I’ve been fortunate enough to have had five of them. Wondrous experience it is. Always makes me think of

https://youtu.be/W2gABYTmXos

I start chemo round 7 of 12 on Monday, July 8th.

Diagnosed with Stage 3B colon cancer. 1 foot of bowel/colon removed.

I PERFORATED MY COLON AND ENDED UP WITH SEPSIS --- HOSPITAL STAY of 2 WEEKS!!! THEN, BLOOD CLOT IN MY LEG, ANOTHER 2 WEEKS AT REHAB...

Get the freaking colonoscopy!!! CATCH IT EARLY!!!

James

About a year ago, at my annual Medicare exam, my GP told me that I was due for another colonoscopy. I told her that I wasn’t going to have anymore colonoscopies.

She didn’t fuss at all – just gave me a poop kit, and said that their accuracy was much improved in recent years. Same this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that an annual poop kit submission was as good or better than a colonoscopy at 5-10 year intervals.

And colonoscopies aren’t without hazards. The wife of one of my friends suffered a punctured colon as the result of a colonoscopy.

“…The high-sensitivity fecal occult blood tests FOBT, include the sensitive guaiac test and FIT. Each has markedly improved detection rates of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas than the old standard guaiac FOBT. Modeling studies have shown high sensitivity FOBT to be as effective as a colonoscopy if done every year…”

www.healthline.com/health-news...lon-cancer-032015#13

quote:

Originally posted by James in Denver:
I start chemo round 7 of 12 on Monday, July 8th.

Diagnosed with Stage 3B colon cancer. 1 foot of bowel/colon removed.

I PERFORATED MY COLON AND ENDED UP WITH SEPSIS --- HOSPITAL STAY of 2 WEEKS!!! THEN, BLOOD CLOT IN MY LEG, ANOTHER 2 WEEKS AT REHAB...

Get the freaking colonoscopy!!! CATCH IT EARLY!!!

James

A colonoscopy caught my rectal cancer at stage 3 three and a half years ago. The doctor said if I'd waited another couple of months the tumor would have gotten into my lymph nodes and I would have been stage 4 and the cancer would have spread to other organs and my outcome would have been far worse. I never will complain about prep ever again.

Jim

Had surprep (sp?) for my first and while the taste was absolutely horrible it was effective. For some reason the same GI subscribed the gallon of crap the second time. I got down a little better than half and still hadn’t gone to the bathroom when I gave up and went to bed. Woke the next morning and had to cancel the appointment because I wasn’t prepared. Get to do it all over again next week with surprep.

Just had my first one done today. The prep sucked...I mean, who really likes the night of 1000 waterfalls?

But, that was the best nap I’ve had in years. All in all, I got good news...but I’m in no hurry to do it again anytime soon.

Luckily my DR had a sense of humor when I said I was in for a tonsillectomy...he just laughed and said we were taking the long route for that one.

The colonoscopy is nothing the prep is terrible.

quote:

Originally posted by kramden:
The colonoscopy is nothing the prep is terrible.

I had my first a couple years ago. My thought at the time was that it tasted like turpentine and Double Bubble bubble gum. But that’s just the beginning of the fun.

If you can’t afford a doctor, go to an airport. You’ll get a free x-ray and breast exam. And, if you mention Al Qaeda, you’ll get a free colonoscopy.

I’m surprised this thread is still going strong after a year. To make sure I schedule my next one timely, I have it already programmed into my calendar. While I hate the prep, James in Denver is right that the prep is better than cancer. Best to everyone.

You know, I have heard this sucks, and now I believe that it sucks more than I thought. I have my first one scheduled in October. October 21st as a matter of fact. It was the earliest I could schedule that fit my schedule, and not only that, but I go in on the 23rd for a Ureteroscopy. I have another kidney stone, it's not bugging me now, but it's too big to pass on it's own so I have scheduled for that to be done, if I can make it until then!....so.... looks like an extra fun week for me!

Damn, not looking forward to either one of them, especially the colonoscopy. At least I know what to expect from the ureteroscopy, which isn't fun at all.


ARman

The stuff I was given to drink had me on my knees gagging and retching.

Maybe I'm the outlier: I'll say the prep wasn't horrible at all.

Stool softener to start, then a mix of Miralax and Gatorade the afternoon and late night (very early morning) before.

The first "purge" was a little more, um, voluminousi than I had expected, but the remaining trips down the hall weren't bad at all. Urgent? Yes. Horrible? No.

The procedure itself... heck, I never even knew it was taking place. The anesthesiologist evidently did a great job! I heard the nurse announce the "time out," looked at the clock on the wall, and it was lights-out.

Some time afterward, the GF and the nurse were waking me up and handing me my clothes. Easy, breezy.

I wouldn't suggest doing it often, but I darned sure wouldn't discourage anyone from having it done. Schedule it for a Monday, "camp in" at home over the weekend and binge watch some TV/movies. No sweat.

The prep was bad enough, but the part that really bothered me was waking up afterward with doctor sitting there, smoking a cigarette, with that far away, dreamy look in his eye.

PlenVu isn’t so bad.

Just FYI...the new guidelines state that one’s first colonoscopy should be no later than age 40. That is correct...40 years old.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
Just FYI...the new guidelines state that one’s first colonoscopy should be no later than age 40. That is correct...40 years old.

I AGREE!!! While not a doctor, I totally recommend that.

If I would have gone at 40, I wouldn't have perforated my colon due to the cancer at 51.

James

Anyone getting ready for a colonoscopy, start early, not the night before.
For a few days before soups, broth, jello etc.
No big meals. It makes the prep a lot easier.
Due to diverticulitous, I've had 5 so far.