topic Re: Colonoscopy Done!! in Wellness

Colonoscopy Done!!

jjb — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:43:45 GMT

I posted in March questions about having a colonoscopy and I just wanted to update everyone that I had my screening colonoscopy last Monday and it was so EASY!!! Please don't be afraid or think it's such a pain to do. I was so nervous for nothing...I had a wonderful Gastraologist and he did find a polyp at the very end of my colon. It was small and came back Benign and recommended to have another in 5 years. The prep was not that bad and I'm so glad I had it done and won't hesitate to have another in 5 years. Just thought I would give my experience in case someone who is turning 50 is worried like I was. Go have it done..it could save your life and definitely will give you peace of mind!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

panda1234 — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:46:59 GMT

@jjb

Congrats to you, it is behind you now so to speak. I think the prep is the worst part, what was your secret?

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

jjb — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:56:21 GMT

Thank you!! I did the Gatorade / Miralax prep and just found a flavor that I liked (Green Apple). I was so nervous that I didn't have much of a appetite. I did do chicken broth, popsickles and jello. I can't believe I put myself through all that stress for something so easy!!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

2blonde — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 20:26:17 GMT

@jjb It's been 9 years since I had mine, but the prep was the worst part for me. I actually slept like a baby through the whole procedure and didn't wake up until they were wheeling me out. I did get sick from the anesthesia, though.

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

jjb — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 21:03:28 GMT

I felt so rested after I woke up!! Don't remember anything and I felt great after having it done!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

GenXmuse — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 21:08:08 GMT

So nice to have this done and "under your belt" so to speak!

glad everything check out. 😊

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

Krimpette — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 21:36:15 GMT

After my first one, my appetite was ravenous! I told the doc and my friend who was my transportation that I needed to get to Panera Bread for some baked potato soup!!!!!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

NicksmomESQ — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 21:49:33 GMT

I'm glad for all those who had it done without a hitch.I know of two people who didn't have good experiences.My friend knows someone who's mother died from a perforated colon as a result of the procedure. And I know someone who ended up in the hospital for a month & nearly died from the procedure!! Both procedures were done by top notch gastroenterologists.

Just my opinion but I'm not about to fix what isn't broken!!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

Gooday — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 22:41:26 GMT

DH has his tomorrow. It's a little hectic right now. We're both on the 5 year plan. DH's sister died at 56 years of age from colon CA because she refused to have a colonoscopy when she had symptoms. His mom also died from colon CA at 82 years of age. DH himself, is a 24 year bladder CA survivor.

I had my first colonoscopy at 53 and 4 days later was in the O.R. for a right hemi-colectomy. A huge benign mass was found on the cecum. However, they did not know at the time it was benign.

Because I had to take the ACA insurance and due to the high deductible, I am waiting until next year when I'm on Medicare. Affordable my Aunt Fannie!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

jjb — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 22:59:25 GMT

Good luck to your DH tomorrow! My 3mm polyp was at the cecum also and was removed entirely with no problems. My DH is also on the 5 year plan because his dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. He is doing great now and he said it was all because he went and had his colonoscopies! Its almost like a cure...they find it and get it out immediately. The center I went to has the new 3 camera scope and they have a 90% rate of finding polyps and masses. My Husband had a polyp last year when they first got this new scope and it was the kind that would of turned into cancer if it wasn't found and removed and it was hidden behind a fold that the new scope picked up.

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

OnlyShopsOnline — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 01:50:08 GMT

@jjb I couldn't have said it any better. TOTAL waste of anxiety! My PCP wanted me to have my first one done at 47, because of family history. I put it off until I was 51, because of extreme fear. FEAR OF NOTHING!!!

The prep wasn't great. I did the same prep that you did. But, as someone who has had IBS for years, I can say that the IBS is worse.

The procedure was a big NADA too! My Gastro Doc uses propofol and it's great. I've now had 3 colonoscopies, had polyps removed, and go every three years.

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

jjb — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 02:11:45 GMT

That's great...I had propofol also, good stuff 😂. I know how you feel..I almost talked myself out of getting it because of fear. I just wanted to spread the news so no one would not have this life-saving test because of fear!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

hckynut — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 02:57:00 GMT

@jjb

Always good to see a post from someone that wanted others experiences before undergoing any invasive procedure. Your is a good example of what "might have been", had you not had this colonoscopy. Any polyp found and removed is a possible danger in the future.

Never really understood, or understand why so many fear having, which is not what is considered a high risk procedure. On the other side, it can mean life or death to avoid having this, what I consider a very simple and painless procedure.

Thanks for sharing your experience, and I am happy everything went smoothly for you, and your outcome. Many need to hear this from others that had fear of having this procedure.

hckynut(john)

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

jjb — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 03:02:22 GMT

Thank you!!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

hckynut — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 03:04:03 GMT

@2blonde

Many Gastro doctors now use Profofol for anethesia for a colonoscopy. Mt nephew is an Anethesiologist and he has told me very few now get sick after even long surgeries. You didn't say if you had a general anethesia, or what many Gastro doctors use, which is Versed and Fentynol.

hckynut(john)

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

Financialgrl — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 12:10:26 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
@jjb It's been 9 years since I had mine, but the prep was the worst part for me. I actually slept like a baby through the whole procedure and didn't wake up until they were wheeling me out. I did get sick from the anesthesia, though.

I just had my third one less than 2 weeks ago. The first procedure they used Versed and something else and I'd wake fuzzy like I had a hangover. If you haven't had one in 9 years - you may be surprised.

The last 2 procedures they used Propofol. The Anaestesiologist said it's much easier to wake ppl out of that drug. Also Propofol did not leave me with that residual feeling like u woke to a hangover. Felt no different than waking each morning! I dressed, nurse gave me something to drink and walked me to the lobby and I waited till my designated driver picked me up!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

Financialgrl — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 12:23:23 GMT

@hckynut- didn't see your post when I posted the same thing. I well remember the first one I had and they used Versed and now that u mention it, Fentynol. I don't drink anymore but wow, woke to what felt like a horrible hangover. When the anaestesiologist switched to Propofol - I seriously felt like I could drive home - but my gastro's office won't bring you back to the lobby until they physically talk to your designated driver!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

2blonde — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 14:13:21 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

@2blonde

Many Gastro doctors now use Profofol for anethesia for a colonoscopy. Mt nephew is an Anethesiologist and he has told me very few now get sick after even long surgeries. You didn't say if you had a general anethesia, or what many Gastro doctors use, which is Versed and Fentynol.

hckynut(john)

@hckynut @Financialgrl That's good news. I figured there would have been improvements since I had mine, so I won't be so apprehensive when I have the next one in a year or so. I know when I had my recent cataract surgery, they told me not to eat anything (obviously they don't want anyone getting sick during eye surgery), but I was so weak from no food or coffee. Whatever sedative they used (I had an IV) didn't even make me drowsy, and I felt great immediately after they were done. I just got off the table and walked out the door! Of course the anesthesiologist charged big bucks for her 15 minutes of work!

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 15:45:03 GMT

I will turn 50 in March so that's when I'll need to have this done. I am not so much afraid of the procedure, it's the prep. Everyone I know had to drink a gallon of that Go-Lightly. I have a terrible stomach and nearly vomited when I had to drink stuff for a CT Scan of my abdomen and that was just a small container. I can't imagine having to drink a gallon of Go-Lightly in a certain amount of time. I'm hoping when the time comes that they'll have me do the Miralax/Gatorade prep.

2 years ago I had to have an Endoscopy done and they used Propofol to put me under. I had no bad after effects and could have actually gone back to work. I wasn't even the least bit drowsy from it.

Re: Colonoscopy Done!!

hckynut — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 16:37:01 GMT

@Lipstickdiva

Get it done! My Gastro Doctors will not do a Colonoscopy on any patient that will not use the Go or NuLytely gallon drink. They have had too many "unable to complete" procedures from trying other methods.

Had to have a Double Balloon Enteroscopy done again because it fell into that category, and I had drank my gallon of NuLytely. Mine was not blocked by waste, it was because of "dried blood" from my colon bleed, which was the purpose of this procedure.

Drank gallon number 20 last fall to fix my once again bleeding Right Colon. To me it is a "mind over matter" deal, those that think it will be bad before ever drinking it? I had my times when having 3 Colonoscopies in 1 week, but I also had eaten nothing hut Apple Juice and Orange Jello during that whole week, plus several blood transfusions.

Guess other doctors use other preps, but I know 1 Gastro Doctor that did not complete my wife's Colonoscopy, and never told either of us he did not get to the Right Colon. Our recent Gastro Doctor found this out when we both had them last fall. To say we were Po'd is an understatement.

Find a way to get it done and we will both feel better. =^..^=

hckynut(john)