# Colonoscopy how often? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885 "2020-07-21T00:24:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/21 "2020-07-24T02:38:34Z")
Get a package of lemonade flavor “Crystal Light”, and mix a packet into that glop you’re supposed to drink. It turns it into lemonade. Much more palatable that way. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/22 "2020-07-24T03:45:39Z")
Gatorade is an okay mixer, too. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/23 "2020-07-24T11:45:02Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > > [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > > > Seal it up and put it in the post box. > > Think your job is bad? How’d you like the be the person at the lab who gets to open all those mailed-in poo samples “Shitty day at work, dear?” ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/24 "2020-07-24T16:27:52Z")
I did one of those Cologuard tests in lieu of a colonoscopy (and I was so proud of myself for making a perfect poo in the little bucket). Unfortunately, it came back positive, so the next step is a colonoscopy anyway. Unfortunately, that was at the end of March. I had a phone interview with the specialist and since I have no symptoms of anything, he said it was not urgent enough to do the procedure under Covid-19 conditions and we would have to wait. I’m still waiting. Since I am no longer a child who is happy to put off a bad experience on the chance it will never happen (because I know it will), this does not make me happy. Maybe I have something cancerous growing down there and I can’t find out. I’d like to both get the experience over with and remove the suspense of whether it was a false positive. Oh, yes, regarding the OP, my last colonoscopy was absolutely clean so they said 10 years. I ended up waiting 12 years due to circumstances, and then this happened. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/25 "2020-07-24T22:10:24Z")
That’s what I told the guy at the UPS office when I shipped off my Cologard. He probably heard that 20 times a day. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/26 "2020-07-25T07:08:16Z")
Those DIY tests check for the presence of any blood. A hemorrhoid, even a slight one, will produce a positive result. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/27 "2020-07-28T04:57:11Z")
Yep. I think Cologard, being a DNA-type test, is less sensitive to the blood but I could be wrong. The first time I ever did the fecal occult blood test (20ish years back) I remember the instructions said “no red meat”. I asked the doc, who shook her head and said “that’s overkill. Just don’t eat any RAW meat”. Re the prep: Yes, there are far more humane, lower-volume versions out there. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon\_Cheeseburger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bacon\_Cheeseburger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bacon_Cheeseburger)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/28 "2020-07-30T11:39:01Z")
Had two benign polyps, told me to come back in 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/29 "2020-07-31T01:53:40Z")
Excellent news - sorry you have to come back in 5 vs 10, but it’s better than several of the alternatives. I saw my gastro just 2 days ago and learned that apparently, people whose gallbladders have vacated the premises are at somewhat increased risk. It has to do with the excess bile acids making their way directly into the digestive system, vs being held in reserve until specifically needed. As the doc said: if you need the cholecystectomy, you need it, but this is something to be aware of down the line. I think it’s a coincidence that my precancerous results happened just about 5 months after the gallbladder was yanked, as I imagine that takes longer to have an impact, but I’m sure it doesn’t help things. ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/30 "2020-12-04T15:16:11Z")
> [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > This will be my fifth five-yearly colonoscopy: never a particularly unpleasant procedure, though it IS a PITA. That’s not so bad: I’ve just had notice of an appointment on 22nd December; only 4 months wait, in spite of Covid. Have to go for a Covid test 3 days before, and then Mrs I and self have to self-isolate until the procedure. The packets of Klean-prep are on their way. I’ll order a few litres of clear lemonade (7-Up kind of thing) to help them down. Hope for the best! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/31 "2020-12-04T17:21:02Z")
I have a good cross-section of anecdotes with a few friends in the same age range. I had 6 benign polyps in my first, so I get to go back after 3 years. One friend had 2, so he goes back in 5 years. A third friend had none, and he goes in 10 years. There might be other criteria and differences in doctors involved. In my case, the doctor told me that 5 polyps was his cut-off for 5 vs 3 years. ---
**Author:** ![FastDan1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fastdan1/32/427_2.png) [@FastDan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FastDan1)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/32 "2020-12-04T19:49:43Z")
At about 52 years old I had (7?) polyps removed and was given 10 years reprieve. I suppose the size/appearance of the polyps makes a difference? ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/33 "2020-12-05T09:36:29Z")
Odd. I had my first at 46, and had 1 polyp removed. I was told to come back in 5 years. I will be going back to the same practice, but the doctor who did the procedure died 1.5 years ago, so it will be a different doctor. I don’t think my dad, who is also on the 5 year plan, has ever gone to the same practice. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885/34 "2020-12-07T17:29:14Z")
> [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > That’s not so bad: I’ve just had notice of an appointment on 22nd December; only 4 months wait, in spite of Covid. > > Have to go for a Covid test 3 days before, and then Mrs I and self have to self-isolate until the procedure. I see my gastro in a month or so - followup to other digestive issues - and will likely discuss scheduling my next one at that point, as I’m due next year. Hadn’t really thought much about the COVID issues but I suspect that like you, I’ll need to have a test beforehand. I wonder how they’ll do the oxygen cannula if I’m wearing a mask… I guess either skip the mask (a real possibility if they do “north and south” this time) or just pull the mask up over the cannula. Guidelines have recently changed to recommend 45 for the first screening (which can include the mail-in test or whatever as appropriate), versus 50. I know of a number of people (including our own Maggie the Ocelot) whose lives might have been changed had that been the recommendation sooner, so I’m all for it. I don’t know if the followup timing (10 years, if nothing suspicious, sooner as required otherwise) is any different now. > [@fastdan](#): > > At about 52 years old I had (7?) polyps removed and was given 10 years reprieve. I suppose the size/appearance of the polyps makes a difference? Yeah - there are different types. Basic polyps on a stalk, that don’t show any signs of being precancerous, are not considered worrisome. Sessile (no stalk) is riskier, and there are various grades of them. [One article on the topic.](https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/digestive-health/a-colon-polyp-primer-know-types-and-your-risk-factors) I know mine were sessile, and I think they were the tubulovillous sort. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy-how-often/915885.md?page=1)