# Ugh, do I REALLY have to schedule ANOTHER colonoscopy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304 "2023-08-29T18:16:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/421 "2025-04-13T18:47:10Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I wouldn’t really be surprised if they can’t give you options. But depending on how comfortable you feel/whether you are willing to pay, you might consider using Facebook/supermarket bulletin board etc to hire someone to accompany you for the day - I see people placing ads looking for babysitters all the time. Or maybe you could hire a home attendant through an agency for the day. I am not really comfortable hiring someone I don’t really know well off Facebook or social media lol. Not concerned about the price but definitely need a certain level of comfort in this situation. Especially after going through 3 or 4 days of colon cleansing protocol. Ugh! A professional nurse/aid would be OK so I guess I could look into that somehow. I have tried contacting the local visiting nurse service providers in the local area and they have not responded. I will do my best but if I can’t figure it out I’ll have to wait for now. I do appreciate everyone giving me some thoughtful relies. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/422 "2025-04-13T19:08:17Z")
So I just sent a Facebook Messenger inquiry to the county health organization in the clinic location asking about possible options. Will see if they respond. They seem to post frequently so maybe? ---
**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:** [April 13, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/423 "2025-04-13T19:29:54Z")
Interesting that SuTab works so differently from SuPrep when they’re basically the same thing. Maybe I could deal with SuPrep - though since ClenPiq works for me, no need to rock the boat. > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Huh. A little googling shows that without insurance, SUTAB can be $136 or more, whereas NuLytely (the stuff I got) sells for about $30. So I guess I understand why I ended up with the cheap stuff. I got the ClenPiq this year before I’d met my deductible. 172 bucks. Ouch. I must have hit my deductible before getting it, last year. Like others, though, I’ll gladly pay out of pocket for a more humane version. > [@hajario](#): > > Mine had to have the person check in with me and that same person had to take me home but they were allowed to run errands in the meantime. I think they gave him a fifteen minute notice text. At my place, I give them my son’s cell number. One time, they didn’t even verify that he was nearby (since COVID, they didn’t allow the family member to wait inside). I could have lied about having a ride - I just walked out to meet him on my own. The last 2 times though THEY contacted him. Last year, he didn’t answer the phone. No response at all until I texted him. This time, I reminded him to answer the phone if someone called him. > [@Ellecram](#): > > I am not really comfortable hiring someone I don’t really know well off Facebook or social media lol. Could you post on your Facebook wall to your friends “hey, anyone nearby willing to drive me to/from for a procedure?”. That way it would at least be someone you were acquainted with. The one time I drove someone else (aside from my close friend, whom I’ve taken now twice) was a former co-worker of my husband. He posted something to that effect. He got several replies, but I (at just over 100 miles) was the closest geographically. I quipped that my previously-stated limit was 100 miles but he got the friends and family distance discount. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/424 "2025-04-13T19:59:02Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Could you post on your Facebook wall to your friends “hey, anyone nearby willing to drive me to/from for a procedure?”. That way it would at least be someone you were acquainted with. I am not particularly active on Facebook and the majority of friends/relatives are far away. There may be a couple of lesser known cousins on that mess of a list so I’ll check it again. The local/available ones that I had in mind are all pre occupied at the moment. I’ll put my social work hat on and dig into it in the coming month. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/425 "2025-04-13T20:16:39Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > There may be a couple of lesser known cousins on that mess of a list so I’ll check it again. The local/available ones that I had in mind are all pre occupied at the moment. Good luck. It’s a big frustration for a lot of people. A hundred years ago, when people didn’t usually move so far away from family, and families were larger, this wouldn’t have been so much of a problem. Of course, colonoscopy technology didn’t exactly EXIST back then… ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/426 "2025-04-13T20:21:16Z")
You could always give us a general idea of your location and chances are good that there might a Doper who’d be able to give you a lift. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/427 "2025-04-13T20:22:08Z")
I’d definitely take you if you lived near me. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/428 "2025-04-13T20:22:17Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > You could always give us a general idea of your location and chances are good that there might a Doper who’d be able to give you a lift.. You are very kind. I’ll keep working on the cousin list! Will post if it becomes necessary. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/429 "2025-04-13T20:22:34Z")
As would I. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/430 "2025-04-13T20:22:56Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I’d definitely take you if you lived near me.. Thank you - I appreciate it! ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/431 "2025-04-13T20:26:27Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > There may be a couple of lesser known cousins on that mess of a list so I’ll check it again. The local/available ones that I had in mind are all pre occupied at the moment. > > Good luck. It’s a big frustration for a lot of people. > > A hundred years ago, when people didn’t usually move so far away from family, and families were larger, this wouldn’t have been so much of a problem. Of course, colonoscopy technology didn’t exactly EXIST back then… Well I went through my Facebook list and boy does that need a clean up. I have at least 25/30 dead people on there - someone I knew from some years ago died in 2021 and I just read about him after a deep dive into his friends. That was a bit sad. There are a few I have no idea where they came from as well. 🤣 And I have a big extended family but most of them do not live nearby anymore! There are a couple I might be able to approach though. Will keep working on it. You guys have been very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/432 "2025-04-13T20:51:17Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > You could always give us a general idea of your location and chances are good that there might a Doper who’d be able to give you a lift. Forgot to post location - north of Pittsburgh, PA just for reference. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/433 "2025-04-13T20:59:21Z")
I’m in Lincoln, NE-15 hour drive one way for me but we can keep casting about ideas. The American Cancer Society often has volunteers who drive patients to treatments. Have you tried them? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/434 "2025-04-13T21:01:48Z")
The only thing worse than a scheduled colonoscopy is a random one! ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/435 "2025-04-13T21:01:54Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > I’m in Lincoln, NE-15 hour drive one way for me but we can keep casting about ideas. > > The American Cancer Society often has volunteers who drive patients to treatments. Have you tried them?. No - that is a great suggestion! ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/436 "2025-04-13T21:13:08Z")
I’m _ **extremely** _ lucky in that my insurance will cover transport to and from scheduled appointments within my health chain that my insurance has an exclusive partnership with. Since it’s through the insurance/provider partnership it’s not “just” a cab ride; I set up the round trip the day before, and they send either a taxi or an outsourced driver from a chain that they have a contract with. The return trip is as simple as texting them to say I’m ready to go home. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/437 "2025-04-13T21:15:01Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’m _ **extremely** _ lucky in that my insurance will cover transport to and from scheduled appointments within my health chain that my insurance has an exclusive partnership with. Since it’s through the insurance/provider partnership it’s not “just” a cab ride; I set up the round trip the day before, and they send either a taxi or an outsourced driver from a chain that they have a contract with. The return trip is as simple as texting them to say I’m ready to go home. Wow! That is an awesome arrangement. I plan on addressing this issue with both the clinic and my primary care doctor to see if there are any options available. I am almost certain nothing like this exists! ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/438 "2025-04-13T21:15:55Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > The only thing worse than a scheduled colonoscopy is a random one! I’ll drink to that! ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/439 "2025-04-13T21:17:54Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I’m sure you know this, but barium GI “studies” are nowhere near as common as they used to be, especially the notorious barium enema. It’s been years since I’ve even heard of anyone having that done, although I don’t think it will ever be fully obsolete. They’re still the gold (or barium) standard but MRIs have made soft tissue imaging a lot easier. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304/440 "2025-04-13T21:22:43Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Wow! That is an awesome arrangement. > > I plan on addressing this issue with both the clinic and my primary care doctor to see if there are any options available. > > I am almost certain nothing like this exists! I don’t think it’s giving too much away to fill in a few of the particulars: State: Minnesota. Insurance: Health Partners. Provider: Park Nicollet Clinics. Coverage secured by: Minnesota Medical Assistance. I suspect those free rides are gravy as far as my insurance goes because they’re reimbursed by the state. If I wasn’t so poor, I’d be absolutely screwed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-do-i-really-have-to-schedule-another-colonoscopy/989304.md?page=23)