Aging out of colonoscopy

[Turbo29]

Yes, we like to stay away from Versed in older patients. Typically for surgeries needing general anesthesia Versed will be used prior to going back to the OR for anxiety.

I had a surgery about 8yr ago and they injected the versed just as they started rolling me to the OR. It hit fast and the last thing I remember as I was being pushed towards the OR is saying, "Wow, this ride is so good,you could charge for it." One of the attendants laughed and said, "We are charging you."

 

[Teacher Terry]

I would get a second opinion. That seems like terrible advice.

We also have to advocate for ourselves. Colonoscopy recommendations are easy to look up. He should have questioned the doctor or got a second opinion. It is terrible that his doctor went against recommendations.

I wrote about my Mom who got diagnosed with colon cancer in her 80s right after a negative stool test. There is also the case of the guy with polyps who was told to wait 10 years and now has Stage 4 colon cancer. I would get more colonoscopies if I were you.

He was exhausted from taking care of his wife who had dementia having to take care of everything. None of his children lived locally. I can see why he didn’t question what the doctor said.

 

[DEC-1982]

It’s killing my ex husband very quickly. It was diagnosed a month ago. It only took one month to take 95 percent of his liver. The only good thing is that he won’t have to suffer long. He’s only felt sick for 2 weeks but is miserable now. It’s heartbreaking.

I am truly sorry to hear about your husband.

Regarding another of your posts, 3-5 years after polyp removal, I just remembered that when I had polyps removed, they recommended (and I had) a 5 year colonoscopy, and after the latest colonoscopy it was 10 years, so it all depends (except the doc said maybe not). All sorts of "if, then but" and judgement is required.

 

[Time2]

I was appalled and asked why the interval is every 10 years then. He said the insurance companies do not want to pay for a colonoscopy more often...

He then chuckled and said "The good news is that you now have a family history so your interval gets reduced to five years."

My next one is next year at age 70.

I had a colonoscopy 6 months ago (propofol, nice nap) Had three polyps removed and Diverticulosis. Was told to come back in 3 years. Now I wonder will my Medicare and United Healthcare supplement cover as soon as three years. I'll have to check, but what are members experience with that?

 

[Teacher Terry]

I had a colonoscopy 6 months ago (propofol, nice nap) Had three polyps removed and Diverticulosis. Was told to come back in 3 years. Now I wonder will my Medicare and United Healthcare supplement cover as soon as three years. I'll have to check, but what are members experience with that?

Yes if your doctor recommends it because of polyps Medicare covers it. Your supplement has to cover it if Medicare covers it. The supplement doesn’t get a choice.

 

[Dean56]

I’m 68, and I’ve had six colonoscopies since my 40s. They never found polyps till my last one, there were two which were benign. Cancer does not run in my family. I had a hard time drinking all the solution during my last one five 5 years ago, (due to other conditions), and I don’t want to put myself through it again unnecessarily.

There are several different methods for the prep. My Dr gave me a presription for SUPREP which is probably the best bowel prep I have ever used (I've had 5 colonoscopy's). See if your Dr will give you SUPREP.

 

[Soooretired]

So 58% of the time, it doesn't catch it.

 

[ShadowBloom]

There are several different methods for the prep. My Dr gave me a presription for SUPREP which is probably the best bowel prep I have ever used (I've had 5 colonoscopy's). See if your Dr will give you SUPREP.

I think it's very personal which prep works for you. I couldn't finish Suprep because it made me so nauseous.

 

[Rocky mtn high]

Had one at 68, my nurse said that will be my last one. My dr said probably not.

 

[reneeh63]

I think it's very personal which prep works for you. I couldn't finish Suprep because it made me so nauseous.

I have to agree about how it varies much by person. I had major issues with Suprep and actually vomited so had to abort the procedure. This was after following all the advice to drink it cold, use a straw, etc., etc. So the next time I tried they recommended SuTab which I could tolerate because it was drinking lots of plain water after taking (lots of) tablets.

 

[ncbill]

I did the SuTab & had no issues.

But when I posted about it somewhere (not sure if here) people freaked out about supposed kidney damage with the pills instead of doing a liquid prep.

 

[reneeh63]

I did the SuTab & had no issues.

But when I posted about it somewhere (not sure if here) people freaked out about supposed kidney damage with the pills instead of doing a liquid prep.

It's not like you're getting something more "concentrated" that would damage your kidneys - you're still consuming a huge amount of water with it....weird

 

[KarenC]

There are several different methods for the prep. My Dr gave me a presription for SUPREP which is probably the best bowel prep I have ever used (I've had 5 colonoscopy's). See if your Dr will give you SUPREP.

For my first and second colonoscopies, the standard preparation sequence (which I followed exactly) was not sufficient to get everything cleared.

For the first time, I had to have two enemas (at the location where I was having my colonoscopy—a bit embarassing) before they could continue. For the second time, they had me prep instead with Golytely, which worked so well that I've requested it instead of the normal prep regime ever since. (I can't really speak to how upsetting it would be to one's stomach; I haven't vomited since 1981 (so my stomach is apparently as lazy as my colon).)

 

[Time2]

(I can't really speak to how upsetting it would be to one's stomach; I haven't vomited since 1981 (so my stomach is apparently as lazy as my colon).)

My kids and I joke, after eating their mothers cooking for years, we all have cast iron stomachs!

 

[Ian S]

I had my last colonoscopy two years ago. I'm now 74. As always, I had polyps removed but not enough for a 3 year return visit so five years it is: I'll be 77 for my next one. I've always had them done by the same doctor in the same dedicated endoscopy center. My main worry is if my doctor might retire early but there are others in the practice who would take on the mantle. One has to balance risks but when I asked the doctor about ageing out, he said not yet.

Re prep, I've been using the same prep for awhile now and it consists of over the counter generic Miralax dissolved in my choice of Gatorade flavor and a couple of generic Ducolax tablets. I also eat lightly the day before the prep and always try for an early AM procedure. It seems to work well as the doctor has always said my prop was good.

 

[braumeister]

As a followup to this interesting thread, there was an article in JAMA recently that pretty much wiped out any need for a colonoscopy after 75.

91,952 individuals in the study group, and those who died in the subsequent 10 year period were far more likely to die from something else.

Colorectal Cancer and Mortality Risk Among Older Adults With vs Without Adenoma on Prior Colonoscopy

 

[NXR7]

As a followup to this interesting thread, there was an article in JAMA recently that pretty much wiped out any need for a colonoscopy after 75.

91,952 individuals in the study group, and those who died in the subsequent 10 year period were far more likely to die from something else.

Colorectal Cancer and Mortality Risk Among Older Adults With vs Without Adenoma on Prior Colonoscopy

And then there was my mom who was diagnosed at 82 with Stage 4 colon cancer, seven years after her last colonoscopy. She died at 84 and had no other health problems or cognition issues. Still driving nd still living on her own to the last week.

I asked my doc if something was missed at her previous colonoscopy and he said that colon cancer can go from nothing to Stage 4 in four years. I asked why colonoscopies were only every ten years.

He said the insurance companies did not want to pay for more frequent ones because they thought cancer could be caught before stage 4 in most cases. And then he told me I will now get one every five years because there is now a family history.

A million people dying is a statistic but one dying is a tragedy.

 

[braumeister]

And then there was my mom who was diagnosed at 82 with Stage 4 colon cancer, seven years after her last colonoscopy. She died at 84 and had no other health problems or cognition issues. Still driving nd still living on her own to the last week.

I asked my doc if something was missed at her previous colonoscopy and he said that colon cancer can go from nothing to Stage 4 in four years. I asked why colonoscopies were only every ten years.

He said the insurance companies did not want to pay for more frequent ones because they thought cancer could be caught before stage 4 in most cases. And then he told me I will now get one every five years because there is now a family history.

A million people dying is a statistic but one dying is a tragedy.

Condolences on losing your mother that way.

Life is a crapshoot sometimes. When my wife got her initial cancer diagnosis, she was in great health and an active half-marathoner. No problems except for a pain in her hip that she thought was just arthritis. But it was actually stage 4 lung cancer that had spread throughout her skeleton without ever giving any indication of anything. You simply never know, and I can't blame either the doctors or the insurance companies for going by the best statistics they have.

 

[aja8888]

My sister, age 77, was just out from surgery last month for stomach cancer. Seems like a persistent tummy ache ended up being a 10 year old (estimated) growth in her stomach. No previous issues over the years would have prompted this find. She's on Chemo now.

 

[NatureBoy]

Here's some thoughts (from AI):

Colonoscopies aren't universally recommended after age 75 because the potential for harms like bleeding and perforation increases with age, while the benefits of finding cancer may be limited by a shorter life expectancy and more health issues. While the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found the harms of screening to be small to moderate for adults 76 and older, their guidance is to make screening decisions on an individual basis up to age 85, based on patient health and preferences.

Thanks to all for this informative thread. A couple of small clarifications about the JAMA article for anyone interested: 1) the study concludes that 10-year other cause mortality (~45-50%) in those 75 and older far exceeds colon cancer-caused mortality both for those with (0.7%) and without (0.4%) prior polyps, 2) to reiterate the age point, the results apply to those 75 and over NOT those over 75. This may be of interest to those who are currently 75 and trying to make a decision.

 

[steady saver]

Something has happened in the past week that is really making me reconsider not having any more colonoscopies. My kid’s dad has always had extremely healthy eating and exercise habits. He’s 79 and there’s no cancer in his family.

He had a colonoscopy at 69 at a VA hospital and was told after they removed polyps that he was good for 10 years. 2 months ago he was jogging 3 miles and taking care of his wife with dementia. 1 month ago after some tests he had stage 4 colon cancer. It’s so aggressive that in one month it has taken his liver and he only has weeks to live. He’s really suffering.

It’s usually recommended after finding polyps to have one in 3-5 years. Obviously the outcome might have been different if they had recommended one. He always follows his doctor’s advice. Since I had polyps 3 years ago I will have another one in 2 years. Then I’ll be 73. It’s so sad and his wife now has to go to memory care.

I am so sorry to hear this Teacher Terry.
I am rethinking my concerns and fears about having a colonoscopy. I'm 63 and have never had one. No family history, etc. I've known people who have had perforations during the procedure and it just scares me. And a history of lots of medical intervention doesn't help. But your post has me rethinking things.

 

[OK EE]

If the only downside is a day or two of uncomfortable prep every 5 years, I think I will continue to do colonoscopies. Cancer is a terrible way to go and it seems like a small price to pay.

I didn't realize until I saw this thread yesterday that people stop doing them.

 

[Gary Smith]

I am so sorry to hear this Teacher Terry.
I am rethinking my concerns and fears about having a colonoscopy. I'm 63 and have never had one. No family history, etc. I've known people who have had perforations during the procedure and it just scares me. And a history of lots of medical intervention doesn't help. But your post has me rethinking things.

Same here. At 79 I have never had a colonoscopy due to fears of perforations/anesthesia etc.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I am so sorry to hear this Teacher Terry.
I am rethinking my concerns and fears about having a colonoscopy. I'm 63 and have never had one. No family history, etc. I've known people who have had perforations during the procedure and it just scares me. And a history of lots of medical intervention doesn't help. But your post has me rethinking things.

During the time that I was posting before, I forgot to include something that the VA doctor told us all. He said that most likely the reason my ex-husband‘s cancer was so aggressive was that he was in Vietnam in an area that was a hot spot for Agent Orange. He said that put him at a much higher risk and for the cancer to be that aggressive he thinks that’s the cause.

I was pretty upset when I was out there because he was dying and we have stayed close through the years. It was a really difficult time for both me and my three sons.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Same here. At 79 I have never had a colonoscopy due to fears of perforations/anesthesia etc.

I had a family member get her first colonoscopy at 67 just a few weeks ago to get the news that she has stage 3 colon cancer and now on chemo. After the colonoscopy she refused to talk to her kids and took off for Vegas immediately which is what she always does when there's a problem in her life so they knew it was bad. Finally a week later she called me to tell me and was shocked when I let her know no one would be surprised because of the way she's been acting since the procedure. Anyway I convinced her to tell the kids immediately and then I had to act dumb when my daughter called ten minutes later to pass on the bad news.
I think she'd been feeling unwell for a while now but not sure if her doctor never offered a colonoscopy or she simply refused to do it which is more likely. Her mother died of colon cancer and she's now turned a little crazy and become very emotional and cries and screams at her husband all the time and has even told him she wishes he was dead and I'm honestly not sure if the marriage will survive it. The poor guy doesn't know what to do to make her happy, he's suffering just as much as her but she doesn't see it that way.
I suggested she needs to get into a support group ASAP to talk out her feelings, not sure if she will though. Easter Sunday was not a good day for any of us, I got to see her behavior first hand and we don't know what to do to help her.