Positive occult blood stool test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP — take your docs up on fast-tracking your colonoscopy — don’t delay. Chances are very good it’s something benign. And very good chance it can be taken care of by this colonoscopy. No reason to be anxious — you’re doing just as you should. Good luck — pls report back!

OP here. I’m waiting for the appointment, expecting a call with day and time soon.

A colonoscopy is so easy, OP! Don't let it stress you out. Just get it over with and you'll enjoy the nap that comes along with it.

[Anonymous]

I also have Kaiser and got a positive occult blood stool test last year (shortly after my 45th bday). It took a few months to schedule the colonoscopy; my doctor had me do some blood work to make sure my iron levels were normal (they were). I did the colonoscopy in March. Bleeding was from an internal hemorrhoid and I don’t have to have another one for 10 years. OP hoping that you have a similar experience. The colonoscopy was no big deal (prep was a little unpleasant, but the procedure itself was totally fine).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also have Kaiser and got a positive occult blood stool test last year (shortly after my 45th bday). It took a few months to schedule the colonoscopy; my doctor had me do some blood work to make sure my iron levels were normal (they were). I did the colonoscopy in March. Bleeding was from an internal hemorrhoid and I don’t have to have another one for 10 years. OP hoping that you have a similar experience. The colonoscopy was no big deal (prep was a little unpleasant, but the procedure itself was totally fine).

Thanks for the reassurance. Why did it take a few months? I was told it would be within 30 days and likely in a week or two.

[Anonymous]

DP
I'm actually glad I saw this post OP. I am in a very similar situation. I did my first occult blood stool test last spring at ag 49, negative. Did one again this April and when the test came back a little over a week ago, I looked and read "Positive". That definitely threw me for a loop. Here a test that is listed as a "colon cancer screening" came back positive.

I too have Kaiser. My doctor messaged the next morning: ...your screening test for colon cancer was positive. This does NOT mean that you have colon cancer. However, it does mean that you have a higher risk for having a polyp, which COULD turn into cancer over time. Because of this, its important that you have a colonoscopy done. I have placed a referral for this important test, and you will be called by the nurse to discuss the procedure with you and get you scheduled.

A nurse called the next day and scheduled the colonoscopy for June 2. My understanding is that was the next date with available appointments. Last week I did the blood work that needs to be done and got that out of the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP
I'm actually glad I saw this post OP. I am in a very similar situation. I did my first occult blood stool test last spring at ag 49, negative. Did one again this April and when the test came back a little over a week ago, I looked and read "Positive". That definitely threw me for a loop. Here a test that is listed as a "colon cancer screening" came back positive.

I too have Kaiser. My doctor messaged the next morning: ...your screening test for colon cancer was positive. This does NOT mean that you have colon cancer. However, it does mean that you have a higher risk for having a polyp, which COULD turn into cancer over time. Because of this, its important that you have a colonoscopy done. I have placed a referral for this important test, and you will be called by the nurse to discuss the procedure with you and get you scheduled.

A nurse called the next day and scheduled the colonoscopy for June 2. My understanding is that was the next date with available appointments. Last week I did the blood work that needs to be done and got that out of the way.

Thanks. OP here. Your doctor was much more reassuring than mine who just said “your colon cancer screening was positive”! I’m going to call tomorrow because I haven’t heard from the scheduler yet.

[Anonymous]

Another Kaiser patient here, with the test kit sitting on my table. It’s my second one in a few years. I forgot it was in our mail pile from a week or two ago. Guess it’s time to take it.

OK, I hope you were able to get your answers very soon and colonoscopy results ease any concerns.

[Anonymous]

Update: scheduled for next week. Boy is that prep list intimidating!

[Anonymous]

Update: this is OP. I had the colonoscopy which found two 8mm sissile polyps, tubular adenomas. I don’t have to go back for five years.

The procedure was much worse than I anticipated (and I wasn’t expecting it to be easy). I was very sick from either the sedative or the pain killers, with severe nausea, and I’d probably look to see if there is an alternative to the prep regimen I took. But at least I don’t have to do it again for five years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its good you're getting colonscopy irrespective of this result. The age to start is 45 now so you really should do it anyways!
Good luck!

That’s wrong. 45 is the age to start screening, not for automatic colonoscopies.

OP just schedule the colonoscopy. (A screening colonoscopy should be done at 45 anyway, so you're due.)

At 45 you need to be screened, not have a “screening colonoscopy”. Less invasive screening is recommended.

This is false. The colonoscopy itself is the recommended screening test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its good you're getting colonscopy irrespective of this result. The age to start is 45 now so you really should do it anyways!
Good luck!

That’s wrong. 45 is the age to start screening, not for automatic colonoscopies.

OP just schedule the colonoscopy. (A screening colonoscopy should be done at 45 anyway, so you're due.)

At 45 you need to be screened, not have a “screening colonoscopy”. Less invasive screening is recommended.

This is false. The colonoscopy itself is the recommended screening test.

No it’s not. A stool test is also a screening test.

[Anonymous]

It is recommended to start colon cancer screening at age 45.
There are many acceptable modalities for screening, no one modality is more highly recommended or preferred than the others.

From the USPSTF

Several recommended screening tests are available. Clinicians and patients may consider a variety of factors in deciding which test may be best for each person. For example, the tests require different frequencies of screening, location of screening (home or office), methods of screening (stool-based or direct visualization), preprocedure bowel preparation, anesthesia or sedation during the test, and follow-up procedures for abnormal findings.
Recommended screening strategies include:

High-sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test (HSgFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
Stool DNA-FIT every 1 to 3 years
Computed tomography colonography every 5 years
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years + annual FIT
Colonoscopy screening every 10 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update: this is OP. I had the colonoscopy which found two 8mm sissile polyps, tubular adenomas. I don’t have to go back for five years.

The procedure was much worse than I anticipated (and I wasn’t expecting it to be easy). I was very sick from either the sedative or the pain killers, with severe nausea, and I’d probably look to see if there is an alternative to the prep regimen I took. But at least I don’t have to do it again for five years.

I'm glad all was OK, OP and that you got the polyps out. Just to be clear, was it before or after the procedure that you got sick? Which prep did you use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: this is OP. I had the colonoscopy which found two 8mm sissile polyps, tubular adenomas. I don’t have to go back for five years.

The procedure was much worse than I anticipated (and I wasn’t expecting it to be easy). I was very sick from either the sedative or the pain killers, with severe nausea, and I’d probably look to see if there is an alternative to the prep regimen I took. But at least I don’t have to do it again for five years.

I'm glad all was OK, OP and that you got the polyps out. Just to be clear, was it before or after the procedure that you got sick? Which prep did you use?

After, though the prep gave me a very bad headache, so maybe it was all related. I wasn’t dehydrated, despite a very dry mouth and not being able to drink for four hours, judging by the amount of times I had to pee! (I drank a cup of tea between doses of the mixture and plenty of water too up until the cut off time). It was PEG 3350. It tasted beyond gross and was 4 liters. I was fully clear the night before but was still required to drink the final third the next morning.

I should clarify that the procedure itself was fine and I was awake even which was unexpected (meant to be moderate sedation and I was expected to not remember), but it was afterwards that I had severe nausea and dizziness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update: this is OP. I had the colonoscopy which found two 8mm sissile polyps, tubular adenomas. I don’t have to go back for five years.

The procedure was much worse than I anticipated (and I wasn’t expecting it to be easy). I was very sick from either the sedative or the pain killers, with severe nausea, and I’d probably look to see if there is an alternative to the prep regimen I took. But at least I don’t have to do it again for five years.

What sort of anesthesia was it? propofol or fentanyl?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update: this is OP. I had the colonoscopy which found two 8mm sissile polyps, tubular adenomas. I don’t have to go back for five years.

The procedure was much worse than I anticipated (and I wasn’t expecting it to be easy). I was very sick from either the sedative or the pain killers, with severe nausea, and I’d probably look to see if there is an alternative to the prep regimen I took. But at least I don’t have to do it again for five years.

I'm glad all was OK, OP and that you got the polyps out. Just to be clear, was it before or after the procedure that you got sick? Which prep did you use?

After, though the prep gave me a very bad headache, so maybe it was all related. I wasn’t dehydrated, despite a very dry mouth and not being able to drink for four hours, judging by the amount of times I had to pee! (I drank a cup of tea between doses of the mixture and plenty of water too up until the cut off time). It was PEG 3350. It tasted beyond gross and was 4 liters. I was fully clear the night before but was still required to drink the final third the next morning.

I should clarify that the procedure itself was fine and I was awake even which was unexpected (meant to be moderate sedation and I was expected to not remember), but it was afterwards that I had severe nausea and dizziness.

If you were awake, they probably gave you fentanyl rather than protocol. Fentanyl has more side effects and doesn’t put you out as much.