How can I get a colonoscopy if I don’t have a ride?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: They tell you that you have to wait till someone comes, but they don't hold you in a jail cell. Husband was supposed to pick up but running late with work meeting. I just walked out after 15 minutes and called an uber. No issue.

I had mine done at the new VHC outpatient. I could barely walk which they wanted me to do but I insisted on a wheelchair. They called DH and he pulled up to the front. I got out of the wheelchair and walked to his car. I could she’s gotten in an uber for all they cared

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You can also do Cologuard if you are low risk! Much simpler, and the overall outcomes (prevention of death from colon cancer) is the same.

Please work to this. It only tells you if you have cancer and isn’t that accurate. I’m 49 and just did my first. I had a polyp removed. Polyps can truck into cancer. Cologuard will just let them grow. Op can you ask around to friends? I was supper anxious about mine and a lot of my friends offered to drive me. Turned out that many of them had already done it because of family history or some other issue. FWIW, you are supposed to go at 45 now.

I had a clean cologuard but a new Dr told me to get the colonoscopy anyways. I did in fact have a polyp that was removed. I will go back in 5 years. I will never did a cologuard again.

My doctor said cologuard is for people who can’t or won’t get a colonoscopy.

Cologuard is designed to catch cancer and large precancerous polyps.

Only 5% of polyps ever turn into cancer.

Colorectal cancers only acct for about 8% of new cancers yearly.

So if you are low risk with no family history, pooing in the box is a legit diagnostic tool.

Well my neighbor who died of colon cancer since it wasn’t caught early told me don’t $hit in the box. Do the real thing. I was honestly terrified of it as a SA survivor, but I couldn’t even tell that I’d been violated there. The prep wasn’t fun but I made it through and they did find and remove a polyp. I know too many people in their early 40s/late 30s who have colon cancer to skip it. It’s too important and totally curable if caught early. I would give anyone I knew a ride home from it. I was there maybe 2 hours total and DH dropped me off and picked me up. Nbd.

And were you aware of your neighbor's health history and risk factors and if she stayed on schedule?

You do the cologuard every three years and colon cancer is extremely slow growing, hence the 10 year rec for people with low cancer risk and no previous polyps. The cologuard is the "real thing."

Again, if you have risk factors or family history, you absolutely should get the colonoscopy, but for many many many people, it is unnecessary.

Well it missed my friend’s colon cancer that killed Jim so yeah I’m not trusting it. Not for something that is fairly easy to do and free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also do Cologuard if you are low risk! Much simpler, and the overall outcomes (prevention of death from colon cancer) is the same.

Please work to this. It only tells you if you have cancer and isn’t that accurate. I’m 49 and just did my first. I had a polyp removed. Polyps can truck into cancer. Cologuard will just let them grow. Op can you ask around to friends? I was supper anxious about mine and a lot of my friends offered to drive me. Turned out that many of them had already done it because of family history or some other issue. FWIW, you are supposed to go at 45 now.

I had a clean cologuard but a new Dr told me to get the colonoscopy anyways. I did in fact have a polyp that was removed. I will go back in 5 years. I will never did a cologuard again.

My doctor said cologuard is for people who can’t or won’t get a colonoscopy.

Cologuard is designed to catch cancer and large precancerous polyps.

Only 5% of polyps ever turn into cancer.

Colorectal cancers only acct for about 8% of new cancers yearly.

So if you are low risk with no family history, pooing in the box is a legit diagnostic tool.

not for me - I was low risk, no family history and no concerning symptoms. Colorectal cancer found at first screening colonoscopy. My biggest regret is not having the colonoscopy at age 45.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also do Cologuard if you are low risk! Much simpler, and the overall outcomes (prevention of death from colon cancer) is the same.

Please work to this. It only tells you if you have cancer and isn’t that accurate. I’m 49 and just did my first. I had a polyp removed. Polyps can truck into cancer. Cologuard will just let them grow. Op can you ask around to friends? I was supper anxious about mine and a lot of my friends offered to drive me. Turned out that many of them had already done it because of family history or some other issue. FWIW, you are supposed to go at 45 now.

I had a clean cologuard but a new Dr told me to get the colonoscopy anyways. I did in fact have a polyp that was removed. I will go back in 5 years. I will never did a cologuard again.

My doctor said cologuard is for people who can’t or won’t get a colonoscopy.

Cologuard is designed to catch cancer and large precancerous polyps.

Only 5% of polyps ever turn into cancer.

Colorectal cancers only acct for about 8% of new cancers yearly.

So if you are low risk with no family history, pooing in the box is a legit diagnostic tool.

not for me - I was low risk, no family history and no concerning symptoms. Colorectal cancer found at first screening colonoscopy. My biggest regret is not having the colonoscopy at age 45.

Hope you are in remission now. What age did you first go?

[Anonymous]

Only 5-10% of Colon cancers are hereditary , so those if you banking on a “clean ” family history have a false sense of security. (Breast cancer is similar)

Colonoscopy allows the doctor to remove precancerous growths BEFORE they ever become cancerous. Cologuard offers no such option. Stop spreading misinformation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also do Cologuard if you are low risk! Much simpler, and the overall outcomes (prevention of death from colon cancer) is the same.

Please work to this. It only tells you if you have cancer and isn’t that accurate. I’m 49 and just did my first. I had a polyp removed. Polyps can truck into cancer. Cologuard will just let them grow. Op can you ask around to friends? I was supper anxious about mine and a lot of my friends offered to drive me. Turned out that many of them had already done it because of family history or some other issue. FWIW, you are supposed to go at 45 now.

I had a clean cologuard but a new Dr told me to get the colonoscopy anyways. I did in fact have a polyp that was removed. I will go back in 5 years. I will never did a cologuard again.

My doctor said cologuard is for people who can’t or won’t get a colonoscopy.

Cologuard is designed to catch cancer and large precancerous polyps.

Only 5% of polyps ever turn into cancer.

Colorectal cancers only acct for about 8% of new cancers yearly.

So if you are low risk with no family history, pooing in the box is a legit diagnostic tool.

not for me - I was low risk, no family history and no concerning symptoms. Colorectal cancer found at first screening colonoscopy. My biggest regret is not having the colonoscopy at age 45.

Hope you are in remission now. What age did you first go?

pp here. I had my screening colonoscopy at 52, when guidelines were still age 50. Then next 10 months were full on with chemo, radiation, multiple surgeries, complications, sepsis, . . . But surviving all that the better news is that when caught early, colorectal cancer is survivable. I had "NED - no evidence of disease" January 2020 (so thankful this was done pre-covid; I can't imagine if it had been otherwise).

Just get the colonoscopy when recommended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend drive me and home

Some of us don’t have friends

You have bigger problems than getting a colonoscopy then!

Go away. I have friends (and neighbors) but they either work or are SAHMs with little kids, kid sports schedules, solo parenting when DH is away, etc. I've been in this situation many times (2 colonoscopies, uterine polyps removal like a PP, fertility treatments when then-DH was out of town, etc.). It sucks, and there must be a better way. I had a hard time finding medical transport in DC (found it in former city) so PPs listing such companies is helpful. I ended up having both of my colonoscopies in downtown DC and had coworkers walk over to release me then I took an Uber or Metro home. I don't really recommend doing that, but I've been under twilight and anesthesia a lot so felt comfortable with the risk (woke up during my second colonoscopy, thanks Capital Digestive Care!).

[Anonymous]

It really depends where you have it done. Some are laid back, others insist on driver staying in waiting room entire time with no exceptions. Ask before you schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only 5-10% of Colon cancers are hereditary , so those if you banking on a “clean ” family history have a false sense of security. (Breast cancer is similar)

Colonoscopy allows the doctor to remove precancerous growths BEFORE they ever become cancerous. Cologuard offers no such option. Stop spreading misinformation.

DP, and a person in public health. PP did not post misinformation. You are also correct that a colonoscopy allows the doctor to remove polyps, some of which may turn into cancer eventually. Cologuard does not have that advantage.

However, it is also true that the death rate from colon cancer for those who use Cologuard and those who get colonoscopies is the same. That may be counter intuitive, but the reason is that colon cancer tends to be slow growing and Cologuard picks up cancerous cells well, so both screening options allow for treatment of the cancer with the same eventual outcome.

Many, many people want any polyp gone, and a colonoscopy is the best way to ensure that. That’s great!

Other people don’t want invasive procedures unless they have a significant morality benefit. That’s fine, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also do Cologuard if you are low risk! Much simpler, and the overall outcomes (prevention of death from colon cancer) is the same.

Please work to this. It only tells you if you have cancer and isn’t that accurate. I’m 49 and just did my first. I had a polyp removed. Polyps can truck into cancer. Cologuard will just let them grow. Op can you ask around to friends? I was supper anxious about mine and a lot of my friends offered to drive me. Turned out that many of them had already done it because of family history or some other issue. FWIW, you are supposed to go at 45 now.

I had a clean cologuard but a new Dr told me to get the colonoscopy anyways. I did in fact have a polyp that was removed. I will go back in 5 years. I will never did a cologuard again.

My doctor said cologuard is for people who can’t or won’t get a colonoscopy.

[Anonymous]

If you get it done at hospital they may let you wait it out for 6hours and then leave by yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get it done at hospital they may let you wait it out for 6hours and then leave by yourself.

VHC wanted me out within a 1/2 hour!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can also do Cologuard if you are low risk! Much simpler, and the overall outcomes (prevention of death from colon cancer) is the same.

That is not true.

[Anonymous]

I'm not 50 yet so have never had one... please share what's wrong with an Uber?

[Anonymous]

https://potomacconcierge.com/personal-assistant

Talk to them. See if they will come pick you up or take you and stay.