flex sig or colonscopy?

I'm not sure how you were originally diagnosed as it sounds as if you haven't ever had either a flex or a colonoscopy. I'm guessing based on symptoms. I agree with your GI. I only had ulcerative proctitis originally, but I got a full colonoscopy in order to make the diagnosis. You still have to prep either way and my GI will not allow a simple enema to act as a prep. He gives the same prep whether it's a flex sig. or a full colonoscopy.

If they are going in anyway, let them look at it all! This way you know what you are dealing with.

Well I'm guessing your GI wants to make sure there isn't anything else going on and rule out anything else.

I know colonoscopy is not a fun game at all but one test does it all.

When I was first diagnosed my first few exams were always colonoscopy. Maybe, it was to make sure there were nothing else going on.

Now I get flex and a colonoscopy from time to time to check for colon cancer as we supposedly are more prone to it.

Chantrelle, my GI is extremely anal (no pun intended). He wants to make sure a person is really cleaned out. And I think his thinking is what if he goes in to do a flex sig and he feels that based on what he sees he wants to do a full colonoscopy. He knows that he can just keep going because he made the person do a prep for a colonoscopy anyway.

RockerGirl said...
Chantrelle, my GI is extremely anal (no pun intended). He wants to make sure a person is really cleaned out. And I think his thinking is what if he goes in to do a flex sig and he feels that based on what he sees he wants to do a full colonoscopy. He knows that he can just keep going because he made the person do a prep for a colonoscopy anyway.

Well personally I would prefer doing the full prep even if it is a pain ! I'm always afraid the test can't be done properly.

my GI seems in a hurry and in a rush to get you out of the office. She pretty short on information and all. Thank good that I have a good GP, I've more info about UC with her than my GI.

Hi Lotusrising -

Thought I'd present a contrasting viewpoint and one that is backed up by some really telling data. Your risk of colon issues does not decrease by getting one and it does not offer anything on the preventative front.

This is a four part series that changed my opinion on colonoscopies, and I've decided not to get any additional ones for the time being. The individual presenting the data is Konstantin Monastyrsky, the author of Fiber Menace. He's an investigative medical journalist. I highly recommend you take some time to watch these before coming to a decision:

The main article summarizing risk to benefit analysis.

The videos:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

I do believe, however, they are good for getting that initial colitis diagnosis and seeing how far the inflammation extends, but each subsequent colonscopy tends to be more and more useless IMO. The risks of complications increase as well.

As for me, I got one every year from 2010 onwards, but it was just so futile because it never really did anything to help me deal with the disease. I would have fared better if a doc told me how to prevent colon cancer and other issues instead of merely "checking" for it.

Best.

Thank you!!!

i have been doing research on colonoscopies and am going to see my GI on Wed.
I will listen to his arguments but i am firmly resolved not to get one.

I hope he listens to my needs. Don't think he will.

I don't think my problem extends that high and a col. is not needed and will cause more harm than good.

I also think that for many, colonoscopies are a money maker. Diarrhea gives me major flares, if he thought about my situation for one minute, that would be the worst thing.

symptoms alone ... or AT BEST a flex sig ...

i have read that most people only need a flex sig. --- it's up to each of us to believe or not.

i am sure some people need colonoscopies, but i don't feel this is my need.

http://drmcdougall.com/misc/2010nl/aug/colon.htm

i think that the least extreme diagnostic test should be performed first. since the problem seems to be at the very end, he should start there.

until he can convince me that a colonoscopy is worth the risk and better than a flex sig... i am not going to go that route due to the risk of flares and other risks. safety first.

i will go with open ears... but i don't think the GI will... i think his mind is already made up. and that tests are given way too much too often. i need proof that i need this.

i might add i only have certain symptoms - and it is not clear i have uc or proctitis. it's just a theory right now.

Post Edited (Lotusrising) : 5/25/2014 6:59:24 PM (GMT-6)

Yeah. I think you are trying to justify your fears. There are literally tens of thousands of us on here and about 99% of us have had at least one colonoscopy. Very few have suffered anything more than short term problems, at the worst. If your flexsig comes out completely negative then how do you know you don't have something more going on up higher? If your flexsig comes out completely bad, how do you know that you don't have anything more going on up higher? There's really only one way to know.

all those scopes and your disease kept on progressing r girl - hmmm, makes you wonder ?

you can say it 410 more times, but the bottom line is the symptoms usually coincide with what is seen up your butt - has anyone heard the words " well, that confirms it, you have uc " ?

thank you all, will digest this thoughtfully

<3 (heart)

Hi all,

i thought i would report the results of my meeting.

first of all, the GI was so nice and explained everything to my satisfaction. I felt his patience and genuine interest in doing what was best. He felt honest and i applauded his excellent bedside manner, which helped oh-so-much!

for now:
1) since travel doc sent back results from his scope up to 8 something or other which reported inflammation, GI did make yet again call for me having the proctitis, as nothing else fits my symptoms. He said it's not uncommon at all that pain is the only symptom. Don't need blood, pus, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal stuff, etc. That was a real eye opener for me!

2) he said the Canasa (5asa) drugs only work on 50% of people. So not too worried that it didn't work on me. Did find it interesting that the moment i got back on hydrocortisone i improved noticeably again. Says to expect improvement in 2 weeks with consolidation in 6.

3) says suppository cortisone not as bad like oral is.

4) if the next 6 weeks doesn't clear it: then colonoscopy. They don't do flex sigs for the most part, they're too expensive for their office, so i could do one but it would be crampy and cost almost as much (i guess i could try elsewhere...);

he also thinks that prepping for flex sig is worse than for colonsocopy or that equally unpleasant. ie 2 enemas vs moviprep.

...he gave me these reasons to do colonoscopy: in 3 years i'll want to be screened again anyway so why not just do it now; and... confirm the diagnosis and make sure (i suppose?) nothing else going on? i guess maybe if this treatment doesn't work, he needs to make sure exactly where-all problems are located to tell exactly what treatment to use, and not to make guesses, which is what he is doing now. He *IS* doing the "low impact" thing now.


5) after that he has some stronger things that can knock this out.

so at this point i am feeling quite heard by him, and i certainly appreciate all the feedback from this board too. Thank you, you have been quite helpful.

I am still worried about the colonoscopy. Ie risks of infection or perforation. How do others deal with this? but perhaps i will just hope that i don't get there. or ask again about this as time nears should this occur.

best ~

Post Edited (Lotusrising) : 5/28/2014 6:47:44 PM (GMT-6)

So glad you are happy with the visit. If you have never had one, it is a great idea to get one (colonoscopy)just to see everything going on in the colon. Risk of infection or perforation is low w. experienced dr.

However that being said....I think most docs are colonoscopy happy. I believe Ccfa guidelines are 10 years after diagnosis. Yet some docs want one every year (even in the beginning). Sounds like foolishness that a sigmoidoscopy is too expensive. Colonoscopy is way more involved w. Sedation etc....also way more expensive. Also while both unpleasant colonoscopy prep I thought was waaay worse and more involved. I question your docs thinking on this. Docs make a lot of money on colonoscopies.

So, I still think you should have one if you never did before...but I would beware of any scope happy docs....just my humble opinion.