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Has anyone had a colonoscopy after starting HRT. I have one scheduled at the end of the month. My HRT doctor said I shouldn't need to stop my meds, but it didn't seem like she'd been asked that before. I'd hate to get there and be turned away.

I didn't really want to ask the colonoscopy doctor because I'm not out.

Honey, your HRT meds clearly say to notify ALL of your medical providers about what you're taking. Neither embarrassment nor pride are worth dying over.

Hugs, Devlyn

You should tell your colon doctor ALL your meds. You are you, and should never be embarrassed by that.
In reality, what could be more intimate than having a TV camera shoved up your bottom?
There will be no spectators and I am sure the staff has seen it all before.

And good luck, I hope all is normal.

I'm listing them on my meds form. I'm asking if I need to stop taking them 2 weeks before.

Quote from: Katie Ellen on October 04, 2018, 02:47:45 PM
Has anyone had a colonoscopy after starting HRT. I have one scheduled at the end of the month. My HRT doctor said I shouldn't need to stop my meds, but it didn't seem like she'd been asked that before. I'd hate to get there and be turned away.

I didn't really want to ask the colonoscopy doctor because I'm not out.

I just had the pleasure of such a visit. Go ahead and list your meds. No embarrassment in that. They can't divulge your information to anyone else per HIPPA. About the only drug I know could affect you is allergy to drugs used as anesthetic or warfarin (blood thinner) In that case you have to inject lovenox for a few days before the procedure. Of course I am not a doctor and can only speak from my experience.

Quote from: Katie Ellen on October 04, 2018, 03:03:26 PM
I'm listing them on my meds forrm. I'm asking if I need to stop taking them 2 weeks before.

If you don't think your primary care physician has it right, you ask the doctor doing the procedure.

Oh dear, nothing like a reminder that mine is due.
Keep us posted on your findings on needing to stop meds.

I had a colonoscopy last year while on HRT . Im with Kaiser so the doctor knew what medication I was on and also had to go to a colonoscopy center and had to fill out the forms , I listed it on there also. Nothing was said to me about it and didn't stop taking it. Im also not completely out but had no problems.
They go thru so many patients when doing those like a fast food drive thru
YOu do not have anything to worry about but you have to tell them your on HRT for your own health safety

Not medical advise from me here, but I had mine done a few months back and did not have to go off E. I no longer take Spiro.

No way I'd stop for that. You stop to avoid blood clots and a colonoscopy is not going to risk that.

I have had several colonoscopies.

First you need to evacuate your colon the day before, then no solid food until after the procedure. Clear liquids are ok as long as they are not colored red which may be mistaken for blood. Also, do not take any medications that may cause bleeding such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen or similar drugs.

I thought colonoscopies had been replaced by a less invasive and more effective fecal smear test?

Quote from: Virginia on October 05, 2018, 07:39:59 AM
I thought colonoscopies had been replaced by a less invasive and more effective fecal smear test?

My doctor gave me options: Colonoscopy now, or fecal smear testing until I'm 55, and then a colonoscopy. After doing the fecal smear testing, I told her I wished I had selected the colonoscopy. Catching and playing with my poop three mornings in a row was not nearly as much fun as I thought it would be.  :laugh:

Quote from: Devlyn on October 05, 2018, 07:48:29 AM
My doctor gave me options: Colonoscopy now, or fecal smear testing until I'm 55, and then a colonoscopy. After doing the fecal smear testing, I told her I wished I had selected the colonoscopy. Catching and playing with my poop three mornings in a row was not nearly as much fun as I thought it would be.  :laugh:

Maybe you should do some scat singing while you do it.

Scoop-be-doop...


Stephanie

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 05, 2018, 08:34:46 AM
Maybe you should do some scat singing while you do it.

Scoop-be-doop...


Stephanie

:laugh:  Good one!

Quote from: Devlyn on October 05, 2018, 07:48:29 AM
My doctor gave me options: Colonoscopy now, or fecal smear testing until I'm 55, and then a colonoscopy. After doing the fecal smear testing, I told her I wished I had selected the colonoscopy. Catching and playing with my poop three mornings in a row was not nearly as much fun as I thought it would be.  :laugh:

I suppose everyone chooses their poison. The cleanse for colonoscopy is not a walk in the park either. My wife did it once and has refused her doctors suggestions when she was scheduled to have it done again ever since. I have no family history of colon cancer and at 60 death would not be tragic for me. I respectfully decline both screening tests.

Quote from: Virginia on October 05, 2018, 09:23:27 AM
I suppose everyone chooses their poison. The cleanse for colonoscopy is not a walk in the park either. My wife did it once and has declined having another one. I have no family history of colon cancer and at 60 death would no longer be tragic for me. I decline both screening tests.

I know, it was a light-hearted moment with my doctor. I suppose the smearing is no worse than changing a baby's diaper... depending on what you've been eating.  >:-) :laugh:

I had one colonoscopy during year 50 (no HRT then, no clue really) .. I will NEVER do another one, I don't care what a DR tells me!!! Took me 3 years to get over the hemorrhoids that it created .. OWWWWwwwWWWWWWOOWOWOWOWOW

Quote from: Faith on October 05, 2018, 09:32:44 AM
I had one colonoscopy during year 50 (no HRT then, no clue really) .. I will NEVER do another one, I don't care what a DR tells me!!! Took me 3 years to get over the hemorrhoids that it created .. OWWWWwwwWWWWWWOOWOWOWOWOW

Well, that's a real pain in the...

Quote from: Steph2.0 on October 05, 2018, 09:54:45 AM
Well, that's a real pain the the...

checkbook?

Quote from: Faith on October 05, 2018, 10:06:56 AM
checkbook?

That's a weird name for it. Though I do admit that I have occasionally wiped out my checkbook.

Only when sitting on a ledger.

Quote from: Kendra on October 05, 2018, 11:15:16 AM
Only when sitting on a ledger.

I try to stay off ledgers, I'm afraid of heights

Hi Katie Ellen. I've had two colonoscopies. I've never had to stop taking anything. Heart meds, HRT or wine. I don't know what type of other meds you are taking, so if you are uncertain, talk to your colon doctor.

Checkbooks, ledgers, afraid of ledger heights! Ladies please. This is a very personal subject. Shame on you. And the procedure in not scoop-be-doop, it's scoop-a-poop. Please try to get this right ::).

No worries on the colonoscopy. I did mine a year into HRT. They routinely use *real* anesthetics so you will be asked what you're on. When I told the prep nurse that I was on estradiol and Spiro she gave me the slanted head dog look. A little bit later the anesthesiologist came by and we had a real chat. She was respectful and had some great questions and assured me everything was cool.

The best part: Propofel. Yes it's the same stuff that ended MJ's life. But what amazing stuff. I watched the nurse inject it into the IV. I said, wowey I can start to feel ....... (a minute goes by, I wake up). Like nothing happened. The doc assured me my colon was fine but did not offer me cigarette or buy me dinner. I felt cheap but satisfied.