Colonoscopy ... give me good vibes

[jr/shotglass]

It's been four years, I believe. And I wasn't planning on getting another. But I was sitting in my boss' office about a month ago, and she said, "You know, you don't ever want your grandkids' first thought of you being that you didn't care enough to make sure you stuck around."

So I'm having one Tuesday morning. I've been obsessing over it. Tell me why I shouldn't. My dad had colon cancer, so there's that. I feel fine, so there's that.

It just feels like the next two days are going to be hell, what with the prep and then the procedure, and then maybe another week of uneasiness if/when they pull polyps and check them.

LIke I said, talk me down. Feel free to tell me I'm being a snowflake, even.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

It's been four years, I believe. And I wasn't planning on getting another. But I was sitting in my boss' office about a month ago, and she said, "You know, you don't ever want your grandkids' first thought of you being that you didn't care enough to make sure you stuck around."

So I'm having one Tuesday morning. I've been obsessing over it. Tell me why I shouldn't. My dad had colon cancer, so there's that. I feel fine, so there's that.

It just feels like the next two days are going to be hell, what with the prep and then the procedure, and then maybe another week of uneasiness if/when they pull polyps and check them.

LIke I said, talk me down. Feel free to tell me I'm being a snowflake, even.

My maternal grandmother died of colon cancer, so I have had a colonoscopy every five years for many years now. Preparation is indeed awful, you are basically power washing your digestive tract. But the procedure itself isn't bad. They give you some of the best drugs ever. Afterwards, you will be sleepy and hungry. They'll tell you if you had polyps removed very quickly. If they did, then they'll be biopsied and you'll learn in a week. I've had multiple polyps removed, all benign. I'm not telling you it's a pleasant experience, because it isn't, but it's not horrible.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Oh, I've had it before, Michael. I'm betting it's even less invasive than it was the last time. It's the other stuff. I hate waiting for the other shoe to drop, or not drop.

 

[ChrisLong]

It is better to know than to not know.
Day 1 is bad, the rest isn't so bad.
I've had several. Just do it.
Make sure they do an endoscopy at the same time (scope down the throat to check stomach and upper intestines). Adds another few minutes to the procedure. You won't feel anything.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

What did the doctors say four years ago about when you should return? If they said five years or more, you're probably OK. The good and bad thing about colon cancer is it's very slow-moving, so they build that into the equation when they plot your next visit. That said, b/c there are rarely symptoms until it's advanced, don't delude yourself into not going b/c you feel fine.

As for the prep, I haven't found it to be that bad. A good friend of mine who is a few years older than me puts it best: You know when you'll have to go. You won't **** yourself on the couch. And as Michael puts it, the drugs are great. You'll have the best nap of your life and it's only 45 minutes.

And as long as they are able to scrape the polyps, you'll probably be OK. It's when they're too big to take out that you've got a potential problem. Good luck and **** your brains out! :D

 

[jr/shotglass]

What did the doctors say four years ago about when you should return? If they said five years or more, you're probably OK. The good and bad thing about colon cancer is it's very slow-moving, so they build that into the equation when they plot your next visit. That said, b/c there are rarely symptoms until it's advanced, don't delude yourself into not going b/c you feel fine.

Yeah, they said five years or so. I'm holding onto that.

 

[Webster]

I mentioned it on an earlier thread, but Mrs. W had one scheduled and cancelled the appointment a couple of times. She was about to put off another appointment when someone she was a Zoom with sternly told her not to postpone. Long story short, she had the procedure, they found a small tumor (the doctor called it Stage 1/2) and it was removed. She’s been cancer free for a couple of years but we never would have known if she kept postponing the appointments.

 

[jackfinarelli]

The prep work for a colonoscopy is no fun at all; but once that is done, the rest is an easy glide-path back to "normalcy". It's an important diagnostic tool that really does not have a similarly reliable non-invasive alternative.

 

[I Should Coco]

If possible, get the prep pills that you drink with water instead of that nasty liquid.

And as others have said, no worries — once you get to the procedure it’s smooth sailing. Hope you get a clean result.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

If possible, get the prep pills that you drink with water instead of that nasty liquid.

And as others have said, no worries — once you get to the procedure it’s smooth sailing. Hope you get a clean result.

Excellent point here. My first prep was liquid and my second prep was just guzzling a whole bunch of pills. The latter was a much more pleasurable experience, as far as these things go.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Funny this is coming up now. I’m getting my first one a week from Monday.

I have a ton of **** to do on Saturday and Sunday, though. Is it a pipe dream that I’ll be able to do all of it? I thought the prep started at 5 pm on Sunday night.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Funny this is coming up now. I’m getting my first one a week from Monday.

I have a ton of **** to do on Saturday and Sunday, though. Is it a pipe dream that I’ll be able to do all of it? I thought the prep started at 5 pm on Sunday night.

Saturday should be fine. Sunday will be a tossup at best. I've never had anything solid on the day leading up to a colonoscopy. Some people have an early breakfast and then fast. Most of the prep should be in the late afternoon/early evening hours, so how much you get done before that depends on how you handle operating w/o food. I almost never have breakfast anyway, so I'm used to functioning well into a day w/o eating.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Saturday should be fine. Sunday will be a tossup at best. I've never had anything solid on the day leading up to a colonoscopy. Some people have an early breakfast and then fast. Most of the prep should be in the late afternoon/early evening hours, so how much you get done before that depends on how you handle operating w/o food. I almost never have breakfast anyway, so I'm used to functioning well into a day w/o eating.

Thanks! I should be OK as long as I’m not ****ting my brains out at my daughter’s pool party on Sunday!

 

[jr/shotglass]

If possible, get the prep pills that you drink with water instead of that nasty liquid.

This one is no pills at all. All liquid, and it's in two parts. One around 6 p.m. tomorrow, the other six hours prior to the procedure. Each one is a 16-ounce mix of the solution and water, then two more 16-ounce glasses of water in the next hour.

Now, that could change if they schedule a 7 a.m. arrival Tuesday or something like that.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Thanks! I should be OK as long as I’m not ****ting my brains out at my daughter’s pool party on Sunday!

"Mr. C, what's going on behind...EWWWWWWWWWW!!!!"

 

[John]

I've had two. The procedure itself was nothing. The drinking of the vile stuff to clean out your system is pretty awful - at least for me. Among the most unpleasant things I've ever done, in fact. Still, small price to pay for getting checked.

 

[User 1019]

Funny this is coming up now. I’m getting my first one a week from Monday.

I have a ton of **** to do on Saturday and Sunday, though. Is it a pipe dream that I’ll be able to do all of it? I thought the prep started at 5 pm on Sunday night.

I'm right ahead of you. My first one is Friday morning. Hoping I'll be OK by the evening for a trip to Philly and a game Saturday night.

 

[Scout]

I’ve had two.

The first was right before COVID. They found some stuff growing, but it was nothing crazy. They did say come back in three. Switched doctors (mine retired), and I love my new doc. His staff is a bit renecky and Trupid (Trump stupid), and didn’t realize I was every three so I had it in four.

First, they found a couple growths (two internal hemorrhoids and seven internal polyps). Now, they found three polyps. Nothing crazy.

But… this time went so much easier.

I drank powder and took pills, but here is the tip - drink apple juice or things with sugar. Clear Gatorade works. It stops the hunger a little better.

And the knockout drugs they use now are glorious. Like a long nap without any grogginess.

Best of luck, but the process is so much better the second time.

 

[Songbird]

My first one was 2 years ago and the doc said I don't need another for 10 years which sounded odd so I'll likely get another in a few years.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

My first one was 2 years ago and the doc said I don't need another for 10 years which sounded odd so I'll likely get another in a few years.

Not odd at all if they didn't find anything.