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How Long One Can Wait For Colonoscopy For Blood In Stool?
Question: I had sent in the stool occult test card to my doctor in January. She notified me that they found traces of blood
in my two of the stool samples and suggested I get a colonoscopy. I have been having bad constipation I think from the Remeron I have been taking for the past few months and have a hard time going to the bathroom. I read that constipation could cause blood in your stool from the pushing which
could cause a tear in your insides. I have a lot of anxiety and am fearful of being put to sleep. If I need the test how long could I wait to have it done? Please advise me your opinion on this matter.
in my two of the stool samples and suggested I get a colonoscopy. I have been having bad constipation I think from the Remeron I have been taking for the past few months and have a hard time going to the bathroom. I read that constipation could cause blood in your stool from the pushing which
could cause a tear in your insides. I have a lot of anxiety and am fearful of being put to sleep. If I need the test how long could I wait to have it done? Please advise me your opinion on this matter.
Brief Answer:
Regarding blood in stool samples.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your worries about anesthesia and being put to sleep. If you want to pursue colonoscopy I would suggest scheduling an appoint with the gastroenterologist (doctor who would do the colonoscopy) for a consult to discuss options for evaluating your colon and for anesthesia.
The colonoscopy procedure does not take very long, so the anesthesia that they give is not like what is used for a major surgery. They do not need to control your breathing or other things that are normally done during a major operation.
However there are also some alternatives to colonoscopy such as the FIT (fecal immunochemical test), a stool DNA test, and a virtual colonoscopy that does not require sedation. The virtual colonoscopy, which is a CT scan, can be uncomfortable though because they may use air to inflate the colon in places for better viewing and this pressure can sometimes be uncomfortable. Talk with your doctor about these options, and if she is not familiar with them, make an appointment with the gastroenterologist.
Regarding whether the bleeding is from Remeron related constipation and resulting rectal tears or not is hard to say, but if you are 65 and have not had a colonoscopy or other highly accurate screening test, it is time to look into that now.
I hope this information helps.
Regarding blood in stool samples.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your worries about anesthesia and being put to sleep. If you want to pursue colonoscopy I would suggest scheduling an appoint with the gastroenterologist (doctor who would do the colonoscopy) for a consult to discuss options for evaluating your colon and for anesthesia.
The colonoscopy procedure does not take very long, so the anesthesia that they give is not like what is used for a major surgery. They do not need to control your breathing or other things that are normally done during a major operation.
However there are also some alternatives to colonoscopy such as the FIT (fecal immunochemical test), a stool DNA test, and a virtual colonoscopy that does not require sedation. The virtual colonoscopy, which is a CT scan, can be uncomfortable though because they may use air to inflate the colon in places for better viewing and this pressure can sometimes be uncomfortable. Talk with your doctor about these options, and if she is not familiar with them, make an appointment with the gastroenterologist.
Regarding whether the bleeding is from Remeron related constipation and resulting rectal tears or not is hard to say, but if you are 65 and have not had a colonoscopy or other highly accurate screening test, it is time to look into that now.
I hope this information helps.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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