Comments on: Virtual Colonoscopy

By: Peter Massa

Peter Massa — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:18:39 +0000

Hey!
Learn to live and live and smile and be happy.
If you don’t have a colonoscopy, you may neve see the above.
I take one every two years because of my background. Both my parents died because in those days a colonoscopy was not exposed as it is today. If it was, they may have lived a lot of years longer.
BE SMART. Nothing to it. Just do what you have to do.

By: Allan C

Allan C — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:04:59 +0000

After my wife had a regular colonoscopy, with terrible after effects, and the nurse there said “I’d never have one of those,” I decided for the virtual. Fifteen comfortable minutes later, I was on my way back to work. One hidden benefit—if you have a virtual, ask how much more for a full body scan. Get your arteries checked, internal cancer screened for and come out with a DVD of your entire body for a few hundred dollars more. A very good deal for a very easy procedure!

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:19:53 +0000

I believe insurance should pay for colonoscopies, no matter what age the patient is, based on symptoms. This is something that the law must change.

I just had my first colonoscopy on Sept 3, at age 51. The prep was not too bad, drinking a powdered laxitive mixed with Gatorade, and taking a few tablets. I had one main movement and the rest was fluid, every hour or so. The clinic did fully sedate for this procedure. I was out in seconds and the next thing I know I’m awake, a little groggy, has some passing of gas, but that ended after an hour and was not painful. Ate normally upon arriving home and rested for a day. No polyps or anything else was found. I think this is the key – finding good doctors and clinics. Would not have it done in a hospital. This clinic is in the Phoenix Metro area.

My current insurance (an individual policy) pays for one after age 50, every ten years, even though Doctors recommend every 5. By that time I will have different insurance. There is a high family incidence, however it was caused by diet and not genetic factors. My father has had no problems having the procedure through the VA. He’s had 4 in the past 20 years.

By: walter

walter — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:47:25 +0000

I have had a virtual colonoscopy paid for by Medicare and I am not physically handicapped as this is the only criteria for getting one thru Medicare. It was a fluke but they paid. The reason that Medicare does not pay is because the board is made up of GI,s and they are a self serving group. The American Cancer Institute backs virtual colonoscopies and claims they are as effective as regular colonoscopies. The American Gastronological Institute AGI does not becacuse all their members provide regular colonoscopies and they would not benefit financially if they recommended a virtual. The requirements need to be reviewed. A virtual costs $850.00 in Las Vegas NV. A regular colonoscopy has got to be double that. Look at all the savings to be had by Medicare. Maybe Obamas health plan will allow for that and put the blood sucking GI’S out of business or get them something else to do if they adopt this simple procedure.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:44:14 +0000

I read all of the comments here and one really bad issue that I know of personally, that recently occured to two of my over 50 friends, is perforation of the bowels during the procedure. The first man nearly died in critical care and finally is back to work after three months. The second man is still recooping at home now some 5 weeks later. Forget me, just tell me how much the virtual is and I’ll gladly pay for it. Surely one would rather live and pay than die waiting on some insurance company to do what they will never do, spend money!

By: wayne

wayne — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:54:34 +0000

Due to family history, I have a three colonostopies over a 5 year period. The preparation is the hard part, and the procedure, well you don’t even know you had it when you wake up. It is just one of those things you must do if you want to live a healthy long lfe.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:06:16 +0000

I am 31. I have had 3 colonoscopies total. I have to have them bi-yearly due to re-occuring colon poylps, and a family history of colon cancer.If I haven’t already have had one, I would be terrified to have a colonoscopy done after reading this. They make it sound like you may seriously die if you have the procedure done. I think this virtual thing is a waste of time, and yes, unnecssarily exposes you to to radiation, which, does cause cancer by the way, because as they point out, it does NOT pick up the prescense of “small” poylps, and if they do find tumors or poylps, you will have to have a colonoscopy in the end anyway. All you do is drink some fleets or similar mix, poo all night long, just take a pillow to the potty to rest your head on, and turn your exhaust fan on as well. As for the procedure, the longest, toughest part is the wait to be taken back. You are only lightly sedated. Not put under as if you were having a bi-pass surgery or serious operation. There are many levels of conciousness, and what the enduce is what they call a twilight sleep. No soon than you are asleep, you are awakened again. Feel a bit dopey, but it wears off in a few hours. And the answer is NO, your butt does not hurt afterwards. Enducing the twilight sleeps allows the muscles to relax so there is no tensing up and creating the situation of possibly tearing a hole in the colon.
My problem though is, my insurance refuses to pay for my colonoscopies because it is not a medical emergency, it is a pre-exsisting condition, I am not over 50 yrs, though each time, poylps have been removed, after 1 1/2 the tarry stools start again, and if I don’t get the colonoscopy, serious rectal bleeding occurs. I can go almost 2 weeks without going #2 most of the time, which is very bad.
So I am told to wait until I am 50 to be covered or have to pay for it myself. The sad thing is I had to take my dad to the ER. He was 47 at the time. He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and the prognosis was not good at all.
This is what the insurance companies have done to people, either expose them to radiation that will eventaully give them cancer, or refuse to pay for treatments that could possibly save their lives. Some choices. Why not consider Computerized Thermal Imaging. Right now it’s about $150.00 per section of the body. Once the FDA approves this as a cancer detection method, safe in all ways, you know the prices will be just as much as a CT/MRI/PET Scan, but it won’t expose you to the radiation, no glowing toxic solution injections before the scan or other such risks.

By: George Earl

George Earl — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:17:23 +0000

I had the colon exam done years ago, while still under my company’s medical plan. Now that I’m retired and on one of Medicare’s insurance agencies here in New York State (which I do pay for), I am going to have another one. It has been seven years since the last. How can I be certain that every element of my colon exam is covered, including not only the doctor who performs it, but his assistants before, during, and after the acual process? I do not want to receive an unexpected bill afterwards saying that something wasn’t covered.

By: Sheila Mack

Sheila Mack — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:27:35 +0000

I am a healthcare provider and have seen firsthand the problems many people have with the prep and anesthesia involved in a colonoscopy. Many people do not feel well for days or weeks after a colonoscopy. Some have diarrhea and bloating for days afterward. Dehydration and adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting from the bowel cleansing medications are common. It is not a benign procedure. It is extremely invasive, embarrassing and time consuming. We in the industry were very frustrated and disappointed that insurance will not pay for the virtual colonoscopy. Many people refuse to have invasive colonoscopies because of the many issues involved in doing one. I hope the insurance companies will realize they are doing a disservice to all their customers.

By: Janet Keyes

Janet Keyes — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:31:31 +0000

As a senior citizen, I think that if Medicare would cover the virtual colonoscopy, this cancer would definitely be caught in time for treatment and saving of the patient. The discomfort and fear of regular colonoscopies, is what keep people living with this type of cancer, until it is too late. Come on Medicare, think of the lives that could be saved. We seniors need this option. There are 2 people in my household that would get the virtual colonoscopy without hesitation.