1. < Digestive Health

Is a colonoscopy ever too risky?

Posted by Ray Kemble @ray666, 5 days ago

How cautious should a 79-year-old man with peripheral neuropathy and the symptoms of post-sepsis syndrome be if his PCP has suggested he get a colonoscopy? Since colonoscopies require a preliminary interview when a patient is over 75, and septic re-infection is all too common, I’m wondering how cautious I should be when I sit down for a preliminary interview. Has anyone else been in a similar situation with anything resembling a similar medical history?

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Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 2 days ago
In reply to @vic83 "I understand your concern. The first question is what is your past hisotry of colonoscopies? Have..." + (show)
@vic83

I understand your concern.
The first question is what is your past hisotry of colonoscopies? Have you had precancerous polyps in the past? If so, then fecal tests are not recommended
Why is your PCP recommending a colonoscopy for you?
At 82 I was due for a five year followup colonoscopy (I have history of polyps). Since I now have lung cancer and breathing issues, I was concerned about anesthesia and wondered if I really needed to do it given my age and issues. And my local primary care doctor was not the right person to confirm if I was healthy enough.
I decided to do a consult at Mayo Clinic since I am a patient there. The MD (not PA or NP) I saw reviewed my previous colonoscopies and noted that I had had pre-cancerous polyps in the past and in fact one they had mislabelled. He recommended I do the colonoscopy in the hospital, my Pulmonologist said Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) was OK and I went through with it. They found 1 small and 2 large polyps all precancerous. I am due back in 3 years.
Be sure your preliminary interview is with an MD specialist who reviews your history and not someone with lesser training who does not have the expertise to make a judgement call.

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Hello, @vic83

Thank you! This is precisely the sort of advice I'm looking for. I had my last colonoscopy six years ago when a polyp was found and dealt with. The doctor advised returning in five years, but then sepsis intervened. That's why it's now six years. I'll be sure to meet with someone knowledgeable and who'll carefully review my history. My caution, which some might think a bit overwrought, is the result of conversations with various specialists who have been forthcoming enough to say they've only a limited understanding of sepsis's after-the-fact symptoms and the risk of reinfection.

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

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1 reply
vic83 | @vic83 | 2 days ago
In reply to @ray666 "Hello, @vic83 Thank you! This is precisely the sort of advice I'm looking for. I had..." + (show)
@ray666

Hello, @vic83

Thank you! This is precisely the sort of advice I'm looking for. I had my last colonoscopy six years ago when a polyp was found and dealt with. The doctor advised returning in five years, but then sepsis intervened. That's why it's now six years. I'll be sure to meet with someone knowledgeable and who'll carefully review my history. My caution, which some might think a bit overwrought, is the result of conversations with various specialists who have been forthcoming enough to say they've only a limited understanding of sepsis's after-the-fact symptoms and the risk of reinfection.

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

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Happy to be of help. To make intelligent decisions we need to have a complete picture of the risks and benefits. I too have learned from experience to drill down in these things!

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