Do I really need that test doctor? A simple question to help you navigate a visit to your doctor.

Seven questions you should ask your doctor before getting a colonoscopy

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Type a minimum of three characters then press UP or DOWN on the keyboard to navigate the autocompleted search results. The following content is displayed as Tabs. Once you have activated a link navigate to the end of the list to view its associated content. The activated link is defined as Active Tab. Reducing risk factors will improve the health of Victorians more than developing cures for diseases To get the most out of the conversation with your doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider, it is best to be open about providing information and to speak up if you don?

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Planning and coordinating healthcare. Pregnancy and birth services. Talking with your doctor Share show more. Health checks Health checks - Monitoring your health Health checks - Staying healthy and well. To get the most out of your conversation with your doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider, it is important that you are open about providing information. Consider your options before making a decision — ask questions about your diagnosis and treatment and about other available treatments that could help you. Follow up when you get back home from an appointment — call for your test results and make all the other appointments that you need.

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Many people find it difficult to talk about their problems with their doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional. Your healthcare professional will not judge you, and they are trained to listen and to help you find the best outcomes for your situation. These suggestions apply equally to doctors or other healthcare professionals in a community health centre, private clinic or hospital. Getting ready to visit your doctor Usually, when you first call your doctor to make an appointment or when you first arrive at hospital you will speak to a receptionist.

Things that you should mention to the receptionist include: Things that you can do to prepare before you visit your doctor include: Sharing information with your doctor Once you are with your doctor or other healthcare professional, be ready to have a discussion. Open communication is a two-way process. The information you give about yourself, your concerns and your situation is important.

Speak up and let your doctor know about your thoughts and concerns. They are trained to listen and will not judge or criticise you. Things you should tell your doctor You might find it helpful to take notes during your visit, so that you can go over them later at home.

Talking with your doctor

Things that you should mention to your doctor include: Things you should ask your doctor You can also ask your doctor for information. Making decisions with your doctor Sometimes, your doctor may say things that are not very clear or that you do not understand. It is important that you ask them to explain things to you. Things that your doctor can explain include: Your doctor can explain things again to you, if necessary. Discussing your options with your doctor It is important to let your doctor know about your preferences.

For example, you might want to consider other options instead of surgery.

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Your doctor might then refer you to a specialist or discuss the reasons why these are the best treatment options for you. Weber says, adding that a stool test is better than no test at all.

6 steps to prep for your visit to the doctor

Weber, and many other doctors, the stool tests are not enough. Stool tests may detect signs of cancer, but negative results miss the possibility that small polyps may be lurking, posing a risk of developing into tumors later on. Also, stool tests also are not for patients with a high risk of colon cancer. Stool tests are not recommended for patients who have a history of polyps, previous positive stool tests or a family history of colon cancer.

Patients often dread the colonoscopy prep more than the procedure itself. But times have changed, and no longer are prescribed laxatives or harsh bowel cleansers necessary in many cases. Talk to your doctor about options. Some doctors may suggest over-the-counter laxatives that are easier to swallow.

There are some preps that aren't that bad. But the drugs last for hours, far longer than needed, and have shown not to work in some younger patients or in patients with a history of alcohol or drug use, Dr.

The sedation drug Propofol, he says, may be a better option because it works quickly before the procedure and may take less recovery time after. Some patients even ask not to be sedated during the procedure, Dr. Weber says, though he does not recommend that approach. Given the invasive nature of colonoscopies, they should only be performed by doctors with specific training, experience and professional credentials, Dr.

Board-certified gastroenterologists undergo extensive training on colonoscopies and other diagnostic and treatment procedures and are required to take ongoing medical education classes. Adenomas are polyps, or outgrowths, on the inner wall of the colon. Some develop into malignant tumors. Given the history of colonoscopy results over time, experts know that in patients older than 50, colonoscopies will detect adenomas in at least 25 percent of men and 15 percent of women.

Based on this standard, all gastroenterologists are assigned an ADR measuring their ability to detect these growths, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. According to an editorial in the medical journal of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy , ADRs have become "widely accepted by expert groups as an important colonoscopy quality measure. In the meantime, they may feel bloated, crampy or distended.

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