"World-class colonoscopy"

[NW-Bound]

I have had 3 colonoscopies by two different doctors.

Each time a different prep, and I did not have problem swallowing any of them down. In all cases, the prep did not start until the late afternoon of the day before the procedures, which were all done in the following morning. I followed the instructions to the letter, and the docs noted "Nice prep" in their report.

No diet restrictions up until the prep. The prep cleaned my innards so well, I don't think what I ate earlier mattered.

I do not understand people having problems swallowing the prep. The hard part for me is having to make quick dashes to the bathroom. Other than that, easy peasy.

I was knocked out cold by anesthesia each time. Supposedly, Propofol must be administered by an anesthesiologist, but I did not see one in the room, so not sure what they gave me. Woke up fine, and had my wife drive me home as they demanded, but I was not at all groggy.

And I also had a sigmoidoscopy where I declined sedation and stayed fully alert. Ugh! Thank goodness it did not take long. Would be tough to go through full colonoscopy like that.

 

[lucky penny]

Interesting to see very different reactions to the prep. Based on my own experience I will never again rely on a 1-day or half-day prep, but I guess I'm just, er, sluggish.

 

[athena53]

Interesting to see very different reactions to the prep. Based on my own experience I will never again rely on a 1-day or half-day prep, but I guess I'm just, er, sluggish.

I had the same issue with my last one and used a 2-day prep the second time, which I actually preferred because it worked less violently over a longer period of time. I actually slept decently the night before. In my case, I think that my otherwise healthy eating habits worked against me- my diet is heavy on fibers, especially vegetables. I eat nuts and sunflowers seeds as snacks. I'm planning to stick mostly to softer foods the last few days. Blah- how boring!

 

[Idnar7]

A little more rant: the dr was in such a hurry that when the nurse didn't escort me to the room he said he would take me. I asked if I could make one more pit stop. Someone was using their one so he had me go to the visitors one, walking through the waiting room, trying to protect my dignity holding the flaps closed. Then he took me to the room and the nurse was busy getting ready so he gave me the sedation himself. Maybe because I was so busy turning but I did not feel any sedation and heard all his comments. He was incredibly impatient. I felt like a piece of meat. He also asked a tech to take the instrument because it wasn't working right. The tech asked if wanted a different one and he said he didn't have time. What his report to my dr said was "redundant colon". The result of the other test was they could not get enough air in to fully inflate the colon. Also since tey removed a single polyp I get to do it again in four years. I told my dr I would not go back to that proc dr.
edit to add content

 

[athena53]

I've never brought this up in a discussion on the subject because I don't want to scare anyone away from a valuable test, but a HS classmate of mine died from a perforated colon during a colonoscopy. Your Doc in a Big Hurry sounds like just the kind of guy who would be capable of that. I'm glad you told the referring doc why you won't go to that guy again.

 

[rodi]

Each time a different prep, and I did not have problem swallowing any of them down.

Did you ever use the gallon of Golytely? It tastes like sweat. A gallon of sweat. I have a tough stomach - but it was so nasty tasting, and in such a huge volume, it was very hard to get through.

I've done it twice. I'll do the prep linked previously in this thread next time.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

My next one comes up Wednesday. I will be taking the prep advice on this thread.

 

[Fedup]

I've never brought this up in a discussion on the subject because I don't want to scare anyone away from a valuable test, but a HS classmate of mine died from a perforated colon during a colonoscopy. Your Doc in a Big Hurry sounds like just the kind of guy who would be capable of that. I'm glad you told the referring doc why you won't go to that guy again.

This is why my polyps can wait until I come back from my vacation. In short, let me enjoy myself.


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[NW-Bound]

Did you ever use the gallon of Golytely? It tastes like sweat. A gallon of sweat. I have a tough stomach - but it was so nasty tasting, and in such a huge volume, it was very hard to get through.

I've done it twice. I'll do the prep linked previously in this thread next time.

No, I have not had that pleasure.

I cannot remember what I had for the 1st colonoscopy. The 2nd time, I had MoviPrep. The 3rd and last time, the instruction was just for Miralax and Gatorade, plus another laxative which I forget.

 

[nanannjen]

I just successfully completed mine. I used Supraprep, which was actually not as horrible as I was anticipating. I only had about a quarter of the second dose, but I still got an "Excellent prep" on my report. Propofol was great - easy out, easy wake-up! And I'm on the 10 year plan!

 

[mpeirce]

For me using a straw made all the difference when drinking down all that polyethylene glycol (PEG).

For me at least, I was able to use the straw to bypass my tongue so I barely tasted it.

Use a big (wide) straw so that you can move lots of liquid quickly. And make sure it goes all the way back in your mouth - you have to avoid your tastebuds.

 

[Nords]

One more colonoscopy coda:

The bill from the endoscopy center was $2667.

The "allowed amount" was $382.

My Tricare copay portion of that $382 was $12.

 

[mn54]

One more colonoscopy coda:

The bill from the endoscopy center was $2667.

The "allowed amount" was $382.

My Tricare copay portion of that $382 was $12.

this was for the entire procedure?
They must have lost money on you.

 

[W2R]

One more colonoscopy coda:

The bill from the endoscopy center was $2667.

The "allowed amount" was $382.

My Tricare copay portion of that $382 was $12.

Outstanding!

 

[rodi]

One more colonoscopy coda:

The bill from the endoscopy center was $2667.

The "allowed amount" was $382.

My Tricare copay portion of that $382 was $12.

So the negotiated rate is 14% of the "full" price.

 

[DayDreaming]

One more colonoscopy coda:

The bill from the endoscopy center was $2667.

The "allowed amount" was $382.

My Tricare copay portion of that $382 was $12.

For comparison, my recent colonoscopy:

Amount Submitted: $5,700
Amount Allowed: $2,031
Total Paid By Plan: $1,455 (BCBS)

I ended up paying $580.

 

[golfnut]

I thought this procedure was considered preventative and the cost to patient was nil.

 

[scrinch]

Another point of comparison, last December :

Billed: $4800
Insurance paid: $2775
I paid: $950

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[nanannjen]

I thought this procedure was considered preventative and the cost to patient was nil.

I think that this is true if they don't find anything - the minute they find a polyp, it becomes diagnostic and you have to pay. Doesn't seem fair, somehow!

 

[Texas Proud]

I think that this is true if they don't find anything - the minute they find a polyp, it becomes diagnostic and you have to pay. Doesn't seem fair, somehow!

Some have to get it done more often for other reasons and have to pay...

As far as changing it for the patient to pay everything, I think that I read where the gvmt was saying that is not how it is supposed to be done...

When I had mine, I told the billing person that if THEY billed it wrong I was not paying... IOW, they are supposed to bill the procedure as preventative and if they remove a polyp that is billed separately...

 

[ziggy29]

When I had mine, I told the billing person that if THEY billed it wrong I was not paying... IOW, they are supposed to bill the procedure as preventative and if they remove a polyp that is billed separately...

I believe that would be correct if you had no history of problems which would require diagnostic colonoscopy, even if they found something *that* one would be preventative (in other words, if you went into it strictly for preventative reasons). But if they did find something and you needed more frequent ones than preventative guidelines call for, *those* would not necessarily be covered first-dollar by an ACA-compliant policy, and probably would be charged as a diagnostic one.

Speaking of which, now that I turned 50 last fall, I need to stop putting this off.

 

[Texas Proud]

I believe that would be correct if you had no history of problems which would require diagnostic colonoscopy, even if they found something *that* one would be preventative (in other words, if you went into it strictly for preventative reasons). But if they did find something and you needed more frequent ones than preventative guidelines call for, *those* would not necessarily be covered first-dollar by an ACA-compliant policy, and probably would be charged as a diagnostic one.

Speaking of which, now that I turned 50 last fall, I need to stop putting this off.

Correct, correct, correct.... this was my first one and was clearly preventative....

And yes, if you need to have follow ups before the recommended 10 year period it is on you... since my deductible is over $6K, it would all be on me and I would look for prices...

 

[golfnut]

Well, I have had 2 colonoscopy procedures. Both times they found polyps. I am on the every 5 yrs plan. Just wondering if the 3rd one will be free as the first 2 were free of charge. I have bcbs thru obamacare.

 

[athena53]

Well, I have had 2 colonoscopy procedures. Both times they found polyps. I am on the every 5 yrs plan. Just wondering if the 3rd one will be free as the first 2 were free of charge. I have bcbs thru obamacare.

They may have continued to code them as preventative and not diagnostic. You got lucky.

And, BTW, I know I'm being picky, but they weren't "free". They were 100% covered by your insurance policy.

Did you ever use the gallon of Golytely? It tastes like sweat. A gallon of sweat. I have a tough stomach - but it was so nasty tasting, and in such a huge volume, it was very hard to get through.

One thing they forget to tell you (but which DH confirmed with his doctor) is that once you're running clear, you can stop drinking whatever crap they prescribed. It's done its work and continuing to drink it would just produce more of the same result.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

My next one comes up Wednesday. I will be taking the prep advice on this thread.

By the way, everything went well. I prepped for three days. I took the cheaper prep with the gallon jug (do not remember the name now). It smelled like latex gloves but with the flavoring that came with it, it did not taste as bad as it smelled.