O.T: My first colonoscopy done!

Paladin · April 26, 2010, 12:27:27 PM

Well, after some mysterious symptoms I finally went in for my first colonoscopy (I'm 49). We were fairly weirded out not by the procedure but the fears of what they may find but aside from a very minor issue I have a clear bill of health. Since this was not a screening but was for diagnostic purposes to find the troubles we were thinking maybe I'd be selling the bus and lot's of other things and making plans for a different kind of life but I'm clean and clear!!! The laxatives were the hardest part but eating a full meal today is celebration.

Now if we can put a finger on what is wrong I'll be happy but at least I know it's not that.

Mike, etc, you may move this if you see fit or delete it after an hour, I just wanted to share the news.

-Dave

fe2_o3 · April 26, 2010, 12:45:12 PM

Congrat's on the clean exhaust system. Did you ask for the video? They wouldn't give me mine.
Hope they figure out what's wrong soon. I think I know why it's called a practice.
Diagnosis can be a pain in the a$$ for people as well as buses, but it's worth knowing...Good luck...Cable

roadrunnertex · April 26, 2010, 01:32:28 PM

Folk's colon cancer is nothing to ignore.
Please get that colonoscopy done even if you might think nothing is wrong with me.
Leave your modesty at home and get your exam done.
My self I have to have a colonoscopy done every year due to a ulcerated colon condition which is under control with medication but it still requires a inspection every year.
Nuff said

jlv

Paladin · April 26, 2010, 02:26:10 PM

I agree, don't let it slide although I can totally understand someone feeling that way. The nurse told me of a 26 year old female who had bleeding for some time and other symptoms. She put off going in because she as scared until it was too late for her....TWENTY SIX YEARS OLD!
If anyone hasn't had it done I'll tell you that the prep is far worse than the exam but you're at home so it's no big deal. I actually kept this months BCM magazine by the toilet and kept it open. I just continued my reading every visit I made to the bathroom and pretty much read it cover to cover. (Is that some sort of testimonial?)

Fasting for 24 hours and taking two doses of 4 tabs of Dulcolax plus a bottle of nasty tasting citrate of magnesium the night before did the roto-rooter cleansing and was the worst part. I went in and they had me take off my clothes, don the gown etc and then they began taking the blood pressure, temp etc and started a lactated ringers iv. After that they wheeled me into the room for the procedure where I talked to the doctor for about 2 minutes. They had me roll over to my left side and they began the air flow to my nasal tube oxygen supply. The nurse began the iv of the fun drugs and I was awake for less than a minute and that's all I remember pretty much until the ride home, no sweat!
The entire process for me was about 15 minutes though some take up to an hour if they need to snip polyps etc.

This is FAR preferable to the alternative of having cancer go undetected! By the time they catch it you may be in some real trouble!

fe2_o3 · April 26, 2010, 03:05:17 PM

Much like you I prepared to spend the day before in the throne room. I took the door off the master bed room and turned it around so I could see the TV in the mirror from my perch. The only drawback was the writing was backwards and everyone was left handed, but the remote worked fine.
Again; Best of luck...Cable

Len Silva · April 26, 2010, 03:15:28 PM

While rare, there CAN be complications. I've had several colonoscopies over the past few years and the last one was the colonoscopy from hell. On the second day after my last one I started feeling dizzy. I passed out and woke up on the floor, all alone in the house. Managed to call 911 and got to the hospital in time. I nearly bled out from a polyp removal that started to bleed. Took 6 units of blood and five days in the hospital, plus a second colonoscopy to repair the damage.

That was nearly two years ago and I'm scheduled for another one fairly soon (I have colitis), and I am very afraid.

I know that they are necessary and a lifesaver, but if you have any rectal bleeding following a colonoscopy, get thee to a hospital right now.

Len

5B Steve · April 26, 2010, 05:15:02 PM

Even tho it is "EXIT ONLY" there isn't anything better than a clean bill of health!

Steve 5B...

JackConrad · April 26, 2010, 05:25:59 PM

Glad you had a good report. I had one last year after my brother had one and they found colon cancer during his. He had surgery and has been clean since then. Mine was negative. Not as bad as I had expected. Although, definately not my favorite thing, I consider them absolutely neccessary. Just consider it a part of your PM (Preventative Medicine). Jack

Runcutter · April 26, 2010, 06:05:19 PM

When I had mine, the doctor told me that colon cancer is one of the easy ones to fix early, by snipping off any polyps. Granted, the prep wasn't fun, but knowing that I don't have to go back for over 5 years is great. My wife is on a 2-3 year cycle.

The other thing this thread brings to mind is another result of the colonoscopy. When I talked to the doctor about bad heartburn, we found it was acid reflux - and he scheduled an upper endoscopy. Found a change in the lining of the esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. Seems like the bottom part of the esophagus thinks it's part of my colon, the cells changed. I'm now on a daily medication (less than $1.00/day), to keep it at bay. Without the colonoscopy, and the discussion, I may have been a candidate for esophageal cancer. I had another one this year, and there are no changes. So, indirectly, I think that first colonoscopy prolonged my life (as long as I'm still careful crossing the street).

I do wish, though, that I'd had them both at the same time - so I didn't have to prep twice in a short period. So, if heartburn/reflux is an issue --- that may be worth an investigation too.

When I was preparing for the colonoscopy, the nurse giving me the instructions actually said "I hope things come out OK." I didn't know how to respond to that one.

Arthur

busnut104 · April 26, 2010, 07:36:43 PM

I just had my third one. Everything can out a ok. How I'm eating a lot of fiber to keep things moving. I have one every third year, due to family history.

JackConrad · April 27, 2010, 05:03:19 AM

Quote from: Runcutter on April 26, 2010, 06:05:19 PM
When I was preparing for the colonoscopy, the nurse giving me the instructions actually said "I hope things come out OK." I didn't know how to respond to that one.
Arthur

I decided that there should be a little levity, so right before they put me out, I told the Doctor "As much as I have been wiping the last 24 hours, you should have a nice bright red bullseye to aim that tube at" The nurse just about lost it. Jack

Hartley · April 27, 2010, 09:16:23 AM

Drinking the Gallon of Antifreeze wasn't much fun for me the last time when I had the surgery to fix a leak. Ah well they screwed that up anyway so I only have to go back to have my colon reattached maybe this year hoping they don't nearly kill me again.
( Surgeon dropped a stitch, I went septic and downhill from there.)

The odd part was that the colonoscopy(s) prior to surgery were clean but a
small fistula (channel had formed between the colon and bladder) that was
only visible on a CT scan. ( well other than passing gas out the wrong exit tube!!)

Before all of this I always felt better after getting through the colonoscopies thanks to the removal and cleaning of polyps. Don't know if it was the flush out or what.

For anyone who hasn't been checked it is worthwhile to head off problems later on.

Dave...