Frequency of Colonoscopies

It's common practice to require some sort of scope with biopsies when our symptoms get worse. I always ask for a flexible-sigmoidoscopy as it can be done without sedation in my gastroenterologist's office for a fraction of the cost of a colonscopy. The flexible-sigmoidoscopy is also less hassel for me, as the prep is only two fleet enemas, which is a whole lot easier than drinking like 5 and a half gallons of awful tasting colonscopy prep and not eating many hours beforehand.

A colonscopy is required for diagnosis and for colorectal cancer screening annually or biannually after 8-10 years with UC.

I've only had 1 colonscopy and had numerous flexible-sigmoidoscopis over the years. Not at the 10 year mark yet...

You can just say no, or ask for a flex-sig instead. In the end, it's ultimately your decision and you can suggest alternatives or disagree with your doctor's initial suggestion.

The general idea of scopes is to know: how far and how severe, and match an appropriate treatment to end your flare as quickly and effectively as is possible.

Alternatively a CRP blood test or a Faecal Calprotectin stool test can be used to tell how much inflammation you have. Not as precise as a scope but other things you could suggest.

I go every five to seven years

I've said no to scopes to different GI's and they didn't fire me. Perhaps it's "due diligence" to do scopes, hate to think it's about money. If colon cancer was a concern (if polyps seen earlier, etc) I'd get scoped more but symptoms? Nope, not gonna get scoped for that.

BC RX for UC? I'd ask for what medical study she's basing that on and then read it. I went on BC while having UC and all hell broke loose 15 years ago, but BC pills and my body never did well. GI didn't rec it, GYN did for another problem. Didn't help my UC...at all.

It's your body. You get to make decisions about scoping, when and how often.
Not to disparage all doctors but I find experienced doctors (those in practice 10+ years) are less aggressive than younger ones in scoping. Maybe it's more experience or maybe their kids are out of college and they don't need to make every last $ and book every possible scope into their weekly schedule.

There is a scoping schedule for screening, that gets regular after 8-10 years since diagnosis.

There is also scoping for diagnostic purposes. It would be done as often as needed. You can ask if some could be flex-sig, or if inflammation levels in blood or stool might be substituted.

If there is speculation of some hormonal condition affecting your UC, I can see why the GI would want to scope if birth control does not fix things. There are many folks here that have had multiple scoping in a single year.

I am not sure you have had 3 flares in such a short time. Likely this has been one flare, and the symptoms just got noticeable 3 times.

You can say NO to any procedure. But if your GI wants it for diagnostic purposes, they could ask you to find another GI. I think mode would work with you though - especially if you say you can't afford it.

good luck

There is no way I would do that many colonoscopies. They make me flare and are plain miserable (well the prep anyway) I would say no unless there is an amazing compelling reason. Over scoping in my opinion.
B

For me personally, I've never was able to take BC. But not because of my UC. My body never liked it (caused me migraines). However I have read of stories of women who have taken it and it actually helped with their UC. Monthly hormones are notorious for causing havoc on the gut of a healthy individual let alone some with UC. So it might be worth a try.