Colonoscopy scheduled Monday

[B Calm]

Doctor says I'm at the age he needs to do a colonoscopy to really check me out. I had to ask my employer for a vacation day from work and got that approved because I don't want to screw up my perfect attendance.. Having a camera rammed up my butt and K-Y ointment dripping on my underwear for several days, is not my idea of enjoying a day off from work. I'm very limited on what I can eat today and tomorrow. Sunday I have to swallow this stuff to clean me out.. So oh boy, I'll be on the stool all day tomorrow. So now I'm all in the zone to get this over and done with and I wake up at 3 am this morning with a very sore throat and aching all over. Egads!! am I coming down with a cold?? Must have caught something at the boat/sport/travel show the other night... Now I'm wondering if this will all have to be rescheduled??

[Heidi]

1. Good vibes, B Calm!

I have no idea what the answer to your question is, and this isn't medical advice: but couldn't you telephone the doctor on call at your nearest hospital on Saturday, explain that you're coming down with a cold, and ask whether you ought to drink the stuff tomorrow?

[purr]

2. I had one at the ripe age of 24..

honestly - the worst thing about it was the prep. I couldnt go no more than 5' from the bathroom since I was going every 5 min. It was horrible - the second I sat down I had to get up again and go. It was NOT fun.. the procedure was easy.

Are they giving you a pill or the liquid? I had to drink these 2 bottles and they tasted worse than anything I've ever drank before. I mixed it in with ginger ale and it took some of the yuk factor out but now I have somewhat of an aversion to ginger ale - I love the stuff but it brings back memories of that crap. ugh.

Good luck :)

[Inspired]

3. Had one last year

and it is true that the worst part is the prep. I had to drink a gallon of this clear liquid. It didn't really have a taste but it was still nasty. You drink one glass every 15 minutes and it gets to the point where you think you are going to drown in it.

I would just try to make the bathroom your home. You won't want to be too far from it.

The only thing I remember from the procedure is how wonderful I felt waking up. I don't know what they put in my IV but I wish I could have more. I've never felt so good. Plus, my body felt 'cleansed'.

Receiving a good diagnosis afterwards was a relief since my mother has had colon cancer. It was all good, except for the prep.

[In_The_Wind]

4. Good luck.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. I Refuse to do that.

I won't let them do any invasive tests unless there is a really good reason. I just have a real thing about doctors and all of their tests.

But the part of that I would have trouble with is not being able to eat and having to clean myself out. That would make me really sick.

[El Fuego]

8. You need all the tests so the doctors can get the insurance $$$$

I think it's all a racket.

[Bullwinkle925]

10. Read my post below El Fuego. Hopefully you'll have second thoughts.

These tests can save your life.

[Bullwinkle925]

9. Well -

don't ever EVER deny the testing that is recommended for specific age groups.

It is not a racket.

I can say this after losing my Mother to colon cancer. She had never done her checkups. Left the stool occult blood tests on her dresser and never sent them in. Colon cancer is very quiet - can go undetected for years before it advances to other organs where it is then usually fatal.

I started having my colonoscopies early due to her history and almost always have pre-cancerous polyps that are removed during the procedures.

Again - I would admonish anyone to listen to their physicians and take their advice.

[Madrone]

13. 100% agree!

I know someone that has colon cancer. By the time they detected it (no pain, no symptoms) she had seriously advanced cancer. She's VERY lucky to be alive. She'd be the first one to tell you to get regular colonoscopies - and that she's lucky she got off with a sewed shut butthole and a colostomy bag. It ain't pretty, people.

[Bullwinkle925]

17. Yes, she is lucky to be alive. I wish they had found it long before

it had reached the point where she had to undergo the drastic surgery and life-altering consequences.

Give her a hug!!

[auntAgonist]

14. I too lost my mother to colon cancer.

No symptoms (at least none the Dr paid any attention to!!!) It spread very quickly and she was gone less than 2 years after diagnosis.

I get my checkups regularly and I'm still trying to convince my brother that he needs to as well. He refuses to have it done.

:hug:

[Bullwinkle925]

15. Condolences to you auntAgonitst...

My mother succumbed within 9 mo. of diagnosis. She was gone while we were still reeling from the initial diagnosis of cancer. Hadn't had any in the family until Mom.

Tragedy when it could have been avoided!

[auntAgonist]

19. and to you Bullwinkle!

I get SO SO angry when I think about it. My mother went to the quack many times, different complaints, we could all see that something wasn't right, but oh how she trusted "the Dr". Finally, (albeit too late) I convinced her to see a different Dr and he began testing for all sorts of things. The rest is history, chemo-therapy and radiation. She was part of a test group. At that time (1997) they didn't use radiation for colon cancer as a norm. I don't know if they do now or not.

I'm sorry for your loss as well, it's just so damned unfair. :hug:
I hope the memories of good times sustain you. She's still in your heart :)

aA
kesha

[wain]

21. You owe it to your future self

Don't let your actions of today put you in needless disadvantage later. There are some things you just gotta do. It's an investment in you.

[meow2u3]

6. Just be sure the doc doesn't find a brain there

Unlike a certain "president" whose name I won't mention. :evilgrin:

[terrya]

7. I had one last year

The really "fun" part is the night before, when I was parked on the toilet most of the evening, after downing a gallon of some incredibly nasty tasty stuff. What a joy that was. :eyes:

The procedure itself is no big deal. At least to me. I even got to see what was going on via the camera you mentioned. It was..interesting. :-)

As for your sore throat...you might call your doctor and ask about rescheduling. It depends on how you're feeling as Monday approaches.

I hope you feel better...and good luck with the colonoscopy. It is the right thing to do. :thumbsup:

[Bullwinkle925]

11. If you begin to run a fever - they won't want to touch you until you're

better. Call your physician tomorrow who is scheduled to do the procedure - leave a message with the answering service and he/she will get back to you.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

12. The worst part of it is definitely the prep.

The test itself is a breeze. I don't what it is they give you but one minute you're totally awake and then it's lala land for awhile.

I have one done every year. My brother died from colon cancer in April 2003 at the age of 56.

I get to go thru this again next August.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

16. I had mine a month ago

Stay relaxed and tough it out. A cold shouldn't really affect the test.

A hint: Chicken broth is acceptable up until midnight the day before. It's more filling than you might think. :bounce:

[Nikia]

18. I don't remember mine at all

Unfortunately, I also got charged extra for extra observation time since I was evidently snoozing for a while. Then my husband brought me home and I slept some more. Perhaps, I shouldn't have told them that I had a low pain tolerance because I probably got more drugs than needed.

[Lethe]

20. pay now or pay later

the SAD destroys our colons. Everyone should clean themselves from the inside. (fasting, enemas, colonics, salt water flushes, raw food)
Death begins in the colon.