since getting sick, I literally flared for 23 yrs so I was always scoped during flares. My very first scope with no flare (in remission with my crohn's colitis) was after going on Humira and I finally saw my insides looking mostly normal (only have a few spots in the rectum with scars) for the first time in my life.

The only time I get colonoscopies is when flaring.

beatUC said...
The only time I get colonoscopies is when flaring.

Me too I guess. I have symptoms and they give me meds and they don't work and then my GI says something along the lines of "let's take a look and see what's going on". Usually the GI assumes your symptoms aren't as bad as you say, or it's IBS related... especially if blood-work is normal - which mine always is. My GI was on a new kick for the calprotectin test, which can also be great for showing the extent of inflammation, but it's still not quite the same as seeing exactly where it's active and to what extent.

I would do the scope if it's been ~2 years+ since your last scope and you're having trouble getting the flare up under control.

Id be concerned if you werent being scoped in a flare. The reason we scope is 1) to see the level and extent of inflammation and 2) to confirm inflammation exists. Just because you have all the symptoms of a flare doesnt mean you are actually in one. I see this every week in clinic.