TMI

[jpx2rk]

The prep for the actual procedure is the worse part of it all. I just wish the nurses would push me over into a corner after they are done and leave me alone for rest of the day. That "stuff" they give me to put me under, "I likeeeeee". LOL

 

[Murray Brook]

Done the cologuard test 2 weeks ago and got the results about 5 hrs ago. All was good, but I know what you mean about how your mind works during the wait/results period. Might just have a few cold ones tonight because of the results.

 

[PhilC]

The procedure is a piece of cake. My last one when I was talking to the nurses and thought they were still prepping me, they said you are all done now.

That's funny, had my 2nd a month ago (1st was in 2009 or early 2010) . After I was wheeled into the procedure room told the team this would be only my second time "going under" everybody laughed, nurse asked me to roll on my side and next thing I know I'm back in the staging area with my wife sitting next to me.

Dr came by short while later and said no problems at all see you in 10yrs.

 

[cmysix]

and you wasted the money on the mail in test which have been around for at least 35 years, and the have always been iffy. there is a reason they say to get the scope at fifty and if colon cancer is in the family at 45! BTW the mail in test does nothing to find a polyp all it does is look for blood in the stool.

 

[MUP]

The prep for the actual procedure is the worse part of it all. I just wish the nurses would push me over into a corner after they are done and leave me alone for rest of the day. That "stuff" they give me to put me under, "I likeeeeee". LOL

Some of the best sleep for such a short time I've ever had.

 

[Just Say Moe]

And stop by for a large pizza on the way home..... and wake up 6 hrs later and don't remember the joy of eating it.

 

[topclass2017]

for me, the worst part of the prep is nothing solid to eat the day before. The guys at the warehouse were eating taco truck tacos while I was eating lime jello. Drinking the witches brew was not a big deal, nor the blow through. I've had worse (symptomatic) diarrhea in SE Asia more than once...And I agree about the drug concoction. Nurse said roll on your side, and the next thing I remember is waking up.

 

[3Sigma]

Had mine at age 40 three years ago. Mom has colitis, dad had stage 2 colon cancer and had a colectomy ( cancer free), mom's mom had stage 1 colon cancer but caught it early.

Found 1 benign polyp... now on the 5 year plan.

If it is in your family, get it done.

 

[jpjulian]

Cologuard and 3 colonoscopy with a couple benign polyps removed from me. Dad had about 6 feet of his colon removed with 26 weeks of chemo after that. He didn't get the colonoscopy until it was too late. Damn heart attack killed him a few years later. After my last colonoscopy Doc said I'm good for 10 years..... I don't think so, even if I am already age 70. I am not going to go through what my dad did.

 

[swd]

I watched my mother die from colon cancer. She lived her last few months here with us. I guarantee it’s not how any of us want to go. Get the colonoscopy. With the drugs it’s not bad at all. I have my 3rd scheduled in June..

 

[Krogen]

I had my second one last year. Fortunately, all was good and Doc said come back in 10 years. I had asked if he would do it without the conscious sedation. He was OK with that, but said they'd plug in an IV so they could knock me out if need be. All went well without the knock out juice. Doc gave me a guided tour of my colon. He was an entertaining tour guide. I watched on the monitor as he had a look-see. He pointed my internal "features" that I never thought I'd see. Quite interesting and I could drive myself back home.

Other people have said it, and I will underline it: Just do it. The prep isn't all that bad, just a wasted day where you need to stay home. After the procedure I felt completely justified in eating a big, greasy bacon cheeseburger with fries and a shake. That, a clean bill of health, and the guided tour of my guts made everything all right.

 

[hoz53]

I know this is a public forum but I figured I’d post a little bit about my last 8 weeks anyways, maybe it will help somebody, you never know. 8 weeks ago I sent off a cologuard test, you basically send your stool to a lab and they screen it for any signs of polyps or colon cancer. My test came back positive. Naturally your mind wanders and you’re in a state of limbo wondering if you have a serious problem or if it was a false positive, maybe just polyps…. It’s not a good place to be in, at least not the way my mind works.

I immediately started looking for a specialist and found one in Scottsdale. My local hospital is not the place to go for those matters, they have a very poor track record. I found a guy I liked after I did my research, gave his office call and schedule a consultation. He got me in me fairly fast and I ended up having colonoscopy. The results were one large polyp, he removed it and it tested negative, gave me a clean bill of health.

Why in the world would I share an experience like that? Simple. I procrastinated screening myself for years, I’m 55, should have done it at 50. The rate of colon cancer is rising and it’s being found at an earlier age. My doc said 45 is the new 50. I know it’s a crappy subject, pun intended, but if you’re my age or if your family has history of such things I’d encourage you to put aside your reservations and get checked out. You don’t have to have colonoscopy, they have tests that have a good track record. A colonoscopy is the best way to screen but I know being violated isn’t at the top of everybody’s list.

Gotta keep our shooter’s healthy. Health is wealth.

Glad youre okay Nakneker--- THese things can be scarry i know.

 

[nakneker]

Glad youre okay Nakneker--- THese things can be scarry i know.

Thanks Hoz53, much appreciated, I figured I probably was but my mind wandered a bit. I kept kicking myself for not being more pro active and checking things out sooner. I’ll being doing a better job here on out. I think it’s common to put it off, I thought maybe a chat would encourage those sitting on the fence to think about it and just do it. Like others have said, the cleanse was the worst part, the procedure wasn’t bad at all.

 

[MUP]

Speaking of the anesthesia, I watched the nurse inject it into the port in my hand. I got "Well, goodnight" out, and heard her respond with a giggle, then I woke up in recovery.

 

[birdog]

Guys, you might want to check out your bladder also. Bladder cancer is pretty common in men. It can be treated if found in time. If you are seeing brown clumps (blood clots) in the commode when you pee you have waited to long. Ask me how I know. Ten years ago I had to have 3 months of chemo then bladder removal. Please go to have a screening for bladder cancer and avoid what I have been through.

 

[Richard Jones]

I've had 4 or 5 now, always have more than a few polyps, all benign so far..... Prep is lots easier now since my doc went to Gatorade and Miralax. I'm curious to see what my next one will be, as I am eating good and have lost about 50 pounds so far.

1. When they wheel me into the OR, I always say: "If I forget to tell you, I had a good time tonight"
2. Always ask for a "to go bottle" of propofol. They won't give it to you, but you should always ask, just in the off chance.........
3. They never let you sleep and it's such a good sleep. To all the nurses that woke me up afterwards, my apologies for my language when I order you to perform an impossible body function.
4. I woke up during my first procedure. No pain, just remember coming to and the doctor bellowed at me: "Be still!!". I was awake for maybe 3-4 seconds. He had the perfect job, 'cause he really was an AH. Glad he's gone. New doc is great.

The worst aftereffect I have is if they intubate me. Sore throat for a day or so, hard to take those shots of Woodford. Might as well be gasoline.

I go every 3 years. If you're not doing it, you should.

 

[Andy Work]

Early detection is key!

This cannot be stressed enough.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Guys, you might want to check out your bladder also. Bladder cancer is pretty common in men. It can be treated if found in time. If you are seeing brown clumps (blood clots) in the commode when you pee you have waited to long. Ask me how I know. Ten years ago I had to have 3 months of chemo then bladder removal. Please go to have a screening for bladder cancer and avoid what I have been through.

The "clumps" are not always or even visible most times. Simple pee in a cup test for blood, the rest not so easy. Five years of treatments to no avail, finally bladder and prostate removal with all connecting tubes. Not very pleasant. Still have a hard time with peeing in a bag- constantly., after two years.
Oh and believe me when I tell you the way they look in your bladder is a lot more painful than the way they look in your colon, pain and bleeding for weeks.

 

[nakneker]

The "clumps" are not always or even visible most times. Simple pee in a cup test for blood, the rest not so easy. Five years of treatments to no avail, finally bladder and prostate removal with all connecting tubes. Not very pleasant. Still have a hard time with peeing in a bag- constantly., after two years.
Oh and believe me when I tell you the way they look in your bladder is a lot more painful than the way they look in your colon, pain and bleeding for weeks.

Bladder and prostate are next, thanks for your input. Never even thought about bladder cancer.

 

[mr45man]

I've had 4 or 5 now, always have more than a few polyps, all benign so far..... Prep is lots easier now since my doc went to Gatorade and Miralax. I'm curious to see what my next one will be, as I am eating good and have lost about 50 pounds so far.

1. When they wheel me into the OR, I always say: "If I forget to tell you, I had a good time tonight"
2. Always ask for a "to go bottle" of propofol. They won't give it to you, but you should always ask, just in the off chance.........
3. They never let you sleep and it's such a good sleep. To all the nurses that woke me up afterwards, my apologies for my language when I order you to perform an impossible body function.
4. I woke up during my first procedure. No pain, just remember coming to and the doctor bellowed at me: "Be still!!". I was awake for maybe 3-4 seconds. He had the perfect job, 'cause he really was an AH. Glad he's gone. New doc is great.

The worst aftereffect I have is if they intubate me. Sore throat for a day or so, hard to take those shots of Woodford. Might as well be gasoline.

I go every 3 years. If you're not doing it, you should.

Yes, Gator aid at 1/2 the volume.