posted on December 8, 2007 08:04:04 PM new
For me the actual procedure was painless, the day before "cleansing" is not that bad has a discomfort rating of about 3-4. I had to drink this stuff and have tasted worse medicine.
I watched the whole thing on the Doc's little color Tv while she explained what was going on. Watched her snip a couple ployps with her little sizzors. Told me to come back in 10 years.
Go git er done!
posted on December 8, 2007 08:20:49 PM new
So you were awake huh.
Most people I've talked to don't remember very much about it, were in kind of a twilight sleep. I think that's what they use now.
Saw one done while in nurses training, long time ago. No IV so the patient was awake & seemed to have a bit of discomfort.
posted on December 9, 2007 03:27:11 AM new
Thank you for the information. My doc has been after me for 10 years and I have resisted so far (that nasty prep has me uneasy) but if it is on a scale of 3-4 I think I could stand it. I don't know why I resist, I have insurance.
posted on December 9, 2007 05:41:41 AM new
My HMO has a six month waiting list for colonoscopies. Recently they decided that was way too long and gave patients too much time in which to change their minds, so they farmed some of us out to another facility. I was lucky to get El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. I'd had a procedure done there before and it is terrific.
The bowel cleansing is not too bad; you've probably had worse cases of diarrhea. If you do the Trilyte/Colyte prep you probably won't have to drink more than half of the solution before you get, um, results.
The worst part for me was the sedation. I understand what they administered me, Versed (midazolam) and Fentanyl, is the usual combo. Versed is very powerful. Believe me when I say that you want to heed the cautions they give you about not drinking alcohol and not driving after the procedure. It is supposed to be a fast-acting drug. However, you may not clear it completely from your system so quickly. I didn't. I'm still feeling minor effects two days later. The immediate effect after the procedure is like a hangover, without the solace of having had all that fun getting drunk.
Colon cancer is a horrible lingering death, devastating to your family and friends. Get the colonoscopy.
posted on December 9, 2007 05:48:19 AM new
Oh, I forgot to mention the best parts.
1) They gave me a "souvenir" album at discharge, complete with pictures of my lovely colon. Interesting, but not the kind of thing you want to pass around at Christmas dinner.
2) As they were about to begin the procedure, the doctor did a last minute check, asking my name and what I was there for. I said, "I'm here to do a colonoscopy. No, wait, you're doing the colonoscopy and I'm getting it."
posted on December 9, 2007 06:29:45 AM new
Mcjane You can nap through the procedure, I'm nosey like to know how things are done, so I chose to stay awake chatting with the Dr and her assistants. The effects of what ever drugs they gave me wore off fairly quickly. I walked out of the joint on my own, My wife drove me home. I too was offered the pics but declined.
How uncomfortable you might be afterwards depends on what they find in my case not much.
posted on December 9, 2007 09:02:46 AM new
Everyone should get this done, and they should have no fear these days. The peace of mind you get when you've done it is worth the "business" you go through the day before etc.
I slept through mine; my husband, the retired scientist, watched his on the screen.
Two thoughts: The liquid you must drink can be refrigerated and is even easier to drink. (In past years, we had about a gallon of stuff to drink; no longer true.)
Ensure was on the list of approved things to drink the day before, so I drank two of them and partially froze the third in a bowl so I could eat it slowly like ice cream. Chocolate Mocha was my flavor of choice. Ensure is very good! (I was surprised.) And it's filling.
Don't be afraid! Get it done; we women who have yearly mammograms don't particularly enjoy getting them, but the relief afterwards, learning that we're okay, is profound.
_____________________
posted on December 9, 2007 09:33:39 AM new
Thanks for reminding me, I should probably get my second one sometime soon. I'll schedule one tomorrow (and also the eye doctor, while I'm at it).
After mine, I wondered what all the fuss is about. Whatever IV they gave me, my reaction was to stay awake and "not care" about what was being done to me. The video monitor was interesting; the doctor was pleased with all the pink and praised me for the thoroughness of my prep
posted on December 9, 2007 10:47:37 AM new
Thinking back about when I saw a colonoscopy:
It wasn't a colonoscopy, it was a sigmoidoscopy. Shorter procedure & less invasive.
There is no monitor screen & the shorter scope has an eyepiece where the doctor can view the sigmoid section of the colon. It's practically painfree & no sedation is needed.
There were four of us, student nurses, we all were asked to look into the eyepiece. I remember seeing a very inflamed area of the patients colon. That was what was causing his pain.
Polyps can be found anywhere in the colon, but most are in the sigmoid.
Student nurses, at least at that time, learned to start IV's on sleeping patients in the recovery room. Of course under strict supervision. Probably is still done today.
Well, yes and no. I scheduled with my endocrinologist, as I decided it was time for another stress test also, and I thought that perhaps I should "coordinate" those tests and any others he thought appropriate.
I'm on it, though. I've been feeling very mortal lately.
posted on January 9, 2008 04:10:04 PM new
Anyone who hasn't had a colonoscopy and is 50 or older - Get One Now!!!
Let me tell you why - my 79 year old mother-in-law had never had a colonoscopy in her life. She began feeling bad and went to a doctor (somthing else she hadn't done in years). She had a small spot of cancer on her bowel and it was removed. That was 2 years ago. She has had her checkups and her tests regularly but however the cancer came back with a vengance. She had surgery on Christmas Eve and has a colostomy bag for the rest of her life which won't be long. We are taking her to her oncologist tomorrow so he can tell her that the cancer spread to her liver and she has approx 4-5 months left of life at the most.
Compared to the alternative the prep and test itself are a snap.
posted on January 9, 2008 07:04:43 PM new
Cash, sorry, I can't see any reason to coordinate your stress test and colonoscopy. They're not going to do them the same day. They are mutually exclusive of each other. I tried the same tactic when delaying my colonoscopy, fooling myself into thinking I had to coordinate it with a mammogram. I woke up, scheduled it and it is DONE. Edited to add, if you have a high deductible in your medical insurance, NOW is the time to schedule expensive diagnostic tests.
[ edited by pixiamom on Jan 9, 2008 07:15 PM ]
posted on January 12, 2008 08:26:35 PM new
Had mine two weeks ago and was told to come back in 10 years - everything A-OK. I was also given a lovely two-view, full color photo as a keepsake. I was prescribed "MoviPrep" (apt!), which my insurance covered except for my $40 co-pay. I had to drink 8 oz of it every 15 minutes beginning at 3:00 PM and then again at 7:00 PM. It worked.
The next morning I was prep'd and don't remember a thing beyond that. I woke up in another room, ate a muffin, drank some juice, got dressed, and was out of there in about two hours and 15 minutes.
I slept off and on for the rest of the day and the next day was just peachy and off to work I went.
Don't put it off - it's not that bad!
posted on January 27, 2008 07:58:38 AM new
Well everyone I have news about my mother-in-law who had colon cancer. Bless her heart, she passed away at 1:55 AM this morning. She went very quietly and without pain or a great deal of suffering.
We thought at first that she would have 4-5 months but that was not to be. She passed away 33 days after her surgery for the colon blockage. She was talking to her favorite brother who had already passed away - opened her eyes-lifted her hand towards the end of the bed and quietly stopped breathing.
Her original cancer of the colon returned and became a fast growing, aggressive cancer in her colon and liver so therefore it was throughout her whole body. She left this world at the young age of 79 surrounded by her children and myself.
Helen was a little old southern lady and the last thing she said to us was "You'ins take care of each other", we promised we would and then she felt okay to go.
She was one of the lights of my life. When it came to mothers-in-law I hit the jackpot.
Please, Please, if you should have a colonoscopy then get one. If you need to be checked for any other form of cancer for whatever reason, please do it. A wonderful, loving, kind woman passed away today and my heart is broken. Please don't put your loved ones through this pain if you can avoid it with a simple test.
posted on January 27, 2008 08:30:05 AM new
So sorry to hear about your mother-in-law capolady, my condolences. Our DIL's father had symptoms for a year without seeing a doctor, and by the time he went, he had full blown cancer in his liver, it had started in his colon. He only lived 6 weeks after that. A lovely, vibrant man in his early 50's, what a waste! Our son and his family are still are very affected by his death almost 4 years ago.
I finally managed to get my husband to go for a colonoscopy last Friday, he didn't find the preparation bad at all. They actually gave him a general anaesthetic, I was really surprised.
posted on January 27, 2008 08:44:18 AM new
Sympathy to those who have lost family. I just visited my doctor and insisted I was past due for a colonoscopy. She checked and I had one last in 2000 so am scheduling one soon. I remember the first one I had about 20 years ago that was days of restricted diet and some really awful prep. I was awake and watched the video monitor. The one I had in 2000 was much shorter prep and I remember nothing about the procedure.
Anyone who is overdue and putting it off. DO IT! You will be glad you made the effort. -----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on January 27, 2008 08:48:00 AM new
So sorry for your loss capolady.
pmelcher - I hope you have scheduled yours by this time - if not, DO IT TOMORROW morning! No reason to resist - just one of those unpleasant things in life that must be done. My test was a little more unpleasant than most because I had some pain and the doctor informed me I had a "redundant colon" (a couple of feet longer than average) and had to have a another type of test to inspect those last few feet. Here I was 50+ and never knew I had a redundant colon! Anyway, it's done and I don't have to have another for a several more years. The feeling of dread in not having the test done and knowing you SHOULD, is much worse than the actual test itself.
posted on April 9, 2009 02:31:15 PM new
fluff: I agree with the comparison with taxes, just finished mine and would rather slumber through a colonoscopy, but the prep is another thing. I wish they would make that less grueling.
posted on April 9, 2009 04:19:07 PM new
We are the colon cancer capital of the world,outside USA,few people even heard of COlonscopy!
How about eating less red meat ?
*
Economic Reform act of Chairman Obama of the socialist States of America :
10 ounces of meat per month,half a yard of cotton per year per adult.
Hellilujah!
[ edited by hwahwa on Apr 9, 2009 04:57 PM ]
posted on April 9, 2009 07:28:28 PM new
If your physician is reluctant to prescribe this (especially cost-conscious HMOs) INSIST on it. My mom had a ratty primary care physician who refused to schedule a timely follow-up colonoscopy when asked and my mom paid for it dearly.
posted on April 10, 2009 07:56:05 AM new
My husband had his first one 6 years ago - it was a nightmare - his most recent one was so much better. The 'cleansing process' is much, much improved - and he wasn't out of commission for the rest of the day after the procedure.
It's getting better - haven't had to do mine yet. But take the advice here - if you're avoiding the procedure because of the discomfort and embarassment - colon cancer is much more painful, and deadly if not caught early, than a colonoscopy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on April 12, 2009 09:26:24 AM new
This test can be a life saver our 25 year old daughter is alive and healthy. Why because when she was 20 years old a local primary care doctor said maybe we should do this just to be sure you don't have Crohn's or anything else after some digestive problems.
She had a pre-cancer polyp of 5cm no other family history of problems etc. This is the kid that ate all the vegetables etc. You never know.
We were truly blessed and today she is an oncology palliative care RN paying it forward I believe. So even young people need to have it done if they are having health issues. Especially returning service members from Iraq if they are have digestive problems.
posted on April 12, 2009 10:31:17 AM new
Leads: My son was the same, he was having some digestive problems and the doctor suggest a colonoscopy. They found 2 large pre-cancerous polyps. These are not just caused by diet, but definately have a hereditory component. My father-in-law died of intestinal cancer. After my son's were found, my husband had a colonoscopy and he also has a large polyp.
Our daughter-in-law has 5 people in her immediate family who have died of colon cancer including her Dad and 3 grandparents. She has been have colonoscopies since she was about 28. We have encouraged our other kids to also get tested. Better safe than sorry. As an RN, I have seen the results of neglected preventative testing and care.
Caroline