Serious Question for everyone

[chalet05]

I need to do this, have never had one done yet. Hope my doctor uses the gatorade recipe.

OMG, if it tastes like gatorade, I'll never ever do it - that makes me gag.

Beth, I used the blue gatorade flavors - nothing like the original.

[judi]

So many people fear having a colonoscopy, but it isn't that bad. Since I have celiac disease I have to have one every three years. Here's my prep method - the last time I had the pills and had to drink gatorade, which is not my favorite but hey, it's for a good cause. I set up my bathroom with a little portable heater, a pillow, magazines, and my laptop and cell phone. Believe me, someone will call you at the most inopportune time to see how you're doing. If I try to go to bed I find it exhausting to have to keep getting up to use the bathroom. By 3 am or so I can go to bed and get some sleep. It's ok to be tired the next day - someone else will be driving, and when you check in you are put in a bed and you can sleep. Before you know it the procedure is over and you don't remember a thing about it, and someone has covered you with a warm blanket. You sleep off the drugs and then go home and eat as you please. Later you find out if there were polyps (which are removed during the colonoscopy), or that your guts are fine and the doc didn't have to remove anything. It's nice to know that you're trouble free (in that department anyway) for a few more years. So ladies fear not, and take care of yourself the way you deserve to be taken care of.

[dpf]

I’ve been thinking about this thread and dug it up. Tomorrow I have another colonoscopy. The doctor who performed my procedure last time is no longer practicing at our local clinic. In fact, she is at the hospital where my son works about 150 miles away. I’m pretty sure the doctor who I have tomorrow is a sadist. Last time I had to go through this is was a breeze. Had to have clear liquids the day before and started taking pills at 4:00 pm every 15 minutes for an hour and then same routine again a 9:00 pm. Boom, I was done. Went in for the procedure at 7:00am and was home before noon. This guy had me on a soft diet yesterday and taking pills at 10pm and 12 am last night…..let me tell you…didn’t make for a restful sleep! Now I’m on clear liquids all day today and between 10 and 12 tonight I have to drink 64 ounces of Miralax (I wonder when he thinks people sleep) and then tomorrow morning I have to drink another 24 ounces. I don’t have the procedure until 12:15. I should be damn good and cranky by then. I’m already hungry.

Has anyone else had this regiment? I considered going to my son's and have Dr. Jill do it, but DS wasn't overly impressed with the idea of his roommate meeting his mom while she was prepping for a colonoscopy! Plus I would have had go up today and not come home until Tuesday.

[Carolinagal]

No Pat both times it seemed simplier, but each were different too. I don't remember pills, but many I know have mentioned. Think all drs do different and from time to time the procedure changes with your same dr.

This does sound like over much, but maybe he's had some who didn't do all they should have in the past and that I'm sure is bad for him and nurse

It'll be over and done soon, I agree I would be the grumpiest of bears by procedure time, don't deprive me of food too long.!!! Wishing you well , just do it and try not to dwell to much on him being a SADIST, (I'm thinking he might be too)

Thinking of you ,
CArol

[retiredhappy]

I will NEVER have one. Had a dear friend have one and the doctor "accidentally" knicked the colon. They released her home and within 24 hours she had a life threatening fever and ended up in the hospital for over 30 days on life support. they had to do a temporary colonoscopy and if it doesn't heal properly, they will have to remove part of her colon.

I will admit that I'm not much in favor of a lot of testing unless you have a family history or are having health problems that would need testing.

[Bethers]

I will NEVER have one. Had a dear friend have one and the doctor "accidentally" knicked the colon. They releasThat ed her home and within 24 hours she had a life threatening fever and ended up in the hospital for over 30 days on life support. they had to do a temporary colonoscopy and if it doesn't heal properly, they will have to remove part of her colon.

I will admit that I'm not much in favor of a lot of testing unless you have a family history or are having health problems that would need testing.

I'm with you Karen, on testing and on all the unnecessary drugs prescribed that don't fix the underlying reasons, just mask problems.

That said, Pat, I feel for you.

[Redetotry]

Pat, I think I would Google what the standard prep is for the procedure, and if you are comfortable with the other doctor I would definitely go to her. Also, you are paying, I would state I wanted an early appointment time and if they couldn't do it, go somewhere else.
I'm with Beth and Karen I don't have them. The last check-up I had, the PA was so frustrated I declined all the tests she wanted to order that she didn't really check the things she should have. I am allergic to almost all medications and I figure if I get a serious disease I would never survive the treatments. Before when I was only allergic to only a couple of things I was in the hospital they and they ignored me when I told them what I was allergic to and administered one of the drugs. I could hear them asking if anyone could get a pulse and if any of my family was there Another time I was having surgery and they came to give me a shot, I asked the nurse if it was this drug that I was allergic to and she turned and left the room. I had told them several times about the allergy, guess they don't believe the patients.

[Gentleladybear]

Family history is a great tool, BUT I never had diabetes in my family and my youngest daughter developed diabetes at 20. When it was found her blood sugar was around 600 and doctor said she could have gone into a coma. She immediately went on insulin and now 30 years later she is still doing just fine. NOW with no prior cancer in the family, my middle child has melonoma. It is very life threatening, so what I am saying is don't sit back saying well it has never been in the family so I am safe. Not sure how a doctor nicked the colon, but my doctor has done so many and I have had it done now 3 times, get passed the fear of the drink do it and get checked. These tests are done because so many people have been found with a problem when they had no idea they had a problem. This could save your life.

[Acadianmom]

I watched my Grandmother and my Father die from colon cancer. I don't like the procedure but I have it done. I had the first one 20 years ago and the doctor removed 5 polyps. There are 2 kinds of polyps, ones that never cause cancer and ones that can develop into cancer. Of course I had the ones that could cause cancer. I had a colonoscopy in January and I had one polyp so have to have it again in 3 years. Getting ready is the worst part.

Martha

[judi]

I agree with Martha. The prep is the worst part but it sure beats being treated for colorectal cancer. It's a terrible disease, and preventable. Even people without a family history get colon cancer. And rectal cancer. Not a chance I'm willing to take, so drink the drink or take the pills and drink water - what ever method works for you. But please, step up and be proactive about your health! No whining!

[monik7]

What Martha and Judi said!!!
Sandi

[Bethers]

I'm more proactive about doing things to prevent the things from happening. I refused to take statins and drugs to lower my triglycerides and did it all naturally. My diet and exercises are also such that will help with the things that cause a higher incidence of colon cancer. I'm not going to ask everyone else to give up their diets and sugar and processed foods - and prefer everyone not think I'm remiss in not getting some procedures. If I see a reason that I should get one - I will. And if, in the long run, something happens that proves me wrong - sobeit.

BTW - here are increased factors for colon cancer that people have control over (this is from cancer.org):

Certain types of diets: a diet that is high in red meats (beef, lamb, or liver) and processed meats (like hot dogs, bologna, and lunch meat) can increase your colorectal cancer risk. Cooking meats at very high heat (frying, broiling, or grilling) can create chemicals that might increase cancer risk.
Lack of exercise
Being very overweight (or obese)
Smoking
Heavy alcohol use

If you go to other websites you'll find much more detail on foods - but I picked one that no one can argue with.

There is also talk that when they remove the benign polyps during this procedure, it causes more polyps to grow in their place. They are studying this - as it could be dangerous if the ones replacing the benign ones end up being cancerous ones. So much is still not known. But so much of what our doctors do is not really preventative - which is where things really need to start in order for us to be healthy. Unfortunately, like with the cigarette industry - our food products get less and less healthy every year - and the companies making them have the money and power to keep them coming to us. It's interesting that the dyes and additives the big food companies use in the US are banned and not allowed in most of Europe - so they make the products more natural there.

Off my soap box.

[judi]

Beth, I agree with you about food and lifestyle! As for statins - I think they can be dangerous. We each have to make the best decisions for our selves regarding just HOW we will be proactive. It's clear that you have made informed decisions that are right for you. And I think that's the key to the whole thing.

[dpf]

Well my results are back. Two polyps and one was precancerous so it's back in three years.

[Liz]

Well my results are back. Two polyps and one was precancerous so it's back in three years.

Glad you got it done, Pat. Maybe they'll have a better/kinder prep in three years.