Colonoscopy, Just Had it Done

[K2WH]

Well, I had it done, first time at age 58 and it came out (no pun intended) ok. But, I'll never have it done again cause the preparation is more dehumizing than the actual examination as far as I'm concerned. Got no sleep cause you are on the toilet most of the time, can't eat for about 24 hours etc.

My God, all kinds of liquids and pills you gotta take to clean you out prior to the examination. There's gotta be a better way.

K2WH

[w6ire]

I'm 51 and am putting this off for as long as I can for exactly the reasons you mention...

[N2RJ]

I believe they're developing a non-invasive one that should be a lot, lot easier on the patient.

[WS2L]

I hope you are right Ryan, even though I'm only 44 it's only a matter of time where I will have to consider having it done. My wife had one done a few months back and she was on the toilet so long that she actually fell asleep. I wouldn't wish that test on my worst enemy.

[kc5nyo]

Aw, suck it up and get 'ir done. For men, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after prostate and lung cancers. For women, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after breast and lung cancers.

Had my first one almost three years ago, just a couple more years for the next. The highly-detailed color photos of yer innards look pretty cool too. :D

[KU0DM]

Now you have something to brag about on the Brokenbody net on 75 meters.

Last time I listened to 75 I heard a group of old men talking about their ailments, and one of them describes HIS last colonoscopy.

It was really gross.

[NA4BH]

Here you go........ The future. Virtual Colonoscopy. You are in and out (again, no pun intended, but implied). No gallon of "STUFF" to drink. You can actually have one of their meal kits to keep you satisfied and clean you out. No more "Riding The Ninja".... :D :D

Check out all the links... (http://www.ezem.com/virtual_colon/index.htm)

[AF6FH]

I'm only 40, and I've already had two; for the most recent one, I had an upper endoscopy done at the same time, which was much worse than the colonoscopy. (To the doctor: "You don't use the same scope for both, right? :eek:")

Honestly, colonoscopy isn't that bad. It's waaaay better than colon cancer, I'm sure.

[N6KX]

...in the mid-1980s whose whole stand-up routine consisted of describing in excruciatingly funny detail what he went through before, during, and after this very procedure? Whether you've had it done or not, this guy was a major riot.

The tragic irony, from what I've heard, was that he was dying from cancer. His aim in performing that comedy act was to promulgate information about this procedure which, had he had it done at a younger age, just might have saved his life.

Howie N6KX :)

[n8yx]

...so THAT'S what happened over in the "Politics" forum today. Explains a lot...

[kd8dey]

Saw a show a couple of years ago maybe on PBS that they had some kind of large pill sized camera to swallow. It continuously took pictures on its way through that were captured on some sort of fanny pack for download onto a computer. Hopefully it wasn't "reusable" :p

[N2RJ]

I hope you are right Ryan, even though I'm only 44 it's only a matter of time where I will have to consider having it done. My wife had one done a few months back and she was on the toilet so long that she actually fell asleep. I wouldn't wish that test on my worst enemy.

Yep, here it is:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Health/Story?id=129297&page=1

[W4DFW]

"Virtual" colonoscopy still requires essentially the same prep. For those who hate the prep, it's thus no better. The other problem is if you see a lesion, you can't biopsy it via virtual colonoscopy. You will need to have the usual colonoscopy in order to have a biopsy. Do you want to go through the prep TWICE?? The virtual colonoscopy is done by radiologists, the actual one by GI docs. Additionally, they are performed in different areas traditionally.


Nevertheless, as a screening tool, the virtual colonoscopy might be a reasonable alternative for those who just don't want the real McCoy. It's better to get the colonoscopy for the initial screening, then consider the virtual one for subsequent ones after you have established a normal initial look.

...............Bob

[VE7DCW]

Here you go........ The future. Virtual Colonoscopy. You are in and out (again, no pun intended, but implied). No gallon of "STUFF" to drink. You can actually have one of their meal kits to keep you satisfied and clean you out. No more "Riding The Ninja".... :D :D

Check out all the links... (http://www.ezem.com/virtual_colon/index.htm)

Cool....virtual Colonoscopy the info quoted by Bob's link seems to be the way to go...i'd say it's the future of Colonscopies ....looks like you don't even have to use that gallon of prep.. eeeecccchhhh!! :)

[K8ERV]

I had that many years ago, no problem at all. They did not have HDTV back then, bummer!

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[kg4kww]

Duncan wait till you have your first colonoscopy, you will be walking funny for a day or so afterwards. :D

Well is NASA going to ivestagate uranus next? :D

[NA4BH]

"Virtual" colonoscopy still requires essentially the same prep. For those who hate the prep, it's thus no better. The other problem is if you see a lesion, you can't biopsy it via virtual colonoscopy. You will need to have the usual colonoscopy in order to have a biopsy. Do you want to go through the prep TWICE?? The virtual colonoscopy is done by radiologists, the actual one by GI docs. Additionally, they are performed in different areas traditionally.


Nevertheless, as a screening tool, the virtual colonoscopy might be a reasonable alternative for those who just don't want the real McCoy. It's better to get the colonoscopy for the initial screening, then consider the virtual one for subsequent ones after you have established a normal initial look.

...............Bob

Actually the preps are quite different. The virtual preps allow for a "Wet" colon, whereas the conventional require a dry colon. A Virtual requires the colon being filled with CO2, no sedation. This results in no abdominal cramping ( the CO2 is absorbed rapidly, no gas passing). The conventional method uses room air (with impurities) causing cramping and the uncontrolled passing of gas. With the virtual, you eat a meal as the prep and go to the restroom at your leisure, not "OH MY GOD..... OUT OF THE WAY !!!!". As far as one before the other, why not get the easy one done first. If they find anything suspect, go back for the conventional scope?

[VE7DCW]

Actually the preps are quite different. The virtual preps allow for a "Wet" colon, whereas the conventional require a dry colon. A Virtual requires the colon being filled with CO2, no sedation. This results in no abdominal cramping ( the CO2 is absorbed rapidly, no gas passing). The conventional method uses room air (with impurities) causing cramping and the uncontrolled passing of gas. With the virtual, you eat a meal as the prep and go to the restroom by at your leisure, not "OH MY GOD..... OUT OF THE WAY !!!!". As far as one before the other, why not get the easy one done first. If they find anything suspect, go back for the conventional scope?

"OH MY GOD..... OUT OF WAY !!!" .....reason enough alone i vote for virtual colonscopy ....yikes...:D

73

[W4HAY]

Sheesh! Whatta bunch of wussies...

[N2RJ]

Sheesh! Whatta bunch of wussies...

So I take it you have no problem with stuff shoved up your... ?

:D :p

[KB9YCO]

Sheesh! Whatta bunch of wussies...

I'm sure it's extremely unpleasant, but I would have to agree with the poster that said it has to be better than having cancer!! Better to have a few days of unpleasantness than have a potentially deadly disease.

Smart move on having it done K2WH, or anyone that's had it done for that matter. From everything I hear it can prevent quite a bit, and many forms of cancer you can't find and get rid of that early. Why not do anything possible to prevent a problem?

I have a few more years to worry about it, hopefully the technology will improve a bit in the next 10 or 15 years.

[wb6mmj]

Well, I had it done, first time at age 58 and it came out (no pun intended) ok. But, I'll never have it done again cause the preparation is more dehumizing than the actual examination as far as I'm concerned. Got no sleep cause you are on the toilet most of the time, can't eat for about 24 hours etc.

My God, all kinds of liquids and pills you gotta take to clean you out prior to the examination. There's gotta be a better way.

K2WH

I had one done about 5 years ago. I agree, what a hassle! I thought I was going to starve to death. And the bottle up........ well you know. Yuck!
I have put off having another one because of the first one.

[W4DFW]

Actually the preps are quite different. The virtual preps allow for a "Wet" colon, whereas the conventional require a dry colon. A Virtual requires the colon being filled with CO2, no sedation. This results in no abdominal cramping ( the CO2 is absorbed rapidly, no gas passing). The conventional method uses room air (with impurities) causing cramping and the uncontrolled passing of gas. With the virtual, you eat a meal as the prep and go to the restroom at your leisure, not "OH MY GOD..... OUT OF THE WAY !!!!". As far as one before the other, why not get the easy one done first. If they find anything suspect, go back for the conventional scope?

Me thinks you are confusing C02 insufflation of the abdomen used for laparoscopy, a completely different procedure unrelated to colonoscopy. The bottom line (pun intended) is that without adequate clearing of fecal matter from the colon, the virtual colonoscopy may have great difficulty telling true lesions from false ones, though with different CT/MRI techniques these can be minimized to some extent.

I have never heard of "wet" verses "dry" preps. Source please??

The study I just read from the New England Journal of Medicine compared regular colonoscopy to virtual, using the same preps for each and using room air to insuflate the colon. Using C02 would increase the cost and is unnecessary. The resorption of C02 is important when using a laparoscope to perform abdominal surgery, nothing to do with colonoscopy. You will fart out CO2 just as fast as room air.

Trust me!

Nevertheless, this 'ol doc doesn't do these procedures, so when the XYL gets back, I'll ask her (Mass General/Harvard trained GI/GU interventional radiologist). I'm sure she knows! ;)

As far as why not do one, then get the other if needed . . . $$$$$$$$$$$

............Bob

[NA4BH]

Me thinks you are confusing C02 insufflation of the abdomen used for laparoscopy, a completely different procedure unrelated to colonoscopy. The bottom line (pun intended) is that without adequate clearing of fecal matter from the colon, the virtual colonoscopy may have great difficulty telling true lesions from false ones, though with different CT/MRI techniques these can be minimized to some extent.

I have never heard of "wet" verses "dry" preps. Source please??

The study I just read from the New England Journal of Medicine compared regular colonoscopy to virtual, using the same preps for each and using room air to insuflate the colon. Using C02 would increase the cost and is unnecessary. The resorption of C02 is important when using a laparoscope to perform abdominal surgery, nothing to do with colonoscopy. You will fart out CO2 just as fast as room air.

Trust me!

Nevertheless, this 'ol doc doesn't do these procedures, so when the XYL gets back, I'll ask her (Mass General/Harvard trained GI/GU interventional radiologist). I'm sure she knows! ;)

As far as why not do one, then get the other if needed . . . $$$$$$$$$$$

............Bob

Well gosh, I guess you caught me on that one...... I will quit my job tomorrow....... You never heard of the different preps? Do you work in the Medical field/ xray/ CT? Funny, as Mass General does Virtual, along with Duke University, Emory University....... The list goes on....... Sure CO2 costs more, room air is free. As far as cleaning the colon, there are tagging agents that stick to the fecal matter in the colon. This differentiates between fecal matter and a polyp. But then again, you caught me............. Do your research next time............

[kc9jwa]

I'm 51 and am putting this off for as long as I can for exactly the reasons you mention...
Hehe, i agree, i heard one of my buddys long ago had it wow defintally long as you can dont do it. Pretty uncomfortable and to me . Dont wnat a image lol. True on the others cancer is worse, defintally smart to have it checked but for a second time id pass.

[k4kyv]

Aw, suck it up and get 'ir done. For men, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after prostate and lung cancers. For women, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after breast and lung cancers.

I would say get it done. I had my first one about 10 years ago and had gobs of polyps removed. One of those turned out to be possibly pre-cancerous, so I was scheduled another exam a year later, then three years later, and now am on a 5-year regimen.

The Dr. said if that one were going to turn cancerous, it would have probably taken 8-10 years to develop. That means I would be coming down with it about now. My wife is a nurse and used to work for a gastrointerologist who always said there is no excuse nowadays for anyone to ever develop colon cancer.

Hey, where am I? For just a moment I thought I was monitoring 75m SSB!

[n7zsd]

So it has finally come down to this. Here I sit, reading about colonoscopies and actually find it more interesting than ANYTHING on the political threads.

We are SOOOO screwed!

[VE7DCW]

So it has finally come down to this. Here I sit, reading about colonoscopies and actually find it more interesting than ANYTHING on the political threads.

We are SOOOO screwed!

...that is way too funny!! :D

73

[NA4BH]

So it has finally come down to this. Here I sit, reading about colonoscopies and actually find it more interesting than ANYTHING on the political threads.

We are SOOOO screwed!


LMAO !!!!!
I am sure that was with PUN INTENDED........ :D :D :D

[kf4hay]

I have had both, endoscopy and colonoscopy done and are better than all the other things I have had done, which is probably more than the normal person. Yes , the colonoscopy is better than a colonostomy by far.

The first colonoscopy I had to drink a gallon of satans nectar, plus a few pills to get things going, the night before. But if you cut down on eating a day or so ahead of time, time will pass a little better.

[ka0gkt]

Got 'scoped last year. The Doc found some suspicious polyps (byopsy showed benign). I get to have another in two years in stead of the usual five (Oh Joy!), still that is better than ending up with metastatic cancer. A friend and coworker AA9MX was just taken by cancer a few weeks ago, the discomfort of cleansing my colon was far less than Don's discomfort which opiates wouldn't numb; not to mention the chemo and radiation, hair and weight loss, nausea...

Get yourself checked! You can live with the discomfort!

[wb5ydk]

Got 'scoped last year. The Doc found some suspicious polyps (byopsy showed benign). I get to have another in two years in stead of the usual five (Oh Joy!), still that is better than ending up with metastatic cancer. A friend and coworker AA9MX was just taken by cancer a few weeks ago, the discomfort of cleansing my colon was far less than Don's discomfort which opiates wouldn't numb; not to mention the chemo and radiation, hair and weight loss, nausea...

Get yourself checked! You can live with the discomfort!A friend of mine recently passed away from prostate cancer. He never had check-up testing performed and by the time the slow-growing cancer was discovered, it was too late to do anything about it. The cancer had spread to other parts of his body. Early detection would have given him a good chance for cure. Instead, he was given six months to live.

The good news is that my friend lived for about 2 1/2 more years - beating the doctor's predictions. For much of that time, he was feeling relatively well and proceeded to travel the world. But during the final months, he was clearly in pain. Some days, he couldn't bring himself to get out of bed. Even the morphine shots he had begun taking didn't do a whole lot to dull the pain. The cancer had made his bones weaker and brittle. His doctors advised him to take care while walking (especially up hills) to avoid a bone fracture.

His frequent advice to the middle-aged guys: Don't Wait, Get Tested!

[KA7RRA]

I'm 51 and am putting this off for as long as I can for exactly the reasons you mention...

it is nothing.The prep is not that big of a deal be close to the toilet and have a lot of toilet paper on hand. I enjoyed mine and Iam looking forward to the next one It went a lot better than I thought it would...

that is one of the requirements for extra class

[KA7RRA]

[QUOTE=K2WH;1203611]Well, I had it done, first time at age 58 and it came out (no pun intended) ok.

so now that you had your colonospy, when do you get your extra class?

I had mine it was a pice of cake looking forward to the next one get my living room painted again.. I had a T-shirt made with bottoms up on it

[K0HWY]

I had one done when I was 30 (11yrs ago) due to some still unidentified fairly mild internal bleeding. The bleeding had started about 3 weeks before the colonoscopy. By time they finally decided to do something, the bleeding was hardly noticeable and the test revealed only some mild irritation. I was on some medication for about a year but the problem never returned, thank goodness.

As far as the procedure and preparation, it was a pain in the ass. Not literally...actually, I never felt a thing. But that crap they used to clean you out was pretty rough ...going in and coming out. It was like drinking cherry flavored ant poison. Oh well ...

[w2amr]

Well, I had it done, first time at age 58 and it came out (no pun intended) ok. But, I'll never have it done again cause the preparation is more dehumizing than the actual examination as far as I'm concerned. Got no sleep cause you are on the toilet most of the time, can't eat for about 24 hours etc.

My God, all kinds of liquids and pills you gotta take to clean you out prior to the examination. There's gotta be a better way.

K2WH

No, I can't do it. It's just too easy. :D

[K0HWY]

No, I can't do it. It's just too easy. :D

You might as well. If you don't, someone else will. :p

[w2amr]

You might as well. If you don't, someone else will. :p
No, I'll sit this one out. I don't want to hog all the fun. :D

[VK3ZL]

Good to see such an informative thread without a lot of innuendo.

Seriously,everybody should have regular checks for prostate and bowel cancer especially over the age of 40.

Bob VK3ZL

[n8yx]

Just remember, gang:

Keep all the Zappa references and Star Trek cliches to a minimum, please...

[n8yx]

Good to see such an informative thread without a lot of innuendo.



Stick around. That'll be next.

[W4DFW]

Well gosh, I guess you caught me on that one...... I will quit my job tomorrow....... You never heard of the different preps? Do you work in the Medical field/ xray/ CT? Funny, as Mass General does Virtual, along with Duke University, Emory University....... The list goes on....... Sure CO2 costs more, room air is free. As far as cleaning the colon, there are tagging agents that stick to the fecal matter in the colon. This differentiates between fecal matter and a polyp. But then again, you caught me............. Do your research next time............

The terms "wet" and "dry" preps are a new way to refer to various preps that have been around for years. We didn't use to call them that a few years ago, but some folks refer to them as that today. Wet preps refer to the large amount of liquids (like GoLytely) one has to drink, verses the "dry" ones that are often just pills or other simple means of ingesting a cathartic.

The accuracy of virtual colonoscopy is greatly dependent on how clean you get the colon. Yes, they *are* working on a way to tag residual fecal matter to help differentiate between true lesions and retain feces. However, that is not widely used yet as it hasn't been perfected (according to my source, the XYL, who *does* the virtual procedures). CO2 was used during some of the early testing for virtual colonoscopy but has been widely replaced by room air, which is cheap and just as effective.

Most every medical "test" or procedure is first developed typically at a tertiary care center. It may take some time for that to become routinely available, if ever, at smaller centers across the country. Not every facility performs virtual colonoscopy currently, so it's necessary to check with your doc to determine what is available.

And since you asked, yes I am a doc, Emory trained and my wife is a radiologist, Mass. General/Harvard trained. She can't read CW, however!! :D

[K8ERV]

So it has finally come down to this. Here I sit, reading about colonoscopies and actually find it more interesting than ANYTHING on the political threads.

]

OOps! I tho this was the political thread---

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[K2WH]

No, I can't do it. It's just too easy. :D

Oh go ahead. Just do it. You know you want to. I didn't post this while looking through rose colored glasses.

K2WH

[n8yx]

No, I can't do it. It's just too easy. :D

Oh go ahead. Just do it. Let me have it. I expect it.

K2WH

Even George wouldn't kick a man when he's THAT down... :eek:

[K1CJS]

Now you have something to brag about on the Brokenbody net on 75 meters.

Last time I listened to 75 I heard a group of old men talking about their ailments, and one of them describes HIS last colonoscopy.

It was really gross.

You beat me to it! I was just going to ask if this doesn't belong on 75......

[w2kg]

I believe they're developing a non-invasive one that should be a lot, lot easier on the patient.

Yeah, but, from what I hear, you have to be dumped out just like for the invasive one. Colonoscopies ain't nuthin'...you ain't lived 'til you've had a barium enema (alias: lower GI contrast X-ray). Oh yeah............. :eek:

[w2amr]

Yeah, but, from what I hear, you have to be dumped out just like for the invasive one. Colonoscopies ain't nuthin'...you ain't lived 'til you've had a barium enema (alias: lower GI contrast X-ray). Oh yeah............. :eek:
I've had both, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Well, maybe a couple of people. :D

[KE6SHJ]

Ummm no way no how. The colon is an exit, NOT an enterance.

[W6ECE]

Here is a song dedicated to the anal plumbers.

http://www.catsprn.com/sounds/Colo-rectalSurgeon.wav[/URL]

[ka0gkt]

Good to see such an informative thread without a lot of innuendo.

Seriously,everybody should have regular checks for prostate and bowel cancer especially over the age of 40.

Bob VK3ZL

Innuendo...isn't that the brand of sopositories the doc gives you as part of the prep kit?

[VK3ZL]

Innuendo...isn't that the brand of sopositories the doc gives you as part of the prep kit?

Actually I believe "innuendo" is a form of Italian suppositories..

Well,somebody had to say it..

Seriously,I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1992.It was a class A growth the size of a golf ball.The symptoms were blood spots in my urine and occasional large blood clots.It was successfully removed the day after diagnosis.I was fortunate in that the growth was still in a "cauliflower" stage and hadn't penetrated past the first layer of the bladder wall.Another few months and I would have been in serious trouble.As it was I foolishly paid no attention to the symptoms for 6 months.This nearly cost me my life.The surgery was, to say the least, uncomfortable..

I had to have 6 monthly check ups for the first 2 years after the original removal.Then annual checks for many years.I haven't had a check for the past 5 years..

During one of the final checks I also had my Prostate "re bored" .....This is another problem overlooked by most men.It sneaks up on you slowly and it takes years to realise that you have a problem..Most prostate enlargements are benign but a percentage become malignant..It is far better to swallow your pride and have an annual check up for these problems after age 40 maybe saving yourself and your families a lot of grief later in life..The same applies for bowel cancer.There is a simple test for this also..Those of us who have had family or friends diagnosed with bowel cancer understand the devastating grief and suffering this can have on everybody.

A few uncomfortable minutes of examination by your medical practitioner can be worth many years added to your life.

Do it now.....

Bob VK3ZL :) :)

[WA6MHZ]

When my doctor suggested one, I said "HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!" and that was that. Then my wife went in and ordered a Colonoscopy for 2. Well, guess my vote was canceled! So we got a double dose of the juice, she stayed downstairs for the restroom there, I up here not more than 6 feet from the upstairs one. The Prep was absolutely miserable, but probably better than the ENEMAs that one had to do in previous years. That would be the YEECHIEST of YEECHY!! So I was on the potty, over and over and over again, from around midnight till just before we were scheduled to go in for the exam. OH HOW ROMANTIC! The crew thought. They had never seen a Husband and wife go into together to get one at the same time. We were set up in adjacent beds and then knocked out. I missed all the FUN! A few hours later I was revived and was Horrified to hear They couldn't find anything worth talking about. SO WHY did I have to go all through this then? I sure didn't get my moneys worth! NO cancer, no nuttin! But, I wasn't done, OH NO! As soon as I was released, it was Back to the POT! Yeppers, the rest of the day, I was confined to the throne as the Prep hadn't finished with me. I needed to take some Imodium to put the brakes on the MOVIPREP stuff. SO not likely I will ever have that done again! I was almost like that lady who sat there until her skin grew around the seat!

[K3UD]

I had put it off and put it off but finally had mine done last July at age 56. The real pain in the butt was taking all of those pills that keep you either running for the bathroom or living in the bathroom. The actual procedure was painless. I was put to sleep and when I woke up I was told that I had no polyps or other problems. Was back at work the next day.

73
George
K3UD

[W4HAY]

So I take it you have no problem with stuff shoved up your... ?

:D :p

At my age, you get used to it. The Doc said I shouldn't worry unless I started looking forward to it. :D

[kl7aj]

Well, I had it done, first time at age 58 and it came out (no pun intended) ok. But, I'll never have it done again cause the preparation is more dehumizing than the actual examination as far as I'm concerned. Got no sleep cause you are on the toilet most of the time, can't eat for about 24 hours etc.

My God, all kinds of liquids and pills you gotta take to clean you out prior to the examination. There's gotta be a better way.

K2WH
Post photos. please.

[w2amr]

Well, I had it done, first time at age 58 and it came out (no pun intended) ok. But, I'll never have it done again cause the preparation is more dehumizing than the actual examination as far as I'm concerned. Got no sleep cause you are on the toilet most of the time, can't eat for about 24 hours etc.

My God, all kinds of liquids and pills you gotta take to clean you out prior to the examination. There's gotta be a better way.

K2WH
It's still better than dying from cancer. Besides, You only have to have it done once every five years. Stop being a baby, with a loaded diaper. :D

[w2amr]

Two years ago I had both the endoscopy and colonoscopy , One within minutes of the other. I told the doc if he was planning to use the same probe for both procedures, please do the endoscopy first. :D

[n5xm]

My Internal Medicine Doc suggested I have one a couple years ago, and I declined, but I'm ready now. I'll take the full blown test because a false negative from a "virtual colonoscopy" is worse than not having an exam at all. Death from colon cancer is a terrible thing. I spent 32 years working for various specialty surgeons, including general surgeons who did colonoscopies on their own patients. Yes, that sucker is about ten feet long and about as big around as your thumb, and while the meds they give you don't literally put you to sleep, they are amnesic, and your won't remember a thing! You'll likely drift off, so that won't be the real problem. Chronic explosive evacuation of the rectum, however, is another story. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do! Make sure you have a nice supply of Preparation H, or maybe some viscus lidocaine would be even better!

[w2amr]

My Internal Medicine Doc suggested I have one a couple years ago, and I declined, but I'm ready now. I'll take the full blown test because a false negative from a "virtual colonoscopy" is worse than not having an exam at all. Death from colon cancer is a terrible thing. I spent 32 years working for various specialty surgeons, including general surgeons who did colonoscopies on their own patients. Yes, that sucker is about ten feet long and about as big around as your thumb, and while the meds they give you don't literally put you to sleep, they are amnesic, and your won't remember a thing! You'll likely drift off, so that won't be the real problem. Chronic explosive evacuation of the rectum, however, is another story. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do! Make sure you have a nice supply of Preparation H, or maybe some viscus lidocaine would be even better!
Yeah, it's a real treat if you are into water sports. The buzz ain't bad either. :D

[ke7imb]

If any of you are thinking twice about getting one. Here are some very important facts
1. Colon cancer is a big killer if you have this you won't know it till its too late. Colonoscopys are the best form for screening you.
2. My wife is a RN and she works in Gastroenterolgy that's anything to do with your digestive tract and she helps do the colonoscopy she tells me every day how many lifes are saved by gettiing this done again Colon cancer is treatable and preventable
so don't even hesitate to get one if your over 50.

[KG4JYD]

Did you smile from cheek to cheek?

You know in some States you and the doctor are considered legally married...


Did you at least get a kiss afterwards? What about a reach around? :D

[w2amr]

Did you smile from cheek to cheek?

You know in some States you and the doctor are considered legally married...


Did you at least get a kiss afterwards? What about a reach around? :D
Oh Geez. :D
Poor Willie, I guess he came to the wrong place looking for some sympathy.

[AF6FH]

I have to confess, I'm a little bit amused by how squeamish all of you seem to be about this! :) Are guys just always squeamish this way?

Seriously, guys, get it done when you're supposed to. Dying of a cancer that would have been curable if you had been willing to endure a little discomfort so it could be detected early? That seems like a really bad way to die.

But I also have to admit, I've suffered from chronic gastrointestinal problems my entire life, so the various preps I've had to endure over the years don't seem all that bad to me... my everyday life is sometimes worse. Going to the ER to get "disimpacted" was worse. Spending eight hours vomiting in the ER waiting room was worse. A home bowel prep? Give me a break, it's a piece of cake.

So remember to count your blessings, too, ok? AND GO GET IT DONE!

[KG4JYD]

Oh Geez. :D
Poor Willie, I guess he came to the wrong place looking for some sympathy.
You should've heard what I was saying to my dad as he was about go back into the operating room for a tube up the poop chute ha ha... I had half the waiting room laughing... the other half was in line for the same procedure so they didn't think it was funny :p

[WA6MHZ]

I have to confess, I'm a little bit amused by how squeamish all of you seem to be about this! :) Are guys just always squeamish this way?

Seriously, guys, get it done when you're supposed to. Dying of a cancer that would have been curable if you had been willing to endure a little discomfort so it could be detected early? That seems like a really bad way to die.

But I also have to admit, I've suffered from chronic gastrointestinal problems my entire life, so the various preps I've had to endure over the years don't seem all that bad to me... my everyday life is sometimes worse. Going to the ER to get "disimpacted" was worse. Spending eight hours vomiting in the ER waiting room was worse. A home bowel prep? Give me a break, it's a piece of cake.

So remember to count your blessings, too, ok? AND GO GET IT DONE!

OK I did, but ONCE in a lifetime is quite enough for some things, and this is one of them!

[W5HTW]

I had that many years ago, no problem at all. They did not have HDTV back then, bummer!

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

The did not have HDTV back then, say what?
Bummer? That's the name of the game!

[W5HTW]

My Internal Medicine Doc suggested I have one a couple years ago, and I declined, but I'm ready now. I'll take the full blown test because a false negative from a "virtual colonoscopy" is worse than not having an exam at all. Death from colon cancer is a terrible thing. I spent 32 years working for various specialty surgeons, including general surgeons who did colonoscopies on their own patients. Yes, that sucker is about ten feet long and about as big around as your thumb, and while the meds they give you don't literally put you to sleep, they are amnesic, and your won't remember a thing! You'll likely drift off, so that won't be the real problem. Chronic explosive evacuation of the rectum, however, is another story. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do! Make sure you have a nice supply of Preparation H, or maybe some viscus lidocaine would be even better!

I'm a bit lost here, folks. I've had three or four routine ones, and one during a stay in the hospital for bleeding ulcers.

I'd rather not sit on the throne for all that time, but geez, there are worse things in life, really. And the exam itself just isn't that bad, sorry. Might hurt a little, though three of mine did not hurt at all. On my first one, the attending nurse looked over at me and exclaimed, 'Oh, you're awake!" I lay there and looked at the movie. They rolled me down the hallway, never unconscious, and an hour later I was out of there.

Recovery was embarrassing, due to all the noise, but heck, everyone else in the recovery room was making noises, too, kind of like a percussion band.

Following the routine ones, I walked out of the recovery room and drove home. Had 14 polyps (all benign) removed on the first one. They told me not to use the stairs, and to take it easy for a day.

What is the big deal, guys? And gals? You take some laxitive, you have an exam, you go home, relax a day, and go about your routine life. Come on, it isn't fun, but it isn't a disaster, either.

"Git 'er done."