I had a colonoscopy today

[edward]

When my daughter had hers, the nurse said they use CO₂.

They may have been covering for the fact that they used a CO₂ fire extinguisher.

 

[dlgoff]

Today I went to my doctor for a follow-up. Toward the end of the appointment she mentioned that she was glad I went through with it knowing I had concerns with the clean-out procedure. I said, "Me too. Do the pics look like I was clean enough?" She said "Yes", so I informed her that I felt justified with my concerns since I knew what my body could tolerate and told her, "I only took ½ of the Dulcolas tablets, 30% of the Maralax powder, and about 10% of the water." Her reply was that she was glad that I had went through with the procedure anyway. Then I asked, "So do I have the colon of a 30 year old?" She laughed with a big smile.

My revised clean-out procedure is not a recommendation for everyone.

 

[lisab]

Got mine today!

I went to a clinic that does this procedure dozens of times a day, so they knew what they were doing. They used propofol -- very effective! It's not an opiate so I wasn't too dopey when I woke up.

Doc said everything looks great, I don't need to come back for 10 years.

Excuse me now, I have to go eat everything I find (I haven't eaten since dinner 2 days ago!).

 

[Evo]

Got mine today!

I went to a clinic that does this procedure dozens of times a day, so they knew what they were doing. They used propofol -- very effective! It's not an opiate so I wasn't too dopey when I woke up.

Doc said everything looks great, I don't need to come back for 10 years.

Excuse me now, I have to go eat everything I find (I haven't eaten since dinner 2 days ago!).

Congrats, I have to go back in uhm, 5 months ago.

 

[dlgoff]

... I don't need to come back for 10 years.

:thumbs:

 

[Monique]

I'm surprised so many people are having it done, what are the criteria in the US for a screening?

 

[Astronuc]

I'm surprised so many people are having it done, what are the criteria in the US for a screening?

Age and family history. Generally, it's recommended to an initial colonoscopy in one's 50s. If it is a clean screen, then followup would be in 7 to 10 years. If there is a history of ancestors, e.g., grandparents, parents, cousins, then it is recommended frequent screening in the 50's.

•These groups recommend routine testing for people age 50 and older who have a normal risk for colorectal cancer.

http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/colonoscopy-16695

Removing polyps can help prevent colorectal cancer from ever starting. And cancers found in an early stage, while they are small and before they have spread, are more easily treated. Nine out of 10 people whose colon cancer is discovered early will be alive 5 years later. And many will live a normal life span.

But all too often people don’t get any of these screening tests. Then the cancer can grow and spread without being noticed. Early on, colorectal cancer doesn’t usually cause any changes that are noticed (symptoms). In most cases, by the time people do have symptoms the cancer is advanced and very hard to treat.

http://www.cancer.org/healthy/findc...escriptions/faq-colonoscopy-and-sigmoidoscopyCertainly by one's 60's or 70's, one should have an initial colonoscopy. My dad waited until he was symptomatic, and he ended up part of his colon (8 inches/20 cm) removed, then chemotherapy and radiation. The chemo caused neuropathy, and the radiation burned his bladder and internal organs. Not only was he ill from all that, but he developed a post-op infection.

The suffering he experienced was entirely avoidable if he had had a colonoscopy in his early 70s. He found out after the fact, that his mother's side of the family had a history of colon cancer, and some uncles and cousins had either died from it or had surgery/chemo.

 

[Monique]

Thanks for explaining and sorry to hear about your dad. My granddad dead of colon cancer, but I don't know what the circumstances were (poor family relations). In the Netherlands there is a two-tiered screening process, first everyone between the age of 55–75 is invited to do a stool test every two years, in case that there is blood detected a colonoscopy will be performed. I'm not sure what happens above the age of 75, maybe it is not considered a major cause of death when detected above that age.

 

[Astronuc]

I have one tomorrow.

The hardest part is smelling cooking food, or looking at the food I cooked last night, and not being able to eat. I'm really hungry!

The prep includes drinking 4 liters of solution in two phases - half tonight, and half tomorrow 6 hours before the procedure. This is a change from what I had done 8 years ago. Apparently, for some individuals, there is fluid at the entry of the ascending colon, and that has apparently obscured polyps or indications of problems in that region. The second phase is supposed to clean out some of the bile that is produced prior to the procedure.

 

[WWGD]

I have one tomorrow.

The hardest part is smelling cooking food, or looking at the food I cooked last night, and not being able to eat. I'm really hungry!

The prep includes drinking 4 liters of solution in two phases - half tonight, and half tomorrow 6 hours before the procedure. This is a change from what I had done 8 years ago. Apparently, for some individuals, there is fluid at the entry of the ascending colon, and that has apparently obscured polyps or indications of problems in that region. The second phase is supposed to clean out some of the bile that is produced prior to the procedure.

Focus on visualizing the fluid at the entry and the obscured polyps and your hunger will likely go away.

 

[dlgoff]

Apparently, for some individuals, there is fluid at the entry of the ascending colon, and that has apparently obscured polyps or indications of problems in that region.

I'm guessing it's the doctor's self preservation measure. Just sayin'

 

[Astronuc]

I'm guessing it's the doctor's self preservation measure. Just sayin'

Apparently it's now standard procedure for gastroenterologists.

 

[JBA]

Ha Ha! I had a colonoscopy today and you did not!

Did you get permission for this search from your colon before hand? If not, the results are legally invalid.

 

[ZapperZ]

I think we all should put our money where our mouths are. How about people uploading their colonoscopy photos? :)

Zz.

 

[JorisL]

I think we all should put our money where our mouths are. How about people uploading their colonoscopy photos? :)

Zz.

Next weeks photo contest ~_~'