5 Reasons why Patients Avoid Colonoscopies

5 Reasons why Patients Avoid Colonoscopies

It is a procedure that takes as little as 20 minutes and could potentially save your life. In fact, it has been scientifically proven to save the lives of thousands every year. And most patients who do it report little to no discomfort. All the same, colonoscopies have received a very bad reputation, and each year thousands of patients who should receive this important procedure instead avoid it, putting themselves at risk for cancer and other severe health problems. Why does this happen? Let’s take a quick look at 5 of the most common reasons why patients avoid colonoscopies.

  1. They don’t have any family history or known risk factors, and therefore believe that a colonoscopy is not necessary. The truth is that anyone over the age of 50 is at risk for colon cancer and therefore should receive a colonoscopy every ten years, unless another screening method or screening frequency is recommended by their doctor. Moreover, even though health information is readily available online, it is important to keep in mind that only a doctor can assess your personal level of risk, and that there are many risk factors you may not be fully aware of.
  2. They fear that the procedure will cause pain or discomfort. Nearly everyone has had the displeasure of experiencing a painful or uncomfortable medical procedure. Whether an unpleasant trip to the dentist as a child or an annoying blood test as an adult, these things are bound to happen sooner or later, and they tend to leave a bad impression. Because of this, many of us shy away from procedures that we believe could cause us discomfort in the future. And colonoscopies, as we already mentioned, have a bad reputation in this sense. However, the truth is that the vast majority of patients report feeling little to no discomfort when when having a colonoscopy. Sometimes, the idea of a procedure is scarier than the procedure itself!
  3. They feel embarrassed. Once again, the idea of a colonoscopy can be uncomfortable for some. This issue can be quite challenging for doctors, as it is not usually easy to talk someone out of their feelings. However, it is important to understand just how important this procedure is — and perhaps, taking that into account, you can overcome any negative feelings and accept that a colonoscopy is necessary. At the very least, you should know that great lengths are always undertaken to protect patient privacy and dignity.
  4. They feel like the procedure is inconvenient. Colonoscopies usually last less than one hour. However, the drugs that are given for colonoscopies last a bit longer, and between the procedure time and the time needed for colonoscopy drugs to wear off, patients generally miss one day of work. In today’s fast-paced world, this can seem tremendously inconveniencing for patients. And this dissuades many people from undergoing the process at all. It is worth pointing out, however (morbid as it may seem), that this is not much compared to the amount of time that you would need to miss if you ended up being diagnosed with colon cancer because you failed to treat a routine colon polyp on time. There is a lot at stake, and you owe it to yourself not to allow the small inconvenience of a routine procedure to expose you to the larger inconvenience of serious illness.
  5. They are afraid that the results of the test will not be favorable. For some people, the fear of an unfavorable test result is enough to keep them away from undergoing medical examinations altogether. Though understandable on an emotional level, this idea is quite logically flawed. It is important to realize that in today’s world, most diseases can be cured as long as they are caught in their early stages! A bad result should not scare you — what should scare you is the idea of not knowing about a bad result until it is too late.

If you wish to learn more about colonoscopies, or schedule your own appointment, we encourage you to visit Surgical Specialists of Long Island online today.

Why Colonoscopies and Sigmoidoscopies are Important

colonoscopy

Why Colonoscopies and Sigmoidoscopies are Important

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” goes the old saying. When it comes to medicine, this is certainly the case. And of course, the value of this prevention is much more than merely fiscal: catching potential problems early can help add years to your life while enhancing your quality of living. Getting regular colonoscopies according to your doctor’s medical recommendations is a great example of this concept in action. According to the American Cancer Society,  the average 5-year relative survival rate for colon cancer is roughly 90% as long as the disease is detected in its early stages. When colon cancer is discovered at a more advanced stage, however, that survival rate drops drastically. In fact, colorectal cancer represents the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

As you are probably already aware, colonoscopies (along with the related, but less invasive procedure known as sigmoidoscopies) represent the most effective way of detecting early-stage colon cancer. In fact, because colon cancer takes quite a while to develop to a dangerous stage, regular colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies can oftentimes detect potential problems while they are still in their benign (non-cancerous) stage. These as-of-yet harmless growths, known as polyps, can be removed very non-invasively, thus drastically reducing the patient’s chance of ever developing colon cancer in the first place.

Here are a few important facts about colonoscopies that every patient should know:

  • Typically, doctors recommend that patients receive just one colonoscopy every ten years, starting at age 50. However, doctors also recommend that patients receive a sigmoidoscopy space out every five years in between their colonoscopies, also starting at age 50. Depending upon individual factors such as medical history, family history, and personal risk factors, however, doctors may recommend that colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies be performed on a different schedule. This is why regular medical checkups are important.
  • 24 hours before receiving a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, patients are required to undergo a preparation process. This generally involves a liquid diet, laxatives, and, in some cases, enemas.
  • Patients may be given medication to facilitate sleep and relaxation
  • Doctors check for potential problems using a special camera that observes in inside of the colon. This technology is designed to be as non-invasive as possible, and every measure is taken to protect patient’s privacy.
  • Colonoscopies generally take around 30 minutes, while sigmoidoscopies may take only 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Colonoscopies are usually performed by a gastroenterologist or a colorectal surgeon. Sigmoidoscopies can also be performed by general practitioners.
  • Small polyps discovered during these procedures can usually be removed on the spot without further complications.
  • Although minor discomfort can persist after the procedure, this is unusual. More serious complications can occur in rare cases, but are highly unlikely.
  • Upon receiving a colonoscopy, patients will need to arrange to be driven home due to the lingering effects of sedation. After a sigmoidoscopy, on the other hand, patients are generally able to go about their day with no lasting effects whatsoever.

In brief: although the thought of receiving a colonoscopy may seem unpleasant or intimidating, it is one of the simplest choices you can make in order to improve your long-term health outlook.

Of course, it is important to understand that these facts are, in a certain sense, generalizations: in order to understand the best course of preventative action for your own healthcare, it is imperative that you speak personally with a health care professional. If you live in the Long Island area, we recommend that you get in touch with us here at Surgical Specialists of Long Island. Our dedicated team will work with you in order to develop the post effective and personalized healthcare strategy available.

Debunking Myths Surrounding the Colonoscopy Procedure: An Ongoing Series Part III

Nobody wants to deal with an unwanted surprise, least of all when it comes to their health. WHile all medical procedures involve a certain level of risk, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and endoscopy procedures are relatively low-risk for as inherently invasive as they are.

If you feel more comfortable with a male or female gastroenterologist, then you should make such a request. Usually, a facility will have more than one gastro on site.

The risks associated with colonoscopy are very rare. They include sedation-related complications, bleeding, and perforation (poking a hole in the colon). Sedation-related complications are rare especially when the sedation (propofol) is administered by an anesthesiologist. Bleeding is a very rare complication, occurring rarely after a large polyp is removed.

For large polyps, often your doctor will place Hemoclips (small clips) over the polyp site to prevent bleeding. Perforation occurs about once every 2,000 to 5,000 procedures.

Typically, the more experienced your gastroenterologist, the less likely perforation is to occur. Suffice it to say, complications are exceedingly rare. The benefits of undergoing a colonoscopy to prevent the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths far outweigh the small risks of complications.

Debunking Myths Surrounding the Colonoscopy Procedure: An Ongoing Series Part II

A lot of the anxiety surrounding the entire process of being screened for colorectal polyps, or just regular checkups on our bodies has to do with the 24-hour period prior to the actual tests. Instead of reading about the prep phase, or listening to their doctor, people often assume the worst with regards to how their bodies are going to act and react to the flushing process.

What will actually happen is never the horrorshow we work up in our minds. The reality of prepping for a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy is very simple, though many people consider the bowel preparation (often called the bowel prep) the worst part of these tests.

For the doctor to see your insides clearly and get good pictures, your bowels need to be as cleaned out as possible. You probably will be told to avoid certain foods and medicines and might be put on a clear liquid diet for one or more days before these exams. You will take very strong laxatives and you might also need enemas to clean out your colon. If you can choose a day for your exam, pick one that will make it easy for you to be at home the day or evening before the test, when you do the preparation.

You will get instructions from your doctor’s office ahead of time. Read them carefully since you will probably need to buy special supplies (like clear liquids, soups, and gelatin) and get laxatives or enemas. If any of the instructions are not clear or you do not understand them, call the doctor’s office and go over them step-by-step with the nurse. This is your chance to discuss any concerns about the bowel prep you might have.

Spoiler alert, as if you didn’t already know:

Preparing for colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy makes you to go the bathroom a lot! As soon as you take the laxatives, you’ll need to stay close to a bathroom. They usually start working pretty quickly. They might still be working the next morning when you go for your colonoscopy appointment. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a bathroom when you get there. People have to ask this all the time and the staff is used to it.

Debunking Myths Surrounding the Colonoscopy Procedure: An Ongoing Series

Nobody likes talking about it, but it’s a fact of getting older, and for some, a fact of heredity.

Despite the fact that colonoscopy saves lives, only about 60% of people who should get the test actually do so. The reasons include lack of access to colonoscopy, primary providers not recommending the test, and fear of colonoscopy due to myths.

Dr. Frank Farrell has written extensively on the subject, and prepared a list of myths to bust around the dreaded procedure…to make it less dreadful. We are here to answer your questions one at a time, in order to comfort and ease you through your procedures.

Myth: The Colonoscopy Will Hurt. Facts: People don’t find these exams painful.

Although some people have more discomfort than others. Patients are given medicine to make them sleep through a colonoscopy, so they don’t feel anything. Medicine usually isn’t used for a sigmoidoscopy.

During both of these tests, air is pumped into the cleaned-out colon to keep it open so that doctors can get the best pictures. The air pressure may cause some discomfort and cramping. As with most medical tests, complications are possible with both of these tests. Some can be serious – for instance, bleeding and puncture of the colon – but they’re very uncommon. Make sure you understand how these tests work, how you can expect to feel during and after the test, and how to watch for possible problems that could come up afterward.

Dr. Ferrell’s take: Colonoscopy should not hurt. OK, the only thing that might hurt is the intravenous needle that is inserted into your arm. Colonoscopy is typically performed with either of two types of intravenous sedative medications: conscious sedation or propofol.

Conscious sedation refers to the use of a benzodiazepine such as midazolam (Versed) along with a narcotic such as fentanyl (Sublimaze). The vast majority of patients do well with conscious sedation. However, patients who are taking narcotics, sleep medications, or anti-anxiety medications are often difficult to sedate with conscious sedation. It is often difficult to predict who will not do well with conscious sedation; that is, these patients will either require large dosages of the medications or who will simply not be able to be adequately sedated.

The problems with conscious sedation have led to the increasing use of propofol (Diprivan). Don’t be frightened to learn that propofol is the drug that Michael Jackson was receiving. What happened to Michael was gross negligence and malpractice. When used properly, propofol is a wonder drug that is effective and safe. Propofol is typically administered by an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthesthetist. Having another provider administer the propofol allows the gastroenterologist to focus completely on the colonoscopy. With conscious sedation, the gastroenterologist administers the medications and has to monitor the patient’s vital signs in addition to focusing on the colonoscopy. Propofol guarantees that you will go to sleep. It is impossible to not be adequately sedated with Propofol. With propofol the patient typically wakes up very quickly after the colonoscopy and the overall recovery time is quicker than with conscious sedation. Moreover, unlike with conscious sedation, one does not have a ‘hangover’ feeling and post-procedure nausea is non-existent. Most patients wake up and describe having some of the best sleep they’ve ever had.

Some patients experience abdominal discomfort after a colonoscopy due to retained air. This really shouldn’t happen and typically results from the inadequate suctioning of air from the colon as the colonoscope is withdrawn. More often, we are using carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of air to insufflate (or fill the colon) to maximize visualization. Any residual carbon dioxide in the colon is absorbed and this helps to prevent abdominal pain and distention after a colonoscopy.

In closing, the possibility of extremely minor pain associated with a colonoscopy which screens for polyps, cancer, precancerous growths, and other intestinal diseases and problems, is a small risk to take when you look at the big picture.

Taking into account the risk of colon cancer and the advent of polyps as we age, a colonoscopy procedure is relatively speaking, minimal upkeep when compared with the possibility of colorectal surgery to remove cancerous growths.

Treating your body correctly with preventative screenings may be a little uncomfortable, but it can’t hurt you.