Colonoscopy

E

El Paso Way

100+ Posts
This has probably been discussed before, but I would like to start another thread just to let others know my personal experience. I am 48 y.o. and lost my father to colon cancer 5 years ago. Before daddy died, he made myself and both my sisters promise we would go get screened asap. Well, my sisters went for theirs soon after his passing, and it seemed like I could never find the time to do it, you know, just to busy living. After being constantly hounded by the family, I finally set me an appointment for the colon screen, and I went a step further and asked to have an upper endoscopy as well. I'm not lying when I tell you that I was extremly nervous and yes, scared, leading up to the day. It seems like all I could recall were the stories I heard about how much pain I would be inflicted with. Of course, I had a million thoughts on "what if" somthing were found. Well, I had both procedures done last Monday and I am happy to report no issues with polyps. They did find a spot in my throat that the doctor thinks was caused by acid reflux, but medication should take care of that. I'm telling everyone my experience because I know there are alot of you out there that have the same excuses, apprehensions, doubts, whatever that I did. I'm telling you that you will not feel a thing when they sedate you. ( now if you choose not to be sedated, you are on your own) I don't remember any of the procedure, it was like a dream. If you have family history of colon cancer and in our mid forties, just go get it done.
 
I had to have a colonoscopy about a year ago, when I was 26. The worst part was the prep (night before): drinking lots of fluid solutions to "flush out your system." I was (barely) conscious for the procedure, but it was not uncomfortable. In fact, I was just conscious enough to watch the TV screen (same one the doc was looking at). I suppose it should be weird to look at the inside of your intestines, so maybe it was the drugs, but I thought it was really cool.
 
Timing of this post for me is almost scary. Got a phone call today that another of my cousins has been diagnosed with colon cancer. It runs in my family and I've been tested since I was 29. 2 of my cousins are fighting extremely uphill battles and neither is older than 37 years old.

Getting my appt scheduled asap as I've put it off longer than I should have....I'm 34!
 
My father and FIL both had one done last month (not together
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) and everything came out fine. Both said that the day before wasnt pleasnt but that the actual procedure wasnt bad. Im glad that I didnt have to bother either of them about getting it done. Too many people die to not have one done.....
 
Had my C-scope earlier this year and an endoscopy last year. The endo was fine -- I was completely out and don't remember a thing.

But they didn't give me enough of the happy drugs for the C-scope and it was quite painful.

But I lived to tell the tale.

This is one of the most important cancer screens you can have. The discomfort of the prep (a gallon of Gatorade mixed with a whole bottle of Miralax for me; others might get a delightful little product called "Go-Lytely") and the pain of the actual procedure if they don't zonk you out enough is a small price to pay for the knowledge that you have no problems. And if there IS a problem, early detection is your best friend.

And like others have said, if they give you enough happy drugs, you don't even know -- or care -- what they're doing to your backside!

So if you're older than 50, get your colonoscopy. Get it now. Colon cancer is a terrible way to go.
 
I had my first colonoscopy done a few weeks ago. As others have said, the worst part was the "clearing out" of the digestive tract. I had pills rather than the liquid. I've heard that the pills are easier, but they were godawful.

Actually the worst part for me was that I worried myself silly having convinced myself that I had colon cancer even before the colonoscopy. Turns out they just found 1 small polyp which they removed. I was very relieved.

Oh and I was out cold during the procedure. Trying to walk after awakening was fun.
 
I'd like to add that I made it a point to let my doctor know to put me completly under, but he said he could'nt, but that I would not remember much. When you go have everything set up, just let your doctor know to give you all the happy juice he can, and you will not know hardly anything. I didn't even remember watching it on the monitor. Texanne, I recieved the Go-Lyte, but it wasn't as bad as I had always heard. It tasted like salty water with maybe a little clorene. After you start drinking it, it takes about 30 or so minutes before you are running to the commode every ten minutes. Your bowles will start to settle a couple or three hours after you finish the wine. The part I hated the worst was it felt like I was peeing out of my ***. Sorry, I hope no ones eating supper right now.
 
Helpful hint from Napoleon:B-R-O-C-C-O-L-I !!!!

It helps on both ends.

1) Acid Reflex:

Something in broccoli helps kill the bacteria that produces the acid that leads to acid reflex. To be honest, I don't know if it is all broccoli or only raw broccoli, because when my acid starts acting up, I only eat raw broccoli.

Two or three days in a row, I just wash the stuff and start eating it. NOTE: It won't lower the acid that is already in your stomach, but it will slow to stop new/excessive acid from being produced.


2) The Back End:

Broccoli is one of the best vegetables, if not THE best, for helping to prevent colon cancer. The roughage and the vitamins (or something like that) have been proven to help reduce the risk of colon cancer.


BROCCOLI, it should be "what's for dinner".

suerte
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I had my 1st colonoscopy last month. I should have had it years ago since my Mom passed away at the age of 39 due to colon cancer, and I am 35 now.
I had put it off because I was worried about being put under and the prep, but after going through it, it was easier than I thought. The prep wasn't that fun though. I had to take 4 Dulcolax pills the afternoon before. No food whatsoever. Then I had to drink a 64 oz of Gatorade mixed with Mirolax(laxative). Shortly thereafter, "--it" kicked in. Not eating was the worst part for me. I was craving a steak in the worst way. The next day, went in, got the IV, they rolled me back, put me under, and not an hour later I was awaken by the nurse. No polyps. I'm good for another 5 years! I highly recommend this! It's an easy way to save yourself from one of the top cancers. Unfortunately for my Mom, she was just going in for an annual checkup when she was diagnosed. She passed in 1985.
 
I highly recommend both the procedure and reading Dave Barry's column on the subject:

http://www.miamiherald.com/548/story/427603.html

I'll share just part of this, because it, like a lot of Barry's writing, is just too damn funny while it contains the truth:

"I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called ''MoviPrep,'' which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of America's enemies.

I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation. In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor. Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons.) Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes -- and here I am being kind -- like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.

The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after you drink it, ''a loose watery bowel movement may result.'' This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground.

MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic, here, but: Have you ever seen a space shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet."
 
This is a pleasant thread, but really, really necessary-I broke down and had one after they started recommending it a few years ago. This is very easy to postpone, but you shouldn't do it if you are the right age, or in one of the risk groups due to a family member contracting the cancer.
No more needs to be said about the prep, Dave Barry is right on the money there. But at the actual test, they gave me an IV of sedative, and I was talking, normally, I thought, then I was still talking to the nurse, normally, I thought, and asked when the test would take place, and she said I could go home.
So you don't even know when you are appearing on candid camera. They found some suspicious polyps and removed them, but they were not cancerous. Apparently this is not real unusual, but I have to come back sooner than the normal interval next time. Happy days.
You should get this test, El Paso Way is correct, and should be applauded for having the courage to post about his experience.
 
Napoleon,

I wish I could use your Broccoli Therapy, but in addition to acid reflux, I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and broccoli -- especially raw -- is one of my main triggers. It will have me doubled over in severe pain for about four days.
 
I had to google the Dave Barry column but it is so funny I was crying.

He makes a good point, you can be put to sleep, but not paralyzed. You wake up like you took a nap. GET SCREENED. Matter of fact, you also want to make sure you don't need screening prior to age 50 secondary to other risk factors.

By the time you have symptoms of colon cancer it is likely too late and it might have spread beyond the colon.
 
For those of you thinking about getting any procedure done I would recommend talikng to your doctor about the medication you will take.
I have had 5 colonoscopies. I am less than 40 years old but Celiac Diseas(gluten intolerance) and colon cancer run in my family.
I will say aside from the prep of surgery the procedure itself is painless. Yes having uncontrollable bowel movements is bad. The "chilling efect" of it may be unpleasant. You may feel chilly from the lack of fluids. Plan your Appt. early and you will relieve a lot of the problems.
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I have Crohn's Disease and have had to have 6 or 7 colonoscopies over the last few years, and the actual procedure is always a breeze, but the prep never gets easier. In fact, it seems to be worse over the years simply due to the anticipation/knowledge of what I'm going to go through all night. blah.
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Brak, they gave me Versed when I had my colonscopy 8 years ago. Felt like I just took a nap for a few minutes, but I know it lasted longer. No memory of anything, no pain whatsoever. I was 55 and got a clean bill of colon health for 10 years.
 
hey atxbomber same here with me.

the procedure = breeze
the prep = no fun
 
Had mine done at 37 because I was having trouble digesting certain things. The prep sucks because you are so unbelievably hungry all day and all you can do is eat chicken broth and jello the day before. I do not remember the procedure because I was unconscious for it. The nurse injected me and said "night night!" 4 seconds later I was out cold. Woke up after the procedure and went to Arby's for a Big Montana.
One word of advice: Make sure you schedule the procedure for as early in the morning as possible. The sooner you are done, the sooner you can eat.
 
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