And it’s not just Colon Cancer they can find. On a routine colonoscopy they found I had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in my gut. I might never have known til it was too late. Which reminds me, I’m overdue for another one.

I had my first at 50. Yes, prep blows but it is one day.

I don’t get why folks get so freaked out on the procedure. I stayed awake during mine and watched it on the big screen. Doc snipped a few polyps, but as he came around the last turn there was a tumor midway between a baseball and softball in size.


I have completed exactly NO med school but even I knew that didn’t look good. Of course doc couldn’t tell me what he “thought”, had to do more tests and took a number of biopsies from various parts of the mass. Once the snake was removed, doc made a phone call and bumped the next CT scan appointment to get me in for one right after my colonoscopy. While I was getting scanned, doc was getting me an appointment at the oncology center and a surgical consultation.

Never in my life had I personally witnessed a doctor move so quickly, with such seriousness and purpose. His manner told me everything I needed to know even if he couldn’t use words. He thought I had cancer, and bad, and it needed to be dealt with quite expeditiously.


This was on a Thursday afternoon (9/26/2013). I left the colonoscopy appointment with an oncology appointment for Monday 9/30 and a surgical consultation on Tuesday 10/1. Got a call from doc the next day (Friday) who said the polyps and all biopsies came back as pre-cancerous. Evidently he had rushed the lab as well. With that news he cancelled the oncology appt but said it still needed to come out and told me to see the surgeon as scheduled.


Saw the meat cutter the following week, he had already reviewed the file and explained that he would perform a “Hemi-colectomy” this involved splitting me open midline, lower abdomen, remove about 1/3 of my colon (ascending) as well as the tail end of my small intestine and gall bladder along with supporting vessels and lymph nodes then attach the remaining colon to the cut small intestine. He said I would be in the hospital for 3-4 days barring any complications. Then asked if I had someone who could bring me to the hospital Thursday morning as he only operates on Thursdays.

Thursday? As in the day after tomorrow? Holy shit my head was spinning having gone from everything is fine to I might have serious cancer, to we need to cut you open and you better have your shit in order so you don’t leave your widow and kids not knowing when to pay the electric bill in the course of six days.


I told him I needed some time to make arrangements at work (not to mention contingency planning for worst case scenario) can we do it the following week. Very matter of fact, he gave me a stern look then reiterated the seriousness of it. I think he thought I might bail and procrastinate. After assuring him I would be back, it went on the schedule for Thu 10/10/2013.


I checked in, they prepped, me hooked me up to anesthesia, and the next thing I remember was waking up in recovery. First time I had ever been under general anesthesia and it was a pretty weird experience. Surgeon came to my room later that day to say surgery went well, better than expected actually. Original plan was to cut me vertically, through muscles with potential for herniation after healing due to my age and physical condition.

He was able to do the entire procedure laparoscopically, but did need to make a larger (4-5”) incision to remove the scrap parts. He was able to do it as a horizontal incision though and did not have to cut any muscle, instead separating the muscle tissue and pulling the stuff through so no concerns for post op hernia. He did not have the results from the lab, but said he would check in with me the next day when he got them.

Friday he stopped in, between the mass and 26(?) lymph nodes, everything was benign. He said he was surprised as it was the largest benign mass he had ever removed from someone. I went home a few days later, had no issues since, got my follow up colonoscopy 5 years later (all good) and am due for #3 in a couple years.


So if nothing else, read and listen to this - IT ISN’T THAT BAD, MAN UP AND BEND OVER, IT JUST MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE!

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Yes, everyone over 50 should have a colonoscopy.

Based on cancer.org, the age for establishing a base-line is 45; 50 is past the recommended time to get your first one. If one has family history of any cancer, I'd personally recommend 40. Mother had breast cancer in 1978. I was well past the recommended age for getting a colonoscopy when I had mine 5 years ago. Luckily, my first one turned up much of nothing...I think a very small, benign polyp that was excised. Scheduled to see my Gastro doc at the end of this month. Yaaaaaay.......

I am recovering from stage 2 colorectal cancer. The first surgery cut it out and put me on an ileostomy bag for 8 months. Second surgery reversed the ileostomy. You do whatever it takes to find this cancer early.

I had my 4th a few weeks ago.
While the prep is the worst part, it isn’t all that bad and gets better each time. The ones I had were the size of a small Red Bull and tasted like one with salt added. Then I had to drink 5 glasses of 8oz. water over the next few hours. Rinse, repeat.
The procedure itself is nothing, completely out, and you go eat a good meal and feel great afterwards. My last one five years ago found one polyp, benign, so I was expecting more as I age. None this time so good news.
Knowing all is well inside or that they caught something early, before it was a real problem is great to know and a relief.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 220-9er,

I’m burying one of my best friends and business partner this Friday - he was 45 and diagnosed with colon, rectal, and liver cancer six years ago - at age 39. He passed away a week ago Tuesday.

Colonoscopy and the prep is bliss compared to what this poor guy went through. Zero excuses not to do it when it’s time. I did my first one at 45. I’m 48 as of July.

MDS

I get my fourth next year. The prep is far better now than it was when I got my first one.

And it’s still the best sleep.

quote:

Originally posted by tiwimon:
Good timing on this thread - I turn 50 this month, doctor last annual checkup said you need to get it scheduled but since then had been on the fence about having it done anytime soon - I'll take it as a sign

Funny. I don't remember having a choice in the matter (scheduling that is). I'm on the 5 year plan due in 2023. I think I will try to go without the versed as I don't have anyone that can easily wait and drive me home.

The prep kinda sucks since it pretty much wipes out my microbiome for a week or so. But the fasting part is easy.

Look up Dr. Pran Yoganathan. He has some good ideas about gut health.

I've had 2 and I am 38., along with 4 endoscopies and several other less than desirable procedures.

Man up and get it done when its time or don't be bitching when ya ass got cancer, literally.

Ain't no worse than a good bag of Taco Bell, and you get that aforementioned damn nice nap as well.

I turned 50 this year. My PCP ordered my first one this coming Oct. 12. Doc said the new recommended age now is 45. Im schedule first thing in the morning at 0700. Not looking forward for the prep. Im diabetic. Im sure my body will go crazy looking for an actual food to consume. I was instructed to take some electrolyte drink and some clear liquid supplement up to some point. I hope GI dont find anything abnormal. Only thing that concerns me is that in the recent months, I started experiencing constant diarrhea (on and off), especially when my sugar drop. I regularly go #2 at least 4-5 times in the morning, before noon time, everyday. No bloody stool ever. So I would like to know what the GI doc would say after the procedure.

I got a notice that I'm due for another one, and I should call & make an appointment. It's been laying on the desk for a few weeks. My wife keeps reminding me, but I've been hoping the notice will "fall" off the desk into the shredder.

quote:

Originally posted by Ironbutt:
I got a notice that I'm due for another one, and I should call & make an appointment. It's been laying on the desk for a few weeks. My wife keeps reminding me, but I've been hoping the notice will "fall" off the desk into the shredder.

Given your SigForum name, I suspect you won't have any problems with this at all.

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:

quote:

Originally posted by tiwimon:
Good timing on this thread - I turn 50 this month, doctor last annual checkup said you need to get it scheduled but since then had been on the fence about having it done anytime soon - I'll take it as a sign

^^^^^^THIS! I have achieved my goal by starting this thread....I was hoping to encourage someone that was on the fence....thank you tiwimon.... good luck....it’s really not horrible

Thanks - it definitely worked, I placed call with my doctors office this morning for a follow-up blood test now that I dropped the weight and also mentioned getting this done - so its game on now! Reading the other posts sure keeping me motivated on the follow through. Best of health to all

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
I'm about 10 years away from having to get one. Hope they perfect other methods by then. It would be awesome if a dog could just smell my ass.

I heard some people use gerbils. lol

Seriously though, I had a colonoscopy last year. Came back negative for problems. Was told to eat more fiber.

Don’t delay, no good reasons to do so. I just had my third one, I’m 67. The very first had a couple of samples taken, clear-no problems and the last two wear clear.

The previous prep was uncomfortable and somewhat problematic. In discussion with the doctor’s office about the upcoming exam, they offered taking an extra bottle of the magnesium citrate prescribed as part of the clean out regimen. To my experience that made a lot off difference. Hope that helps, but get the exam scheduled and done!

Yeah, you really need to carefully weigh whether it’s worth the risk of dying from anesthesia versus dying from colorectal cancer. It’s pretty close to six of one/half a dozen of the other.

“Each year in the United States, anesthesia/anesthetics are reported as the underlying cause in approximately 34 deaths and contributing factors in another 281 deaths, with excess mortality risk in the elderly and men.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697561/

“It is estimated that 52,980 deaths (28,520 men and 24,460 women) will be attributed to colorectal cancer this year. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States for men and women combined. It is the third leading cause of cancer death in men and the third leading cause of cancer death in women.”
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-...al-cancer/statistics

I had no plans to get a colonoscopy, but that all changed last year when my brother called me and told me he had stage 4 colon cancer. My brother is only 18 months older than me. So, at 54, I went in and got a colonoscopy, and they found a couple of small polyps. I'm absolutely certain it saved my life. My BIL also went in because of my brother, and they discovered several large, pre-cancerous polyps.

The colonoscopy prep wasn't nearly as bad as what my brother has had to endure for the last year.

Get one. It could save your life.

I had a clean one at 50 and, with no family history, was a candidate for the Cologard at 60.

Sigfreund -

Thanks for making my day - LOL !!! That was fantastic.

MDS

If you do it without anesthesia, it's a 20 minute procedure. If you go under, it's a two hour minimum thing as they have to put you under, wheel you around, let you wake up, hold you for an hour for observation, etc. I tell men to forgo the sleepy gas. It does not "hurt" beyond embarrassment of someone shoving a metal snake up your ass while farting and leaking Gatorade slime. Just know that for all your embarrassment, whomever is driving the snake has seen a few thousand assholes just as gross as yours and many far prettier. Better to share a few tired asshole jokes with the doctor/techs while doing the procedure and get the hell out right after than get put to sleep and not know what the heck went on. Plus since it's all on live camera, it's actually pretty cool to watch as long as you can get over typical "manly man thinking" that there's a metal snake being driven by some possible pervert straight into your asshole.

As for the snake camera. No there's no pain or real discomfort whatsoever. The camera snake is about as thin as a number 2 pencil and everyone has taken shits FAR thicker in diameter so it aint turning you into a loosy goosy San Fransisco bathhouse glory-hole participant. Once it's in, it's so thin you don't feel much of anything around the ol' butthole. So no you aren't going to accidentally find some hidden asshole pleasure and pop a boner because of the metal snake in your ass, even if you are into that sort of thing.

The only real discomfort is that the snake discharges water ahead of itself to rinse off areas for viewing and to provide continuous lubrication for the entire 4-6 feet it goes into you. No you don't feel the snake or "anything" inside you beyond feeling-bloated pressure, so physically, you can't feel the snake if it only in 6 inches or 5 feet. This continual fill up of fluid and air from the camera snake, makes you feel like your bloated with food/gas and want to fart/poop REALLY bad (imagine right after a huge dinner at the local buffet, but you refuse to fart because your not near a bathroom, and it feels like more than just gas might come out) but because your asshole remains tight around the tube, doesn't automatically come out unless you will it too.

Of course, in your mind, since it's embarrassing to fart and possibly blow chunks all over some person's hands near your ass, you will try to hold it in (your brain says "I'm got to shit NOW because I feel all the poop in me!" even though there's nothing actually there but some air and water/slime).. Ha, good luck with that, just let it blow continuously! For one thing, by continuously letting it go, the colon-clear Gatorade will come out a little at a time instead of explosively and if you try too hard for too long it will come out regardless of you trying to hold it in. Better a continual dribble than a blast for the unlucky guy who's hands and face are closest to your stink-hole. BTW, if you did the colon-clear Gatorade properly, it does not stink at all. It's just a runny colored liquid (like thick green Gatorade in my case), and no it isn't full of poop chunks as long as you followed the colon-clear directions! And since your asshole is so lubricated, farts will come out as angry hisses rather than loud French horn toots.

Once the doc gets the snake out, you wipe your ass, get dressed and can immediately get the fuck out so you don't have to have further conversation with the people who just raped you with a 5 foot metal snake! Do you really want to wake up wondering if the guy/gal checking up on you after you wake up secretly made fun of your asshole (or worse yet, found it sexy and attractive!) while you were asleep? So just stay awake during the procedure and you'll know for sure!

Yeah, I'm being a bit snarky, but really, it is totally not worth getting put to sleep for "mental" embarrassment reasons. I talked to the doc the entire time during the procedure and he was MUCH more appreciate than I about me being awake for the procedure. He could instantly show on the TV screen and discuss me any concerns he found instead of trying to explain it to some groggy just-woke-up person. He also unequivocally stated that he was much more gentle and slower on awake patients than sleeping patients because awake patients want to see and know clearly what's going in their asshole on the TV screen (which BTW is not even near as gross as some of the anal porn out there!). Also since they're awake, the patient helps maintain the best body positioning without the doctor have to muscle, move, and hold a heavy ass sleeping limp body in position. Most disturbingly about sleeping patients is that he stated his trained eyes/hands don't need to go near as slow and sleeping people aren't going to complain about how fast and roughly he puts that camera up their ass..