Cologuard Test...

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BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,489
13,840
146
Bumping this old thread. I go in tomorrow for my first (and according to the doc, probably my last colonoscopy.

I've refused to have one for years...afraid of what they might find. BUT, a couple of bouts of diverticulosis this year convinced me it's time to have a peek.

I'm in the horrid "colon prep" mode...no solid foods, only clear liquid until after the procedure. By the time it's done' I'll have been without solid food for over 40 hours. (I'm fckn HUNGRY...and it's only been about 19 hours...)

I did the colonguard (or whatever the "poop on a stick, send it in" test is...came back negative...thankfully)
 
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pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,090
4,884
136
Bumping this old thread. I go in tomorrow for my first (and according to the doc, probably my last colonoscopy.

I've refused to have one for years...afraid of what they might find. BUT, a couple of bouts of diverticulosis this year convinced me it's time to have a peek.

I'm in the horrid "colon prep" mode...no solid foods, only clear liquid until after the procedure. By the time it's done' I'll have been without solid food for over 40 hours. (I'm fckn HUNGRY...and it's only been about 19 hours...)

I did the colonguard (or whatever the "poop on a stick, send it in" test is...came back negative...thankfully)

Yeah, but was it a "false" negative?

That is the bad thing about Cologuard. They have false positives and negatives and the only way to know for sure is to get Probed with a camera.
 
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BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,489
13,840
146
Yeah, but was it a "false" negative?

That is the bad thing about Cologuard. They have false positives and negative and the only way to know for sure is to get Probed with a camera.
Well...I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I DO know that my GP ran a bunch of blood tests including one that looks for "tumor markers" and that one also came back negative.
 
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BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,489
13,840
146
Anyway…the first thing the doc said was “NO cancer.” Of course, then he told me about the polyps he removed…so I’m waiting on the pathology report on the biopsies on those. Should be available in a couple of days. < me crosses fingers>
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,090
4,884
136
You have me confused with a sailor…youse guys wore the cute little 13 button dungarees…so they could be removed easily.

The dungarees (old style) had only had 5 buttons. The dress blues had the 13 buttons.

Easy? Unbuttoning those buttons are a real pain in the ass when you're drunk and have to really piss.

If I were a jarhead I could just take off my hat to piss.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,489
13,840
146
Finally got the results back from the pathology done on the multitude of polyps the ass doctor removed. Most were no problem, but 3 were pre- cancerous tubular adenomas. Not considered a problem…but they want me in for another roto-rooter visit in 3 years.

Currently battling yet another episode of diverticulitis…not fun. 3rd time this year. Going on a liquid diet again Wednesday to see if that helps.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,671
9,509
136
My Kaiser doc is tight ass about colon cancer screenings. At one time I think he recommended one stool test a year, but I had to remind him. I had a couple colonoscopies with Kaiser and got my doc to promise me he'd set me up for another in 5 years but when it came time he wouldn't (I've had polyps in the past and my gastro-enterologist said every 5 years.)! I said "you promised!" He said "what am I going to tell them sending a guy your age for a colonoscopy?" I'm thinking of changing doctors! I'm younger than Biden and he just had one.

I see those ads for cologuard and wonder. I brought up the whole subject when I saw him in person for my first physical since the pandemic, some ~4 months ago. He goes "you're more likely to die of a heart condition than cancer." What could I say? I have a list of reasons to change PCP's. He wants me to stick with him, but I'm not sure he's worth it. He's smart but he's stingy with the HMO's resources.
I finally dumped my PCP that I had for something like 20 years. I had a lot of risk factors for amyloidosis and figured I should be screened. But he didn't care. He said I seem to be in great cardiovascular condition. I countered that the condition is only effectively treated if caught before those symptoms arise and sent him links to prove it. He refused to check out the studies I linked him to saying he was a "senior" physician and has his means of making determinations, he doesn't need to check the info I sent him. My hand surgeon went to bat for me and contacted specialists in the organization who deal with this stuff and told me they made recommendations. I still needed PCP approval and I continued to lean on him (online messaging). He finally relented (in a back handed kind of way) and had me get a blood test. Fortunately, my hand surgeon was much more accommodating. I have a new PCP (seen her once, will see her later this week) but haven't discussed these things with her, but she is providing treatment for conditions the former guy didn't. He's gotten pretty stodgy. He's more interested in his standing in the organization than providing state of the art medicine.
 
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BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,489
13,840
146
I finally dumped my PCP that I had for something like 20 years. I had a lot of risk factors for amyloidosis and figured I should be screened. But he didn't care. He said I seem to be in great cardiovascular condition. I countered that the condition is only effectively treated if caught before those symptoms arise and sent him links to prove it. He refused to check out the studies I linked him to saying he was a "senior" physician and has his means of making determinations, he doesn't need to check the info I sent him. My hand surgeon went to bat for me and contacted specialists in the organization who deal with this stuff and told me they made recommendations. I still needed PCP approval and I continued to lean on him (online messaging). He finally relented (in a back handed kind of way) and had me get a blood test. Fortunately, my hand surgeon was much more accommodating. I have a new PCP (seen her once, will see her later this week) but haven't discussed these things with her, but she is providing treatment for conditions the former guy didn't. He's gotten pretty stodgy. He's more interested in his standing in the organization than providing state of the art medicine.
And that is why (among other reasons) I would never have Kaiser when it was available. I prefer a PPO where I choose my own docs...and, depending on the condition, I don't have to be referred to a specialist. (although many specialists now require a referral as a means of screening)
 

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,004
2,748
136
I finally dumped my PCP that I had for something like 20 years. I had a lot of risk factors for amyloidosis and figured I should be screened. But he didn't care. He said I seem to be in great cardiovascular condition. I countered that the condition is only effectively treated if caught before those symptoms arise and sent him links to prove it. He refused to check out the studies I linked him to saying he was a "senior" physician and has his means of making determinations, he doesn't need to check the info I sent him. My hand surgeon went to bat for me and contacted specialists in the organization who deal with this stuff and told me they made recommendations. I still needed PCP approval and I continued to lean on him (online messaging). He finally relented (in a back handed kind of way) and had me get a blood test. Fortunately, my hand surgeon was much more accommodating. I have a new PCP (seen her once, will see her later this week) but haven't discussed these things with her, but she is providing treatment for conditions the former guy didn't. He's gotten pretty stodgy. He's more interested in his standing in the organization than providing state of the art medicine.
Kaiser is all integrated(that is, PCPs and specialists are all under the same company) right? I would not be surprised if your new PCP is going to be similar to your old one.
All these companies, the bottom line matters more than optimal care. The less likely a party can prevail in a malpractice suit (or file one at all), the greater the liberties taken. It just so happens that protected classes, like low income or high age, are viewed as exploitable.
IIRC, you're up there in age, so I would not be surprised if the medical pros think you don't have much time or even that you should already be dead.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,671
9,509
136
Kaiser is all integrated(that is, PCPs and specialists are all under the same company) right? I would not be surprised if your new PCP is going to be similar to your old one.
All these companies, the bottom line matters more than optimal care. The less likely a party can prevail in a malpractice suit (or file one at all), the greater the liberties taken. It just so happens that protected classes, like low income or high age, are viewed as exploitable.
IIRC, you're up there in age, so I would not be surprised if the medical pros think you don't have much time or even that you should already be dead.
Well, screw 'em. I'm healthier than most people 20 years younger than me. I'm not going to let them figure why protect that guy? My new doctor is, I'm thinking, likely to not write me off like the other guy seemed to.

True story: I saw my eye doctor (the head of the department, Indian. He did my cataract surgeries) a few years ago for a routine eye exam. It was about 1/2 way through the day and he said "you have the healthiest eyes I've seen all day!" I said something like "I hope that holds true when I'm 100." His response, I'm not lying, "why not 120?"
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,489
13,840
146
Damn...just saw the bill submitted to my insurance for the colonoscopy. A skosh over $12,500...for about 30-45 minutes work. Happily, it looks like it will be zero $$ copay. (so far)
 
Jul 27, 2020
23,523
16,529
146
Most were no problem, but 3 were pre- cancerous tubular adenomas. Not considered a problem…but they want me in for another roto-rooter visit in 3 years.
How much coffee do you drink? I read that the more you drink coffee, the lower your chances of anything cancerous in the colon. Makes sense too since coffee reduces the chances of a cancer cell living long. Another thing you can do is to consume at least a tablespoon of vinegar in your meals. It helps to improve longevity of normal cells while keeping cancer cells at bay. Vinegar + coffee or chocolate AND/OR Moderate wine consumption + coffee or chocolate are the key to a longer, healthier life.
 

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,004
2,748
136
You guys are lucky, both in the docs themselves and not having to require chemo.

The docs that dealt with my mother. Well, there will always be a degree of unresolved uncertainty whether she actually needed it or not. The gastroenterologist in not taking a picture of the particular polyp said to have late stage cells leaves open the door of whether another's sample was swapped instead of the actual sample my mother had.

Chemotherapy, one with a recovery is not a full recovery.
 
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