heart disease and now a colonoscopy - Heart Disorders Message Board

rose827 · 10-23-2007, 05:30 PM

My husband who has heart disease needs to have a colonoscopy on 10/31 due to blood toilet bowl after bowel movements. His primary scheduled the colonoscopy after examining and talking with him. Here's the thing, my husband has not called his cardiologist to tell him of the pending procedure. Given the daily aspirin, plavix, I'm concerned as I don't know if the dr. who is doing the colonoscopy will perform any "removals" should there be a polyp or anything during the test. My husband did not ask many questions regarding the colonoscopy. He thinks I'm being overprotective. I've written my husbands health history on this site and have always received wonderful feedback. His heart story is posted a few times. I will make him call his cardio, as his procedure is in a week and he's been on blood thinners since 2001 (heart attack...4 stents, last stent in 2006). Thank you! Rose

nosa47 · 10-25-2007, 10:37 AM

Hi Rose...... You should absolutely have the primary, GI and cardio doctors coordinate what has to be done prior to the colonoscopy. Some of the GI doctors in coordination with the cardiologist are capable of performing colonscopies while the patient is on blood thinners while others want you to stop them since if there are polyps to be removed, the risk of bleeding will increase especially because of the plavix. When I was scheduled for elective colonscopy last year, I was asked to stop the plavix and aspirin 5 days prior to the procedure. Since at that time I had not been on plavix for a full year yet, I did not want to take the risk of stopping the blood thinners for the procedure and I cancelled the appointment and never underwent the procedure. Whatever was causing my GI symptoms resolved after stopping the plavix after one year of taking it.

I don't think you are being overprotective and, again, make sure all the doctors involved know exactly what medications he is on especially the blood thinners so they can decide the best course of treatment for him. Good luck.

mimiof3 · 10-29-2007, 01:41 AM

Please let his GP know about the procedure! I had this done 2 yrs. ago this Dec. Nothing to it. SERIOUSLY!! But, I have so many pvc's, that I asked and received a heart anesthesiologist.I had the endoscopy (upper..down throat) and then the colonoscopy. Had a polyp the size of a pin head, and doc was SURE it was benign. Said he would bank his career on it. WELL....... it was pre-cancer. He got it all though, and now, I have to go every 5 yrs. for the colonopscopy instead of every 10. I felt somuch safer having the anesthesiologist that I did. I think my Ins. covered him 100%, since my gastro doc requested it. Good thoughts your way!