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Anyone have a positive Cologuard test?

Posted by dazlin @dazlin, Nov 21, 2019

My test results came back positive. I asked what did it show, because they test for 11 different cancers or categories. They said, it just states either negative or positive for cancer. I had problems a few years back and did a colonoscopy, which came back ok. Now this!! I'm reading theres a 13 percent chance of false positive. Right now I'm extremely distraught about having to go through all Consults, tests, and dreaded preps. Orders are in for Consult with gastro, but they're booked out through January or February in Mayo. I have not received any notice for appointment yet. Dont know what to think or do.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Mar 24, 2025
In reply to @cookiepic "I just had my colonscopy on Wed. I always did the terrible drink with mirolax and..." + (show)
Profile picture for cookiepic @cookiepic

I just had my colonscopy on Wed. I always did the terrible drink with mirolax and ducolax pills. My one question has anyone experienced stomach discomfort for a few days? I do have gastritis and thought the prep might have caused this discomfort. Other then this l have no other issues. I've already went to the bathroom with no problem. No pain or blood.

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Hi, @cookiepic - I've had several colonoscopies and endoscopies with the same necessary prep. Each time I've had a bit churny gut for a couple of days.

Have you had another colonoscopy with a different prep, cookiepic? If so, which prep was best for you in terms of how your stomach felt afterward?

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1 reply
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cookiepic | @cookiepic | Mar 24, 2025
In reply to @dbchip "I had my first Colonoscopy at 51 (average no family risk factors). I was good and..." + (show)
Profile picture for dbchip @dbchip

I had my first Colonoscopy at 51 (average no family risk factors). I was good and I was told to come back in 10 years for another. Fast forward I was due for one this year and opted for Cologuard screening instead. It came back abnormal and now I need to follow up with a Colonoscopy. I was on the fence in the first place and should have done Colonoscopy. Now my anxiety is up and I am not trying to go down the rabbit hole about this. I feel fine and have no GI symptoms to speak of. I have read a lot about false positives (my PCP told me 13%) and I have suffer in the past from hemorrhoids/fissures. Anyone else have this experience that they can share? I just wished now I would have gone with my first instinct and just gotten colonoscopy.

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I just had my colonscopy on Wed. I always did the terrible drink with mirolax and ducolax pills. My one question has anyone experienced stomach discomfort for a few days? I do have gastritis and thought the prep might have caused this discomfort. Other then this l have no other issues. I've already went to the bathroom with no problem. No pain or blood.

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2 replies
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verol65 | @verol65 | Mar 23, 2025
In reply to @mrmacabre "For me, I'd take them every time over having to drink that liquid that smells like..." + (show)
Profile picture for mrmacabre @mrmacabre

For me, I'd take them every time over having to drink that liquid that smells like vomit. Swallowing a dozen pills and drinking a quart of water in a hour's time is an easy thing to do.

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To tell the truth, if my doctor gave me the choice of doing it with pills, I would do it to. The liquid he prescribes (Nulytely) does not taste so bad (not pleasant either), but it gets me extremely bloated for at least 48 if ot 72 hours.

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mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | Mar 20, 2025
In reply to @verol65 "I understand that there can be issues for some people with the pills. Not everyone should..." + (show)
Profile picture for verol65 @verol65

I understand that there can be issues for some people with the pills. Not everyone should take them.

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For me, I'd take them every time over having to drink that liquid that smells like vomit. Swallowing a dozen pills and drinking a quart of water in a hour's time is an easy thing to do.

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verol65 | @verol65 | Mar 20, 2025
In reply to @mrmacabre "I had my second colonoscopy done about a year ago, as well as an upper endoscopy..." + (show)
Profile picture for mrmacabre @mrmacabre

I had my second colonoscopy done about a year ago, as well as an upper endoscopy after a few episodes of trouble swallowing food. My biggest issue with a colonoscopy is the prep, that stuff that they make you drink is vomitable.
The first time I didn't drink enough of it to "do the job" properly, so we had to reschedule the procedure. The second time I managed to gag it down, and the procedure went fine. They removed some polups, but they were all benign. This was about 6 years ago.
When my doctor said I was due for another colonoscopy, he said he'd check me out "top to bottom" at the same time. Great.
I asked him if there was any other way to prep for the test other than that liquid, and believe it or not, they now have one where you take a dozen pills with a quart of water the day before, and the morning of the procedure. This was a piece of cake compared to that other vile liquid.
Ask your doctor for this prep method from now on.

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I understand that there can be issues for some people with the pills. Not everyone should take them.

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mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | Mar 19, 2025
In reply to @susanmaria "My colorectal surgeon/doctor prescribed a medication consisting of 12 (prescription) tablets and plenty of water during..." + (show)
Profile picture for susanmaria @susanmaria

My colorectal surgeon/doctor prescribed a medication consisting of 12 (prescription) tablets and plenty of water during the evening before the colonoscopy. He gave me sedation and I felt nothing/no pain or worry before the colonoscopy. The last thing I remember right before the colonoscopy was the doctor saying "Have a nice nap." And I did. Woke up, feeling good.

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Same here.

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mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | Mar 19, 2025
In reply to @dbchip "I had no polyps on my last one. Just hoping I don’t have any this time..." + (show)
Profile picture for dbchip @dbchip

I had no polyps on my last one. Just hoping I don’t have any this time or just some small ones. No one is in a hurry to schedule mine from my provider.

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He removed a couple of small ones the second time 'round, which again were benign. I'm not due for another one for 10 years.

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cheyne | @cheyne | Mar 19, 2025
In reply to @dbchip "I had my first Colonoscopy at 51 (average no family risk factors). I was good and..." + (show)
Profile picture for dbchip @dbchip

I had my first Colonoscopy at 51 (average no family risk factors). I was good and I was told to come back in 10 years for another. Fast forward I was due for one this year and opted for Cologuard screening instead. It came back abnormal and now I need to follow up with a Colonoscopy. I was on the fence in the first place and should have done Colonoscopy. Now my anxiety is up and I am not trying to go down the rabbit hole about this. I feel fine and have no GI symptoms to speak of. I have read a lot about false positives (my PCP told me 13%) and I have suffer in the past from hemorrhoids/fissures. Anyone else have this experience that they can share? I just wished now I would have gone with my first instinct and just gotten colonoscopy.

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Hi,
I have had 4 top to bottoms and each time the medication to evacuate the bowels is worse than the procedure. I did all 4 without sedatives and can only say after the last one, no more. I'll be taking the sedative in future, the last one was a ripper, literally and caused excrusiating pain when the stomach contents got into the wound. I happen to be fill of polyps from top to bottom and have had a piles opp many years ago. I have had a different Dr do the procedure each time and it becomes interesting with the varied opinions I have gotten, from cancerous to nothing of interest found and still nothing thankfully. The first few times it was interesting getting to see, feeeel and hear it all while discussing it with the Doc, obviously not the throat ones! I make sure to take an antihistomine before the procedure as the first one I had a blocked nose and ended up with the hefty nurse trying to hold me down from my bucking and twisting. You gotta breathe.
Cheers

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Profile picture for susanmaria
susanmaria | @susanmaria | Mar 19, 2025
In reply to @dbchip "What did they give you pre-anesthesia?" + (show)
Profile picture for dbchip @dbchip

What did they give you pre-anesthesia?

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A warm blanket (for real). It helped me relax.

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Profile picture for Jody aka mojo244
Jody aka mojo244 | @mojo244 | Mar 19, 2025
In reply to @dbchip "I had my first Colonoscopy at 51 (average no family risk factors). I was good and..." + (show)
Profile picture for dbchip @dbchip

I had my first Colonoscopy at 51 (average no family risk factors). I was good and I was told to come back in 10 years for another. Fast forward I was due for one this year and opted for Cologuard screening instead. It came back abnormal and now I need to follow up with a Colonoscopy. I was on the fence in the first place and should have done Colonoscopy. Now my anxiety is up and I am not trying to go down the rabbit hole about this. I feel fine and have no GI symptoms to speak of. I have read a lot about false positives (my PCP told me 13%) and I have suffer in the past from hemorrhoids/fissures. Anyone else have this experience that they can share? I just wished now I would have gone with my first instinct and just gotten colonoscopy.

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I would get an appointment with your Gastroenterologist.
As for me, I have to get them every five years. I was told to throw the mail in test kits in the garbage because they aren’t reliable.

MOJO

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