Who Does YOUR Colonoscopy?

[babs249]

My daughter, who works for a medical malpractice firm, told me to make sure that I (and anyone else I could pass the information on to) always have a colonoscopy done by a gastroenterologist. She said even a colo-rectal surgeon would not be the best choice for it. I haven't had a chance to get too many details from her yet, but I guess that last week they met with two different prospective clients (or their families) and that the outcomes were not good. I guess neither of these patients had their colonoscopy performed by a gastroenterologist, and that the thinking is that they are the ones best trained to do the procedure.
The firm she works for is a well respected firm, and I guess they only take on the most egregious cases. She admits that because of this she leans towards being sometimes overly cautious in her thinking, but I did want to pass this information along. The first several colonoscopies I had were done by my primary care physician, who was also an oncologist (he was easing into retirement). He had done many, many procedures, and I never worried about his ability. The only complaint I had with him was that once or twice he did not sedate enough. But, then again, I now have them done by a gastroenterologist, and he didn't sedate me enough last time either!

[BrownBagger]

My colorectal surgeon does mine.

[alphagam]

colo-Rectal surgeon only!

[Grace14]

My colo-rectal surgeon does mine also.

[CRguy]

My colorectal surgeon does all his own sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies / biopsies. My oncologists always refer back to the original surgeon for scoping, as well. I think the comment about having the most experienced doctor do them, is most valid.

[betsydoglover]

My GI doc does mine. I haven't even seen my colorectal surgeon since 6 weeks past surgery - back in 2005!

[weisssoccermom]

Sorry but I'm going to agree with everyone else & for VERY good reason. I would ONLY have my colorectal surgeon do mine and I can't believe a law firm - no matter what they specialize in would unilaterally recommend a gastro over a colorectal surgeon. Just for the record, (no pun intended), I only want my colorectal surgeon for one very good reason. SHE is the only one who is going to operate - not any gastro (if they did then I would REALLY need a good law firm). There have been too many incidences of gastros doing scopes whose reports state that, for example, the tumor is located 8 cm up from the anal verge - only to have the colorectal surgeon find that nope, the tumor is actually 15cm up or just the opposite. I want the doctor who is going to actually do the surgery to be the one looking at my colon & ascertaining just exactly where everything is, what the tumor looks like, etc. Sort of O/T, my colorectal surgeon vehemently disagreed with the gastro on the reading of my rectal ultrasound - meaning my actual stage was in question. I'm not questioning the ability of gastros - just that when it comes to me, and I think you'll find most people on this board, I only want my colorectal surgeon doing mine. One doctor for my scopes, one doctor for my tests, one doctor for my surgery (hopefully no more needed) and one doctor ONLY so that no mixups, no misreading, no mis anything occurs.

[betsydoglover]

Maybe there is difference between colon and rectal cancer. I remember my colon surgeon telling me "You have one too many docs in your life.!

So, I haven't see him since 6 weeks post surgery and my scopes are done by my GI doc.

Different strokes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Twinsmom]

My gastro does mine. He is the guy who found my cancer in the first place and he has done 2 more on me since the original diagnosis. He was in the same medical group as my surgeon and I was very satiisfied with the communication between them. My surgeon has since left and moved to another state but the gastro is still there. I think it helps if the gastro and the surgeon are colleagues.

[tallyho]

The GI doctor does mine as well - he's done two on me so far and since he found polyps on the last one, I'll be seeing him a fair amount over the next few years. I don't think my surgeon even does colonoscopies.

[sg101]

I was initially diagnosed by a gastroenterologist, and ever since that time, I have had all procedures performed only by my colorectal surgeon. He is the one who knows my anatomy, and should I ever need additional surgery (I hope not!), he will have a much better idea as to what is going on if he does the actual endoscopy. I had problems with a leak after my surgery, so I've had LOTS of flex sigs and colonoscopic exams. My GI doctor is in full agreement - if/when he diagnoses cancer, the scopes for that patient then go to the surgeon after that.

I do not think that I would necessarily recommend a surgeon for a routine colonoscopy - that is for the gastroenterologist. The most important thing with the procedure in general is experience - the actual number of procedures the person has successfully performed - rather than their board certificaiton as a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon.

[mm66ny]

My colorectal surgeon does mine. Scheduled for annual this coming Friday.

[fritts44]

My surgeon does mine also. I'm really glad he did my last one in Sept, because after my LAR, he was unsure about whether or not I should have a reversal. He wasn't able to leave much of my rectum in the surgery, and said the resection outcome would somewhat depend on how much damage I incur during radiation. After my colonscopy in Sept, he was able to look around and see what my chances were at a successful resection (he ended up giving me a 30% chance of leakage if he does a resection, so I'm keeping my stoma).

Lee F.

[seva]

My surgeon, he does it all; port placement, lar, reversal, scopes. It is best to have one set of eyes on me and only one set of fingers up my butt.

[NWgirl]

My colo-rectal surgeon does mine, my husbands, my MIL and my FIL - she does the whole family. We wouldn't have it any other way - she is amazing.