<p>I had a colonoscopy before age 50 and it was covered by my HMO style insurance. There was a family Hx of abdominal (though not colon cancer) and I just asked for it.</p>
<p>I am two years away from 50, but plan to do this as soon as my insurance will cover. I have a sort of stupid concern, though… no one to drive me/pick me up afterwards. I remember how loopy ex-H was after his, so it doesn’t seem like a cab is a good idea. My close friends work (at jobs they can’t just take time off from). I guess I could ask D2 to do it (she will be a senior in hs). I am sure she would find it “squicky”, but would do it. Or I guess could suck it up and ask the ex-H to help, he probably would.</p>
<p>I had minor bleeding & my doc ordered it – had no problems getting insurance to pay & I was under 50. H was in his 60s when he has his 1st. He had benign polyps removed at the same time, so he’s had to have repeats. 
Going out to eat afterwards at a restaurant he likes is something that makes it slightly better.</p>
<p>Intparent - They probably won’t release you unless you have someone to drive you home. I was pretty ‘loopy’ after my colonoscopy 10 days ago. They even asked if someone would be home with me that afternoon (son was home from college). As soon as I got home, I slept for a few hours and then was fine.</p>
<p>I’m 48 and was having some symptoms. The GI doc said it wasn’t usuall a symptom of cancer but said since I was close to 50, he recommended doing it. I’m glad I did, it was a big relief to find out everything was fine. Colon cancer doesn’t normally cause symptoms until it’s pretty far along. I know several people right now who are fighting Stage 4 colon cancer.</p>
<p>StevensMamma - usually insurance companies will pay for screenings if there’s a good reason. I would fight it. Most insurances will back down if you raise a fuss…they don’t want the liability if they refuse a test and it turned out the patient did have cancer. Your brother just needs to be a very squeaky wheel.</p>
<p>Intparent -
Plan on your D or friend driving you home afterwards but if you can’t arrange anything I think you can drive yourself home after they keep you hanging around there an extra 4 hours or so - but check on this at the particular office because they might have a different policy. Regardless, you’d be happier if you were able to go home right afterwards. Your other option - don’t have the anaesthetic in which case you can drive afterwards. A friend of mine did this but I’d rather arrange for a driver and not remember the procedure.</p>
<p>And - you really don’t remember the procedure or things right afterwards. My W said I was asking the same questions over and over. The short term memory seems to be disabled for a bit right after waking up until the stuff wears off. I guess it’s pretty funny for whoever’s there with you.</p>
<p>I want to second that I had no pain during (sedative worked fine) and none whatsoever after. I slept for a few hours and was fine. The worst part, actually, was that the sedative made me nauseous afterward.</p>
<p>I would definitely fight any insurer who balked at paying for a colonoscopy if I was having symptoms. Agree that the squeaky wheel generally gets what’s needed, especially in healthcare.</p>
<p>I fought so much with my insurer that they assigned someone to handle all my issues & gave me her direct phone number & email. When she retired, they found someone else to help me. She retired and now they have me work with their regular customer service, since I haven’t had many issues recently. I have had nearly everything covered by insurer–only two things weren’t but they didn’t cost all that much anyway.</p>
<p>Benefits expert here.</p>
<p>The insurance company is probably saying they won’t pay for a “routine” colonoscopy, due to the patient’s age. However, if you have symptoms, it’s no longer “routine”; it’s diagnostic, looking for a cause.</p>
<p>In addition, as someone else suggested, tell them grandpa died of colon cancer. They do NOT require proof.</p>
<p>Yeah, tell them Grandpa had colon cancer—they covered them for my husband as soon as they learned that (his grandfather).</p>
<p>I have had 6-7 of them–have Crohns–no arguments ever have been given regarding the need. The first was at 40 and I had symptoms so it was diagnostic.</p>
<p>Some were because I was flaring & the Dr needed to see what was going on–the others have been routine checkups. I have asked “just for enough to take the edge off” for all but the last because I wanted to see the show on the TV; it really is interesting. And it does not hurt. For the last one, 2 yr ago, he had to do things I won’t scare you with so he wanted me knocked out; “take the edge off” wouldn’t have been enough. </p>
<p>Next one is in Feb—the worst part is the damn prep. I start fasting from solids 2 nights before—it makes the prep easier. And schedule it for first thing in the am. And folks, did you know you can eat things like gummy bears (just not the red ones) or spearmint leaf gum drops, the day before? Because they are clear liquids when they get to your stomach. They are more “filling” than chicken broth. Also you can suck on hard candies all you want, just as long as it is not red or purple.</p>
<p>Now I have been told I have to have it annually, because I have had CD more than 20 yr – oh well–as another has said, there are worse things. Much worse.</p>
<p>I know people who have had colonoscopies unsedated…I for one did a week or 2 ago and was fine afterwards…I don’t like the loopy drugged feeling!</p>
<p>I didn’t go through the whole thread but doesn’t test for “Tumor Marker” can pre-screen people in the 40’s.
I think the CEA(Carcinoembryonic antigen) is related to colon while PSA(Prostate-Specific Antigen) is for prostate.</p>
<p>I’ve been getting pre-screened for specific markers but never been told to go for colonoscopy. Maybe after 50.</p>
<p>Dr Oz, says that its good to have intestinal worms(special kind), which promotes mucus production on the walls which prevents diverticulitis. </p>
<p>I only got two pictures (poor), vs DW who got 6 very good pixs. I wonder if she is prettier?</p>
<p>re: having a friend take you home. </p>
<p>My hospital won’t let you leave without someone else driving you – they specifically say no taxi, bus, or walking home. I picked up a friend after her colonoscopy – she seemed fine, listened while the doctor told her “no polyps, come back for another one in ten years” and then I took her home, walked her upstairs, and she crawled into bed.</p>
<p>The next day she called me and said, “How did I get home? Did you pick me up? What did the doctor say?” She had no memory at all of anything that happened after the procedure. Make’s the hospital’s requirement seem like a pretty good one.</p>
<p>Goodness gracious, the things I learn on college confidential.</p>
<p>Arabrab, my husband also had no memory after his. While we were still in the hospital he kept asking me and every nurse the same questions over and over. The nurse told me it is common to have amnesia from the anesthesia. </p>
<p>I made the horrid mistake of scheduling my appt for the afternoon. If you haven’t had one make sure you get a early morning appt. </p>
<p>I couldn’t drink lemonade for months after but the sleep I had when under the anesthesia was the best I ever had. </p>
<p>I got pictures but DH didn’t. Mine was also done at a special outpatient facility. I got heated blankets to keep me nice and warm and nice bed socks before hand and when I first was wheeled into the surgery the gave me a another just warmed blanket. The nurses also dimmed the lights and put on soothing music in the private room I had. DH’s was in the hospital and he was in a room with for others with only a curtain for separation.</p>
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<p>I think I read someplace that they give you propofol when you have a colonoscopy, which would explain why Michael Jackson liked it so much.</p>
<p>One of the drugs given during colonoscopy and minor surgery makes you forget. Versed/midazolam. I tried to have that drug, but not the pain medication due to history of nausea. But remember it hurting, so received anti nausea medication and narcotics. Much better, and am glad to know the anti nausea med makes me able to take narcotics. </p>
<p>Regardless, you don’t know how you will respond to those drugs, inparent, so find a ride. Your D can do it, just part of what families do for each other. One of the things I hate about being single is not having anyone around for these essential rides. Finding someone is not so easy for some of us.</p>
<p>I have an incredible over-reaction to anesthesia, while DH woke during the procedure and watched, with no discomfort, the screen, I sleep for about 12-14 hours after even light anesthesia. For me an afternoon appt was better, I could just go home and sleep sleep sleep.</p>
<p>I haven’t gone through the entire thread yet so I’m not sure if this has been discussed, but – I chose an afternoon appointment, and will do so the next time, because it allowed for a split prep (also called split-dosing). </p>
<p>According to [this</a> New York Times article](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/health/esn-colonoscopy-expert.html]this”>10 Questions You Need to Ask About Colonoscopy - The New York Times), “Split-dosing refers to taking half the laxative prescription the night before colonoscopy, and the other half on the day of the procedure, usually about four to five hours before the procedure is scheduled. Several studies have shown that split-dosing significantly improves the quality of the preparation for colonoscopy.” (I recommend the entire article.)</p>
<p>Aside from the medical benefits, I thought breaking up the prep was so much easier. When I was half-way through drinking the solution, I was very, very happy to be able to take a break until the following morning.</p>
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<p>In the past, on more than one occasion, I’ve simply fibbed about having someone to pick me up when that’s required, and have left on my own when nobody was paying attention, taking a taxi when I’ve been living in the City and a bus or car service during the 20+ years when I was in New Jersey. To date, I’ve managed OK that way when nobody’s been available to help out. Nor have I ever had any amnesia issues.</p>