3 ms·

Personally I am hesitant to do colonoscopy after a relative had a botched procedure. Just this month two celebrities revealed botched colonoscopies. I hope they

Personally I am hesitant to do colonoscopy after a relative had a botched procedure. Just this month two celebrities revealed botched colonoscopies. I hope they figure out ways to make this procedure safer. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/kathy-griffin-hospitalized-colonoscopy-complications-014500392.html https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/kathy... https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/05/18/amy-schumer-2026-botched-colonoscopy/90146474007/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/202...

matthewdgreen 4mo ago
Those articles don't really say what the "botch" is. Was it the anesthesia? The actual endoscopic examination? Removal of polyps? If its the polyp removal, I can certainly see how that could lead to problems. But you're a little stuck: even if you use another technique to do the scan, you still have to remove any polyps you find, don't you?
- no_no_no_yes 4mo ago
  yes I've had both a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy (less invasive colonoscopy). I'm not sure what the botches are here. In the sigmoidoscopy they took out a couple of polyps, in the colonoscopy (more recently than the sigmoidoscopy) they just did a cancer check-up given family history. I wish those articles discusses the "botches", I'd like to know since from my understanding these are pretty safe procedures
  - relaxing 4mo ago
    Maybe just don’t worry yourself with anecdata.
- thinkloop 4mo ago
  I did mine without anesthesia/sedatives. There were moments of discomfort when they pump gas to expand the area - feels like a big fart is stuck in your gut - but otherwise no big deal, especially knowing that the pain is not dangerous. Recommend. It eliminates recovery time afterwards (you can drive yourself home) and increases safety.
  - jkestner 4mo ago
    Might try that this time. OTOH, I get the greatest nap of my life shaking off the sedative (get the lighter, cheaper option like Versed instead of anesthesiologist-administered propofol) and my spouse makes me a milkshake.
- soulofmischief 4mo ago
  A good friend's dad got a routine colonoscopy and they accidentally punctured his intestines. This was during the first COVID outbreak in the US, and the wait time for getting it fixed was so long that he had to walk around for months with a colonoscopy bag, as an old man that spends all day on his feet working. It was not a good experience.
1shooner 4mo ago
Healthy skepticism of procedure over-prescription is reasonable and maybe even wise, but I wouldn't really take the celebrities section of USA Today as a data point, maybe not even as a reliable anecdote. Based on your concern, the question is whether 'botched' procedures are more or less of a risk (both in incidence and consequence) than non-screening.
malfist 4mo ago
Nothing you do is risk free.
- DANmode 4mo ago
  Functional equivalent to “YOLO”. Avoid risk where you can afford. Where it costs you nothing.
jedberg 4mo ago
My doctor actually doesn't recommend colonoscopy until age 50. But starting at age 40 they have you do the "poop in a box" test instead, and then only have you come in if that shows anything. The complication rate for colonoscopy is about 3 in 1000, and that is skewed towards people who have polyps, which in and of themselves could be dangerous if not removed. So it's always a risk tradeoff. You can skip the procedure and risk the effects of the disease it's supposed to detect instead. But if you do the math, you're statistically better off doing the procedure.
pkaye 4mo ago
You can do a FIT test instead which can be done at home.
etempleton 4mo ago
It is one of the most common procedures and is generally very safe. Even a botched procedure probably just means some temp discomfort after the procedure. Much better than the alternative.
jkestner 4mo ago
I had to start getting colonoscopies ahead of schedule because my dad never did, until it was too late. He was scared of doctors after he associated them with family members' unpleasant deaths. Read the safety statistics and let it override the anecdotes. Colon cancer is easy to prevent and a horrible way to die.
scherlock 4mo ago
As someone with colon cancer, I'd rather the complications than what I'm going through. 8" of colon removed, 6 weeks of recovery then 7 months of chemo treatments. If I could go back in time and get my colonoscopy at 35 instead of 46 and get only do a night in the hospital, I would in a heartbeat. Colon resection and chemo suuuuuuuuuuuuck.
- nephihaha 4mo ago
  My mother had it. I saw this kind of thing with her. I hope you get through this.

matthewdgreen 4mo ago

Those articles don't really say what the "botch" is. Was it the anesthesia? The actual endoscopic examination? Removal of polyps? If its the polyp removal, I can certainly see how that could lead to problems. But you're a little stuck: even if you use another technique to do the scan, you still have to remove any polyps you find, don't you?

no_no_no_yes 4mo ago
yes I've had both a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy (less invasive colonoscopy). I'm not sure what the botches are here. In the sigmoidoscopy they took out a couple of polyps, in the colonoscopy (more recently than the sigmoidoscopy) they just did a cancer check-up given family history. I wish those articles discusses the "botches", I'd like to know since from my understanding these are pretty safe procedures
- relaxing 4mo ago
  Maybe just don’t worry yourself with anecdata.
thinkloop 4mo ago
I did mine without anesthesia/sedatives. There were moments of discomfort when they pump gas to expand the area - feels like a big fart is stuck in your gut - but otherwise no big deal, especially knowing that the pain is not dangerous. Recommend. It eliminates recovery time afterwards (you can drive yourself home) and increases safety.
- jkestner 4mo ago
  Might try that this time. OTOH, I get the greatest nap of my life shaking off the sedative (get the lighter, cheaper option like Versed instead of anesthesiologist-administered propofol) and my spouse makes me a milkshake.
soulofmischief 4mo ago
A good friend's dad got a routine colonoscopy and they accidentally punctured his intestines. This was during the first COVID outbreak in the US, and the wait time for getting it fixed was so long that he had to walk around for months with a colonoscopy bag, as an old man that spends all day on his feet working. It was not a good experience.

1shooner 4mo ago

Healthy skepticism of procedure over-prescription is reasonable and maybe even wise, but I wouldn't really take the celebrities section of USA Today as a data point, maybe not even as a reliable anecdote. Based on your concern, the question is whether 'botched' procedures are more or less of a risk (both in incidence and consequence) than non-screening.

malfist 4mo ago

Nothing you do is risk free.

DANmode 4mo ago
Functional equivalent to “YOLO”. Avoid risk where you can afford. Where it costs you nothing.

jedberg 4mo ago

My doctor actually doesn't recommend colonoscopy until age 50. But starting at age 40 they have you do the "poop in a box" test instead, and then only have you come in if that shows anything. The complication rate for colonoscopy is about 3 in 1000, and that is skewed towards people who have polyps, which in and of themselves could be dangerous if not removed. So it's always a risk tradeoff. You can skip the procedure and risk the effects of the disease it's supposed to detect instead. But if you do the math, you're statistically better off doing the procedure.

pkaye 4mo ago

You can do a FIT test instead which can be done at home.

etempleton 4mo ago

It is one of the most common procedures and is generally very safe. Even a botched procedure probably just means some temp discomfort after the procedure. Much better than the alternative.

jkestner 4mo ago

I had to start getting colonoscopies ahead of schedule because my dad never did, until it was too late. He was scared of doctors after he associated them with family members' unpleasant deaths. Read the safety statistics and let it override the anecdotes. Colon cancer is easy to prevent and a horrible way to die.

scherlock 4mo ago

As someone with colon cancer, I'd rather the complications than what I'm going through. 8" of colon removed, 6 weeks of recovery then 7 months of chemo treatments. If I could go back in time and get my colonoscopy at 35 instead of 46 and get only do a night in the hospital, I would in a heartbeat. Colon resection and chemo suuuuuuuuuuuuck.

nephihaha 4mo ago
My mother had it. I saw this kind of thing with her. I hope you get through this.