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Question: Colonoscopy questions for all that have had it also stress test also also health concerns
- Thread starter DzynKingRTR
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Remember that colonospocy is not the only alternative. Nearly all insurance covers Cologuard screening for those not at high risk and is rather simple to perform.
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For any who can afford a doctor, please strongly consider getting a GI referral at 50 and get the colonoscopy. Follow ALL your doctor's recs (if you don't trust your expert, hire another you DO trust). I had my first at 52 ten years ago and just had my second at 62. This most recent was extremely easy, esp compared to the prep from ten years ago.
I can see using cologuard if under 50 or if your doctor recommends.
My sisters both used cologuard. I had a weird white cell count issue so my doctor recommended the old fashioned way. My white cell count is normal now and they still don't know what it was.
Get the old-fashioned colonoscopy.
Over the years, I've had four, and they've gotten progressively easier to tolerate.
First one found no polyps. Second one found a bunch. Third one three years later (because of the multiple polyps) showed none. Last one about a year ago showed two. If not for the 'scope, I have no doubt that I'd be a cancer statistic of some description -- survivor, current patient, or dead.
Yes, the hardest part is the afternoon and evening before the procedure. Even that doesn't last as long as it used to. And just get your mind around not getting much sleep because of the second dose in the wee hours — it’s not a huge sacrifice.
Even the SuPrep has gotten (slightly) less vile and much lower in volume. When I first had it, it was all I could do to gag down about a half-gallon of the devil's drink. Thought I was going to throw it all back up and have to start again. Luckily, that didn't happen.
This last time, the volume is down to a pint or so for each of the two doses, and the taste isn't quite as bad. Still not something you'd drink voluntarily, but it's definitely improved.
The procedure itself is mildly embarrassing the first time, and becomes a non-event as you have more of them. Side benefit: my doc uses propofol which will give you the best sleep of your life.
99.99% of people (me included) make it far worse in their own minds than it really is. Plus, if you think the 'scope is embarrassing, what-all do you think treatment for colon cancer might involve?
Just do it.
Over the years, I've had four, and they've gotten progressively easier to tolerate.
First one found no polyps. Second one found a bunch. Third one three years later (because of the multiple polyps) showed none. Last one about a year ago showed two. If not for the 'scope, I have no doubt that I'd be a cancer statistic of some description -- survivor, current patient, or dead.
Yes, the hardest part is the afternoon and evening before the procedure. Even that doesn't last as long as it used to. And just get your mind around not getting much sleep because of the second dose in the wee hours — it’s not a huge sacrifice.
Even the SuPrep has gotten (slightly) less vile and much lower in volume. When I first had it, it was all I could do to gag down about a half-gallon of the devil's drink. Thought I was going to throw it all back up and have to start again. Luckily, that didn't happen.
This last time, the volume is down to a pint or so for each of the two doses, and the taste isn't quite as bad. Still not something you'd drink voluntarily, but it's definitely improved.
The procedure itself is mildly embarrassing the first time, and becomes a non-event as you have more of them. Side benefit: my doc uses propofol which will give you the best sleep of your life.
99.99% of people (me included) make it far worse in their own minds than it really is. Plus, if you think the 'scope is embarrassing, what-all do you think treatment for colon cancer might involve?
Just do it.
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Colo-rectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for Americans under 50.
www.healthline.com
Colon Cancer Is Leading Cause of Cancer-Related Death In Young People
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of death due to cancer for Americans under 50, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS). The report found that colon cancer death rates are rising annually, while deaths from other major cancers have declined.
www.healthline.com
The prep is much worse than the actual exam. Most health insurance plans offer this free of charge.
Yep. And they do it not because it's the right thing to do.
They do it out of their own financial interest. It's light years cheaper to pay for a colonoscopy than it is to pay for cancer treatments.
One of the few things in healthcare where the free market results in both less expensive and more effective processes.
I'm sure different PCPs vary in opinion, but most I've talked to recommend a colonoscopy the first time, then follow=ups with Cologuard after, as Cologuard is less accurate.
So said Michael Jackson -- and me!
For a friend, they have to go down his throat also. At one of his colonoscopies he ask the nurse. Can you go down my throat first this time.
They have changed the prep, at least for me. The next to last time I had one, I had to get back up at 2:00 AM and swallow the stuff again. However, it saved my life. It turned out that I had a precancerous edematous polyp right at the juncture of the small intestine and colon. The previous preps hadn't been thorough enough to reveal it. It had blocked the opening by about 50%, with no symptoms. They took my entire right side colon, although it turned out my internal anatomy was abnormal. My transverse colon was not attached but formed a smooth curve into my right side colon. They determined where my right side colon started by lymph nodes, etc., cut there and joined my transverse to the small intestine there, just pulling it down. I've noticed no difference in bowel function. All this was done robotically, with me upside down. You can hardly see the scars. They did one more followup scope a year later and all was fine. I won't have any more because of my age...
I don't trust Cologuard. Why take a test that can be unreliable when you can just take the real test, as long as your insurance pays for it. The prep for my first colonoscopy 5 years ago was brutal. Not only did I have to drink almost a gallon of that nasty yellow gatorade stuff then I had to take a laxative pill too. I spent about three hours on the toilet the night before. I've heard they don't make you take a laxative anymore, that the drink takes care of flushing you out.
I’ve had 5 of them, get them every two years. The last prep was awesome, two 28 oz bottles of LL Gatoraid mixed with MiraLAX powder and 6 Docolax tablets, 3 at 5pm and 3 at 10 pm. This was bet best prep that I had. My GI doctor prefers this method. Everything else is smooth. I enjoy the anesthesia being pushed into my IV line and before you know it, you are in the recovery room.
. The night after I posted this last week, I had a dream that Tide-HSV had suspended my account for this post. The reason given was the post was "insipid".Thankful that my moronic posting style hasn't gotten me clipped for this. It was just a DREAM..
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