Yay colonoscopy

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Ms. Mod
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I'd second that after having to go through it twice now. The scope itself is no big deal as you're not awake for it. The prep, however, is horrible. The laxative you have to take over a span of several hours is tolerable at first but by the end of it be prepared to have a bucket close by as you might be needing something for both ends. :smile:
 

Neesy

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May 24, 2012
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Having turned 50 a few months ago, I have my first routine colonoscopy scheduled for the end of March. Any advice? What can I expect? Despite the title I am not enthused about this, but I understand it's a necessary evil at my age...
Try something called Pico Salax

What is PICO-SALAX®; | Oral Purgative with an Excellent Tolerability Profile


There is also some other type of purgative that comes in a really big empty jug (well except for a bit of powder in the bottom). Then you add your own water (or some form of liquid - not sure as I've never tried this one).

I remember delivering these jugs to the wards. I knew that if I delivered one to the ward at the beginning of my shift, by the end of the shift I would be donning a mask when walking the halls of the ward it was delivered to!

Good luck and like moderator says, stay close to the washroom. You will feel like you've lost at least five pounds before you go in for the procedure.

And also - make sure you do it right, for the sake of the yourself and the doctor, because not only is it unpleasant but he or she will not get good visualization if there is a poor bowel prep.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
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I second what all the others said. One perk is the after effects, lol. I remember being high as Cooter Brown (as we say down here) and calling friends from the recuperating room and having no memory of making any calls. :biggrin2:
I've forgotten what the name of the drug is, but it's my understanding that it's something that has an amnesiac effect. :smile2:
 

do1you9love?

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Feb 18, 2012
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I second what all the others said. One perk is the after effects, lol. I remember being high as Cooter Brown (as we say down here) and calling friends from the recuperating room and having no memory of making any calls. :biggrin2:
I have a friend who regaled us with tales of his "after effects". Apparently the procedure can cause some gas build up and the nurse told him it was normal and to not worry about it. He, in his "high as a kite" state took this to mean that they wanted him to poot loud, often and to a musical tune, so he did his best to comply!:rolleyes::facepalm_smiley:
 

Doc Creed

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I have a friend who regaled us with tales of his "after effects". Apparently the procedure can cause some gas build up and the nurse told him it was normal and to not worry about it. He, in his "high as a kite" state took this to mean that they wanted him to poot loud, often and to a musical tune, so he did his best to comply!:rolleyes::facepalm_smiley:
:rofl::highly_amused:
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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....Bob,
I had my first adventure up the old dirt road at 50 and lived to tell about it, BUTT I was told that I advised the Doctor I was having a Yard Sale up in there, and he could help himself to anything he liked!....anyway, the prep IS the literal shi**y part.....if you have the option, I would ask your physician to spare you the Go Lytely experience and instead opt for the 4 Dulcolax and one bottle of Mag Citrate route....it's much better tolerated I have found and does an effective job of prepping the colon....I had some mild nausea, but it was transient and I found that keeping a bottle of cold water at hand heled ease the experience...you WILL lose some weight, as the solids are evacuated along with a significant amount of liquid.....they will "twilight" you, meaning you will receive a dose of Versed via IV which will "put you under", however you will still be able to participate in the procedure-though you won't remember having done so....allow yourself a good 8 hours for a nap afterward, and make sure Mrs Bob is there to drive you home....essentially they will be looking for anything unusual, which are normally polyps, they may even snare a couple to ensure they are cancer free....good luck and if all is well, probably will be 10 years before you have to do another....
 

Blake

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Feb 18, 2013
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Having turned 50 a few months ago, I have my first routine colonoscopy scheduled for the end of March. Any advice? What can I expect? Despite the title I am not enthused about this, but I understand it's a necessary evil at my age...
They reckon it's painful, my father had it done and said it was painful( he also had that thing they put down your wind pipe, my father got throat cancer. Dont' smoke.
 

Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
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They reckon it's painful, my father had it done and said it was painful( he also had that thing they put down your wind pipe, my father got throat cancer. Dont' smoke.

A-frickin'-men.

Some people, particularly current smokers, wonder why I have such vitriol about tobacco.

If someone came to your family gathering and killed your favorite aunt, two other aunts besides, your beloved grandmother, both your parents, and then went out in the world and offed a few friends for good measure, would you dislike that person just a little bit?

And that's why I hate tobacco. Not the smokers who are leashed to it. To the people who put it out in society, knowing full well that the damage that their product has wreaked in my family is being carried around the country and world millions of times over. I don't know how someone can live with themselves causing that much pain and death, let alone go to great efforts to minimize and justify it.

Sorry. Rant over.
 

aussie12

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Jul 7, 2014
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Having turned 50 a few months ago, I have my first routine colonoscopy scheduled for the end of March. Any advice? What can I expect? Despite the title I am not enthused about this, but I understand it's a necessary evil at my age...
I had bowel cancer a couple of years ago and had to have a colostomy bag, luckily that's been reversed. I have stage 4 cancer and have just got the all clear again but I will be getting a colonoscopy in the next few weeks as I had bad constipation and my Oncologist wants to know why. Last time I had constipation not long after was when I found out that I had cancer.
It's not nice having a colonoscopy but I would recommend that everyone has one even if you are under 50 and have problems.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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I'll be 15 years overdue this year.

I know, I know. I'm just allergic to thinking about medical treatment.
....as your friend AND a nurse....you need to get both a scope done and a PSA drawn as screen for prostate cancer....you are a very intelligent man, so don't be goofy about this.....if not for you-then do it for Grandma, who might like having you around for a couple more years....
 

Dana Jean

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Apr 11, 2006
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I had bowel cancer a couple of years ago and had to have a colostomy bag, luckily that's been reversed. I have stage 4 cancer and have just got the all clear again but I will be getting a colonoscopy in the next few weeks as I had bad constipation and my Oncologist wants to know why. Last time I had constipation not long after was when I found out that I had cancer.
It's not nice having a colonoscopy but I would recommend that everyone has one even if you are under 50 and have problems.
I send you good energy and strong wishes for continued good news.
 

jchanic

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Jul 11, 2006
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I've had a number of colonoscopies over the years and I insist on being awake for them all. I'm curious as to what goes on during the procedures so I get to watch on the tv.

There was one time a few years ago that I had to have two in two days to fix what happened in one a week before--I started to bleed because the site of one of the polyps they had removed hadn't been sealed properly and broke open. They did the first to seal it properly and the second to check it. Not fun. I was in the ICU for a week that time.

John