Help

[Steeler36]

I had a colonoscopy done on 20 August and the doctor removed 3 polyps in the cecum and stopped the proceedure because he ran out of time. I still have 5 polyps left in the ascending colon and now have to go in to have them removed on September 24. Why could the Doctor not have removed them all at the same time.  I think $$$$$ Help!

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

As a physician i absolutely agree. There are times when larger, sessile polyps are removed in several sessions but you give no indication that this was what he said. This would be equivalent to me telling a patient that I tied off three of the five bleeders but will return tomorrow to finish the job. If there is not a better explaination this should be reported to your state's medical board. I would certainly see another gastroenterologist maybe he/she can gleen something from the operative report to explain it.

[mammo]

Find another GI doctor ASAP, I don't feel this one has your best interest at heart!  To give you that excuse, causing you to have to go through the prep, and being sedated again is absurd!  Plus, he will charge you for another colonoscopy, which does make one wonder if the almighty dollar is where his interest lies and not in his patients.  I'm sorry you have to go through this again, but get your records transferred to another Gastroenterologist.  Polyps are slow to grow so the time won't be an issue and changing doctors is imperative at this point.  Contact your insurance company immediately, and explain what happened because they may not approve another scope so soon.  I wish you all the best, I know it's so frustrating.  Take care.

[Steeler36]

Sir

Yes he explained that he removed 3 and I had 5 more that he would remove on my next proceedure in 1 month. When I ask him why he did not remove the other 5 he said we ran out of time.

[neurotic]

It does not make any sense... I had it done last year...Dr. removed 5 polyps and two being pre-cancerous...I also suffer from sleep apnea. I needed to be cleared by the pulmonary dr.

If there is no clear reason as to why he stopped, i would go to another GI dr.

Wish you luck.

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

That makes no since whatsoever. There is no time limit on these procedures. You finish when the work is done. Sometimes we terminate them early if the patient is having problems such as low oxygenation, etc. Did he actually say that he ran out of time?