Have you ever just said no to a colonoscopy?

Annual gastro visit coming up, and it's been nearly 10 years since last colonoscopy.  I just know the doc is going to say, ''Oh, let's get another one scheduled''.  My crohn's is controlled with pentasa and I eat nothing I am not supposed to (low fiber, low residue diet)...I'm doing fine...leave me alone.  Have you ever said that you're just not interested in having this done? I'm just not up for it right now, especially having just had a slight scare (needlessly, thank goodness) of another type of exam.  It's my choice, isn't it? Just don't want him to say, well, then go find yourself another doctor.  All I want is a refill on my pills and I'm good. 

Of course the decision should be up to you, but 10 years is a long time to go between colonoscopies. we can have advancement of the Crohn's without symptoms, and we are more at risk for colon cancer than the regular population. I'm glad you are doing so well, but I think it's a mistake to put your head in the sand and not proactively try to prevent a spread of the disease or colon cancer.

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54 yr. old female, diagnosed with Crohn's in terminal ileum Sept-Oct. 2007. Also have GERD and IBS, gastroparesis (Dx. with c.difficile 1/12- now resolved)

MEDS: Pentasa- 6 500mg pills per day, Dexilant, Domperidone, Metamucil, colace, miralax as needed, Culturelle probiotics .25 xanax for sleep prn

The only time I refused a colonoscopy was when I was in my 8th month of pregnancy and my GI at the time (have moved on to GI #4 since) wanted to scope me...I saw my colon and rectum surgeon the next day and told him my GI wanted to scope me (I was very new to the disease) and he said, don't do it, too far along in your pregnancy and not worth the risk of premature labor...so I didn't, and I never went back to that GI either (on the recommendation of my colon/rectum surgeon as well as my own common sense).

10 yrs is a long time though and although you're doing well, it wouldn't hurt since they can colon cancer screen you as well, but of course the choice is yours and I don't blame you for not wanting to get scoped since there's always a risk of a scoping bringing on flares as well, although it is only a slight risk of it.

Guess you have to weigh the options for yourself given the information you've gotten from the responses...good luck.

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bee propolis caps 500mg one cap twice/day
omegas 369 caps one cap twice/day
probiotics 10 billion cfu once/day
vitamins C-calcium ascorbate (easy on the gut) and vitamin A each once/day
Prodiem fibre supplement one cap before bed
I've also altered my diet (no junky stuff at all, processed, fast-foods, refined sugars, ect) and exercise regularly.
I went from 30+ bloody BM's/day with lots of lower back pain to an average of 5/day no bleeding no back pain and completely formed stools, still have severe urgency issues.
~~~~~~~~My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :)~~~~~~~~

Thank you for your replies. The dr. said no need for a colonoscopy more than once every ten years, so who am I to argue. When I had mine in 2003 the tech could not proceed past a point at ileum even with pediatric scope, so was not able to get complete pictures. Do not want to go through the prep, the discomfort, when it seemed to be for nothing. Since diagnosed 15 years ago I probably am more cautious about what I eat than necessary, take my pills daily, visit my gastroenterologist yearly, and take my crohns very seriously, but guess I am just fed up with all the procedures and endless recommendations by doctors. Take care all.

Post Edited (ragbag) : 2/20/2013 5:10:45 AM (GMT-7)

ragbag, that doesn't sound right...with having an IBD we have a higher risk over the years of colon cancer and generally GI's like us to get scoped at least every 1-2 yrs (some cases longer like 3-4) so they can check for cancer as well.

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bee propolis caps 500mg one cap twice/day
omegas 369 caps one cap twice/day
probiotics 10 billion cfu once/day
vitamins C-calcium ascorbate (easy on the gut) and vitamin A each once/day
Prodiem fibre supplement one cap before bed
I've also altered my diet (no junky stuff at all, processed, fast-foods, refined sugars, ect) and exercise regularly.
I went from 30+ bloody BM's/day with lots of lower back pain to an average of 5/day no bleeding no back pain and completely formed stools, still have severe urgency issues.
~~~~~~~~My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :)~~~~~~~~