Do I Really Need to Have a Colonoscopy?

LMAO at the drano ! I make sure I have the 6 AM apt and go immediately from hospital to diner for huge breakfast, and can sometimes even get taken to dinner too if I insist I am drained and need a nap.

merilee----the night before you drink a solution (mine was miralax this time) that cleans out your intestines completely-----basically you have loose bowels/diarrhea for a few hours--- not a pleasant task, but necessary so they have a clear view of your entire colon.

Anne

I am scheduled for a colonoscopy on Friday this week.  I was originally scheduled last year to get a mammo and colonoscopy in December.  I did the mammo scheduling first, found out I had cancer and said to hell with the colonoscopy, I have enough on my mind.  Now that treatments are over I had to go back to my PCP to get another referral as it had been over a year.

I got the paperwork, I have to get a prescription.  The paperwork said something like a 4 liter bottle and to give the patient all the packet flavors available.  Then the instructions say to drink 8 oz within 10 minutes wait for a period of time, drink 8 oz in 10 minutes....I can't even barely drink 3 glasses of water a day and I am forcing water down my throat but they want me to drink 4 liters of liquid??

All I can say is that I am going to bring some valium with me and they had better put me out with some good drugs like dimerol or something like that.  Forget this twighlight stuff, I want to be put out to where I don't remember a thing!

I am sleeping downstairs in the bathroom.  The nearest bed is 12' away and I don't think I can make it from there to the bathroom in time so I plan on putting down a soft blanket and a pillow on the floor in the bathroom and just sleeping in there for the night.

A friend of mine used the white grape flavor packet and she said ever since then just the sight of white grape drink makes her want to gag so I need to select a flavor that I don't care that much for - maybe they have something like Hawaiian Punch?

Edited to add:  I just had a petscan in January that showed up clear.  I asked my PCP why I would need a colonoscopy if my petscan was clear and he said because a petscan won't show up precancerous cells.  My aunt died of colon cancer and her daughter got breast cancer so I really don't want to take a chance here.

there are two different bottles or ways of cleaning you out..I always ask

not to have the one with lots and lots of fluid....I tell them it will make me

throw up so they give me the small one instead....much better

I had pills for my first one 4 years ago - I seemed to have an easier time when I compared notes with friends who had used liquids.  They did find polyps so I was supposed to go back last year, but was a tad busy with b/c.  Sooo, I need to make an appointment this year.  DH is due this year for his first one - we figure we'll make an appointment for the same time and have a friend take us.  Our house has 2 bathrooms on the bedroom level - we figure we'll assign one bathroom to each person during the prep, because as you all say, no one is going to want to use the bathroom you're using while you're cleaning out.  

Maybe it's silly, but dh and I figured that we might as well do this at the same time - somehow it's easier to share the misery if someone else is going through it too.

I had my colonoscopy a few months before the unfortunate mammo which began my BC rollercoaster.....

I had a very hard time drinking the colonoscopy prep, I think I had the same solution Jancie posted about (above).  It was just so disgusting, there was NO WAY I could drink it according to schedule.   I threw up the first few sips, then put the solution in the refrigerator and drank it on ice, slowly, through a straw placed as far back in my mouth as possible - tips I'd found on the web.  Meanwhile, I phoned my doc who said not to worry about drinking it on schedule, it would be OK if I took my time as long as I manged to drink it.   

My hemorrhoids were not happy about any of this, there was a lot of pain and bleeding and I was simply MISERABLE for a few days but then I healed.

When all is said and done, I'm glad I know I don't have colon cancer right now.  The hellish prep was worth it to get that information.

This may be a helpful hint.  It made downing the liquid much easier for me.  I mixed the solution in a larger container and then I transferred it back into the four Propel bottles I used for the mix.  I put them in the refrigerator and then I could "chug" a half bottle which was close to the 8 ounces I needed to do each time, I think every half hour.  It went down quickly and fairly easily. ( 8x8 = 64 )

I  had my last one three years ago and was originally told next one would be in five years, but since diagnosis  of bc they are saying three years, so I get to have the fun again this summer...........can't wait............heheheh

Hope you find my hint helpful.......................Caren

Madalyn, my unscientific guess is that polyps are the intestinal equivalent of adh. No one knows which ones will turn into dcis, and then no one which of those will become invasive.

My aunt died of colon ca. That's a lot worse than hemorrhoids (which I have). They can be hell but they aren't life-threatening.

Leah

Just be thankful they have progressed to the colonoscope.  I can still remember the days when my dad went in to get a proctoscope without any anesthesia whatsoever. 

Jane.... So glad you are getting this one done.  Yes, prep is ghastly, but then you are home clear.  And anything suspect can be nipped in the bud.

My colon was just stellar when I had done a few years ago.  So did not worry at all about this coming into BC surgery.

My ex did not have one....had done sigmoidoscopies... and had felt faint one day.  Fortunately, internist suggested colonoscopy.  He was fortunate.  Got there with surgery just in the nick of time.  So no cancer, but a very close call.

I second, third and fourth and fifth and sixth it - get the colonoscopy! The thing is - colonoscopies are not meant to find cancer - they are really to PREVENT cancer!!!! So why not???? Those little polyps may not even be cancer when they are removed. But especially once you've had one polyp, you will possibly grow more. They don't necessarily grow fast, but no one knows when the cells will change into cancer. It's so much better to remove a non-cancerous growth, than to deal with colon cancer once the cells have changed. It's so much better to have a polyp removed with a scope than have colon surgery to remove part of your colon. It's all do-able, but no one knows when those cells will spread outside the colon wall and cause metastasis.

Yes, the prep tastes nasty - that's because it's a strong solution to force your body to pull water into your colon to dilute it. This causes the diarrhea. But, if the colon isn't clean, the polyps can't be seen, or may be missed. I'd rather have the peace of mind, knowing I've done all I can to prevent cancer. Too bad there's not a test to prevent breast cancer!

Leah - the fleets enema is a small amount of concentrated solution that some doctors order for the morning before your procedure. IF there is anything left in your colon, it will clean it out too! The bottle it comes in is soft, with a gooey tip. You squeeze the bottle to force the fluid into your rectum, preferably while laying on your right side. (Someone else can help you if you wish). After several minutes, you'll need to use the bathroom AGAIN! By then, you really should be fine to go to the hospital. Just make sure someone else is with you to drive home because of the medicine you'll have. And don't plan on doing anything that day - you'll be sleepy and forgetful!

Jane and Sandy, best of luck.

Leah

blondie - you get pills for the prep the night before? WOW! None of the doctors here use them. We used to have Fleets Phosphasoda - about 8 oz. It didn't taste good, but almost anyone can get 4 oz down and then repeat in 4 hours. It was taken off the market, and now we only have the Golytely - 1000cc! It's usually the worst part of the procedure. Maybe they'll use the pills here before I need my repeat in about 6 years!

Edited to add: But in spite of the inconvenience, I'm a big advocate for having the colonoscopies done as recommended. Polyps, once removed, can't change into cancer and prevention of colon cancer is at least possible by colonoscopy in most cases - unlike breast cancer which has so many kinds, hard to see on screenings, much harder to remove, etc. Wouldn't it be nice if a lumpectomy was as simple as having a polyup removed? 

Edited to add again! We posted at the same time awb! I agree that your mom is alive due to regular colonoscopies! Once a person grows polyps, and many of us do, we will grow more. Depending on the type of cells in the specimen, your doctor will have you repeat the colonoscopy in 2, 3 or 5 years! It's worth it, to have the prevention security!

Anybody that had BC should have a colonoscopy every 3-5 years and a vaginal ultrasound yearly for ovarian cancer. My doctors recommended this , even that I am the only person in my family that had  cancer.