How Can I Obtain A Last-Minute Endoscopy Without Health Insurance?

The cost of an endoscopy procedure can vary depending on factors such as insurance coverage, alternative payment options, and the individual’s financial situation. At Practice Plus Group, endoscopy procedures start at £1,299 and can be covered by self-pay, health insurance, or the NHS. If you don’t have health insurance, you can expect to pay the full cost. However, if you have a referral from your GP, you can talk to our friendly staff to discuss the costs. Diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy costs 1500 INR, colonoscopy costs 3500 INR, and additional biopsy procedures cost 250-500 INR. Free or low-cost care may be available in walk-in clinics or urgent care centers. A self-pay option is available for patients who prefer to pay for their procedure without going through an insurance carrier. However, we currently do not accept self-referrals for endoscopy. Uninsured patients can access endoscopy as an out-of-pocket cost by contacting Patient Services at their Epworth location. Your primary care doctor can request an endoscopy on your behalf without any office consultation.


📹 Endoscopic Procedure – Indications, Types, How It Is Done, Risks, And Complications

An endoscopy is a procedure to visualize internal organs using an endoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light …


Why do endoscopies cost so much?

The financial burden associated with upper GI endoscopy may be elevated due to the potential for preventable complications, particularly with regard to inpatient facility costs. This observation is supported by data from private insurance providers for the 2020/2021 period. The financial burden associated with these procedures can be influenced by a multitude of factors, including the potential for adverse effects on patients and the possibility of averting complications.

Why would I need an urgent endoscopy?
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Why would I need an urgent endoscopy?

In adults over 55, they may be referred for an endoscopy to investigate additional symptoms like pain, difficulty swallowing, or weight loss related to indigestion or heartburn. An endoscopy is a procedure using an endoscope to see inside the oesophagus and stomach, with the patient potentially receiving sedation or local anesthesia to numb the throat. Not all indigestion or heartburn patients require an endoscopy.

Urgent direct access endoscopy is typically arranged within two weeks, with primary care maintaining clinical responsibility throughout. Healthcare professionals should consider cultural and communication needs when arranging and explaining a referral for this procedure.

How long does an emergency endoscopy take?

An endoscopy is a procedure that takes 15 to 30 minutes to visually examine the upper digestive system using a camera on a flexible tube. It is used by gastroenterologists to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the upper part of the digestive system, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and the beginning of the small intestine (duodenum). The procedure can be performed in a healthcare provider’s office, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital.

How can I get an endoscopy fast?

To schedule an examination on the same day, the patient is required to select the location and insurance information in order to identify the nearest laboratory. The LabFinder platform enables users to schedule appointments in a convenient manner by searching for locations and insurance information. Furthermore, an online appointment for any examination may be scheduled by clicking on the “Book” button.

What is the cheapest endoscopy price?

Endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure in India costing between Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 3000/- that is used to observe or operate internal organs, tissues, or vessels. Deriving its name from the endoscope, a long, flexible tube equipped with a camera, it is an indispensable instrument for maintaining health and making well-informed decisions.

How hard is it to get an endoscopy?

Endoscopy may induce mild discomfort in the stomach and intestinal tract, which can be alleviated by belching. The procedure does not affect respiration. It is recommended that the subject take slow, deep breaths before and during the procedure to facilitate relaxation.

How can I request an endoscopy?

Your GP may refer you for an endoscopy if you have specific symptoms, usually conducted at a hospital endoscopy unit. Different types of endoscopy look at different parts of the body, depending on your symptoms. Examples include colonoscopy, colposcopy, cystoscopy, gastroscopy, and hysteroscopy. Colonoscopy checks the bowels, colposcopy checks the cervix, cystoscopy checks the bladder, gastroscopy checks the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine, and hysteroscopy checks the womb.

Why would an endoscopy be urgent?
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Why would an endoscopy be urgent?

Emergency endoscopy is a controversial procedure, with most authors suggesting a 24-hour emergency time, while some suggest a 72-hour period, particularly in acute pancreatitis. Four main indications for emergency endoscopy include acute gastrointestinal bleeding, acute biliary pancreatitis, and acute cholangitis. Emergency endoscopy enables exact diagnosis, appropriate therapy, and provides prognostic information for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Emergent endoscopic injection therapy improves clinical outcomes and reduces mortality in patients with acute ulcer bleeding. However, patients do not benefit from endoscopy only as a diagnostic procedure. Controversial results have been published regarding emergency endoscopy in acute biliary pancreatitis. There is good evidence that emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is helpful in patients with severe pancreatitis and stone impaction if performed within the first 24 hours after symptom onset.

However, it is not beneficial for patients with mild pancreatitis if performed later than 72 hours. There are a limited number of well-established evidence-based indications for emergency endoscopy, and some other indications are still a matter of debate.

Can I pay for an endoscopy?

Practice Plus Group offers endoscopy payment options, including self-pay, health insurance, credit or debit card payments, and financing through Chrysalis. Longer-term options are available from 36-60 months at 14. 9 APR. Self-pay endoscopy payments must be made seven days before the procedure, and financing is available over 12 months at 0. There are three ways to access endoscopy at Practice Plus Group.

Can the ER give an endoscopy?

Upper endoscopy is an outpatient procedure utilized to identify and treat conditions such as upper digestive system bleeding. It is frequently conducted in hospitals or emergency rooms and is a common diagnostic tool employed to ascertain the underlying cause of a sensation of food impaction behind the breast bone.

What are the criteria for emergency endoscopy?
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What are the criteria for emergency endoscopy?

Endoscopy is a vital tool in the management of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and can be used to identify the source of bleeding and treat lesions with active bleeding. However, the mortality rate has not changed significantly in the past decade, with mortality rates ranging between 6 and 12. This highlights the need for improvement in this area.

The authors reviewed current guidelines and recommendations for the management of acute upper GI bleeding, focusing on risk assessment and time to endoscopy. They found that patients with acute upper GI bleeding should undergo endoscopy within 24 hours, but the time range shorter than 24 hours has not been adequately explained. A study by James and colleagues assigned patients with overt signs of acute upper GI bleeding and a Glasgow–Blatchford score of 12 or higher to undergo endoscopy within 6 hours (urgent-endoscopy group) or between 6 and 24 hours (early-endoscopy group). The study revealed further bleeding within 30 days in 28 patients (10. 9) in the urgent endoscopy group and in 20 (7. 8) in the early-endoscopy group.

A longitudinal study by Bougergi and co-workers found that the non-variceal UGIH mortality rate decreased from 4. 5 in 1989 to 2. 1 in 2009. In-hospital upper endoscopy and endoscopic therapy rates increased from 70 and 10 in 1989 to 85 and 27 in 2009, respectively, and the early endoscopy rate increased from 36 in 1989 to 54 in 2009. The median length of hospitalization decreased from 4. 5 days in 1989 to 2. 8 days in 2009, but the median total hospitalization charges increased from $9249 in 1989 to $20. 370 in 2009.

After an initial presentation of GI bleeding, risk stratification by either the Rockall scoring system or Glasgow-Blatchford Scoring system must be done. The Glasgow-Blatchford Scoring system seems to be more applicable at the patient bedside, endoscopy independent, and was reported to be more accurate and sensitive. Patients with no history of melena, syncope, cardiac failure, and hepatic disease who have pulse rate are considered “high-risk patients”.

Early endoscopy (within the first 24 hours of initial presentation) must be done for them. Most current evidence does not show any significant effect of performing endoscopy in a shorter interval on mortality and outcome of the patients with non-variceal upper GI bleeding. However, two studies found a beneficial effect on mortality if the endoscopy is done in the first 12 hours after presentation.

It is recommended that endoscopy be done immediately after resuscitation for severe acute upper GI bleeding. All patients with cirrhosis, history of liver disease, or at risk of variceal bleeding should have an endoscopy in the first 12 hours after each type of upper GI bleeding presentation. It must be emphasized that the two most common causes of upper GI bleeding are peptic ulcer disease and variceal bleeding. Patients suspected of upper GI bleeding in an acute clinical setting should be assessed carefully and resuscitated well.

Despite some minor differences, all of the above guidelines and recommendations could be used as valuable tools to safely and accurately assess patients. Available logistics and individual circumstances should be considered in decision-making and management plans. More investigations and data from large multicenter registries will be helpful in detecting the best time for endoscopy in the first 24 hours in the future.


📹 Never Would I Ever – Colonoscopy Edition

Colonoscopies are a great diagnostic and preventative procedure that everyone should eventually utilize! While not super fun, …


How Can I Obtain A Last-Minute Endoscopy Without Health Insurance?
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Debbie Green

I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.

About me

46 comments

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  • I was very nervous for my first colonoscopy this week. I had never been “put under” before. I also worried about post procedure pain etc. In the surgery room as they gave me the med, I felt a tingling sensation all over. The next thing I know I’m in the recovery room and it’s 45 minutes later. Zero pain or discomfort.

  • I had been putting this off for 15 years and finally had my first colonoscopy 2 weeks ago. It truly isn’t anything to worry about. Prep was easy, just follow the instructions exactly. The procedure only took 20 min, no pain whatsoever. The doc removed one small polyp. Huge relief there was nothing else.

  • I had mine recently, after reading stories and listening to others I believe I freaked myself out!!! Just take moviprep as prescribed it’s just like a normal laxative, if your make this in a 2litre bottle, which today we all have some for of measurement on your water bottles or they can be brought. Once the liquid is consumed go to the toilet and relax, it will start to pass out like water and this will feel like a tap and will take half hour to 45mins to finish, the colonoscopy procedure does not hurt ! You might feel a little pushing now and then but you should not experience any pain . Please ignore all negative feedback back on social media and other platforms. These articles are very accurate so don’t mentally distress your own minds . It’s very important to follow your diet as directed so please do so,mine was perfect and I definitely felt much better for a bowel cleans . All my results were negative but I convinced myself I was dying after reading into things too much . Stay positive people

  • That was super informative! Thank you. I used to work at a sewage treatment plant and one of my favorite things to do was working on the camera crew where we would lower a camera down into the sewer lines and run the camera up the sewer pipe to look for problems such as cracks or illegal taps or blockages, etc. although I do have to say my friends made a lot of jokes.

  • Cheers for your articles man. I just had my first colonoscopy and second gastroscopy today, and all went well. Was feeling bit worried about the procedures (my last gastroscopy was painful as fuck despite being dripfed sedatives), and the doctor was really rude to me, but everything seems OK down there. The prep really was the worst part; though the procedures weren’t painless, it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. I’ve watched a dozen or so of your articles in the past 24 hours, and your delivery, tone and knowledge are all very comfortable and reassuring to listen to. Also you’re handsome so bonus points for that lol. But aye, thanks for your educational content, and for going into medicine. I hope you have a great rest of your year!

  • Really nice article by a very nice sounding doctor. I am actually preparing today for my 2nd colonoscopy. First one was nearly 10 years ago. I am very nervous about it but I shouldn’t be because I have done this before and know what to expect. I guess why be nervous when doctors do millions of these a year and very rarely does anybody die from it. Thank you for the article.

  • Had my second one a few days ago. One polyp. Doc said be back in five years. Older brother kept putting his off even though he had the classical symptoms of bowel cancer. When the pain and bleeding got so bad, he finally got his colonoscopy and had stage 3B cancer. Had an ileostomy done and after chemotherapy, was cured. The ileostomy was reversed eventually.

  • I had my colonoscopy last week and due to following my prep instructions they were able to easily perform the procedure. Thankfully they didn’t find any polyps and I don’t need to do another for 10 years. There is a family history of colon cancer and polyps so screening is very important for me. The procedure itself was very easy. The drinking the stuff wasn’t pleasant but it wasn’t horrid either. The part that was hard for me was not being able to eat anything for about a day and a half. It took a few days for my gut to re-regulate and my medication to get back to normal levels.

  • Today going for my 4th.! Colon cancer ran in my Mom who survived through and her sister whom sadly didn’t. We’re talking 40 years ago for these events; so docs suggested entire family to screen and closely follow up. Personally had polyps removed each time. Each colonoscopy was spaced 3 years. There’s no such thing as used to it for sure and hate it each time even though no pain and no complications so far. One thing is certain prevention is key so get it done folks!

  • I had four colonoscopies between twenty-oh-one and twenty eighteen. Each prep was different. The first three were with over-the-counter products. The fourth one was with a product whose name looks at first glance like Super Bowl Prep but is actually Superb Bowel Prep. I followed each of them to the letter. All four preps worked fine for me. (Starts humming, “26 miles across the sea. Santa Catalina is awaiting for me,” because the group that sang it was the Four Preps.) But my fifth one in December twenty twenty-three was a different story. This time, it was back to over-the-counter stuff plus Gatorade. I followed the prep. But I wasn’t cleaned out enough! Now I have to go back again, with some changes. It will be a two-day prep with a combination of over-the-counter and prescription items. It’s going to be done in the hospital surgery center instead of their free-standing facility because I had some breathing issues. And they can’t get me in until April! I can just see a cancer breaking free and metastasizing during those four months. Plus, I’m not sure if my insurance (a Medicare Advantage plan with the local Blue Cross) will even cover a 2nd colonoscopy so soon.

  • I had a colonoscopy at age 59. Not even a polyp. Now at age 71 I’ve been trying for 2 plus years to get another. I gave up on my primary care doctor and went to VA for first time well over a year ago. During this time, I was given 2 at home tests to send back. results were ok. Last appointment with a new VA doctor, he highly recommended me to get one locally. I agreed. That was over two weeks ago. Still no referral .

  • Well! I had a colonoscopy and gastrology yesterday.. my prep was brilliant 8 years ago I collapsed with the prep. I was rushed to emergency by ambulance. So this time I really prepared.. so good in fact I didn’t even get a single stomach cramp or sweating.. I’m going to create a YouTube article soon in regard to how I did the bowel prep.. My Boston score was 8/9 My doctor was very happy

  • I’m amazed a doctor cares like you do! I’ve had 5 attempted scopes in my life, none of which were successful. They gave me hemorrhoids that are severe because they only cared about what the camera saw. A pill camera had to be inserted, the first one could not exit my stomach. They found a tortuous intentional path that had no issues at all. No polyps, internal bleeds, nothing. I have had the agony for almost 2 decades dealing with hemorrhoids. The doctors couldn’t have cared less about the damage they did. I will never have another attempt. At 73 I figure something is in the offing but I feel no need to help it along!

  • I am terrified. I’ve been having digestive issues since February and went for colonoscopy in March. They said “incomplete cleanse” most likely due to the fact that I didn’t get prep instructions until 36 hours before the procedure and had been taking things on the list to not take. Anyway, I go again this Wednesday (April 3) and I’m so scared. Not of the prep. I’ve done it before. I had one done about 10 years ago and they found nothing wrong. The prep is nothing. The problem is waking up and hearing that your life is forever changed and you’ll never be able to relax again with bad news. It’s just too much to take. I’ve had so many panic attacks in the last two months. I’m a 50 year old man and I want to cry badly.

  • Over 1000 colonoscopies a year. That’s an average of 3 per day. My question here is, out of that number, how many patients experience complications, what are those complications, at what % have they occurred? And more importantly out of those 1000 procedures did it ever make any difference that polyps benign or not were removed? This last question since if polyps are determined to be of no consequence to the life of the patient it would seem that the risks associated with the procedure would be comparatively greater than the existence of the polyps, esp if the patient is proven otherwise healthy and presents no overt risk of colon cancer, i.e. colonoscopy is unnecessary.

  • Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 20 years ago but through diet & lifestyle changes (NO MEAT & reduced stress for past 18 years) I’ve had 3 normal colonoscopies since & complete remission of symptoms. Colonoscopies are a breeze these days especially with the sedating drug Propanol, freakin wonderful!

  • Last time I had the procedure they gave me almost no sedation because I have sleep apnea – I had brought my CPAP machine but they didn’t care. Secondly, despite following the prep correctly, my colon wasn’t as cleared out as the doctor thought it should be and he kept making noises and saying things about how hard it was to see and suggesting I hadn’t followed the prep properly. I was furious but in too much pain to say much of anything. Needless to say the procedure was extremely painful and I haven’t been back even though I was due for one 2 years ago.

  • Nice article. I’m doing my first one this April 7th. One of the things you should have touch on is doing it without sedation. I have watched MANY articles on the subject and done extensive reading on it, and while it’s not a procedure I’d sign up for just for fun, it only takes 15-30 minutes supposedly, and some of us want to go to work right after. My colorectal surgeon/gastro tried talking me out of it, she said only people that do things like Yoga can handle it. But, I dealt with kidney stones (not fun) on my own, I had full upper-mouth extractions due to poor dental habits last month with just lidocaine and it took three visits due to long roots, and that was easily the most painful experience of my life (worse than breaking a finger, worse than being attacked by a Pit Bull years ago). So I’m guessing there are only two parts that won’t be fun: turns one, and two. Coming back out supposedly isn’t that bad. Anesthesia has risks. A lot of risks, and even though it’s fine most of the time, it’s adding risks to a procedure that already has risks. Honestly, if not for the radiation, most of us would do a virtual colonoscopy.

  • Colonoscopy is tmro at 330 pm. Due to a logistical problem I was not able to start the prep drink until 8:45 p.m. last night though it said I should start it somewhere between 5 and 7. Called to ask if that’s okay and they said yes. Only trouble is… I’ve had to go a little bit slower to avoid nausea. It is now 2:45 a.m. and I’ve just finished the rest. Need to have the second half finished by 9:30. If the other half takes the same amt of time, that means I need to start drinking the other half at 4 am.! So… I will not be sleeping at all but long story short: will this still work since I’ve pretty much taking it evenly from last night at 8:45 and will be 9:30? Took awhile for the stuff to kick in too as I only just started having the pottying about half hour ago.

  • In many articles they help you do the colonoscopy but they only say, “Resume normal eating” for after the procedure. My wife had pancakes, syrup, etc after the procedure and other less than optimal foods in the next few days. I would guess that the high fructose corn syrup wrecked her gut flora. She has had intestinal cramping daily since. Is there an optimized method for getting the gut back to it’s “normal” gut populations in the normal locations? Obviously the gut is not cleaned of all bacteria while doing the prep. How do we get her gut flora back to optimal?

  • Read the stats before getting this done as just a routine screening (I am talking if you are asymptomatic, and only doing it because the hospital and physicians that stand to make millions a year off this procedure are telling you that you need it done at a certain age), and talk to your doctor, make an informed decision for yourself!! I will not be getting one of these done, I have seen enough perforated bowels, and if you look at the percentage of colonoscopies that actually find significant cancer vs the amount of injuries that occur from colonoscopy you would be quite surprised. I am not a doctor so do your own research and speak with your own doctor before making your own decision.

  • I ended up with 5 yes 5 colonoscopies. From September to April.. they found polyps and a very large one I had to go from Colorado to Utah to have large on removed I proceeded to hemorrhage that night was put back in hospital and they did another one to stop bleeding was very rare…but no cancer they said..

  • I have had 3 colonoscopy’s in the last 3 months. First one was my first ever. They found 2 small polyps and a “flat polyp 20mm wide”! Since my first colonoscopy was in the “dr.office” building they would not remove the flat polyp there. They wanted me in the hospital in case anything went wrong. Guess the flat polyp removal isn’t as worry free as a regular polyp removal. So i went to hospital for flat polyp removal. I had to drink the gallon of golyte half at 5pm the night before and the other half was to be finished “AT LEAST” 3 hours prior to my colonoscopy. I’m highlighting the “at least” because I finished my 2nd half at exactly 3 hours before my appointment time. I aspirated on the table….apparently not all the golyte had gotten through my system and I vomited on the table while asleep. They had to cram something down my throat to open my airways. I guess my breathing came back ok …but whatever they crammed down my throat made me cough continuously. They had to call my flat polyp removal off and reschedule. If you can imagine the pure hell of 3 colonoscopy’s in 3 months!!! Today I did things a little different. I drank 16 ounces extra of that mess in the first dose the night before….leaving me only 48 ounces for the second half. I also left 5.5 hours of time before my last drink of prep or any other fluids so I was sure to have no fluids left to vomit. It worked….today I got my flat polyp removed and I cannot tell you the relief. Want to express the importance of finishing your prep….

  • When I recently had a colonoscopy and an upper GI endoscopy, I actually had Covid-19, unbeknown to me. I should have realised, as during my home preparations I was really struggling and feeling ill. But the procedure went well. A few days later, I found out I had Covid-19 with a rapid antigen test. I, of course, rang up the hospital to let them know. So, if you’re feeling under the weather, it might be a good idea to just do a rapid antigen test before going to the hospital.

  • I have Crohn’s disease and I have to have a colonoscopy every year. I hate them. I get anxiety weeks before knowing they’re coming. My dr uses the miralax/gatorade prep. It’s so thick! It takes me 4 hours to drink it instead of the 1 hour they request. I can never finish the morning prep without vomiting. This year I asked for Sutab which is a pill form of prep. I have my colonoscopy in 3 days. Hoping maybe this prep will be better for me which would make the entire experience better/easier. I want to stop going every year, but I know someone who is dying of colon cancer right now and it’s horrific. Talk to your dr if their choice of prep is difficult for you.

  • I have to get a colonoscopy tomorrow and I understand drinking the gallon prep, but I got these 2 pills and one has directions on the pill bottle. The other pill has no direction on the pill bottle and the paper I was given doesn’t really say anything but to follow your doctor’s recommendation. It’s for gas control and called Simethicone and says take with food and at bedtime. Which is very confusing and not sure when to take it and how often or if this is an option if you feel gassy and bloated. Anyway, I wish they were more clear at my hospital bc I want to be fully prepared for my colonoscopy.

  • I had a colonoscopy 4, 5 months ago. They said there was nothing and im bleeding because of a ulcer or hemorrhoid and to stop straining so hard. I still bleed every now and then. So i ended up going to another doctor. I didn’t know it was another doctor. I just thought they all worked together. Anyway im enemic because of the bleeding. She said its not normal for me to be enemic. Now she wants to do a colonoscopy this coming Monday. I barely had a few days to prepare. She said she wants to know why im bleeding and how she can fix it. She said the other doctors didnt come up with a solution and she wants to do that. Any thoughts on this doc? I been having rectum bleeding for over 7 years now

  • I have had a few. Never ate the day before. They did the colonoscopy, but they were not pleased with how cleaned out I was. The problem is that my last dose of the mixture was at midnight. I go to bed before 800PM, so when I drank the mixture, I did not go to the restroom. I went to sleep. I wonder if this dose has to be this late at night. My scope was done at about 800AM the next day. No, I did not eat anything the day before either.

  • I found the drink used as the prep to be much worse than the experience itself … but I did continue as I recognised the need. I had follicular lymphoma found, which didn’t totally surprise me as I had already been diagnosed after a biopsy elsewhere. Years later and I’m doing fine, just wondering whether I will ever be called for a follow up examination.

  • Someone needs to make the prep easier to swallow. And tolerate I’ve had 3 colonoscopys and each time the prep made me more ill. It’s taste made me nauseous, the 3 time it was extreme. But. Even worse my blood pressure went sky high. I thought maybe because it tastes so salty. But. They assured me it’s not sodium. Idk. But my reaction was extremely scary. The colonoscopy it self is a piece of cake.

  • i have problems with low blood sugar-i passed out a few months ago bc i went to bed hungry. i woke up n tried to get to the fridge but passed out n lost body functions (#1 & #2) so im terrified to go to sleep tonight. my procedure is 7:45 in the morning. i will drink some chx broth b4 midnight & i hope the protein n fat in that will help me make it thru

  • Hi Doctor! I need your help! I didn’t know about the prep list because i never received it until 4PM today (Tuesday) and my colonoscopy is scheduled for this Thursday. This morning I had granola with oat milk and black coffee. For lunch I had a slice of pizza and an ice cream. I also took an aspirin 4 days ago. But after seeing the prep list I’m stressing out that I’m either going to go in there only to be told they cant proceed, or Im going to have to reschedule for months later. I’ve scheduled this time off work and lined someone up to drive me, so I really need to do this on Thursday. What can I do RIGHT NOW to be successful in addition to following the prep list?

  • A couple of problems with all that: 1) They REFUSE to take out more polyps than a few thus running the bill sky high for repeated visits. 2) You cannot drive afterwards for at least a day. What if you have no one to take you home? Cannot leave the car there nor pay high taxicab fees for two trips (and that is IF they bother to show up on time or not). Additionally, if they find a tumor they want to take it out while there, which is a good thing. BUT you spend the next 5 UNPLANNED DAYS in the hospital recovering. And that jacks up the hospital bills sky high. Remove ALL the polyps at one time, Remove any tumor and LASER the spot shut to stop bleeding, give lots of extra oxygen to bring you out of the anesthesia, then send you on your way. But there is extra NO MONEY in it for the already RICH doctors to grab.

  • Hi Mark, and thanks for the great article. I had a colonoscopy 2 days ago and the report said that “the entire examined colon appeared normal”, which was good, but also said “extensive anorectal pedunculated rectal polyps ?malignancy ?IBD – polypectomy with hotspare and sent for histology”. I didn’t get the opportunity to discuss this report with the doctor and won’t for a week which has me very worried. Can you please tell me if I should be concerned?

  • Dr.Cooper I have UC and UC proctitus .I am long overdo on my 3rd or 4th one.I forget but the prep is gonna keep me from doing it! I just cant handle that salty crap and vomiting.. You’d think after all these years they would have come up with another way to do prep that people could tolerate,. Yes there r alot like me and i realize im taking a big risk…Cant i have a CT instead? You sound like a very kind gastro interologist which is also rare imo.

  • I am having my colonoscopy on Tuesday 20th,it’s my first, am not worried at all, im just looking forward at the benefits of going toilet pain free again. i have haemorrhoid and i struggle to do no 2. it’s like some one is ripping it open – am near to tears. each time i have to go. its so pain full it hurts so much. Can they come back after colonoscopy is done. thank you.

  • Ok. Here’s my problem. I told my doctor. I take the entire prep. Strongest one. Plus I add ex lax and something citrate. And still NOTHING comes out. I have to find a dr who can do the prep for me. Like hose me out then not eat n come back immediately for screening. It’s unreal. I f0r 35 years lost ability. I twice weekly do enema bags of warm distilled water to just get relief. No ” doctor” tells me what other steps to do. Last time 5 years ago I was 2:29 angry n went ahead n he simply said. Oh well it wasn’t so clean in there but I looks fine. I nearly threw the bed at him. I saud I ASKED YOU FOR THE STRONGEST THING IMAGINABLE. I envy people who complain about prep. If it’s coming out God 2:29 bless

  • I am wondering why some people say they had full anesthesia and where i went they only did relaxation drugs? I live in Canada. I found the procedure took 10 minutes or so and i could watch the monitor too. The probe is no bigger than a cable TV cord so im not sure why people freak out so much about pain etc?. To my knowledge the inner parts of the body do not experience pain like our skin does for example?

  • I have a colonoscopy appt soon. I have yet to be able to drink the full dose of the prep. That stuff is Nasty and from the very first drink i start puking and then can’t stop puking for the next 24hrs. It’s hell, and it happens Every time. This will be my 4th colonoscopy and I’m dreading it. My last one they told me the taste of the prep was changed so it’s not as bad, they Lied!! We can put a man on the moon yet they can’t do something to at least make that Nasty stuff tolerable!

  • I am 61 and I have not had a Colonoscopy, my mother and father are 90 years old and they have never had an Colonoscopy and they are still alive, My Grandma and Grandpa never had Colonoscopies and their parents never had them. I Dunno….. These Doctors are making allot of money doing 1000 Colonoscopies a year.

  • Prep is the worst part of the entire procedure. Very time consuming…lol! While I was waiting to be rolled back for the colonoscopy last time some idiot on the other side of the curtain hadn’t done their prep the night before. Either that or they ate regular food the day before. The nurse was chewing man out and rightfully so!!!

  • Have a colonoscopy every year. This past year I was going completely clear at the end of prep. After colonoscopy my doc told me he might have missed something small or flat because the lining of my colon had “schmutz” on it which hampered his view. He said this year he will have me do 2 days of clear liquids instead of 1. Any thoughts on why this happened?

  • Hello Dr. Cooper. Something happened to me at my last colonoscopy that I don’t know what to do about. My family doctor referred me because I was 57 and never had one done. This next bit is going to sound like it’s a bit out of left field but please bear with me. I don’t look or act stereotypically gay. When the doctor entered the examination room the first thing I noticed is that he never made eye contact with me, not even once. When he told me to pull my pants down and kneel on the examination table I did as told but to my surprise all he did was lightly place his gloved finger on the exterior of my anus and said “That’s it, you can get dressed now”. I was a bit shocked. I’m not a doctor but I know an exam must last longer than 15 seconds. I was shocked and didn’t understand what was going on. Coupled with the complete lack of eye contact I realized maybe he figured out I was gay from the list of medications I’m on (an anti-viral). I told my family doctor what happened but he sort of shrugged it off and said the blood PSA test is more accurate anyway. Is this true? The other doctor was obviously homophobic but I don’t want to make anything out of it because I have no actual hard evidence so it would be a matter of he said, he said. Should I ask my family doctor to send me to another (non-homophobic) doctors for a proper evaluation?

  • Well they did find something un my duodenum thru my colonoscopy/endoscopy… tomorrow is the enoscopy ultrasound but it is still all un clear. Very frightened tired of this way way long processthat should have been done long time ago…but shitty HMO…NOW i have original medicare and having autonomy with your care nothing like it! Wish me luck folks

  • Colon cancer is quite preventable, know your family history, risk factors. I had no problem because i followed the prep . I thought the fasting period would be the worst but i got thru it, and i love eating! I even got used to the drink by the last 2 litres. Once you evacuate yer tubes you should be fine, there shouldn’t be anything left. I got nothing off the sedation and would maybe opt for no drugs next time. My favorite part was all the nervous straight guys who were acting like this was the biggest violation of their lives, but trying to be brave! 😂

  • I am having my 2nd Colonoscopy in a few days and I am SO anxious about it. The first colonoscopy I had was 7 years ago with sedation ( in UK) and it was was the most painful experience I have ever had (I have 2 children and the pain I experienced during the Colonoscopy was worse than childbirth) The doctor performing the procedure explained it was because I had a ‘floppy’ bowel so do you think it is likely I am going to have the same experience?