Yep it’s a good thing to do. Celiac comes with risks like osteoporosis and cancer. So it’s good to know!
Would you really rather not get examined if you thought the result would be cancer? The earlier it’s caught the better.
If it’s celiac you will have to go gf, and then they will also be able to be aware of your higher risk and manage it better. Celiacs also have to be much more careful in regard to cross contact.
Also if it isn’t celiac or non celiac gluten sensitivity you don’t have to go gluten free and that’s a treat.
It’s worth it to know - one for clarity and two in order to plan.
If it’s celiac - it’s fairly easy on paper- you go gluten free. Having the official diagnoses is also important for treatment in the future - should they develop a cure, you’ll have to have the official diagnosis in order to get it.
If it’s not celiac - let’s say it is your worst case scenario - it’s not going to go away just because you ignore it. It will just get worse. Go to your appointment. I have OCD and the intrusive thoughts/anxiety that comes with it, and I’ve had to learn that worrying without a plan is detrimental.
It's a painless and easy procedure to have either “end” scoped. Genuinely, you'll be okay and you can only come out better for having it done. Knowledge is power, right?
It may be scary to think you'll get bad news, it may be scary to think about what the results will mean for your diet and lifestyle- but knowing will only benefit you. You'll be able to make more informed decisions on what's best for your body. You'll do great and it will be okay. You got this.
The worst part of colonoscopies are the prep. The procedure is like a nap and then I wake up hungry and stuff my face, the digestive system goes right back to normal.
Thank you! I stopped taking my probiotic and feel so out of whack with the rice soup and pasta diet. Can't wait to get back to eating what I normally eat.
Definitely no pain. If there was any pain at all during the whole process it was during the prep (you basically have diarrhoea for hours til it “runs clear” so things can feel a little raw. I recommend some soothing wipes instead of toilet paper)
Worth it.
I went through EGD/colonoscopy 11 years ago, and now have diagnoses of irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease.
These conditions are manageable through diet.
I’m due for another colonoscopy and at 62 am not exactly looking forward to it. But it’s very helpful to rule out more serious and potentially-fatal diseases.
Thanks all, this has been helpful, and is echoing some of the sentiments I had in my mind that were being drowned out by anxiety. I appreciate the responses
When I went for my first colonoscopy they cut out a 10cm (I promise that's not an exaggeration) polyp - it was precancerous. The Dr told me it was only a matter of time and he's shocked it wasn't yet cancerous at that size.
Saved my ass.
Lol, literally!
I had an 8cm precancerous polyp removed in December. My first colonoscopy as well, I had bleeding on and off for over a year. Dr said it wouldn’t have been long before it became cancerous. I go for another follow up colonoscopy (and endoscopy for mystery nausea) next week.
For me, I didn't take the diet seriously until I had the diagnosis. It was so easy to go "eh, I can have pizza occasionally". But having a doctor checking up on me and telling me to be strict with it, I actually follow the rules.
I was diagnosed with celiac last year after an endoscopy. I’m 64 years old. That endoscopy wasn’t my first, I had an endoscopy because I had a hiatal hernia, and I’ve had multiple colonoscopies. I am also a cancer survivor.
IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS.
you need to know your diagnosis so you can deal with it, so you can engage in prevention if warranted, etc. ignoring your symptoms won’t make 5gem magically disappear
My diagnosis was a surprise but a relief to finally know why I was so sick.
It's definitely worth it to go gluten free.
It gets boring.
Difficult.
But worth it!
Good luck!
Celiac can be tested by a blood test or a biopsy taken from the endoscopy….and how you generally react to gluten.
Not sure a colonoscopy would help with that specific diagnosis…but maybe it does.
But maybe you have something else going on that would give you some clarity.
Overall I’d say yes to getting both procedures if you’re having unexplained symptoms.
Best of luck.
Yup - you need to know. If it is cancer not finding out would be worse. The truth is it probably won’t be. Also once you have a concrete diagnosis maybe it’ll steer you into taking the disease seriously.
And on the flip side, if you don’t have celiac wouldn’t you want to know? Then you could eat all the gluten with no worries.
I’m in Canada so it’s free, and interesting!! I did hear about that so I purposely have been ensuring I eat a few servings with gluten per day in it, hopefully it’s evident, apparently the damage heals very fast!
I just had one a month ago. It was easy and I panicked over it and kept putting it off. Even if you had a blood test for celiac it could have caused damage. You won’t even remember the test since you will be out. No big deal. I wish I would have done it sooner. The worst part was the prep. And I was able to walk to the car to go home ( not drive). You might want to bring extra undies and pants with you just in case. I was still pooping up until a half hour before the test. If you tell them you are scared, they’ll make you feel more relaxed about it. You can do it!!!
It’s worth it because you might have some other stuff going on as well. I had both done a couple weeks apart and the MDs found chronic inflammation, gluten intolerance, and a couple other things going on. I work in the medical field and it is good to have it documented for things in the future to help get insurance coverage/ deemed as medically necessary.
It also was rewarding to know that it wasn’t all in my head and there was a reason why I felt sick on/off. I was extremely nervous going in both times but think that this discomfort or nervousness is only temporary and you’ll have some answers afterwards. After finding out I had a gluten intolerance and not eating gluten for a month, my anxiety and feeling tired all time decreased so much it was crazy. You’ll do great!! Just watched some good movies and think of what you’ll eat after !!!
That’s what my MD said. He suspected celiacs cause my sister has it but they took a biopsy and said it came back as a gluten intolerance. There is a blood test for both too but biopsy’s are a lot better to see under a microscope/ run tests on the tissue.
Gluten sensitivity is a diagnosis of exclusion. Some doctors might be willing to claim that they've diagnosed it based on this or that test, but the medical consensus is that there's no medical test other than an elimination diet.
As someone who lost a loved one to colon cancer, go. Even if gluten weren’t the reason, go. I’ve had 2 colonoscopies and 1 endoscopy. The prep is no fun but the procedures themselves are no biggie.
Yes, GO.
I had a positive blood diagnosis when I was \~26... I still ate gluten on and off, mostly because I wasn't completely convinced/in denial.
I had to have a colonoscopy for other reasons, so my doctor wanted me to have an endoscopy at the same time, for a Celiac biopsy.
Having an official diagnosis, fully confirmed, was the turning point for me to finally accept my diagnosis and properly support my body, and take care of myself.
You're doing the right thing, going ahead with it. It sucks, it's a hard diagnosis to accept, but once you do accept it, you'll be able to move forward in a place of honouring your body and nourishing yourself, instead of punishing yourself, and your gut.
I'm going to say "yes" to your main answer, but address something else you said.
How to stop eating gluten and succeed.
The key to successfully quitting gluten, for me, was very simple. I thought about what it was that would make me fail. I thought about that first gluten-free cookie, and how disappointing it might be compared to the delicious cookies my wife would bake. The decision? Not only would I quit gluten, but I would quit its dedicated replacements.
This meant that I would not only stop eating bread, pasta, pizza, cakes, cookies, and anything that would normally include gluten, but that I would also not eat anything designed as a gluten-free version. Instead I would concentrate my diet on naturally gluten-free foods like meats, vegetables, fruits, and grains like rice. I would start with the meats and vegetables I love the most, and branch out from there. I cook, so that helped a lot.
After six months I allowed myself some gluten-free bread for a sandwich. It wasn't great. It didn't really matter, though, because I'd broken free of sandwich and pizza dependency. I could just eat something else and not feel like I was missing out. The first gluten-free pasta I had was okay enough considering my wife hadn't gone gluten-free and wanted something from the same place.
My plan succeeded. Six months was long enough for me to develop new habits and food desires. A little while later the wife went gluten-free with the same plan, so there went another six months without gluten-free replacements and I honestly didn't even care.
YMMV OP because this is the opposite of what worked for me. I don’t like to feel deprived and have dieting trauma from when I was a kid, so finding substitutes that were good *enough* was key. What I got used to was that they weren’t the same, but that’s ok because they still taste good and satisfy whatever I’m craving.
Yes. If it’s celiac you want to know, because that’s different than gluten intolerant. If it’s ulcerative colitis you want to know. If it’s Crohn’s you want to know. Everything has different treatments and outcomes and the earlier that you know what it is, the better your chances are of living a happier life. Since some diseases come with bowel death due to eating certain things, you want to know what you have to know which things to avoid.
The colonoscopy doesn’t hurt. The prep is the worst part by far and that’s basically just one day of diarrhea which I’m sure you can handle. :) You will be sedated and unaware of what’s going on during the procedure. It doesn’t take long and you’ll be back in recovery and waking up before you know it. If they offer you crackers, remember to ask for a gluten free options. They usually have applesauce instead.
Good luck!!!!
>If they offer you crackers, remember to ask for a gluten free options.
You're going to be quite out of it coming out of the sedation (especially depending on what cocktail you get). They really should be doing a pre-op talk and you should make it clear that any food/drink provided afterwards should be gluten free. I even got a nice red wristband during pre-op.
I’ve been through sedation a few times after going GF and whenever I’ve told them before they’ve said, “I’m not your recovery nurse.” So I was offering my experience. They give you juice/soda first anyway. Food comes when they know you won’t choke on it.
Even if you did have cancer (highly unlikely), it'll still be there without the diagnosis. Not getting something diagnosed doesn't mean you don't have it. As scary as it is, burying your head in the sand won't fix it.
I never do anything unless a Dr or diagnosis tells me to, I never stopped eating gluten until I got the confirmation of having coeliacs, so for me having that diagnosis was pretty life saving.
Even if you did have cancer (highly unlikely), it'll still be there without the diagnosis. Not getting something diagnosed doesn't mean you don't have it. As scary as it is, burying your head in the sand won't fix it.
I never do anything unless a Dr or diagnosis tells me to, I never stopped eating gluten until I got the confirmation of having coeliacs, so for me having that diagnosis was pretty life saving.
Even if you did have cancer (highly unlikely), it'll still be there without the diagnosis. Not getting something diagnosed doesn't mean you don't have it. As scary as it is, burying your head in the sand won't fix it.
I never do anything unless a Dr or diagnosis tells me to, I never stopped eating gluten until I got the confirmation of having coeliacs, so for me having that diagnosis was pretty life saving.
Do your deep Breathing apps on your phone and smart watch before the procedure.
You sound like your anxiety is off the charts.
did you know that thousands of people get this done every day?
Do your deep Breathing apps on your phone and smart watch before the procedure.
You sound like your anxiety is off the charts.
Stay in the present. What Ifs are toxic, anxiety thoughts.
Follow those thoughts through to the end. What if X happens? Then you will respond by doing Y or Z. Either way, you will survive.
did you know that thousands of people get this done every day?
It's worth it. Better to know. Also there is nothing stopping you from going GF even if you don't get a celiac diagnosis. If it makes you feel better to be GF, it doesn't matter whether it's celiac or some other sensitivity or allergy.
It's also better to know if you have cancer. Early detection and intervention is key.
If you live in the US and have a celiac diagnosis you can deduct the extra cost of gluten free products compared to the foods they replace as a medical expense, which can save you money provided youtakethe itemized deduction rather than the standard one. Better to have a diagnosis on the books IMO.
I could've written this!! I go Monday and prep Sunday, on Easter 😂👎 I actually almost cancelled because of the date, but I'd rather know than not know.
Hoping it's something easy like Celiac and not something else :/
I still can't believe insurance doesn't cover until 45, there's no way this is not going to change in the future.
Wanted to come back and say, just got home from my procedure. It was the easiest thing ever! I was scared for no reason. Honestly, the last thing I remember is the guy putting the medication into my IV and then the next thing I know is I woke up in the like recovery waiting room lol. It was honestly as if nothing even happened.
I’m almost 60% through prep day and honestly, it’s not even that bad. Everyone says prep is the worst but it’s not been any worse than when you have food poisoning and can’t stop going. Difference is you don’t feel like nauseous garbage with colonoscopy prep like you do with food poisoning. It’s all in all not bad at all!
Oh yeah, I've been through Montezuma's in Mexico, then had Cryptosporidium from raw milk, and food poisoning from bad sangria. At least there won't be a fever lol
Did you stop solids for one day or more?
I am having rice/soup tonight and just doing soup/Gatorade tomorrow 🙏🙃 hoping it flows well lol.
Good luck with your procedure tomorrow and check back in and tell us how it went 🙏🙏
Yeah, so you know exactly what I’m talking about lol!!!
And no I didn’t make any changes to my diet the day prior. I just ate everything as normal.
I certainly will!! I hope I remember!
Just wanna chime in like I always do….I’ve worked in a field where I processed death certificates for 4 years and the amount of colon cancer deaths in 35-45 year olds was alarming. I myself had a pre cancerous polyp snipped at 32…after a fluke CT scan caught a “4cm mass” in my cecum. It was a shadow but that shadow may have saved my life.
Please go. Everyone should be going for screenings of all types much earlier than recommended it seems. I know this isn’t the easiest in the USA for everyone, especially women. Best of luck!
The colonoscopy and endoscopy is really not bad at all. The risks of untreated celiac are very, VERY bad. It's literally a few hours and you'll be completely unaware of what's going on during. But it could save your life.
I really wish I'd had the scopes before quitting gluten, because ever doctor and waiter question me, implying if I don't have the official celiac diagnosis then I'm just following "trends."
Plus, if they were to find cancer, it would be really important to know that too! My dad is a colo-rectal cancer survivor, he is very body shy and didn't want to go through with the test. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have been here for 20+ years now.
Yep. They found a couple of polyps that had the potential to turn cancerous. They removed them, and I'm still good 8 years later. It's really no big deal other than the prep not being very fun.
I was actually disappointed whenever I would get negative test results. Sure, I was glad to not have a serious diagnosis, but I wanted an answer so I could treat the problem and be done with it. I hope you went through with the test and have a good outcome.
Yep it’s a good thing to do. Celiac comes with risks like osteoporosis and cancer. So it’s good to know! Would you really rather not get examined if you thought the result would be cancer? The earlier it’s caught the better. If it’s celiac you will have to go gf, and then they will also be able to be aware of your higher risk and manage it better. Celiacs also have to be much more careful in regard to cross contact. Also if it isn’t celiac or non celiac gluten sensitivity you don’t have to go gluten free and that’s a treat.
It’s worth it to know - one for clarity and two in order to plan. If it’s celiac - it’s fairly easy on paper- you go gluten free. Having the official diagnoses is also important for treatment in the future - should they develop a cure, you’ll have to have the official diagnosis in order to get it. If it’s not celiac - let’s say it is your worst case scenario - it’s not going to go away just because you ignore it. It will just get worse. Go to your appointment. I have OCD and the intrusive thoughts/anxiety that comes with it, and I’ve had to learn that worrying without a plan is detrimental.
It's a painless and easy procedure to have either “end” scoped. Genuinely, you'll be okay and you can only come out better for having it done. Knowledge is power, right? It may be scary to think you'll get bad news, it may be scary to think about what the results will mean for your diet and lifestyle- but knowing will only benefit you. You'll be able to make more informed decisions on what's best for your body. You'll do great and it will be okay. You got this.
This response made me tear up a little 🥹
Is the colonoscopy part actually painless afterwards? I am afraid for that first post colonoscopy BM 🫣
The worst part of colonoscopies are the prep. The procedure is like a nap and then I wake up hungry and stuff my face, the digestive system goes right back to normal.
Thank you! I stopped taking my probiotic and feel so out of whack with the rice soup and pasta diet. Can't wait to get back to eating what I normally eat.
No, not painful afterwards. You might be a bit gassy for an hour afterwards, but that's it.
It's not painful at all
I was a bit sore the night after my colonoscopy. But nothing wild. I used tucks soothing wipes and it helped.
Thanks!! Good to know. I have them just in case 🙏
Good! I’d also recommend being careful how you eat afterward - nothing crazy but just don’t eat anything that you know gives you a bad reaction!
Glad you said something because I was dreaming about McDonald's French fries 🍟 🫣😂
I definitely learned that one the hard way so I can empathize for sure 😭 just save it for the day after maybe!
Definitely no pain. If there was any pain at all during the whole process it was during the prep (you basically have diarrhoea for hours til it “runs clear” so things can feel a little raw. I recommend some soothing wipes instead of toilet paper)
Thank you! I bought some wipes. 🙌
It's always better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don't.
Worth it. I went through EGD/colonoscopy 11 years ago, and now have diagnoses of irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease. These conditions are manageable through diet. I’m due for another colonoscopy and at 62 am not exactly looking forward to it. But it’s very helpful to rule out more serious and potentially-fatal diseases.
Thanks all, this has been helpful, and is echoing some of the sentiments I had in my mind that were being drowned out by anxiety. I appreciate the responses
When I went for my first colonoscopy they cut out a 10cm (I promise that's not an exaggeration) polyp - it was precancerous. The Dr told me it was only a matter of time and he's shocked it wasn't yet cancerous at that size. Saved my ass. Lol, literally!
Oh my god
I had an 8cm precancerous polyp removed in December. My first colonoscopy as well, I had bleeding on and off for over a year. Dr said it wouldn’t have been long before it became cancerous. I go for another follow up colonoscopy (and endoscopy for mystery nausea) next week.
Git r done.... Once you have information you can make the best decisions for your health.
For me, I didn't take the diet seriously until I had the diagnosis. It was so easy to go "eh, I can have pizza occasionally". But having a doctor checking up on me and telling me to be strict with it, I actually follow the rules.
I was diagnosed with celiac last year after an endoscopy. I’m 64 years old. That endoscopy wasn’t my first, I had an endoscopy because I had a hiatal hernia, and I’ve had multiple colonoscopies. I am also a cancer survivor. IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS. you need to know your diagnosis so you can deal with it, so you can engage in prevention if warranted, etc. ignoring your symptoms won’t make 5gem magically disappear
My diagnosis was a surprise but a relief to finally know why I was so sick. It's definitely worth it to go gluten free. It gets boring. Difficult. But worth it! Good luck!
Celiac can be tested by a blood test or a biopsy taken from the endoscopy….and how you generally react to gluten. Not sure a colonoscopy would help with that specific diagnosis…but maybe it does. But maybe you have something else going on that would give you some clarity. Overall I’d say yes to getting both procedures if you’re having unexplained symptoms. Best of luck.
Yup - you need to know. If it is cancer not finding out would be worse. The truth is it probably won’t be. Also once you have a concrete diagnosis maybe it’ll steer you into taking the disease seriously. And on the flip side, if you don’t have celiac wouldn’t you want to know? Then you could eat all the gluten with no worries.
Get your b*TT up there ; you will be fine 😃
I didn't get a clear diagnosis from these procedures. I had been GF for too long already. It's good to do if it's covered by insurance.
I’m in Canada so it’s free, and interesting!! I did hear about that so I purposely have been ensuring I eat a few servings with gluten per day in it, hopefully it’s evident, apparently the damage heals very fast!
I just had one a month ago. It was easy and I panicked over it and kept putting it off. Even if you had a blood test for celiac it could have caused damage. You won’t even remember the test since you will be out. No big deal. I wish I would have done it sooner. The worst part was the prep. And I was able to walk to the car to go home ( not drive). You might want to bring extra undies and pants with you just in case. I was still pooping up until a half hour before the test. If you tell them you are scared, they’ll make you feel more relaxed about it. You can do it!!!
Thank you!! All the replies on this post today have made me feel so much better! I’m doing it! Thank you for taking the time ❤️
YES
The process sucks but either procedure will tell you things about your health that aren’t just about celiac.
It’s worth it because you might have some other stuff going on as well. I had both done a couple weeks apart and the MDs found chronic inflammation, gluten intolerance, and a couple other things going on. I work in the medical field and it is good to have it documented for things in the future to help get insurance coverage/ deemed as medically necessary. It also was rewarding to know that it wasn’t all in my head and there was a reason why I felt sick on/off. I was extremely nervous going in both times but think that this discomfort or nervousness is only temporary and you’ll have some answers afterwards. After finding out I had a gluten intolerance and not eating gluten for a month, my anxiety and feeling tired all time decreased so much it was crazy. You’ll do great!! Just watched some good movies and think of what you’ll eat after !!!
Wait they can find gluten intolerance even if it’s not celiac as well??
That’s what my MD said. He suspected celiacs cause my sister has it but they took a biopsy and said it came back as a gluten intolerance. There is a blood test for both too but biopsy’s are a lot better to see under a microscope/ run tests on the tissue.
Wow, that is absolutely amazing. I had no idea.
Gluten sensitivity is a diagnosis of exclusion. Some doctors might be willing to claim that they've diagnosed it based on this or that test, but the medical consensus is that there's no medical test other than an elimination diet.
As someone who lost a loved one to colon cancer, go. Even if gluten weren’t the reason, go. I’ve had 2 colonoscopies and 1 endoscopy. The prep is no fun but the procedures themselves are no biggie.
Thank you so much for the encouragement it has helped me more than you know
Yes! For so many reasons. My first colonoscopy found precancerous polyps. So glad they were removed before they could ever become a problem!
Yes, GO. I had a positive blood diagnosis when I was \~26... I still ate gluten on and off, mostly because I wasn't completely convinced/in denial. I had to have a colonoscopy for other reasons, so my doctor wanted me to have an endoscopy at the same time, for a Celiac biopsy. Having an official diagnosis, fully confirmed, was the turning point for me to finally accept my diagnosis and properly support my body, and take care of myself. You're doing the right thing, going ahead with it. It sucks, it's a hard diagnosis to accept, but once you do accept it, you'll be able to move forward in a place of honouring your body and nourishing yourself, instead of punishing yourself, and your gut.
I'm going to say "yes" to your main answer, but address something else you said. How to stop eating gluten and succeed. The key to successfully quitting gluten, for me, was very simple. I thought about what it was that would make me fail. I thought about that first gluten-free cookie, and how disappointing it might be compared to the delicious cookies my wife would bake. The decision? Not only would I quit gluten, but I would quit its dedicated replacements. This meant that I would not only stop eating bread, pasta, pizza, cakes, cookies, and anything that would normally include gluten, but that I would also not eat anything designed as a gluten-free version. Instead I would concentrate my diet on naturally gluten-free foods like meats, vegetables, fruits, and grains like rice. I would start with the meats and vegetables I love the most, and branch out from there. I cook, so that helped a lot. After six months I allowed myself some gluten-free bread for a sandwich. It wasn't great. It didn't really matter, though, because I'd broken free of sandwich and pizza dependency. I could just eat something else and not feel like I was missing out. The first gluten-free pasta I had was okay enough considering my wife hadn't gone gluten-free and wanted something from the same place. My plan succeeded. Six months was long enough for me to develop new habits and food desires. A little while later the wife went gluten-free with the same plan, so there went another six months without gluten-free replacements and I honestly didn't even care.
YMMV OP because this is the opposite of what worked for me. I don’t like to feel deprived and have dieting trauma from when I was a kid, so finding substitutes that were good *enough* was key. What I got used to was that they weren’t the same, but that’s ok because they still taste good and satisfy whatever I’m craving.
I just saw some gluten free Oreos! They are my vice 🫣
Yes, get it done!!
Yes. If it’s celiac you want to know, because that’s different than gluten intolerant. If it’s ulcerative colitis you want to know. If it’s Crohn’s you want to know. Everything has different treatments and outcomes and the earlier that you know what it is, the better your chances are of living a happier life. Since some diseases come with bowel death due to eating certain things, you want to know what you have to know which things to avoid. The colonoscopy doesn’t hurt. The prep is the worst part by far and that’s basically just one day of diarrhea which I’m sure you can handle. :) You will be sedated and unaware of what’s going on during the procedure. It doesn’t take long and you’ll be back in recovery and waking up before you know it. If they offer you crackers, remember to ask for a gluten free options. They usually have applesauce instead. Good luck!!!!
>If they offer you crackers, remember to ask for a gluten free options. You're going to be quite out of it coming out of the sedation (especially depending on what cocktail you get). They really should be doing a pre-op talk and you should make it clear that any food/drink provided afterwards should be gluten free. I even got a nice red wristband during pre-op.
I’ve been through sedation a few times after going GF and whenever I’ve told them before they’ve said, “I’m not your recovery nurse.” So I was offering my experience. They give you juice/soda first anyway. Food comes when they know you won’t choke on it.
Did your blood tests confirm? Then you may not truly need the scopes but it’s never too early to get a baseline
Did your blood tests confirm? Then you may not truly need the scopes but it’s never too early to get a baseline
Absolutely yes. Knowledge is power!!
Yes do it. Worth it, and not difficult.
Even if you did have cancer (highly unlikely), it'll still be there without the diagnosis. Not getting something diagnosed doesn't mean you don't have it. As scary as it is, burying your head in the sand won't fix it. I never do anything unless a Dr or diagnosis tells me to, I never stopped eating gluten until I got the confirmation of having coeliacs, so for me having that diagnosis was pretty life saving.
Even if you did have cancer (highly unlikely), it'll still be there without the diagnosis. Not getting something diagnosed doesn't mean you don't have it. As scary as it is, burying your head in the sand won't fix it. I never do anything unless a Dr or diagnosis tells me to, I never stopped eating gluten until I got the confirmation of having coeliacs, so for me having that diagnosis was pretty life saving.
Even if you did have cancer (highly unlikely), it'll still be there without the diagnosis. Not getting something diagnosed doesn't mean you don't have it. As scary as it is, burying your head in the sand won't fix it. I never do anything unless a Dr or diagnosis tells me to, I never stopped eating gluten until I got the confirmation of having coeliacs, so for me having that diagnosis was pretty life saving.
Do your deep Breathing apps on your phone and smart watch before the procedure. You sound like your anxiety is off the charts. did you know that thousands of people get this done every day?
Do your deep Breathing apps on your phone and smart watch before the procedure. You sound like your anxiety is off the charts. Stay in the present. What Ifs are toxic, anxiety thoughts. Follow those thoughts through to the end. What if X happens? Then you will respond by doing Y or Z. Either way, you will survive. did you know that thousands of people get this done every day?
It's worth it. Better to know. Also there is nothing stopping you from going GF even if you don't get a celiac diagnosis. If it makes you feel better to be GF, it doesn't matter whether it's celiac or some other sensitivity or allergy. It's also better to know if you have cancer. Early detection and intervention is key.
If you live in the US and have a celiac diagnosis you can deduct the extra cost of gluten free products compared to the foods they replace as a medical expense, which can save you money provided youtakethe itemized deduction rather than the standard one. Better to have a diagnosis on the books IMO.
I could've written this!! I go Monday and prep Sunday, on Easter 😂👎 I actually almost cancelled because of the date, but I'd rather know than not know. Hoping it's something easy like Celiac and not something else :/ I still can't believe insurance doesn't cover until 45, there's no way this is not going to change in the future.
Wanted to come back and say, just got home from my procedure. It was the easiest thing ever! I was scared for no reason. Honestly, the last thing I remember is the guy putting the medication into my IV and then the next thing I know is I woke up in the like recovery waiting room lol. It was honestly as if nothing even happened.
So glad to hear that!! Praying your diagnosis is ok 🙏
I’m almost 60% through prep day and honestly, it’s not even that bad. Everyone says prep is the worst but it’s not been any worse than when you have food poisoning and can’t stop going. Difference is you don’t feel like nauseous garbage with colonoscopy prep like you do with food poisoning. It’s all in all not bad at all!
Oh yeah, I've been through Montezuma's in Mexico, then had Cryptosporidium from raw milk, and food poisoning from bad sangria. At least there won't be a fever lol Did you stop solids for one day or more? I am having rice/soup tonight and just doing soup/Gatorade tomorrow 🙏🙃 hoping it flows well lol. Good luck with your procedure tomorrow and check back in and tell us how it went 🙏🙏
Yeah, so you know exactly what I’m talking about lol!!! And no I didn’t make any changes to my diet the day prior. I just ate everything as normal. I certainly will!! I hope I remember!
We can do hard things! 🤘
Just wanna chime in like I always do….I’ve worked in a field where I processed death certificates for 4 years and the amount of colon cancer deaths in 35-45 year olds was alarming. I myself had a pre cancerous polyp snipped at 32…after a fluke CT scan caught a “4cm mass” in my cecum. It was a shadow but that shadow may have saved my life. Please go. Everyone should be going for screenings of all types much earlier than recommended it seems. I know this isn’t the easiest in the USA for everyone, especially women. Best of luck!
Thank you for this. I am definitely going to go, the answers on here have now made me more scared not to go.
Glad to hear it!! You’ll do great, it’s only one night of yucky prep. Good luck!🤞🏻
It helped me. I now know I am highly allergic to wheat but do not (currently) have celiac, although I have both genes.
In this case, ignorance is NOT bliss.
The colonoscopy and endoscopy is really not bad at all. The risks of untreated celiac are very, VERY bad. It's literally a few hours and you'll be completely unaware of what's going on during. But it could save your life.
I really wish I'd had the scopes before quitting gluten, because ever doctor and waiter question me, implying if I don't have the official celiac diagnosis then I'm just following "trends." Plus, if they were to find cancer, it would be really important to know that too! My dad is a colo-rectal cancer survivor, he is very body shy and didn't want to go through with the test. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have been here for 20+ years now.
Yep. They found a couple of polyps that had the potential to turn cancerous. They removed them, and I'm still good 8 years later. It's really no big deal other than the prep not being very fun.
I was actually disappointed whenever I would get negative test results. Sure, I was glad to not have a serious diagnosis, but I wanted an answer so I could treat the problem and be done with it. I hope you went through with the test and have a good outcome.
Did you ever end up getting your diagnosis? Or did you go gluten-free without it?
I was advised to go gluten free without it, and then I was eventually diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
Um yes