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26 May 2012

The Very Essence of TMI. . . In which I detail the last several days, which has included my colonoscopy. I do this as a service to those to whom this procedure is a future event. So please to not click unless interested.[More:]

Hi there! So I am 61 and you are supposed to start getting these at 50 but I had not had one. The initial appt was, like 6 weeks ago, they schedule these that far out. I got a prescription for this stuff called Moviprep (scody, who is a pro at this stuff, advised me to just to Miralax and Gatorade, but I felt that in my rookie status, I should just do as ordered.)

The day before, only clear liquids, including black coffee, which, to me, is vile. Then broth, clear juice, etc. Took off work at noon. Then at 3pm, the first of the Moviprep. It is two powders that you mix with water in a bottle and shake up. Then drink, 8 oz at a time, in four doses, spaced 15 min. apart. It took a few hours, but it started to work. Boy howdy it worked.

My wife had wanted me to go to a lecture with her, but there was no way I was going to be away from my bathroom.

Then at 5 the next morning, the same Moviprep routine. So eight 8 oz glasses of this stuff, in all, and they got more vile with every one, until I had to pour half of the last one out in the sink.

Then I had to wait for that to go through, and it did. Nothing left in there.

What they don't tell you is that this process causes severe dehydration, in spite of all the plain water you are also urged to drink. This causes the body to divert blood to vital organs, leaving extremities very cold. I could not get warm at all, no matter what, so I had sweatpants and a sweatshirt on, and lay in bed reading.

Got to the clinic an hour early. When they take you in, they take your vitals (the dehydration/cold thing was explained to me then, when I asked), help you into a gown, and then put you in a lounge chair with a pre-warmed blanket and warm saline in the IV.

When they are ready they stood me up, put the blanket over my shoulders and led me into the room. I knew I wanted the maximum sedation allowed (my wife had taken NO sedation, she wanted to watch) so I shook hands with the doc and they put whatever twilight drug into the IV and all I remember (I do not remember any feeling of insertion at all) is opening my eyes once or twice and looking at the screen and the inside of my colon was golden and glowing.

They were done, and no tumors, no polyps. There was another issue which is fodder for another post sometime.

Then afterwards, you have gas. . . lots of gas, in that they inflate your colon, apparently, to get a better look.

So I did downward dog and child's pose on the bed in the recovery room while I waited for my wife to come back and get me. It must be strange to work in a place where everyone is encouraged to break as much wind as they can.

Stopped off at a store and I got this rollup sandwich and devoured it. Then got home, had a latte with plenty of milk, did some shoulder stands to try to get rid of the rest of the gas, and read for the rest of the day.

Went to work yesterday, even though they said I would probably not feel like it.

So the worst part, as they say, is the prep.

If you have gotten this far, thanks, and I hope that it informs you some, when it's YOUR time. And now that I have gone through it, and do not need to for 10 more years, I am urging you to do it, once you hit 50.

It saved scody's life and it could save yours.
Good on ya! My Mom had one a few years ago, she said the same thing about the prep being the worst part.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 26 May | 10:31
They don't do routine colonoscopies here in the UK; there's a bowel cancer screening programme, but it consists of fecal occult blood tests for everyone, followed by colonoscopies for those with worrying signs on the initial tests. Colonoscopy itself carries risks, so on a national level it doesn't make sense to do them for everyone.

My dad had a colonoscopy a few years ago, before the screening programme was introduced, because there were worries of some kind. He was fine - they found a few polyps, which were removed.

My mum went to the doctor earlier this year because she'd been having some bleeding "down below", and was diagnosed with bowel cancer on colonoscopy. Thankfully it was at a fairly early stage, and after radiotherapy, surgery and now chemotherapy to prevent recurrence, she's doing well, but it's been no picnic. She's only 58 which is below the age at which screening starts.

So yes, if you need one, have one, and if you are having worrying symptoms, go to the doctor. It's not pleasant but it's better than the alternative.
posted by altolinguistic 26 May | 10:43
My wife's identical twin sister was treated for colon cancer, so my wife had to have a colonoscopy. She refuses to do the higher frequency they recommend for her because of the prep until they come up with something that's less objectionable. Good news is that analysis of the tumor from her twin (who is doing very well after treatment) has shown it's not a genetic type of tumor.

It's crazy getting old...
posted by eekacat 26 May | 11:08
Thanks for sharing, danf... I'm supposed to have already had one, since my father had colon cancer in his early fifties, and an uncle died of it. I'm only 45, though, and I've been hoping to hold out for another year or two. I know, though, if they take the polyps out (if you have polyps), it really cuts your risk of developing cancer. If I was smart, I'd get it done sooner than later. I must say, your description is encouraging. Granted, the prep's no picnic, no doubt, but it's the procedure itself and the idea of being conscious that scared me. I, too, always want the most sedation possible.

I also need an overall physical, which I haven't had in years, and a mammogram, and let's not even mention the gynecologist or dentist.
posted by Pips 26 May | 12:55
Being a patient is very difficult territory. As a person lucky enough to have health insurance, even the seemingly innocuous fasting for blood work is hard. It's a privation. danf, I totally get that the prep was a big deal, and I'm glad everything turned out ok. We all have our different squick zones. I could have my ass snaked after a shot of tequila, for example, but other things, I just faint to think about.

My parents are gone and my siblings are older than danf, and two of them have gone through major health issues in the last year or two. They both handled the patient thing really well, and I hope to learn from them. Positive attitude, respect for caregivers, and speaking up loudly for their dignity and needs.
posted by rainbaby 26 May | 17:56
I can vouch for danf's colonoscopy fun! I've had one and the prep really is the worst thing. The stuff you have to drink is ghastly. Just take the day you start the prep off of work and stay close to a washroom, really close. In Canada there is no issue about the anaesthesia - they put you out. Mum (she's in the US) had twilight and they didn't put her out enough so she has a really bad memory of the colonoscopy part. The mister has had several and has the same opinion of what I wrote above as has Bro#1.

Pips, please go as soon as you can. It's really a nasty cancer if it gets a hold of you.
posted by deborah 26 May | 19:50
Thanks for the warning, danf. I have one scheduled for mid-July. (I'm a bit on the young side for one, but after my doctor suggested I see a GI specialist, the specialist gave me a choice between colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, I opted for colonoscopy because, what the hell, FULL THROTTLE, BABY!)
posted by not_on_display 26 May | 20:19
Oh, yeah, I had to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy (both ends!) when I was 32. The prep, yeah. Self-induced diarrhea is not so much fun, but really, whatever. It's one day and then you get to have propofol! Which is awesome! Anyone can handle one day of being a bit miserable.

posted by gaspode 26 May | 21:09
Thanks for recap. I've got the endoscopy and colonoscopy combo platter in my very near future (I just have to schedule it). The only thing I'm really dreading is the prep - sounds like the worse part. One of my friends who just had a colonoscopy told me his Dr gave him the OK to put vodka in the concoction. That could be a good thing. I guess.
posted by Slack-a-gogo 26 May | 21:34
I appreciated the description, took a lot of mystery out of it and is less scary than what you imagine. I know it's a necessary thing - I've already known someone just over 40 with colorectal cancer, nothing to fool arond with.
posted by Miko 26 May | 22:08
Thanks for the info danf. We both need to have one this year most likely. the only part that scares me is the gas part. Gas that can't find its way out is painful as hell. I do NOT look forward to that. Everything else I think I can handle.
posted by chewatadistance 27 May | 13:49
Yeah, the friend I just lost had colorectal cancer. If you think the scope is scary bad just consider how bad the treatments and possible outcome can be.
posted by mightshould 27 May | 17:17
No routine scans here, either - they send out a kit by post when you turn 50 and you dollop some shit (preferably your own) into a container and post it back. Got mine recently a few months almost a year ago and I guess I should do something about it.
posted by dg 27 May | 20:07
Weekend 3-point update || House Hunt?

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