Cologuard vs Colonoscopy- Here Is What You Learn From Each

[@justinerogers1353]

My husband is going through investigations after micro clots in both lungs - now they are looking at his prostate and a sigmoidoscopy. I've found your videos very helpful. Thank you. Wishing you well.

[@rossacohen314]

Parris, I'm super glad the colonoscopy was negative!!! In my opinion, a colonoscopy is a real pain in the butt. . . LOL!

[@parristx]

Thanks! And if it was a pain at least I slept through it. 😁

[@tammycalvertchetelat4834]

Thank you soooo much for having a great personality and making us feel comfortable with very informative information. Prayers you are healing and well I’m new and have subscribed ❤

[@JeremyPeeples]

I had one at 25 and it's no big deal - you wind up up fearing the procedure more than it really warrants. For mine, they put me to sleep for it and it was a pretty easy deal.

[@orreng]

Great video as usual! You are a wonderful teacher!

[@parristx]

Thanks Orren!

[@deniseflygirl]

Hearing they put you out makes me feel better about it. I just sent in my cool guard. Luckily I already paid my deductible for the year if it comes back positive.

[@graceamos6048]

Thank you for your information, you explained everything really well and gave me comfort

[@garyh9039]

Good video. So, I am scheduled for colonoscopy next week. Not worried at all about the actual procedure, but the prep for it is a bit daunting. Not looking forward to over 24 hours of a clear liquid diet.

[@parristx]

The colonoscopy prep can be uncomfortable but it might help to think of it as a cleanse treatment that people pay extra for at the spa. Lifestyles of the rich and famous! Hang in there. 💪💪

[@crayolahalls]

You're lucky. Had one around 98. No pain mitigation. I bit down on my arm so hard I still had teeth impressions and bruising two days later.

[@Drmikekuna]

Good information presented in a funny and light way! I was heading for my third screening colonoscopy, with my prior two being negative. I was offered and took the Cologuard option confident that it would come back negative. It came back positive with no further information. I then had to wait 6 weeks to get a colonoscopy, which (very thankfully) came back negative. I'm on Medicare and I think that they recently now allow you to have a colonoscopy even if you have done a Cologuard. That makes sense as people were not doing a colonoscopy after a positive Cologuard due to fear of the bill. Personally, I think I'm done with Cologuard, and would go straight to the gold standard. Why was my test positive? That is the 35 thousand dollar question. Just my opinion.

[@parristx]

Thanks! And glad you got a negative test- in the end... It is a problem that people don't get the follow-up colonoscopies because of the cost- the way insurance pays that is backwards. Glad to hear that Medicare may now be taking a more enlightened view of that.

[@TheAdventuresofSnickersandMinn]

Yes

[@koreyb]

This is what I have heard from a relative who is also a doctor, to reduce the chances of getting a false positive result on Cologuard, do not eat any meat or animal products for at least one week before you take your sample.

[@garyh9039]

I just did my 4th Cologuard test. and it came back positive-abnormal. So now I have to do a colonoscopy anyway. This is the first time I've actually had to poop in the box. Before it was just scraping a sample with the small pip and send that in. The only reassuring thing I have at this point is that they say 13% of positives are false positives.

[@parristx]

Sorry to hear you got that result this time around- but catching anything early is the key. And even if it was a false positive while they are in there they can snip and remove any polyps they find that might have caused problems down the road.

[@michaelgranger7113]

The worst part of having a colonoscopy is the prep in the 24 hours pruor to the procedure. By the time you get to it, all you can think about is eating......and eating. The procedure itself is cake. It's over before you know it, and most likely you'll sleep through it.

[@Wales-forever]

I found prep made me more Ill and colonoscopy was very painful but I was awake through it all , when I got home I had to deal with after effects made me very poorly , just had a fit test and GP wants to speak with me tomorrow but no way am I having another colonoscopy had very bad experience

[@lundsean75]

Well you had a good experience with a colonoscopy. Mine was basically an emergency from possible food poisoning in my younger 20's, and do not remember being given anesthesia cause I felt the whole thing awake in terrible pain from what they was doing. Some have no issues and the rest of us want nothing to do with that horrid procedure if don't have too. I forget a lot of things at my age, but I will never forget that experience.

[@parristx]

Sounds like it was very unpleasant. Going to sleep for the whole thing is definitely the way to go.

[@mt.shasta6097]

lundsean, A colonoscopy when you can be put under is a breeze. I'm sorry you were ill the first time, but I've had 2 colonoscopies without anesthesia when I was younger. Your pain was from your dire condition, not from the procedure. I understand, but under normal conditions you'll be out cold and loving it! Then, you'll be proud of overcoming that terrible event and memory. I've had 6 now under anesthesia, and it's easy.

[@eddiea3782]

The prep before colonoscopy is horrible. It made me very sick, weak and dizzy. I couldn't leave the house for my appointment. It was a very bad experience for me. My neighbor also had a very bad experience with the prep. She fainted and face planted. She wound up in the hospital for the wrong reason that day. ER visit to treat her broken nose after she passed out. Not everyone can do that prep at home.

[@parristx]

I am sorry to hear you and your neighbor had such bad experiences. I think it is easy to become dehydrated doing the colonoscopy prep and that can leave you feeling dizzy and weak. Not having any food for an extended time leaves you weak, too.

[@jamescalifornia2964]

Agree 💯 ​@@parristx

[@justinerogers1353]

Check out iatrogenisis.

[@pionus3651]

It’s easy, pills now.

[@amvirtual123]

GREAT VIDEO

[@paulagabay9915]

I hope you are in remission from the Prostate Cancer now Paris. I was looking for the video why Cologuard rejected your first sample. Mine was rejected because it was too heavy. I am surprised they sent you the report and didn't find the polyp. I have the same type of Polyp.

[@pinksquidink7256]

I've had a colonoscopy and found there was NOTHING to it! The prep for the procedure is MUCH worse than the procedure itself! I had mine awake and honestly didn't feel anything more than the odd cramp here and there. My prep didn't involve an enema but rather some drink that made your empty out your colon "naturally" over the course of a day spent almost entirely on the commode!

[@parristx]

Glad to hear you had an easy time of it. I remember being glad the drive wasn't too long to the colonoscopy place because I was worried about having to find a place to make a pit stop along the way. 😁

[@donnalynnk70]

I would love more feedback from you. I have to have one, I’m 52. I don’t want Anesthesia and everyone is telling me that would not be a good idea. We’re you totally awake …. No drugs? That’s what I want to do. Any feedback would be so much appreciated. 🙏🏼

[@pinksquidink7256]

@@donnalynnk70 I was totally awake. They did give me an IV with something to relax me, but it didn't put me out at all. I was awake, alert and could watch the whole procedure on a monitor if I so chose. I didn't mind it one bit!

[@mt.shasta6097]

@@donnalynnk70 Like pinksquidink, my first two were done without being put under. It didn't hurt at all. I did have a "don't give a 💩" drug for the second one, but all the ones after were under full anesthesia. No biggie. The older one gets, the more likely your MD will want to put you under. Because they might need to remove a polyp or two. Just do it, please.

[@michaelgranger7113]

Yep, plan on changing your shorts a couple of times too during that purging! 💩💩💩🤣

[@christinacascadilla4473]

Awake? I was out cold. They gave me that stuff that killed Michael Jackson.

[@jamescalifornia2964]

I believe that Medicare will pay for both procedures if necessary... 🤔

[@parristx]

That would be great news!

[@atulsalgaonkar6222]

Great video; Thx again. Maybe you were thinking of Sigmoidoscopy, which inspects only a portion of the colon and the patient can remain awake and engaged during the procedure. Also, there may be some viewers who want to take the Cologuard anyway and may benefit from knowing why they rejected your first submission. Best rgds,

[@parristx]

Thanks! Yes, I think I read that procedure is more popular in Europe. I suggested that also to my gastroenterologist who was trying to convince me to get the colonoscopy originally and he told me that in the US they call that a "half-assed colonoscopy." Really. He was quite the salesman- had his retorts prepared for all my suggested alternatives. And in the end- he got me. 😁

[@atulsalgaonkar6222]

@@parristx Thanks. However, we still don't know why Cologard rejected the first submission. Did UPS mess it up? Or did the coolant not work properly? Your experience could provide some lessons to future users of Cologuard.

[@mt.shasta6097]

@@parristx Your doctor wanted you alive, Parris. He wasn't a salesman, he was speaking from sad experience. He wanted you alive and well. So do I. Do the full Monty.

[@parristx]

@@mt.shasta6097 I have done both of them now so I think I am all tested out! 😁. Thanks for that perspective- it is a nicer way to look at it. 👍👍

[@mt.shasta6097]

@@parristx My brother is a surgeon, and I can speak for him. His ultimate goal in life has always been keeping people alive and well so they can live out their years in health and comfort. Bless you, sir!

[@TheAdventuresofSnickersandMinn]

Thank you! God bless 😊

[@driger888]

pay for cologuard out of pocket if insurance is an issue.

[@parristx]

That's always an option. Last I read it does cost over $500.

[@driger888]

@@parristx a FIT test cost $30

[@0529mpb]

​@@driger888...and it doesn't tell you much except none of your tumors are currently bleeding.

[@ChristmasKathy]

New subscriber!

[@CathRas95]

I had one friend wake up twice during the procedure and a co worker get a perferated bowel and she had to sue. My sister threw up ao kuch from the prep they couldnt do the procedure and she lost a day of pay for nothing. No thank you.

[@lc-il6wr]

Cologuard isnt always accurate. Lots of false positives is what im worried about!

[@parristx]

It looks like later this year the new "Shield" blood test will be approved by the FDA to detect colon cancer DNA in the bloodstream.

[@lc-il6wr]

@@parristx thanks. I might mention this to my dr. Who is insisting on me getting a colonoscopy when people die from getting one.

[@lc-il6wr]

@@parristx I might mention this to my dr who is insisting on me getting a colonoscopy when people die of one. Do u know what month shield is supposed to be approved.

[@parristx]

@@lc-il6wr The news story says an FDA advisory committee voted to recommend the Shield test but the FDA will likely make a final decision later this year. Here is the story- www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-advisers-back-approval-guardants-blood-based-cancer-test-2024-05-23/

[@scottythompson940]

Cool video talk to tech parris

[@parristx]

Thanks Scotty!

[@scottythompson940]

@@parristx your welcome