# Why was Trump rushed in and out of Walter Reed Hospital, if not (the official explanation) Covid? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281 "2022-03-01T14:09:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/41 "2022-03-03T11:40:03Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > They don’t do colonoscopies under anesthesia. They do around here. I was unconscious for mine last summer, but woke up as they wheeled me out of the room. Before the colonoscopy, they told me that recovery would be 30 to 45 minutes. Five minutes after they put me behind a curtain, they came back to check on me and saw me reading Scientific American. They immediately told me to get dressed because I was recovered. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/42 "2022-03-03T12:22:31Z")
Colonoscopies under anesthesia or not? Is it possible there is some confusion here between colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy? A colonoscopy examines the entire colon, all the way around all those sharp corners. I can’t imagine tolerating that awake. A sigmoidoscopy examines only the sigmoid colon, that is, just the last part. This can be done with a flexible scope or a rigid scope. The flexible sigmoidoscopy would typically be done without anesthesia – it’s no terribly big deal (you needn’t ask me how I know). I don’t know anything about what a rigid sigmoidoscopy would be like. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/43 "2022-03-03T12:30:56Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > A colonoscopy examines the entire colon, all the way around all those sharp corners. I can’t imagine tolerating that awake. It’s a little crampy as they shove it around the bends. Not nearly as bad as the parts of labor before they offer you any anesthesia, and honestly, a somewhat similar sensation. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/44 "2022-03-03T12:42:39Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > A colonoscopy examines the entire colon, all the way around all those sharp corners. I can’t imagine tolerating that awake. I was not only awake for mine (I was offered a sedative but not anaesthesia) but the screen was angled so that I could watch as it went up and see them snipping and clipping the polyps they found. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/45 "2022-03-03T16:52:09Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Exactly. Only people with extreme complications were being given monoclonal antibodies at the time. Severe emphysema would have qualified them. A pathetically over-indulged ego should not have. Gotcha, I misunderstood your post. > [@TruCelt](#): > > Trump and uppers, I’ve commented here before that he appeared to be on amphetamines during his speeches. The jaw clenching and bruxing is obvious, especially during his SOTUs That could explain his jittery hands also. I just have a hard time imagining Trump on amphetamines because he seems so sloth-like in his movements, other than all the handwaving. > [@bob\_2](#): > > snipping and clipping the polyps they found I probably shouldn’t ask, but do they remove them from your intestine or do they get expelled naturally? How about bleeding? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/46 "2022-03-03T17:26:17Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > > [@bob\_2](#): > > > > snipping and clipping the polyps they found > > I probably shouldn’t ask, but do they remove them from your intestine or do they get expelled naturally? How about bleeding? They attached a tool (scissors?) to the end of the scope and snipped away. There was some bleeding and they were able to push a tiny plastic clip up the tube and seal the wound. There was no pain because there are no pain sensors in there, I asked about the fate of the clips and was told that they would be passed in due course - of course, it was a few days before I needed the toilet. It must take a lot of practice to manipulate sharp tools through several feet of bent tubing. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/47 "2022-03-03T17:52:57Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > Is that true? I have a friend with severe emphysema that lives out in the middle of nowhere and he was told by his doctor to contact her immediately if he had a positive test because they could start that treatment quickly because it was on hand. I guess they were more available at that time than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/48 "2022-03-03T18:07:05Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I guess they were more available at that time than I thought. As @TruCelt pointed out above, it should have only been available to seriously ill folks, which according to Trump folks, he wasn’t. > [@bob\_2](#): > > It must take a lot of practice to manipulate sharp tools through several feet of bent tubing. No kidding. I was thinking that maybe it was laser surgery with no bleeding problems involved. Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/49 "2022-03-03T20:58:01Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > They attached a tool (scissors?) to the end of the scope and snipped away. I assumed that it was a loop with sharp wire that they would put over the polyp then pull the wire. I don’t have any idea if that is what they do, though. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/50 "2022-03-03T23:05:32Z")
> [@billy-jack](#): > > I assumed that it was a loop with sharp wire that they would put over the polyp then pull the wire. I don’t have any idea if that is what they do, though. Well, I was curled up on my side watching a screen, while a surgeon did his work through a half-inch tube inside my intestine. A wire loop would make sense. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/51 "2022-03-03T23:29:10Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Well, I was curled up on my side watching a screen, while a surgeon did his work through a half-inch tube inside my intestine. A wire loop would make sense. I had a heart catherization when I was 20. Except for when they injected the barium dye, I was leaning up on my elbows looking at the monitor above and to the right behind me. In my entire hospital stay that time, the best looking nurse I saw was in the cath lab while I was laying there without a stitch of clothes on. Not once did she look the least bit impressed by anything she saw. That was rather demoralizing. At least she didn’t burst out in laughter. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/52 "2022-03-04T01:09:47Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > I probably shouldn’t ask, but do they remove them from your intestine or do they get expelled naturally? The polyps are taken for lab examination to determine if benign or not. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/53 "2022-03-04T01:33:51Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The polyps are taken for lab examination to determine if benign or not. Yep. I had one and it was found to be precancerous. This is a bit off topic but related. I was told that if you have one of those colon cancer screening tests and it results in needed a colonoscopy, then the colonoscopy is no longer covered by Medicare since it is no longer a diagnostic test. Do I understand correctly. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/54 "2022-03-04T07:24:29Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The polyps are taken for lab examination to determine if benign or not. Now I feel stupid. That’s kind of the point of the screening, isn’t it? > [@billy-jack](#): > > At least she didn’t burst out in laughter. She was probably chuckling behind her mask a bit. 😉 > [@billy-jack](#): > > I was told that if you have one of those colon cancer screening tests and it results in needed a colonoscopy, then the colonoscopy is no longer covered by Medicare since it is no longer a diagnostic test. That would certainly suck big time. I wonder if they explain that to people beforehand? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2022, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/55 "2022-03-04T07:43:00Z")
> [@billy-jack](#): > > This is a bit off topic but related. I was told that if you have one of those colon cancer screening tests and it results in needed a colonoscopy, then the colonoscopy is no longer covered by Medicare since it is no longer a diagnostic test. Do I understand correctly. Since when does Medicare cover _only_ diagnostic tests? My best guess as to what this means: As long as it’s a diagnostic test, the procedure if “free” (meaning your taxes have already paid for it). If it’s not a diagnostic test, then you probably have to pay a co-pay or deductible for it. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/56 "2022-03-04T08:01:46Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Since when does Medicare cover _only_ diagnostic tests? > > My best guess as to what this means: As long as it’s a diagnostic test, the procedure if “free” (meaning your taxes have already paid for it). If it’s not a diagnostic test, then you probably have to pay a co-pay or deductible for it. I think you are right. As near as I can figure out from reading something a few minutes ago, they apparently pay for the screening. If you get the Cologuard first, that is the screening. If you just go through the colonoscopy to start with, that’s the screening. In my case, I was supposed to have the Cologuard screening but I had a problem and the doctor said to skip the Cologuard and have the colonoscopy. I think that Medicare was charged for the Cologuard and so when I had the colonoscopy, I got hit with a number of charges that I don’t think would have applied if I had not already started with the Cologuard. So my colonoscopy was apparently not counted as a screening. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2022, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/57 "2022-03-04T08:07:57Z")
> [@billy-jack](#): > > I think that Medicare was charged for the Cologuard and so when I had the colonoscopy, I think another thing that can happen, is the nature of the procedure can change depending on what happens during the procedure. Say, for example, you go in for a diagnostic colonoscopy. But if they find a polyp and snip it, then the procedure suddenly isn’t diagnostic anymore, and it gets billed differently. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281/58 "2022-03-04T08:20:15Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I think another thing that can happen, is the nature of the procedure can change depending on what happens during the procedure. Say, for example, you go in for a diagnostic colonoscopy. But if they find a polyp and snip it, then the procedure suddenly isn’t diagnostic anymore, and it gets billed differently. That could be it, too. Since then, I have got a Plan F Supplemental Insurance which should cover just about any payments out of my pocket for anything ordinary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-trump-rushed-in-and-out-of-walter-reed-hospital-if-not-the-official-explanation-covid/960281.md?page=2)