Community Forum

Have a question, or want to share your own tips and experiences? Join the discussion in the community forum. You must be registered to participate. Our forums are moderated by Crohn's & Colitis Foundation staff to facilitate a safe environment.

Previous Topic Next Topic

colonoscopy

Thu, March 01, 2012 12:57 AM

i have read that u should get ur first colonoscopy 8-12 years after initially diagnosed with disease. that seems like a long time to wait to me. what is the significance of waiting that long? why would you not get checked every year after being diagnosed? my fiance has ulcerative colitis and was diagnosed in 1999 but recently has had problems occur. i haven't been with her ever since she was diagnosed so i am pretty uneducated when it comes to this but my grandmother also has it and i am trying to educate myself as much as possible to help my fiance manage the disease and live as normal life as possible. any help, suggestions, or advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance. -wes

kar13
Joined Feb 29, 2012

Thu, March 22, 2012 3:38 PM

Reply posted for kar13.

I don't want any more colonoscopies than I have to. They are invasive, uncomfortable, time-consuming, unpleasant, expensive, etc. Once the diagnosis is made, usually by a colonoscopy and biopsies, your GI can treat you based on your symptoms. Mine told me I don't need another one for 8-12 years also, At that point, you need them more frequently to monitor for colon cancer.

shazzer
Joined Apr 21, 2008

Sun, March 18, 2012 11:44 AM

Reply posted for kar13.

That is way too long. I have UC and will be having my third colonoscopy in May (diagnosed over three years ago). My ulcers have never totally healed and my Dr needs to see where we are and what my next steps will be. Please make sure your Fiancé sees a gastroenterologist for proper medical care. Remember too if you don't like the answers you are getting, go for a second opinion.

pammielou1960
Joined Mar 4, 2012

Tue, March 06, 2012 2:19 AM

Reply posted for kar13.

That is way too long to wait. Your fiance needs to be seeing a gastroenterology regularly, especially if he's experience a flare-up (when he experiences symptoms). The GI physian will do colonoscopies at healthy intervals (too many can create tears in the intestinal lining, too few could miss ulcers, absesses, colon cancer and other complications). Typically, the GI doctor will attempt medications to help the flare up first. If they don't work, he may want to perform a colonoscopy. Either way, let the GI doctor decide, but definitely see one regularly!!

jmcbrid2
Joined Mar 6, 2012

Related Topics

IBD and trauma

Janeliza
Joined Apr 13, 2022

Hi all! I've had Crohn's since 2014 with m....

read more

Life Insurance?

Aperson1
Joined Dec 2, 2022

40 y.o. male looking to get life insurance. ....

read more

IBD and exercise/sport

JS25
Joined Aug 14, 2023

This is my first post. I am 28 and I was diagnosed....

read more

Welcome to the Crohn's & Colitis Community!

This website is associated with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Please read our Top 12 Rules before posting messages and sharing stories. Always be courteous and sensitive to others!

Intended audience. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Online Community is intended for patients and their caregivers, family and friends. The Community is not intended for industry representatives or advertisers and these individuals are not permitted to participate on the site.

Meet the Crohn's & Colitis Community! Browse our site to see what our community is talking about and find issues important to you.

Join in and share your stories. After you feel comfortable with our site, register to share your thoughts on a regular basis.

Stay secure. Remember that our site can be viewed by anyone on the Internet. With the exception of our registration and personal pages, search engines are available within this site. To guard your privacy, follow these simple rules: do not share your address, phone number, details about your family, or anything else you would feel uncomfortable with others reading. If you post your personal email, be aware that you may receive spam e-mail from spammers who gather addresses off of the web.

Read and react to posts with care. If you don’t agree or are offended by someone’s post, take a step back and think before you reply. Since we can’t talk in-person to each other, we must recognize that we may be misunderstanding stories or posts. Please be sensitive to others’ feelings and ask for clarification before acting out.

Search before starting new topics. To keep our message boards easy to use, please use the search bar to locate topics of interest before starting a new thread. If you start a new thread, please use obvious subject headings and words that will catch the attention of others. Topics will be archived after 21 days of inactivity. To view past topics and posts, click on archive topics within each of the forums.

Stick to our guidelines. To keep this site safe for everyone, please do not post: doctors' names, treatment facility names and treatment specifics, contact information for others without their consent, links to websites with uncertain content or advertisements, requests for fundraising, items for sale, requests for study, survey and/or questionnaire participation or provocative information.

Sharing photos. Please use good taste and appropriate images when adding photos to your profile or personal stories. Photos should be in .jpg format.

Not following the rules? Crohn's & Colitis Community moderators routinely scan the message boards and will delete tasteless posts. If you post inappropriate messages or pictures or use offensive language in a post on multiple occasions, you will be notified via email and your account will be inactivated.

Report foul play. Help the Crohn's & Colitis Community moderators by reporting anyone that posts inappropriate messages or pictures by clicking the 'Report Abuse' button under the message or emailing ccfacommunity@ccfa.org.

Questions or concerns? Please feel free to email us at ccfacommunity@ccfa.org with any questions or concerns. We want you to feel comfortable here.

Terms & Conditions. By posting your story, questions, concerns and other information on the Community, you grant the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation or its authorized agent permission to publish, reproduce, record and use your stories as Crohn's & Colitis Community or the authorized agent sees fit in any medium or forum in a manner which helps to further the Crohn's & Colitis Community mission. You agree to release and hold harmless Crohn's & Colitis Community from any and all liability by any third party that may arise from the release of information to any third party or by any third party and agree that all text and other content made by you, for you or the person for whom you are the parent/guardian, shall be the exclusive property of Crohn's & Colitis Community. The Crohn's & Colitis Community cannot verify every claim made by a third party contributor to our Community and is not responsible for the authenticity of information posted.

Thank you! The Crohn's & Colitis Community is successful because of members like you!

Thanks!
The Crohn's & Colitis Community Team

*Any postings on the Crohn's & Colitis Community site should not replace your physician's advice. Always check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health.