How my Onc & Breast Cancer Just Saved My Life

My good friend and I decided to be colonoscopy buddies when we turned 50. We made our appointments with the same dr about two weeks apart and the plan was to be each others' driver. My appt. came, I prepped (decidedly the least favorite part), the procedure was done, things were fine, and my friend took me home.

Two weeks later, my friend started her prep (same tx) and nothing happened...nothing. The dr doubled the tx...still nothing. She has always had a problem in that area, so she may have raised her tolerance for laxitives. They finally had to take her in and, for lack of better terminology, "induce" her, LOL. They did remove some small polyps, so she is on their "watch" list.

As soon as I get through my bc treatment, I will schedule another colonoscopy. They really are not the worst test I've had, and what a relief that some cancers can be caught so early! 

marin  u make me laugh   about your comment on the drugs 

i knew you and i had a special bond !!!

i know everyone puts of colonoscopy  not only us bc gals

its really not bad at all  and its nice to know you are all clear

please dont hesitate to go for the test

xoxox

jd

"re: the Dave Barry article link..."

That was funny!  Had a great ending...telling us to get our colonoscopies.

I can relate to his getting so nervous EVEN calling for an appointment to the doctor!  That would be me...white coat syndrome.  But I'm getting better after bc because I had sooo many appointments.

Shirley

Did my colonoscopy 2 years ago. Got to use the small bottles of phosphosoda. Doc said to just drink the bottle real fast, and then drink liquids after that. Worked like a charm. Plugged my nose and chugged. Nasty, but it was quick. Did the same thing the next morning. No polyps so am clear for another 8 years. Colon cancer doesn't run in the family, thank goodness for one good thing!



Dh went this year for his, finally. 2 polyps, b9. Has to go back in 5 years. But, he had to get some gallon jug from the pharmacy by prescription. Evidently, according to the doc, they are not using the small bottles anymore. People were having some kind of seizures as a result of the concentration of salt in the small bottle. My guess would be that those people weren't drinking enough liquid to neutralize the high salt content in their systems.



I opted for the colonscopy rather than sigmoid, because I would be out. With sigmoid, they don't give any anesthesia. No way I'm going for that. I got the lovely pics also.



Will look for your QVC jewelry art, gsg!! LOL



And, anyone who wants to mark their arm to avoid bp, needle sticks, IV can get a hot pink Lymphedema Alert bracelet for free from:



www.lymphedema.com Pensinsula Medical, Inc. Reid Sleeve 1-800-29-EDEMA



Our Sutter Surgery and Matternity Center has ordered a bunch for patients. Next time I go in for an injection in my neck, they should be there. They liked mine so much, they called. The supervisor was delighted because they are free.



I also wear an ID bracelet from American Medical ID. I have a mesh one for the pool, a stainless steel for every day, and a 14 kt gold for dressier occasions. I never go without a bracelet, and I always carry a list of all the medications I am taking. You never know if you will have a medical emergency, and if you are unconscious, this may save you from getting lymphedema and gives medical personnel the information they need to treat you without interaction from drugs.



Thanks for the thread. Hope others come and get the info too. It really isn't all that bad.

We went out to breakfast right after also. But my french toast stayed down--unlike Shirley's pancakes!

I've been eating flaxseed for breakfast since last May.  It really helps move things through, which had become a persistent issue for me ever since I finished radiation/started tamoxifen.  It's not the most appetizing thing to eat in the world, but it only takes 3 or 4 days away from it for me to notice that I need my flaxseed. 

For this reason alone, I stick with it, and I am very happy to know that there are so many other benefits from flaxseed....  good source of lignans, omega 3, keeps cholesterol in check.  Of course, it also has phytoestrogens, which is what makes it controversial for er/pr+ ladies like me, but I'm going with the theory that the plant esters are weaker than our own bodies' estrogen, so if they connect with the receptors, the plant esters are too weak to feed a tumor.  It's all a crapshoot anyway on who's right.  Right?  

Just got back from my colonoscopy - results "normal!"  I was really dreading the results because my grandma had colon cancer, and I know the odds are higher for those of us with BC.  But, all clear for 5 years. What a relief!

 I did the pills for prep, too.  Took 4 every fifteen minutes for an hour starting at 4pm.  Then at 8pm, took 4 every fifteen minutes until 8:45.  They definitely worked!

  My only suggestion for next time is that I would start earlier- around 2pm for the first round.  I was up later  than I wanted to be.  I think I last hit the bathroom at 10:30, but because I didn't know if I'd have to get up again, my sleep wasn't really very restful.

   The center was great about not using my right arm for the bp or iv, too.  Very considerate about that and any allergic reactions to things like latex.  No nausea from my demeral, and a fairly quick procedure- in at 7:15, out at 9:00. 

Is it just me, or has anyone else felt a huge burst of energy the days following their colonoscopy? 

I don't know it it's a coincidence or what, but I feel about 10 years younger!

Had my colonoscopy last summer, with clean results.  They were great and very understanding about not using my lymphedema arm, even marking it with tape.  However, I had another surgical proccedure a few months later and told everyone in sight not to use my LE arm and kept my Medic-Alert bracelet on.  Everyone was cooperative until just before I went under, the anesthesiologist who had said he wouldn't use that arm, told me to slip my arm out of the gown for the BP cuff.  I refused, and am glad that I was still conscious enough to do so.  From now on I will write on my arm with permanent marker that I have LE and the arm is not to be used.  I also sent the anesthesiologist info about lymphedema.  One word of advice on the prep (OK two words) BABY WIPES!

Hi, Otter

I had my first colonoscopy at the end of August.  The prep kit was the same as yours - man that stuff was nasty nasty nasty. Use very cold water. Drink it down as fast as you can (plug your nose). Drink a lot. I had one dose at 6pm, the next at 7am, procedure at noon. TMI as this is - the uh results weren't as bad as I'd expected. Don't know if it was me or the prep.  Everything came out, but it wasn't like I had to sit on the toilet all evening; it took about an hour for things to get moving. I was able to sleep at night w/o any issues.

Get as much of the gas out while you're at the clinic as you can. There wasn't any leakage. It took a couple of days for the digestive system to get back on track.

They were careful with the IV and checking to see if there were any restrictions on which arm.

I figure the docs have seen literally everything. I was worried I'd get my period and the nurse was all - oh, it's ok, we see it all, blah blah blah.   A good GI doc should be able to get the tube through the colon w/o any problems.

My mom has had a few polyps removed and MIL just had three feet of her colon removed. The prep and the thinking about what they could find were the worst parts. The procedure itself was a non-issue & a nice nap. At 47 I was three years early, but BC was considered a reason to have one & insurance approved it w/no discussion.

Good luck. Hope it goes well.

otter,

Good Luck with your colonoscopy, on Nov. 20th!  I'll be thinking of you, and sending you lots of positive thoughts and hugs!!

I didn't have the Fleet Phosphosoda, but my dh did.  He was ok to sleep at night, but he took it in TWO doses, and didn't have any ... er... effects til about 3 hours later, and he was saying "Hey this stuff isn't working.... oh..."   But, he drank some coffee I think or else a little water in the morning, and IMMEDIATELY, it came out the other end.  Sorry if TMI!  Just wanted to warn you.

Oh, and the test itself was fine, I was put out for it, and when I woke up in the procedure room there was a nurse there.  She remembered me from my bilateral mast., and she said, "oh I remember you... you were SO scared...."

Wishing you LOTS O LUCK!
Harley

Just thought I'd drop in on this thread...I'm going for my third pooper snooper in Jan, The first one did find polyps, but it also hurt.  They knocked me out after I yelped.  So, the second one I had a pediatric scope and total sedation.  Never felt a thing!  I guess if you want it, they'll do it.

I must say, it's the only time in my life that someone was glad to hear me f*rt!!

Susan.

Aw, Harley, how cute:  colonoscopy twins!  You're right--it was a dumb idea for them to be scheduled on the same day, but maybe that was the way they wanted to do it?  You know, "If you'll do it, I'll do it" etc.

Don't make them buy you lunch until afterward, okay?

Oh.  There is this news:  I wrote to Fleet and asked them why my doctor is still using two 45-ml bottles of Phospho Soda, when the new Fleet "EZ-Prep" kit includes one 45-ml bottle and a second 30-ml bottle.  Doesn't my doctor know that the second dose of Phospho Soda should be as small as possible?  Fleet seems to know that.

A Fleet representative wrote me back on the same day, saying they were sorry, but doctors could do pretty much whatever they wanted to do, regardless of the research studies.  He said the main risk to the kidneys comes when people don't drink enough fluids and get dehydrated.  So, he said, be sure to drink lots of water and other fluids before and during the prep.  (He even gave me suggested volumes.)  I thought that was very considerate of Fleet to respond specifically to my email, giving me advice and reassurance.

otter