Colonoscopy

[Sunshine]

It's time for my preventive colonoscopy. Last was 6 years ago and was incomplete clean out. (Doc said that can happen with MS) I Was to do it in October, but the MS attack started a week before so I rescheduled it.

They want me on only liquids Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday is the clean out day. Blechhhh! Procedure is Wednesday morning. They're letting me take baclofen before the procedure, half hour before my usual dose.

I gotta be sure nurse gives me the mid morning dose after the procedure, because I doubt I will remember to do it, or whether I did it.

If you have any tips or war stories, let me know.

I read in the BT archives that rdmc used Desitin cream to protect sensitive tissue. And very soft TP.

[Virginia]

BBS, no war stories here. I have only had one and that was a long time ago.

[Lazarus]

I had no problems. It annoys me a lot that even if I offer to sit for an hour after the test they will not let you just go home by yourself. I have tried every trick in the book....

When I am not eating properly I drink a bottle of the original Ensure. I do this when my esophagus is spasmiming and I am not getting proper nutrition. That might help if you are not getting nutrient for a day or two.
Linda

[Sunshine]

Good idea, thanks!

[Jeanie Z]

:) My colonoscopy was probably the worst day of my life. I will NEVER have another. My maternal grandmother died of colon cancer.

I went to the ER at 7 AM after having bloody stool during the night. They kept me in the ER until evening. I had to use a bedpan although my scooter was right there.

They moved me to a room with no call button and out of sight from the bed of the staff. They gave me the stuff to clean you out. The bathroom was about 100 feet away and there was no way I could make it there when the stuff started working good. So they put me in diapers. The staff had to change my diapers all night long. Several times I had to yell to get help.

They would not let me have anything to drink at all. Finally a few ice chips and I was so dehydrated that I had cramps in my legs and abdomen and arms. I was supposed to be the first case in the AM but they did not take me to the place for the colonoscopy until after 1 PM. Still having painful cramping.

After they took me to recovery and I asked to see the doctor and was told he would see me in my room. I was being admitted. They started an IV and told me to drink. However the bathroom was on the other side of the bed and I had to get off on the left and drive the scooter around to pull the IV to go.

I insisted they remove the IV and that I would drink. I was in a private room with a second door to get into the hall. Only twice during that night did anyone enter my room. I could not sleep as I had to pee often.

The doctor never came in. I went out to the nursing station and asked when I could go home. They said after the doctor visited. By 5 PM that afternoon I called David and said come get me. I am going to sign out against medical advice (AMA). When he got there he went out and told them they had 10 minutes to get my paperwork together and then we were leaving with or without it. And we did.

I felt so alone and not listened to and degraded and embarassed. I think because I have taken LDN for 17 years I doubt I will get cancer again. Even if I should I will not take any treatments. I am 75, soon to be 76.

I am happy that others can do this easier than I can but I do not want to do it again. Jeanie :)

[Cat Dancer]

I had my last colonoscopy when I was in the nursing home. I could not get to the bathroom, so they had me on a bedpan, and diapers. Like someone else said, I didn't clean out completely -- doctor blamed the nursing home, as I wasn't upright/standing, for stuff to drain -- but they were able to perform the procedure. Found nothing wrong. That was the third one I had, and I swore never again. Since then I've had the colostomy. I don't know what it would be like to have one with a colostomy...empty bags every 20 minutes, I guess. But I don't plan on another...ever. Like Jeannie, if I get colon cancer, at age 70, with everything else wrong, that will have to be what finally does me in.

[stillstANNding]

I am on the 5 year plan because my dad had colon cancer and I had a polyp. That will be this year.

For a prep, I eat lightly for 2 days and then drink half of the Colyte (or equivalent). This has worked. Good thing because I really can't stand that stuff. It is better cold if you can fit it into your fridge.

ANN

[Virginia]

BBS, you asked for war stories. I think you got one from Jeanie. That was an ordeal!

[agate]

I've heard a few war stories about colonoscopies but Jeanie's tops them all. Now I'm very glad I've always said No to that test.

I have absolutely no risk factors for colon cancer unless my half-brother counts. He had it but survived it and went on living for 35 more years. With a colostomy bag.

I point out my lack of risk factors to doctors who promote the idea and readily do the fecal occult blood tests. So far everyone has been happy, and now I'm too old for a colonoscopy.

The medical experts have decided that after age 75 or so you won't be asked to have one any more. There are real advantages in getting old.

[SalpalSally]

Never had one!!!

[Howie]

Me either Sally, and wouldn't.

[SuzE-Q]

I had a nightmarish experience when I had my one and only one (soon to be #2, although I might ask for sigmoidoscopy or fecal occult instead).

I was really dehydrated as I didn't have much liquid the 2 preceding days (except the yucky stuff) and then nothing the night before.

I had a paramedic who wanted to "practice" his needle insertion skills on me. I agreed (bad move), because my veins had collapsed from loss of fluids. He tried 2x, to no avail.

A nurse then tried 2x without success.

Then another nurse tried and got it on the 2nd try. So that was 6 attempts, all for naught as the doc didn't even knock me out at all as he didn't find anything needing to be clipped. It sure was a sharp pain going around a turn though, I felt that!

The doctor was NOT happy that they'd put me through that needle ordeal!

So, while it's time again, I'm asking for a much easier and less intrusive sigmoidoscopy, or maybe fecal blood occult test, I understand they may be just fine to detect a possible problem nowadays. I don't have any risk factors (except being a former smoker).

I just don't want to go through that again. But if I had any advice it would be to forego as little liquid as possible before you're entirely cut off. I wasn't a fan of broths, which they recommended, if I recall, so I didn't bother. I would now, knowing how deflated my veins became without fluids.

Good luck!

Jeanie, you had a heck of an experience, wow!

[Sunshine]

Jeannie, what they did to you is appalling and I my opinion, is abusive. They are darn lucky you did not call the newspaper or initiate a lawsuit. The latter would've been fruitless since you didn't die from it or suffer irreparable medical harm.

There is a special place in hell for medical caregivers like that. It's why people lineup friends and relatives these days to stay with them in the hospital.

I am so sorry you had to endure this. If they did it to a senior it would constitute elder abuse. Or if they did it to a kid, child abuse.

[Sunshine]

Suze, for mine, the protocol on top of the clean out is large amounts if clear fluids for two days, and after each bout of drano.

[SuzE-Q]

Suze, for mine, the protocol on top of the clean out is large amounts if clear fluids for two days, and after each bout of drano.

Yes, that was my instructions, clear broth was included in the acceptable list.

I just didn't drink enough, so I'd drink as much as possible up to the cut off time next time. I didn't take it as seriously as I should have, and didn't even think of the impact on my veins if I didn't hydrate as much as possible.