Endoscopy and colonoscopy at same time?

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Kassie29

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I've had both done during the same visit too. It wasn't difficult on me at all. In fact, it was a relief to get them both over with in one visit. I requested that they both be done at the same time before the appointment was set up.
Kassie
 
I was just wondering....has anyone had and endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time? I was just wondering if doctors ever do that since you are already sedated. You know..just get it over in one shot. Or is that too hard on the body?
 
Hi TEdwarRAB,

That's what I'm supposed to have done on the 21st....IF I don't chicken out.

I know of at least two other people who have had it done. So yes, Drs do it.

I told my Dr that he was only getting one "shot" at me as I don't want to have to go through the fear and anxiety twice. The sedation scares me. I want to make sure I'm really out and not feeling anything!

Please let us know how things go for you this Friday.

Chantal
 
I have them both done individually and at the same time as well. It really is easy, the mild sedative knocks you out, you wake up and its over, feeling quite refreshed from a sedated nap. I am 43 and i was given no more reason for concern for having both done at the same time. My doctor was even recommending it, and even stated it saves money to the insurance. I felt like he approves of the convience and cost savings! I dont know what drugs they used, but i had an IV and i believe they only mentioned one drug used to sedate me.
 
HI Chantal and all, I just got off of the phone with the nurse from the endoscopy place. I asked her about having a colonoscopy done at the same time. She told me a couple of things. One, they didn't have time because that would have had to been scheduled already. They are on a tight schedule. I also have to be referred by my doctor to have this done. And last but not least they don't recommend doing both at once because it can be hard on you. But they do do it. So if the doctor orders it you can have it done at the same time. I just thought I would pass along that info. At least from the out patient clinic I will be going to.
 
Thanks Chantal! I am thinking the same thing. I want to just do it once and be done with it. So I am thinking I may ask if they would do them both. I am not sure if they will agree to it. I will have to ask if insurance will over it.

When did you say you have yours done? I was just wanting to make sure I pray for you that day. I know you will be fine! We both just have to be!
 
I haven't had a colonoscopy, but my gastroenterologist said the same thing. He said when it's time for a colonoscopy, I'll be due for another endoscopy, so they'll likely schedule them both at the same time.

There really is nothing at all to the endoscopy. I think it's natural to worry about something you've never experienced before, but it was really very easy and not worth worrying a bit about.
 
Hi again,

My scopes are scheduled for Jan. 21st.

I sure appreciate the prayers. I'm a nervous wreck right now.
I have too much stress in my life which isn't helping. My mom isn't doing very well right now and she is being "difficult" about seeing her Dr.

Chantal
 
Hi TEdwarRAB,

My Dr wanted two separate procedures too but I told him no that it was once or none at all.

He's a surgeon and gave me the line about it being hard on me too but since I know two people who have had it done (one elderly) I thought "yeah, two SEPARATE procedures is more money esp for the anestheseologist. I may be sorry but I can't stand the idea of going through all this anxiety and fear twice!

I called my Drs office today and they told me I'd be getting three drugs: versed, fentanyl and propofol.

I talk to my anestheseologist next Monday.

My procedures are going to be done in a hospital same day services unit.

Chantal
 
I had both procedures done on the same day. I was glad to do it that way so I only had to be sedated once. Sedation meRAB make me sick. One day of it was enough.
 
I will pray for you! And your mom! You can count on me! We will make it through these things.:angel:
 
Chantal I bet alot of it is about money. I imagine that they want to book us all twice because it is more cash. The billing department told me my procedure is going to be around $2,220.00. I think my insurance will cover all but our deductable. Ugh! Not sure how much that is going to be.

We have a guy from Scotland staying with us for 10 days. He has been visiting us and will be going home tomorrow. He also has terriable acid reflux, worse than mine. He is only 31. I can't believe how much he belches and farts. (infront of our family) lol Good grief! I don't think he realizes just how bad off he is. He drinks pots of coffee from sun up until sun down even up through midnight. And he drinks bottles of pear cidar every evening ( A beer from Scotland we can get here) one night he had 12. And eats all the wrong things. Then he says he is in bad pain. Like almost going into the doctor pain. I told him to stop and look at what he is doing to himself. I don't think it has occured to him or else I think he doesn't want to change what he is doing to himself.

All this to say he said that health care is paid for in the UK except for prescriptions. He did say he has to pay for his own dental work. But like the endoscopy would be picked up by the government. The NHS. (National Health Service) Not sure how I feel about this because he said the waiting list it long unless you go private and you have to pay for that. Very interesting.
 
I had both procedures done at the same time last summer and everything went fine. The prep was annoying because I was hungry and had "the runs," but the actual procedure, I don't remeraber a thing. I woke up feeling I had taken a refreshing nap. Hope this helps you feel calmer about it. ;-)
 
I have had both procedures done independently of each and I also had both procedures at the same time and did not feel any different or have any problems having them together. As a matter of fact the time I had them together, I was actually only supposed to have a colonscopy as my first over 50 screening. I had never met or talked to the GI doctor until he walked in to the procedure room. He asked lots of questions about why I was there and if I had any GI issues and I said that this was an over 50 screening but I did have lots of indigestion and and chest pain. As we discussed my symptoms more, he offered to do the upper enRABcopy as well since i was there, had fasted and would be sedated. It was a good thing he did it because he discovered grade 2 erosive esophgagitis! That was in February 2005. I would not hesitate to have both done again in the future. Since then, I have had 2 colonscopies and 2 enRABcopies (including inserting the Bravo monitor for one of them)

all the best!
 
Hi MountainReader,

What reason did your insurance give?

By having them done at the same time it saves the insurance company money.

I have blue cross/blue shield. What insurance do you have?

I can't figure out the way some insurances think. No wonder our premiums are so high.

Chantal

PS My plan now covers a screening colonoscopy for anyone over 50 with no deductible.
 
Chantal,
I didn't actually talk to my insurance company. I talked to the staff at the Gastroenterology office. They said my insurance wouldn't cover it because of the extra stress it puts on the body.

I didn't question it a lot because my upper digestive issues were so much worse at the time that I was in a hurry to get it done. What bothered me most was that by the time I got in for the Colonoscopy, it was a bit over a week after Fundoplication surgery. Lying on my left side for the test was very incomfortable.

I have Altius (Coventry) insurance. They provide coverage in some of the western states.

I hit my deductible so the three procedures I had this summer/fall all ended up costing about $35-40 apiece. Still waiting to see if there is anything they haven't billed me for from the most recent one though. Wish my surgery was covered so well. I'll be paying for that forever.
 
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