OT: Colonoscopy

I think the prep stuff might have gotten better. The first one that I had about seven years ago seemed a lot more "violent" in its effect. The recent one was no big deal - it's just a lot of stuff to drink in a relatively short amount of time. The flavoring it came with wasn't that bad either.

If you have any concerns, make an appointment and go in and talk to them. My father had to have his colon removed and then was stuck with the bag. Colon cancer is the second most common form of cancer after lung cancer from all the smokers. "Regular screening, beginning at age 50, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer."

My previous colonoscopy had been an unpleasant experience because the doctor wanted to do it under minimal sedation due to other medical conditions. It was very uncomfortable and I felt every twist and turn. Some people don't seem to have a problem with it and say they enjoyed watching the screen and seeing the images! But for the most recent one, they had an anesthesiologist there and I didn't remember a thing after being asked to turn on my side and feeling that stinging sensation from the IV. Overall, a much more pleasant experience.

Been due for a few years, need to go in someday and get it done. My problem is clearing the calendar so I have nothing to do a day before or a day or so after that requires me to be away from a bathroom. I know the prep and aftermath is easier than it used to be, but I don't have a bathroom a few feet away for multiple days in a row that often...

Just MAKE the time. Get in the place. Do it.
#1in17 . . . #COLONCANCER
That one In 17 could be YOU. It was my brother.
My youngest brother (age 52) was cremated,
and my middle brother took his ashes to the Black Hills,
where he loved to camp and climb rocks.

The prep and procedure does not take days of bathroom time. Last colonoscopy I had was easy as the ones before. You have clear liquids for breakfast and lunch and then take your prep around 4PM or so. At that point you're running to the bathroom for the next few hours. You have your colonoscopy the next morning. Once your colonoscopy is done, there is NO bathroom time. You're clean as a whistle from the day before. You only need to take the ONE day off from work (the day of the colonoscopy) You take the prep as soon as you get home from work the day before the procedure. There are NO excuses that you can have to not make an appointment for a colonoscopy. The prep is worse than the procedure and even that isn't all the bad. Colon cancer is VERY preventable. Schedule a colonoscopy.

Tuesday night, I spent two hours in the can--no cramps, and the only pain was "innuendo",
And it was all better after the doc was done with the "roto-rooter".

I agree with the post above in that the prep doesn't start until 4 PM the day before your procedure. That evening you'll make a number of trips to the toilet. By the time you go to bed, you'll be cleaned out. You can call your medical provider to verify this and get answers to any questions or concerns you have. Some people go in to work after the procedures while other decide that they have earned a day off - it's your decision.

The tough part for me was not being able to drink anything the morning of the procedure, so the earlier they schedule you, the better. It doesn't take long and then you have peace of mind for years. Believe me, it's worth it!

As you read above, colon cancer is, unfortunately, very common. Everyone should follow the guidelines and be checked because, unlike many other cancers, it's an invisible and quick killer. Many people have died because they were too embarrassed or nervous to get it done. You've got many people here confirming that - it's No Big Deal.

It is possible to die of embarrassment. DON'T.

I had a colonoscopy about seven years ago. The procedure was no big deal at all. BUT, I kept throwing up the GoLytley stuff, or whatever it's called. Drank it slow, too, tried a straw, tried it really cold...didn't matter. My stomach kept saying "no more." So had to end up with OTC bottles of magnesium citrate and the laxative pills. Still ended up nauseated, but at least I kept it down. Hopefully by the time I'm due to have another one, they'll come up with something even better for the prep medication.

I had my first colonscopy about 5 years ago. Any time I think about it, I think about the utterly hilarious column written by Dave Barry regarding his colonoscopy. Take a minute and and have a good laugh about a serious medical procedure! After you're done laughing, go out and get'r done if you're due!

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/liv-c ... 28847.html

-Bill

I had one a few months ago. They gave me a kit with powered Gatorade (low sugar - stevia), chicken bouillon, lemon Jello mix and the PEG (polyethylene glycol - generic Miralax) They said to make sure the Gator Aide mix was cold. Didn't taste bad and was pretty easy to drink it all. Also some soothing butt wipes.
I told them I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. They put me on oxygen well before they started the anesthetic and monitored the O2 level the whole time.

NEVER, have bacon - eggs - English muffin & coffee tasted so wonderful to me..... as approx. an hour after my procedure ! I doubt I'll live the whole 10 years until I need my next C'scopy.

I had chicken noodle soup, (canned), and it was ambrosia.

chunkyfrog wrote:Just the time when one reconsiders the advantages of a padded seat.

I get to use a heated seat that has a bidet!

A heated seat? And the spray! Oh, you lucky little pooper!

I have a colonoscopy every year, thanks to Crohns Disease. For me, the key to surviving the prep is to use a straw and suck up each dose as fast as I can. And for the rest of that evening ... wear an adult diaper! It removes that worry about getting to the bathroom in time. As for the procedure, I love that deep sleep. I wake up starved, and we always stop for a special breakfast treat on the way home.

There is an ick factor attached to the idea of a colonoscopy, but if you're an adult, you have already experienced way worse things. Root canal, for example. Get your colonoscopy!