DEAR DR. GOTT: I believe you did your readers a disservice in your Nov. 13 article on colonoscopy. You should have indicated that it’s not as safe as you may have your readers believe. I personally know of two men who underwent this operation and had their colons cut. This caused one to undergo massive surgery at a local hospital, and he ended up with a colostomy. The other spent many months in rehab over this “simple” surgical procedure.
I am 71 and will not undergo a colonoscopy for any reason! It’s nowhere as safe as one is led to believe. You should have mentioned this to your readers. I’ll take my chances with cancer versus walking around for the rest of my life with a bag attached to my body.
DEAR DR. GOTT: In 2007, my 77-year-old sister had a colonoscopy. I dropped her off at the hospital in the morning, and she never came home. Her colon was perforated, she developed an infection, her colon was removed, her kidneys shut down, and she ended up with a colostomy bag. She was in ICU for 30 days on dialysis and a respirator. Because she didn’t want any “heroic measures,” she was taken off the respirator and died two days later.
In the next week, two friends called to say they each had a relative die after a botched colonoscopy. Up to that point, I never knew this could happen. I think you owe it to your readers to tell them that there is risk in this procedure. I will never have one done.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I don’t know why you, with any kind of good conscience, can refer to colonoscopy so casually. It ruins three days of a person’s life, costs a lot of money even with insurance, and the quality and safety of the procedure depends wholly on someone who doesn’t care about you and will never see you again. You need to tell any person who is being coerced into it to tell the truth.
You will spend at least two days fasting and drinking a gallon of sweat-flavored liquid or a phosphate that can cause severe cramps and heart irregularities. You will be charged a minimum of $400 and a maximum of more than $1,000 up front because once the trauma is over and you survive, they worry you won’t pay. You will be humiliated and degraded. Research the laxatives used, get someone middle-aged whose hand doesn’t shake, have a consult beforehand, make them promise to stop if you ask them to, and if anyone tells you not to worry, run as fast as you can.
DEAR DR. GOTT: You omitted two things in your recent response on colonoscopy. I went for my first and had the IV placed. My doctor said she would be back in a couple of minutes to get me. She came back indicating there would be a delay. I asked about the risks. She said that about one in every 500 procedures could result in perforation. When I asked if it could just be sutured back together, she said no, it must heal on its own. When I asked what happens if it doesn’t heal, I was told the colon must be removed. I said I like my colon and want to keep it.
She went on to say the benefits outweigh the risks. She ultimately removed three polyps that tested pre-cancerous, and I’m glad I had it done. I will go back as recommended. The thing is — everyone I talk to now who has had one was never told of the risks involved. There should be informed consent.
DEAR DR. GOTT: Catching cancer early is good, so I am not suggesting a colonoscopy be skipped or put off. My own experience has been that the “twilight” sedative has a known memory-loss component that is said to wear off. In people over 60, I am not sure its effects completely disappear.
My anal muscles don’t seem to function as well, even years after having the tube inserted and removed. I don’t know if this relates to the colonoscopy or my age. Consequently, panty liners and wash up following bowel movements is necessary.
Having a good doctor and good hospital now may be a ticket to a longer life, despite some risks and side effects.
DEAR READERS: Overall, colonoscopy is generally safe; however, as with any invasive procedure, complications can and do occur. It is estimated that problems occur in 0.35 percent of colonoscopy cases. When a polyp is discovered and removed, the risk increases to about 2 percent. Each year, more than 50,000 people die from colorectal cancer, a condition that is preventable. Colonoscopy does save lives, but I apologize for not stressing the possible downside. I can only recommend that patients be under the care of a qualified gastroenterologist who can answer all questions prior to any procedure being scheduled.
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