Your ‘simple’ procedure could turn into a nightmare

I like a bargain as much as the next guy, but there’s a two-for-one deal out there that I want NOTHING to do with.

That’s when you go in for ONE medical procedure… and end up needing a SECOND one.

Sometimes, it’s obvious, like when they botch the job and need to cover their tracks (hint: when they start throwing around the word “complication”).

But new research shows another one that’s not so obvious.

Some patients who innocently sign up for one procedure — one they THINK they need — end up in the OR for an unexpected second operation.

And while the first one is generally a choice, that second one’s a doozy.

It could be a medical emergency!

 

It’s ‘complicated’

The new study looks at a possible “complication” related to getting a colonoscopy, one of the most common cancer screenings in the country.

Docs will tell you that it’s an easy, in-and-out job.

They knock you out, check the trap, clean the pipes, wake you up, and send you home with a dull ache in your rear and a unique sense of relief.

“Well, at least that’s over with,” you’ll say.

But the new study finds that it might not be over after all.

In fact, it finds that having a colonoscopy increases the risk of appendicitis in the week after the polyp-hunting procedure.

That means that in the days that follow, you could end up with a swollen appendix – one that plumps up so much that it might need to be plucked out before it explodes right there in your body cavity.

They say that’s no reason to avoid a colonoscopy. And sure, sometimes you might need the screening.

But if you keep your trap door clean and clear, you’ll need to poke around inside of it a lot less often than you’ve been told.

Boost your intake of antioxidants (including selenium), and you can cut the risk of polyps by 40 percent.

And if you’ve got zero polyps for them to find when they go in, there’s a good chance that you won’t have to drop your drawers for another look for at least another decade.

That’s 10 years you don’t have to worry about losing your appendix, but it’s not 10 years without worry.

ANY medical procedure has these hidden risks, a.k.a. “complications.” And docs aren’t always going to mention them.

That is, unless you ask.

So, before you sign on the dotted line for anything — not matter how common it is — make sure that you find out what your risks are.

That way, you’ll know what you’re getting into… you’ll make a better, smarter decision… and maybe you’ll even get to keep all of your organs (even the ones they’ll tell you aren’t “vital,” like your appendix).