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New GI wants to do endoscopy but is it really necessary?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/1/2015 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
I had to start seeing a new GI because I moved and switched insurance. It is time for my yearly colonoscopy (I'm currently in remission so this is a checkup) and the doc wants to do an endoscopy as well. He said he wants to make sure I wasn't misdiagnosed.
Huh?
I asked him if there was something in my med recs that would make him think that and he said no, he just wants to be thorough and make sure I don't have Crohns. Does this sound weird to anyone else? I've had UC for 17 years. Or is it weird that I've never had an endoscopy to rule out Crohns? I'm wondering if an endoscopy is really necessary. Thoughts?
Posted 11/1/2015 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
I'd not do one if I was in remission but if you have one yearly anyway then aren't you going to be doing one anyway?
Posted 11/1/2015 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Why do u do it yearly?
Posted 11/1/2015 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
I would say no to the endoscopy, no to the yearly colonoscopy, and yes to another new GI.
Posted 11/1/2015 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
I do a colonoscopy yearly because I've had the disease for a long time and all of my colon is affected. All of my previous GI's, not just the new one, have recommended a yearly colonoscopy after having the disease for 10 years, even while in remission. They check to make sure the disease is really in remission, take biopsies to check for cancer/pre-cancer and remove polyps. I don't mind the once a year colonoscopy to check on things. I've just never had a GI say they wanted to do an endoscopy to rule out Crohn's when there is nothing indicating that I might have Crohn's.
Posted 11/1/2015 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Yearly scope is normal after having UC for a long time. First given 8-10 years after onset. Than some docs do 2 years later and than start increasing frequency.
Posted 11/1/2015 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
As long as your insurance covers it, I say go for it. Having an upper at the same time as a lower is safe and may reveal indications of Crohn's. You could have Crohn's without being symptomatic. Mine revealed a lot: like mild gastritis and mild hiatal hernia. It also was a relief to know I showed no symptoms of Crohn's. It's painless, you're out of it anyway, do it. In my mind he sounds like a good G.I. Best.
Posted 11/1/2015 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
The only red flag for me is if he requires the procedures be done on separate days which implies it is for financial gain. One year, the scheduler tried that one with me and I refused. Not taking off two days from work, not finding a ride for two days and not having two separate anesthetics so you can bill more.
Posted 11/2/2015 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
I'd suggest finding a GI that does Red Dye Colonoscopy that will not only check for Polyps but will show the likelihood of future Cancers. Anyway check it out. The bowel prep and the colonoscopy are invasive procedures, a must for us IBD'ers but hopefully can be avoided with newer procedures.
Posted 11/2/2015 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Agree that yearly colonoscopies are standard. After I hit my eight year mark, I was getting scoped annually (either out patient and/or while I was flaring in the hospital).

Re the endoscopy, I assume you are referring to an upper endoscopy...I never had one, as my inflammation always started in my rectum and worked its way up, eventually to my entire colon. So if the thought has always been that you have UC, then I think it is odd to want to do one. None of my GI's ever thought I had Crohn's, but part of me wished I had an upper endoscopy done at some point before I signed up for surgery. Probably because I was fearful of the slight chance there was a misdiagnosis and wanted all the boxes checked, so to speak. Thankfully it turned out ok anyways!
Posted 11/2/2015 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
An upper endoscope is good if there are symptoms warranting that scope. In your case, I'd say no. I believe there are other less invasive ways to rule out crohn's, like the Prometheus IBD sgi Diagnostic blood test: www.prometheuslabs.com/Products/Default.aspx.
Posted 11/2/2015 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
When it comes to relatively low-risk diagnostics, I always err on the side of more. And in your case, the endoscopy and colonoscopy should be able to be done at the same time.

My docs insisted on an endoscopy at one point, and while it didn't yield a Crohn's diagnosis, it did indicate I had chronic gastritis. Once I treated the gastritis, some of my abdominal pain subsided.
Posted 11/3/2015 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Many thanks for the input! I'm going to look into a few things before I decide if I'm going to have the endoscopy. I first have to find out if insurance will even cover it.
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