Hi
I've been reading the new colonoscopy fact sheet and have a couple of comments on it. Some are minor typos but one issue is, I think, important.
Minor points first:
- page 2 2nd para co-inside should have been coincide.
- page 2 last para it seems strange that low risk should have a repeat after 3 years but intermediate risk is 5 years. I suspect that they've been swapped around.
Major point:
Acromegaly patients have, in general, a much increased bowel transit time. This means that the bowel preparation routine is at high risk of failure. The best advice I've found suggests that the preparation will require double the laxative dose and increased duration of use. See for example P.J. Jenkins & P.D. Fairclough, "Screening guidelines for colorectal cancer and polyps in patients with acromegaly", Gut 2002; 51(Suppl V) v13-v14. Sadly I discovered this by personal experience, neither my endocrinologist nor either of the consultants who attempted a colonoscopy were aware of this issue. This is also a potential extra concern for those, like me, who are adrenally insufficient as well as having active acromegaly.
All the best
Tim