Colonoscopy tests - well worth it...

[spike99]

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My Colonoscopy tests were explained to me last week. Unknown to me before, I have 4 polyps (which is an abnormal growth of tissue `tumor` projecting from a mucous membrane) and their tests showed each of them as "benign". Having 4 polyps at such a young age means I need to go for Colonoscopy tests every 3 years - instead of normal 5-10 years. Oh well. If it has to be done, it has to be done.

For medical details, surf:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonoscopy
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyp_%28medicine%29

After hearing about my colonoscopy test results (and what they found), I now understand why many say, "cancer is a silent killer". Going forward, I'm glad WE are now taking Proactive Cancer Detection - for my body. Many folks on our earth don't have this preventative medical option. If you are at risk or are "of the age", do get screened for cancer as well. It's well worth it!!!! What they found in my body was a surprise...

Hope this helps others...

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[cheryl]

You're right, everyone should get this test to make sure everything is clear, but that prep drink didn't agree with me at all. I really hated that.

[Deleted]

Hi, I really have a fear of this test, I know I need it but just a afraid. My sister-in -law is having the test on Mon,my dad had cancerous polyps they removed 3yrs ago, it saved his life! Thanks for the web sites.
Bev

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

I think I'd have a problem with it as well Bev. I don't know.....makes me nervous or something.

Cheryl/Spike, you said you had it ......how did you find it? Were you sedated? How long did it take?

[John]

Hi All;
I had the test done last fall I was given the newer drink and it wasn't bad at all ( you know as far as those kind of drinks go ! ) I too was nervous ! Why wouldn't one be With nature of it all ! It was all little discomforting . They do sedate you and if your unconformable at all they will increase the sedation. Never was I "out of it " The biggest fear was not ever having this test before ,it was unfamiliar. I can't say I would look forward to the next one but I wouldn't worry about it either . Hope this helps l

[spike99]

Blosson. Here's some info I put on a different forum....

In all, the actual test took under 4 hours. Took 1 hour for hospital prep time, 1 hour for the procedure and 1 hour in recovery. And, 1 hour buffer - just in case more time is needed. For me, removing 4 skin tags took extra time. But being "knocked out", I didn't feel a thing. Slept like a baby during the actual procedure. Best sleep I've had in years...

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As planned, I had the colon scope test done yesterday (re: Monday morning). To prepare for this test, NO eating from Sunday afternoon onward. To swallow the medicine starting Saturday afternoon, they recommended I dilute it in Apple or Cranberry juice. Also needed to swallow almost 1 gallon of fluids - with NO food before Monday morning’s test. Yesterday morning, I got hospital, they did their baseline tests and guess what? My vitals were almost off the map. My sugar counts were almost at the point of emergency insulin, my BP was high and I had a migraine that would knock over an elephant. After a few questions, they realized the problem. I have Pre-Type 2 Diabetes and all that Apple Juice the day and night before sent my sugar blood counts wild. This also sent my BP wild. Since they understood what caused this problem and knowing my blood counts will naturally go down (as time goes on), they performed the colonoscopy test – as planned. The rest of the afternoon, the abdominal cramps and gas discharge wasn’t a problem. Actually, this was minor side effect compared to my migraine. Haven’t had a migraine at that level for 9 months. From Sunday noon until last night at 9:00 PM, I was in a dark black room, no sound, trying to “sleep off” my elephant size migraine. If it wasn’t for my migraine (due to sugar counts spiking up) and my stomach rolling (from my migraine), this colon test isn’t that bad. It’s actually more embarrassing (due to the nature of this test) then a discomfort to my body. Lesson learned: Don't use recommended juices if you have Pre-type 2 or other Diebetis problems as well. For me, it created a migrane that would knock over an elephant. Next time around, I'm only going to use water.

If wondering, I did get some results back already. The doctor found lots of “skin tags” alone the inside of my colon. He said I have much more then the average person. Over time, these skin tags do turn into cancer. These skin tags are one of the main reasons for elderly people having colon cancer. The more skin tags, the more chance they will turn into cancer. He snipped them off and sent each each for a biopsy test. They need to confirm if each removed skin tag is at its non-cancer stage (which they appear to be). He told me that since these skins are removed at my young age, the risk of having future colon cancer (for me) has been dramatically lowered. If I got this same test done at age 50+, the phase of each skin tag would have been much more mature. Closer to turning into cancer. And at age 60, these skins tags would have been in their cancer state.

Sorry to go into details. But in a way, getting this test done at my age 42 (instead of 52+) was a positive thing for me. And if it wasn’t for my Pre-Type 2 Diabetes and sudden sugar spike, which created a migraine with rolling stomach, getting this colonoscopy test isn’t as bad as it sounds. If someone needs a colonoscopy test done, do tell them this test sounds more scary then it actually was. It was for me…

Hope this update helps you and some of your friends – if they need a future colonoscopy test as well…

.

[cheryl]

I had the colonoscopy and the worse thing for me was the prep drink. Yuck. I kept it down long enough for it to work and then it all came back up. The test itself was a breeze. I was unconcious. I also had a sigmoidoscopy. That one you aren't unconcious for. It wasn't too too bad. Just uncomfortable. I ended up having bad diverticulitous and when my bowel perforated, they removed my sigmoid colon.

Beverlyin - John says theirs a newer drink, so maybe it's not too bad anymore. Worth getting it done if you need it.

Spike - I'm glad they got your tags. I bet that's a big load off your mind. I'm so sorry you had the gigantic migraine. I'm glad you're feeling better now.

[Vic]

I had a colonoscopy in 2002 and I insisted that I didn't want to be knocked out or sedated. Still didn't feel a thing and I watched the entire thing live, on a TV. The only uncomfortable thing was when they inflated the colon with air, but not that bad. The worst thing was the 2-day preparation with laxatives and enemas...hated that part. Otherwise it was a piece of cake. -- Vic

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Yuck! Yuck!Yuck! Sorry guys (and gals).....gotta say I'm with Bev on this one. I'm turning yellow as I type . And Cheryl??? Would you recommend it having been through some stuff

[cheryl]

Jackie - I wouldn't want to have to drink the prep drink again, but the test itself was no problem, cause you're unconcious. If I had symptoms of something wrong, I'd get it done again in a heartbeat. No point hiding your head in the sand. That doesn't accomplish anything.

[spike99]

There is certain tests in this world that normal folks should NEVER have to endure. I'm sure many of us agree. Many times, we do have a choice in life. Take the test or "take the long term risk". In my mind, I can calculate the long term risk (of saying NO to this test). Believe you me, I'd rather NOT have this test done every 3 years. However, my heart states that if my doctor says "get it done" then to me, one gets it done. One gets it done because of family history, current medical problems or they are "of that age". Age of being over 50 (or so). If my heart says "its has to be done" and if my doctor says "it has to be done" then, it gets done. I put my head downward and get it done. It isn't my favorite medical test and probably never will be but if I say no, I really don't want it's long term outcome. For example, having a plastic bag stuck to the side of my body the rest of my life because "I said no 5 times (at every 3 years thats 15 years from today) and something bad happens in the long run". re: My colon developed cancer and they had to rip most of it out - to save my body.

We all have a choice in life. For me, I get the test done - even though it is "Yuck! Yuck!Yuck!" to me as well...

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[cheryl]

Believe me, you don't want a colostomy bag.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

You're right and I guess it's a prudent decison; guess it's just not something I like to think on too much.