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Avatar universal

"Double Dip" - endoscopy and colonoscopy at same time?

My GI recommended an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy to take a look at my recurring acid reflux and fairly regular (monthly) rectal bleeding (he suspects hemroidal in nature).  He suggested that they be done in seperate procedures on two different days because, according to him, the preparation for the colonoscopy can make my upper tract appear raw, etc.

I mentioned this to my good friend, a GI resident, and she said that these procedures are routinely done together and didn't think this would be an issue at all - she didn't know why my GI would make that recommendation.

I'm pretty leery about getting put out, so if it's going to happen, I'd prefer it happen once - not twice.  If there is no medical need for me to do this in two seperate procedures, I'd rather get it done all at once.  

So, my question is whether there is any reason why I can't have these procedures done together, i.e., is there any validity to the notion that the preparation for the colonoscopy can skew the results of my endoscopy?

Many thanks!
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Avatar universal
I may be a little late in getting back to you, but I just has both procedures done yesterday and I have no problems. The worse is the prep.  I'm 41 and made it through!
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Avatar universal
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences.  Here is how this was resolved for me:

So I called the surgery center Tuesday (it's Thursday when I write this), and the initial response I got was "it depends on what insurance you have, and whether they will cover the procedures together."  Needless to say, this was not an acceptable answer to me - insurance obviously covers both procedures, so what she was really saying to me was, "it depends on how they will reimburse us for it."  Anyway, I was referred back to my GI, told their office what I wanted, and they got back to me this morning saying that it wouldn't be a problem for me to have both done at once because "I'm young" (I'm 31).  Honestly, I don't know what that has to do with anything - you can't tell me it's "better" to be put out twice if you're older - but that was the answer I got.  

I am not unsympathetic to the issues docs face in getting reimbursed from insurance companies - I'm an attorney and actually do work for them in that area - but it absolutely drives me nuts to think I was about to undergo two seperate procedures, on two different days, getting anesthesia twice, and effectively missing 3 days of work (two surgery days and the colonoscopy prep day), because of a reimbursement issue, not a medical consideration.
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Avatar universal
When I went to have my colonoscopy done my Dr decided at that time to also
do the EGD so I am not sure what he is talking about they do it all the time.
They do bill it differently when they are done at the same time.Maybe he gets
a better reimbursement by the insurance.
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Avatar universal
Just chiming in to say I had both done at the same time last year.  Piece of cake, no problems afterward, etc.

Good luck!
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203342 tn?1328737207
They do NOT have to be done seperately. As you see, many of us had both procedures done at the same time. I also know of others who had it done at the same time. I believe doctors that are insisting that they be done seperately are either pressed for time (which really they don't take that long, maybe 20 to 30 minutes for both procedures, depending on whether they have to do biopsies, etc.) or they are wanting more money because I was told that when they turn in each procedure seperately to the insurance companies they get more money than they would turning both in at the same time.
I don't think it's irrational to request both procedures be done at the same time. If he refuses ask why.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I know what you are going through. I have my own recent Gastro issues. I had both ordered for me as well, but they have to be done seperately. It *****, but it's true. Don't worry about being put out though, it's conscious sedation. So you're easily woken up, but you are very sedated. I was nervous about the sedation, but honestly it's just an injection in your iv that slowly makes you sleepy and then next thing I knew I woke up. The worse part about the colonoscopy is obviously the preperation. The endoscopy was a piece of cake except for the nasty numbing spray they spray in the back of your throat. I'm terrified of hospitals, and don't particularly like my doctor, but the procedures really are not bad at all. So I hope this at least helps ease the nervs!
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1 Comments
The type of sedation used does vary. I do not respond at all to drugs like Versed that they sometimes use for scoping and other similar procedures, when I had a port put in for chemo, I was awake the whole time (I was shot up with locals so no pain but I was aware of everything they did.) So while that isn't a big issue for colonoscopies, it definitely is a problem with EGD and so they have to use general anesthesia for me. I've had the same issue with the clinic I go to, only being willing to do one procedure at a time, they said I could only do both at the same time if I had it done at the hospital... which means a MUCH higher copay. And they could only get me afternoon appointments so having to go through no food (or the bigger issue, not drinking) for over 12 hours really *****. I even asked why if other people were having theirs done at 8 am, I could still eat or drink for several hours past midnight but that seems to be the cutoff they use for everyone even though it makes no sense medically.
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