Over 50, get the colonoscopy/test! :)

[ezbtr]

FYI, in my opinion, guys and girls especially at 50 , take the yearly poop test, colonoscopy your docs tell you, yes the cleansing liquid will make you thankful you can see the TV from your bathroom for 18 hours (1/2 a gallon day before and 1/2 a gallon day of) , the procedure is a walk in the park in and out for me in 2.5 hours, if they do find polyps(I had 3), they are NOT necessarily cancerous, everyone seems to be scared by this, you wont feel a thing in procedure, is NO big deal smile emoticon DO IT, 90% of what they find CAN be CURED!
?

feeling thankful.
Received letter from doc last night

 

[sam60]

Had 2 bowel resections and a temporary colostomy in the early 80's and have gone in for the scopes every 5 years since. The trick is planning which pub to visit immediately after, that has great food and a cold beer since you will be starving, you have a driver and will take a nap when you get home anyway.

 

[ezbtr]

Had 2 bowel resections and a temporary colostomy in the early 80's and have gone in for the scopes every 5 years since. The trick is planning which pub to visit immediately after, that has great food and a cold beer since you will be starving, you have a driver and will take a nap when you get home anyway.

yowch! yeah after 2 days of not eating, no alcohol, I wanted food and some beers! And yes took a nap on couch til 2300! LOL!

 

[sam60]

yeah after 2 days of not eating

2 days? You need a new doc. Some are claiming that the virtual colonoscopy is better but I have no experience with that.

 

[foodfisher]

FYI, in my opinion, guys and girls especially at 50 , take the yearly poop test, colonoscopy your docs tell you, yes the cleansing liquid will make you thankful you can see the TV from your bathroom for 18 hours (1/2 a gallon day before and 1/2 a gallon day of) , the procedure is a walk in the park in and out for me in 2.5 hours, if they do find polyps(I had 3), they are NOT necessarily cancerous, everyone seems to be scared by this, you wont feel a thing in procedure, is NO big deal smile emoticon DO IT, 90% of what they find CAN be CURED!
—

feeling thankful.
Received letter from doc last night

x2+++ They took ten out of me. None malignant. Really enjoyed that ultimate cheeseburger and six pack after.

 

[batman99]

During last 6 years, I've had 2 x colonoscopy tests. First test at age 46 they found 5 polyp. "snip / snip" and they were immediately trimmed away. Next colonoscopy test 4 years later and all was clean. Due to family history, my body gets colonoscopy tests every 4 years - instead of usualy 5-6 year intervals. 2 days of inconvenience every 4 years to live longer? Worth it to me... I'd recommend it to others. Especially if colon cancer in one's direct family tree.

 

[ezbtr]

2 days? You need a new doc. Some are claiming that the virtual colonoscopy is better but I have no experience with that.

yeah I heard about that, my kaiser doesnt yet offer that

 

[ezbtr]

During last 6 years, I've had 2 x colonoscopy tests. First test at age 46 they found 5 polyp. "snip / snip" and they were immediately trimmed away. Next colonoscopy test 4 years later and all was clean. Due to family history, my body gets colonoscopy tests every 4 years - instead of usualy 5-6 year intervals. 2 days of inconvenience every 4 years to live longer? Worth it to me... I'd recommend it to others. Especially if colon cancer in one's direct family tree.

yup, snip and badabing, also can do hemmroids while theyre in there , had a few minor internal ones, no big deal , and hell yes 2 days of inconvenience every 4-5 years is worth it, plus do the yearly poop test, it's easy and ALL flushable

 

[sam60]

Nothing offensive intended Hienz but why 2 days without food? I had drink the gallon of coolade the evening prior and ate as soon as it was over the following morning....

 

[ezbtr]

Nothing offensive intended Hienz but why 2 days without food? I had drink the gallon of coolade the evening prior and ate as soon as it was over the following morning....

yup no food day before, drank 1/2 gal of that nasty, salty orange flavored stuff, lived in the bathroom, 1/2 gal next a.m., only clear jusices, gatorade, no coffee, no food until approx 1830 after procedure

 

[82rude]

Up here its been changed to every 10 years for testing as long as you have no family history.Just got the call a few months ago and was notified of the change.

 

[aspeck]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa6pKymmy6w

 

[bonz_d]

I know this is serious but I find it funny also. I'm 61 and have refused one for a number of reasons but mostly because of medications being taken.

Now I have heart disease and it runs in my family, yet I've yet to hear of any cardiologist recommending having a catheterization performed at any time to check for blockages that can surely kill you faster than a polyp. A stress test will not show it either. Now why is that?

How do I know you ask. Because I've had 6 of them done in the past ten years. The last one I was fortunate and they found no change even though it appeared I'd had a mild heart attach..

 

[gm280]

I have read that they actually have stopped doing scheduled colonoscopies now because they haven't proved it reduces cancer changes. I've had two with zero problems. But that was because the doctor I was seeing knew there was a paid option via the insurance and not that he thought there was really any need. There is zero issue in my family history with colon cancer and so I don't fit the usual situation. And doctors are going away from scheduling them because they just isn't needed... However, if you do have a family history, then be all means go for them. But we need to spend our medial dollars wiser these days and not shotgun such procedures for no beneficial return... Kind of like scheduling everybody for a brain scan every five years because they could catch a brain tumor. But seriously, what cost to the medical industry for the minute return... :noidea:

 

[bonz_d]

Some providers still push them, like mine, because it is a big payday and I have read those same studies which also can be said for the ladies and mammograms.

 

[ezbtr]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa6pKymmy6w

Funny!

 

[bruceb58]

My MD doesn't recommend colonoscopies anymore because they have a risk and they don'\t catch enough to make them worth it. He does yearly stool blood screenings. He states that they catch as many cancers as the colonoscopy. He says it is up to the patient which he/she wants to do.

I have a friend who almost died when a colonoscopy was done to him which ripped open his colon. Was in the hospital for weeks.

 

[bonz_d]

I have a friend who almost died when a colonoscopy was done to him which ripped open his colon. Was in the hospital for weeks.

And this is the reason my cardiologist advises against it.

 

[Outsider]

yet I've yet to hear of any cardiologist recommending having a catheterization performed at any time to check for blockages that can surely kill you faster than a polyp.

I doubt many cardiologists consider catherization a screening tool. As for the poop test, I had an annual, too, always negative, I don't need no stinkin (pun intended) butt-scope. Then at age 63 I started bleeding. Doctor described the colonoscopy picture as a 'veritable garden' of polyps, 6 hours of surgery, 9" of colon, a week in the big house and I was on the way to recovery. One (1) polyp was cancerous, a bunch described as 'precancerous', stage 1 and done. That was 6 years ago, I've had 3 followups, next one is a couple of years from now (5 year). Colonoscopies are a known screening tool. If your doctor suggests colonoscopies have no diagnostic value you should think about another doctor. My positive poop-test wasn't fatal, a friend had about the same scenario as mine, he's died 3 months ago.
Some of you guys should ask your doctors about the Miralax prep, that other stuff is over-kill ...

 

[bruceb58]

If your doctor suggests colonoscopies have no diagnostic value you should think about another doctor.

Nobody said that.