How invasive do you think....

[Rochelle]

..... a colonoscopy is? Should it be avoided although a test shows blood in the faeces of a woman who has had haemorrhoids which bleed after a bowel movement for years. In the UK all people over 60 are sent a haemo test to do every 2 years. If the result is "unclear" twice you are sent for a colonoscopy.
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[Jean Doherty]

Actually I think mandatory as removal of a polyp [if that is all that is found ]is a very satisfactory result as if left may become malignant. Maybe homeopathy could help prevent more forming. If greater pathology found I think surgery preferably supported by homeopathy advisable. If done early prevents bowel obstruction and spread to other organs.
It is invasive but preparation less severe than used to be. Like every procedure not without risk but relatively safe. I have only in fact heard of one patient bleeding after polyp removal but he was on Warfarin. Maybe had not stopped it for long enough. Also advisable to cease Aspirin, Gengo any blood thinning agent before surgery. There is also a small danger of bowel perforation. This person who has been bleeding for years can not have any very aggressive lesion but it would be good to know what the cause is.
Anyway ,my opinion as I am sometimes grateful for the orthodox system, Best wishes Jean

[Nancy Siciliana]

It's pretty invasive and for a great number of patients it's very uncomfortable during and after the procedure. It's often something that ends in "complications".

If there is reason to suspect something other than haemorrhoids are responsible for the blood in the stool, other more dangerous possibilities should be ruled out. If there is suspicion of serious disease from those haemo test results then the colonoscopy might not be something you want your patient to avoid; it may also reveal some information about your patient that you'll need to treat him/her properly.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

[Gail]

Hi Rochelle,

I'd be looking at whether the other indicators that a colonoscopy might
be a good idea are there too.

For example: Family history of bowel cancer and polyps, family or self
history of celiac disease, change in bowel habits, was she aware that
there was a bleed on that particular sample - ie blood on the toilet
paper, was the blood visible on the surface or is it actually occult,
is there any unexplained anaemia or low Vitamin D levels.

How worried is she? Sometimes going through the procedure just to get an
'all clear' may have enough benefit for worry reduction to outweigh the
possible negative effects of the colonoscopy.

Gail
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "rochelle" wrote:
blood in the faeces of a woman who has had haemorrhoids which bleed
after a bowel movement for years. In the UK all people over 60 are sent
a haemo test to do every 2 years. If the result is "unclear" twice you
are sent for a colonoscopy.

[Sheri Nakken]

At 12:21 PM 3/9/2009, you wrote:
But cutting out a polyp doesn't prevent cancer, just fights the
exteriorization that the VF does.
Might not have cancer in that polyp, but more will come if the VF is
strong enough
If VF not strong enough, worse will come

Sheri
------------------------------------------
Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm & http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm
ONLINE/Email classes in Homeopathy; Vaccine Dangers; Childhood Diseases Reality
Next classes start March 18 & 19

[Jean Doherty]

If the blood is bright red unmixed with faeces and after motion and a bleeding point can be seen on proctoscope examination and the rest of the history as stated one would be tempted to go no further . This week a client made that decision but she did have a colonoscopy 2 years ago. There are certain rules about the necessity to investigate bleeding that one really has to think about. It is a difficult one and she might be better of having that internal haemorrhoid ? looked at closely, Best Wishes, Jean

[Rochelle]

I believe the blood can sometimes be seen streaked on the outside of a stool so probably what you say is correct- it is the haemorrhoid. Maybe she should get it checked as I suppose it could be a polyp. However it doesn't always bleed only sometimes and there doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to it. She apparently can go months without any blood after a stool and then it will start up again.
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk