I plan to be living in Italy right when I am scheduled for a colonoscopy. My internest in San Francisco says they don't do routne colonoscopies in Itlay. Does anyone know if I can get a colonoscopy under national healthcare in Italy?
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Great first post! I understand from friends that this sort of routine, preventitive check isn't very common in Italy. Unlikely you could arrange it anywhere other than at a private clinic. If you already know health professionals here then you might get a different story but if you are starting from scratch I suspect you'll struggle to get what you want.
Absolutely. My friend got plenty of them just as soon as he was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. During the 18 months he had left, they filled him full of chemicals and probed and photographed him inside and out over and over again.
His remaining days were miserable, but he got a colonoscopy as often as he could stand them. No problem..................... if you're into that sort of fun and games.
Finally, he got lucky and died.
Bob
America seems like a dream to me now.
You can definitely have a colonoscopy here in Italy. If you have a specific reason to have one, such as ulcerative colitis, crohns or colon cancer, you will want to get to know the gastroenterology department at your local hospital right away. I have ulcerative colitis and am very pleased with how the doctors follow me here - I do everything publicly and without any wait time at all.
If instead you are following up from a recommendation from your US doctor, after registering with the health system and being assigned a medico di base, go speak to that doctor. Explain that you need to have this test done. The doctor will give you an impegnativa so that you can make the specialist appointment. Then you call the reservation number to make an appointment. If this is routine without any urgency, you will probably have a fairly long wait time. If there is a pressing reason for you to have this exam, you need to tell the medico di base so that they can add in a code on the impegnativa, which helps to get the appointment sooner. You might be referred to an appointment with a gastroenterologist first and after waiting for that appointment, there might another wait time for the actual exam itself.
I have never had a colonoscopy privately in Italy though I am sure it can be done. You might also want to anticipate the procedure and have it done while you are still in the US, if it's just routine (and your insurance will allow it.)
I had understood that the OP was scheduled for a routine test as part of series of regular, preventitve tests that are very common in the US as part of a healthcare package provided via insurance. Obviously if he has a serious condition already diagnosed then he will be able to get care the care he needs in Italy. I wouldn't want anyone to think that such tetsts are simply not available. My initial comment was based on American friends who are used to extensive, annual check-ups in the US and were suprised to find that this is not available here unless you organise it all yourself privately.
Just as a follow up to this important topic, I have a question on Mozella's comment above. In my case, family history dictates time frames for this procedure. Normally, here in the states it is recommended every 6-8 years after 45-50 years of age. In my case with the lost of 3 uncles and my mother surviving after surgery, I am examined every two years. Had a doctor refuse the procedure because I had it done just 2 years prior, so I went to another doctor. (my life in question... not his) From one who has this procedure done every two years I can tell you that here in the states it is performed under anesthesia so there is no discomfort. The worst part is the night before in preparing for it.
So after that little missive, my question is...how is it performed in Italy...with or without anesthesis?
Ogni Viaggio Inizia Dal Primo Passo
With regard to Italy-Bound's question above, here (in the Veneto) it's performed with a sedative and there is no discomfort at all. I can't remember the name of the sedative. They do offer an anesthesia option once a month. I am used to going under in the US too and was concerned because previously in the US the sedative option never worked for me and I had a lot of discomfort. (I have had almost yearly colonoscopies since I was 7 years old.) I was set to have the exam under anesthesia at one point, I had to have major blood workups and a chest xray before they would approve me for the anesthesia. But then an emergency came up and I had not choice because the next anesthesia day was too far away. So they gave me the sedative and it was perfect, no discomfort at all and I was in a full-blown flare-up which makes the prep and the exam extremely painful. I have nothing but positive things to say regarding the care I have had here from the gastroenterology department.
Are colon cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases less common in Italy than in the United States? That might explain apparent differences. Presumably a colonoscopy isn't entirely without risk, and good medicine is all about balancing risks and rewards.
I had to wait about 4 months for an appointment in a public hospital. I live in Turin and had it done at the Valdese hospital in downtown Turin.
I have a family history of colon cancer and so when I turned 50, I asked my doctor to give me an "impegnativa" for a colonscopy. I was sedated, but no anesthesia, once it was over, I got some results right away and they sent the cytology reports at home. The worst part for me was drinking the 4 litres of laxative the night before......
I just had a client show me a letter from the regione that offered free coloscopy for men above a certain age just as they offer free paps every 2 years for the women. It is a routine exam and I belive you can be sedated or have anesthesia depending on where you get it done.
Io sono ancora qua
eh già
I agree with this statement except when it applies to me!
This was said with tongue in cheek, however there is a real side to this respectful disagreement. When you have had 1st line relatives die because of this disease, and friends die when just having a colonoscopy within the past 18 months, it does not matter a lick what a doctor thinks. Especially when they espouse it's "good medical practice and balance. I had a doctor once who refused to order the exam because I just had one 2 years prior. Just went to another explaining the history and had the test within 4 days. They can play with someone elses life. I would consider the inability to acquire the test in Italy as "the way they do it" and accept it without any kind of comment one way or the other. If one chooses to move to Italy under their own volition, and while everything was under their control without outside influences....then live with it, because you knew going in. Does not mean you have to accept it. I would consider the $3500 every two years to fly back to the states and have it done, just the cost of my decision. However, it appears that it is not a problem at all. And living with a four month wait as a precautionary exam just requires better planning. And now for free for us over 21......
even that much better.
Ogni Viaggio Inizia Dal Primo Passo
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