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Default Jul 07, 2020 at 03:25 PM
  #21
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Originally Posted by Motts View Post
You're funny. I get my own blood work done too. I will order the tests online, then go to the assigned blood lab and pay the fee to get them done. I hate doctors.
Oh dear lord, have I found my twin? 100% in agreement with you and I am also 49 years of age. Get that twilight music in the background.
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Default Jul 08, 2020 at 06:54 AM
  #22
So it is looking like the fit blood test at least for while.
- the fit blood test is about 80% sensitive and importantly 90% accurate not giving you false positives.
- I actually forgot I have had one already in 2017 and it was negative.
- The test is so cheap you can get one every year (and since you don't have to buy it through your doctor I feel like may be I can do it on my own)
- I saw a tid bit that gastro doctors prefer this one (if you aren't going to do a colonoscopy) because it can be done every year. Which they think is a much better way to test.
- I can do my own purchased test in June and then do the "insurance paid for" test in December. That way if the december test shows something up and I have to have a colonoscopy -- the colonoscopy will be the next year and I will be eligible for a screening test. (so insurance can't try to stick me with the bill). If the June one comes up positive -- no one will know it exists so the colonoscopy will be my "screening" test for the year.
- The cologuard test has an unfortunately high positive rate. 16 % and if I get that one I will be stuck with the bill for any colonoscopy.
- I do take mass quantities of Vitamin D which has been shown to reduce incidence of colon cancer by 30%. I actually found a 2018 study that said its as particularly more protective in women than men but didn't the exact number of protection.
- I am devoted to Keto / fasting which glucose has been shown to increase the risk of colon cancer (diabetics are more at risk and my grand mom who had it was a diabetic). There was a study done recently showing a switch to diet drinks cut colon cancer patients mortality rates by 50%.
-Some companies are working on a blood test for screening... hopefully that will be ready within the next 5 years.

The problems with the colonoscopy are.
- It is well known not to be able to get to the ascending area of the colon (the right side) no matter how skilled this area is difficult for doctors to really clean out and observe. So you are leaving an area unexamined or poorly examined and then heading off for 10 years without any other testing. The stool test would give you some heads up on right sided polyps or cancer.
- There are risks from the colonoscopy that are just not acceptable for me: for a screening test.
- I have been worried about the alleged increases in younger people getting colon cancer but I found details on that and the vast majority of these younger people getting it are in area's with poverty and no insurance.
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Default Jul 08, 2020 at 12:50 PM
  #23
We probably are Twins! Haha!

I will do that FIT test through a local lab (not my doctor's office) too. I have no intention of ever getting a colonoscopy done, especially since its not a complete test (no access to the ascending right side). So, makes zero sense to have something that invasive done that won't even be a complete test. I'd rather get an MRI, PET, or CT scan of my colon with dye. And the dye also comes with risks but it won't rip my colon tissue.
And, I see that incomplete test as a money maker anyway. Aren't all medical tests? (I have enough problems in my life as it is. Why add another unnecessary problem like a colonoscopy. But if you decide to get one, I hope it is a positive experience for you. Don't let my negative bias distract you. )
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Default Jul 08, 2020 at 12:56 PM
  #24
I dont have a butt-sniffing dog twin? Fine, stay in the 21st century!
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Default Jul 09, 2020 at 11:02 AM
  #25
I did the Cologard because the colonoscopy prep takes a long time to work for me. The last time was a two day prep. On the first day, they nad me drink magnesium citrate. That didnÂ’t work til the following day. On the second day, I drank the 2 liters of prep at 5 pm as instructed, I didnÂ’t go until 7:30 the following morning. There was no way that my bowels would be clean.

The Cologard did come back negative so I donÂ’t have to do a colonoscopy

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Default Jul 12, 2020 at 02:30 PM
  #26
Since you are relatively young at this point, don't mention any symptoms that might be concerning, don't have a significant family history of colon cancer, going with the fecal test at this point is probably fine. But yes, if it comes back as anything other than normal, you'll have to have the colonoscopy then anyway, and at that point you will have to pay for the colonoscopy beyond whatever insurance picks up because it will be diagnostic rather than routine, but most likely all would be okay.

My mother died from colon cancer and my sister had colon cancer (died from complications for treatment of breast cancer years later). So . . . colonoscopies started at 35 for me (yes, I was symptomatic at 35) and because I always have precancerous polyps when they do the colonoscopy, I'm required to have them done every 3 years. I've only had one bad experience. The prep they chose that time was horrid and coming out of anesthesia was really painful because of the amount of air they had used to get to the polyps they were removing. The other times have been okay. The prep has gotten a bit better over the years -- still the worst part, but I don't get as sick as I used to. It's no fun, but tolerable.

Talk to your doctor about the options and see what he/she recommends for you personally. It's sort of a six one way - half dozen the other sort of thing. The colonoscopy is certainly more invasive but should be covered as routine, and I understand the financial concern.
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Default Jul 12, 2020 at 06:53 PM
  #27
My biological mother died from colon cancer. She went quick.

A couple years ago I had a bleeding issue and my gastro strongly recommended having a colonoscopy due to my family history. I was 36 then. Everything that is said about the prep is true. At one point that foul drink made me sick and I projectile vomited. Felt lightheaded and dizzy the entire day before due to not being allowed to eat anything.

I came out of it with muscle strains in my neck and arm from the way they positioned me on the table after I was asleep. The test was all clear save for hemorrhoids. I don’t have to get another one until I’m 50 or if another problem comes up before then.
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Default Sep 10, 2020 at 06:35 PM
  #28
Since I just had my first I wanted to comment here.

On the prep... there have been improvements. I took a 64 oz (total) split prep. It was ONLY gatorade and mirilax, which was tasteless. It was 32 oz at a time and an absolute breeze to drink. If you like gatorade you will like this. I had no nausea, I had no cramps, I had no illness. I just had to go to the bathroom almost every hour and I got zero sleep. While that sounds terrible... I put on a tv series I had wanted to watch and it made things much better. You can have coffee so I had that. I think the key to prep is preparing properly not eating food for a while before and making sure you stay hydrated.

The procedure itself was a breeze. I was disappointed to find out I would not be "put out" I was given conscious sedation. And I am afraid it didn't work at all. I remember every single bit of it. And I felt pretty much everything. However, any pain I felt was nothing at all. There was some "pain" at first but it felt like I just had to go to the bathroom really bad for like 1 or 2 seconds and then it was gone. I felt nothing when they removed polyps and I feel it was done safely as it was done by a "snare" they put a string / noose around the polyp and tighten it this would seem reduce the risk of perforation. I watched the entire thing on the TV. It kind of was mesmerizing. They gave me a piece of paper with photos of my polyps and where in the colon they were located.

When they took me out of the room I remember it and was fully awake. I didn't have to be "brought out" of anything. I wanted to leave immediately but the nurse made me stay for 15 minutes. I didn't need it. I got dressed and I was gone. I had zero trouble, walking, conversing, or telling my ride how to get home and staying awake on the ride home. When I got home I did go to sleep but that was from not getting any sleep the night before.

They removed 6 polyps I think that probably is reasonable given it is the first time ever. I am waiting on the pathology but I suspect they don't suspect any problems.. no one mentioned anything to me.

Would absolutely do it again.
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Default Sep 11, 2020 at 11:41 AM
  #29
That's good to hear. Thanks for sharing. Yes, the prep is getting easier as time goes on and they come up with new ways better than that big container of "Go Litely."

And the actual procedure is not hard at all. My docs knock me out and when I wake up it's all over.
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Default Oct 14, 2020 at 08:57 AM
  #30
I had the mail in test--it was wonderful. I am always overwhelmed with all my husbands medical appointments, so it was great to have such an easy test.
I would never skip this.

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