colonoscopy prep - what a fun night

[rfuerst911sc]

I have been pretty lucky so far , was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015 . Caught it very early , did radium seed implant with follow up localized radiation . Stopped it in its tracks ! Been getting colonoscopies since the age of 50 and every 3-5 years after . I am usually good for one or two polyps but always caught early enough to not be an issue . Wait too long and the results can be quite different. We all die of something but I prefer it to not be via prostate or colon cancer if at all possible .

My mom and dad both died of cancer so there is that history for me , but yearly checkup and generally staying fit will hopefully hold that off for me as long as possible .

[Evans, Marv]

I thought if you had a parent who had colon cancer, they recommended screening every three to five years. I have Kaiser and last had one at 67 - my first and only. My father died of colon cancer which spread to his liver and brain. My last colonoscopy couldn't be completed because of diverticulosis and I had to do the barium X-ray thing and have since done the crap on a toothpick once a year. My primary care guy scheduled me for another one about three years after the one at 67. The doc who does it cancelled it saying they did one every ten years. When I talked to him, I mentioned my father and he said it would still be ten years. So I'm supposedly due for one this coming year.

[rfuerst911sc]

Just my opinion but every ten years is not preventative medicine and makes it much tougher to catch anything early . But it saves the insurance company money and is a driver in our current health care crisis . We can only hope a future president along with Congress will make health care a REAL priority .

[biosurfer1]

My turn and it will be the first. Read through enough to know what I'm in for except the morning of. Unfortunately my appointment is at 845am so I hear it will be an early morning for me.

My question is the office is about an hour away from my home...is that going to be an issue regarding bathroom access or are things usually cleared out and done by then?

[rockfan4]

You're done and cleaned out by the time you go in for your appointment.
Does your doc want you to do the prep all at once, or in two stages? The last one I had done I did half the jug in the evening, and had to get up at 2:00am or thereabouts and finish it.

Make sure you hydrate the day before, it makes it a lot easier for them to find a vein for the IV.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

You're done and cleaned out by the time you go in for your appointment.
Does your doc want you to do the prep all at once, or in two stages? The last one I had done I did half the jug in the evening, and had to get up at 2:00am or thereabouts and finish it.

Make sure you hydrate the day before, it makes it a lot easier for them to find a vein for the IV.

Looks like a got prescribed golytely and it's two stages. 4-6pm the night before and 4 hours before the appointment so 4:45am the day of😒

I'm prepared for a horrible experience but dealing with stomach issues for years, I've most likely dealt with comparable situations.

I'll start fasting a couple days prior to make things as easy as possible.

[Crowbob]

You don't need to fast and it probably won't make anything easier. Once the drano begins to work, you will begin flushing out the pipes. The beginning is the most 'productive' it eventually tapers off into clear liquid. That's the goal. Your ride to the appointment won't be a problem. You get there, they stick you, you feel like you need a nap all of a sudden then somebody is asking if you'll like some juice because it's over.

My guess is you'll wonder how come you didn't know there were so many pansies here. We'll look for your gibberish video on youtube.

[David]

My only advice as a new member of this club is on the day of your prep when you're drinking clear liquids and eating lemon and/or pineapple jello, remember that all that you eat and drink will come out in short order. So go for things that will have a nice fruity smell I prefer the flavor of beef broth to chicken broth and that was a mistake. I should have gone for chicken broth or better yet, no broth.

I had my follow up last week. 10 years til next inspection, woo hoo! My wife had hers at the same time and she's now on the 5 year plan.

[Iciclehead]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

You don't need to fast and it probably won't make anything easier. Once the drano begins to work, you will begin flushing out the pipes. The beginning is the most 'productive' it eventually tapers off into clear liquid. That's the goal. Your ride to the appointment won't be a problem. You get there, they stick you, you feel like you need a nap all of a sudden then somebody is asking if you'll like some juice because it's over.

My guess is you'll wonder how come you didn't know there were so many pansies here. We'll look for your gibberish video on youtube.

They stick you with what? Never been stuck with anything or even took a pill.....just get out the 50 foot hose they use and off they go. Its not that bad actually and is a very interesting process, plus the doc will give you a running commentary on your nether parts.

I can say, with complete confidence, that I am a perfect *******.

....and i have pictures to prove it!

Dennis

[Crowbob]

They jammed a 1/2" pipe into the top of my hand to pump in the Fentanyl, Valium and PCP, I think. Last thing I remember was the hottie operating the hose reel and the doc asking me if the tomato is still singing Hello Dolly on the intake valve of #3. Then they both went all bendy.

[Evans, Marv]

I'm coming up on my ten year inspection. My last was at the age of 67. I've wondered if I shouldn't be on a shorter schedule since my dad died from colon cancer, plus they said I had diverticulosis at my last (& only) one. I've done the crap on a tooth pick since, but I don't think I have total confidence in that. I guess I'll see in this coming year.

[Palum6o]

I recently had my first colonoscopy done and I was given a new product called PLENVU. I was able to do the cleansing the morning of, since my procedure was in the afternoon. There were two drinks over a 4 hour period and the bowel movements were 'comfortable' (as opposed to being explosive and crazy as what I thought). I fasted from around noon the day before, took the first drink at 6am the day of. Second drink is taken about 2 hours later, the party started shortly after that one. I was well evacuated by noon. After the procedure, my doctor said I had an "ABC" (another boring colon), and remarked how clean I was.

[gchappel]

Just started the prep. Another day in paradise drinking 3 swimming pools full of Gavilite.
This is my 9th colonoscopy. They found a large colon cancer in me 15 years ago. Had followup scopes every 6months, then 1 yr, then 2- now every 5 years. It is a miserable night. The day of the procedure is nothing. No I do not like it, but it is definately worth it.
Keeping fingers crossed.
Gary

[biosurfer1]

Mine is next Tuesday so one week from today the misery starts for me, galvalite also, and lemon so it's like they are trying to torture me...I hate lemon.

I find it hard believe they haven't created a pill you take with a ton of water yet.

[PetrolBlueSC]

Mine has always been a bottle of Gatorade mixed with a week supply of Miralax. Only restriction was to use yellow or clear Gatorade.

[kach22i]

I have been doing some research on this topic and critics claim that the procedure is just as likely to kill you as the cancer it is intended to detect.

The critics claim that when the AHCA (Obamacare) made colonoscopy an item covered by insurance it became a big money maker for the healthcare industry and that's why they push it so heartily.

2013
Only an Accident: Fatal Colonoscopy Leaves Family Stunned and Unpaid
https://www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/2013/10/13/only-accident-fatal-colonoscopy-leaves-family-stunned-and-unpaid

Read the comments section of the above too.

2012
Why I Won't Get a Colonoscopy
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/why-i-wont-get-a-colonoscopy/

Another analysis of British data on colon cancer, by the watchdog group Straight Statistics, concluded that screening 1,000 patients for 10 years will prevent two deaths from the disease. Meanwhile, colonoscopies lead to "serious medical complications" in 5 out of every 1,000 patients, according to a 2006 report in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Given these risks, my guess is that a rigorous examination of colonoscopies will find that their benefits do not outweigh their downside.

2015
I’m skeptical about … screening colonoscopies
https://robertclaremd.com/im-skeptical-about-screening-colonoscopies/

Medical screening tests harm more people than they help. It’s true, and like the sinking of the Titanic: “It’s a mathematical certainty.” Remember first that the goal of medical screening is to detect or prevent potentially fatal diseases in an asymptomatic population. And the reason most people in the population are asymptomatic is because they don’t have the disease in the first place. You have to screen many to benefit a few....................

But if the real point of screening a population for disease is to increase the life expectancy of the group as a whole then colon cancer screening fails. Despite what you might have heard from Katie Couric (who had her colonoscopy broadcast on the Today Show in 2000 to promote colon cancer awareness after her husband died of the disease), your family doctor, gastroenterologist, and the American Cancer Society, colon cancer screening hasn’t saved any lives. Life expectancy and all-cause mortality in people undergoing screening are the same as in people who don’t. The small reduction in colon cancer death is simply replaced by a slight increase in death due to other causes like infection, heart attack, stroke, and other forms of cancer. There is no long term survival benefit to screening. One possible explanation for this is that chemo and radiation are toxic forms of treatment that increase the risk of dying from other causes. Another is that bodies are designed to fail, if not from cancer then from something else.

2015
By Dr. Mercola (long article but the best of them)
The Pros and Cons of Colonoscopies
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/12/09/colonoscopy-pros-cons.aspx

Story at-a-glance

About 1 in every 350 colonoscopies do serious harm. The death rate is about 1 for every 1,000 procedures

About 80 percent of endoscopes are cleaned using Cidex (glutaraldehyde), which does NOT properly sterilize these tools, potentially allowing for the transfer of material that could easily infect you

Asking what solution is used to clean the scope is a key question that could save your life. Make sure it’s been sterilized with peracetic acid, to avoid potential transfer of infectious material from previous patients

2016
Is colonoscopy the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening?
https://www.statnews.com/2016/03/14/colonoscopy-colon-cancer-screening/

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also gives FIT and colonoscopy equal billing. “We don’t need to do colonoscopy as a primary screening,” Wender said. “We have equally excellent tests.”

More radically, last month a Canadian task force recommended against colonoscopy for routine screening of average-risk adults, and instead endorsed FIT and flexible sigmoidoscopy.

Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000704.htm

The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a screening test for colon cancer. It tests for hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of cancer. FIT only detects human blood from the lower intestines. Medicines and food do not interfere with the test. So it tends to be more accurate and have fewer false positive results than other tests.

The website below is much more alarmist than anything above, so if you had issues with the other ones, don't bother clicking it. It looks to be out of the mainstream in any case. Including it as a colorful extreme.


Colonoscopy: Is it worth the risk?
https://www.gutsense.org/colonoscopy/is-colonoscopy-worth-the-risk.html

Each year over 14 million Americans are getting screened for colon cancer. Of these, according to the report “Complications of Colonoscopy in an Integrated Health Care Delivery System” by the Annals of Internal Medicine, an estimated 70,000 (0.5%) may be killed or injured by colonoscopy-related complications [link]. This figure is higher than the total number of annual deaths from colon cancer itself, 22% higher.

And to be fair a 180 degree swing in the other direction - from the go get one crowd.

December 17, 2018
Long-term Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Related Deaths After a Colonoscopy With Normal Findings
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2718339

Key Points


Question What are the long-term risks of colorectal cancer and related deaths in average-risk patients after a colonoscopy with normal findings (negative colonoscopy results)?

Findings In this community-based study of 1 251 318 individuals, adjusted annual colorectal cancer risks were reduced by 46% to 95%, and related deaths by 29% to 96%, across more than 12 years of follow-up after negative colonoscopy results compared with average-risk individuals with no screening. Although reductions in risk were attenuated with increasing years of follow-up, there was a 46% lower risk of colorectal cancer and 88% lower risk of related deaths at the guideline-recommended 10-year rescreening interval.

Meaning A colonoscopy with normal findings in average-risk patients appears to be associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer deaths and overall, proximal, distal, early-stage, and advanced-stage colorectal cancer for more than 12 years compared with no screening.

The best article I read from a few days ago I am unable to find today, it was written by a doctor. I paraphrased this critic's message at the top of this post.

For the second or third leading cause of cancer deaths, one would think some kind of test is warranted. However, why are not the other less invasive options being offered? I know that I wasn't offered any options. My wife knows of two people from church that died from their colonoscopy procedure, and it's a pretty small congregation.

Published on Nov 25, 2015
Dr. Greger
Should We All Get Colonoscopies Starting at Age 50?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GDdWTnzVsU


EDIT:
Finished watching the video....................follow the money.

[gchappel]

Colonoscopy saved my life. Had a routine screening scope as recommended at 50. No family history, no nothing. Found a large cancer. Cured by extensive surgery. Otherwise I would not be here now. Scientifically significant population of 1? I do not care about the statistics. It saved MY life.
Gary

[gchappel]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Mine is next Tuesday so one week from today the misery starts for me, galvalite also, and lemon so it's like they are trying to torture me...I hate lemon.

I find it hard believe they haven't created a pill you take with a ton of water yet.

Check with your doctor- but the flavor packets that come with the galvallte taste like sewage waist. My doc will now let us flavor it with crystal light lemonade. It is not great- but a million million times better than their flavor packets.
Gary

[gchappel]

One can easily pull up similar data questioning all medical screening exams.
Mammograms for breast ca, colonoscopy for colon ca, cxr and ct for lung cancer screening, etc.
We think they do more good than harm, but there are studies on every screening exam I am aware of that question their value. But again, I believe they help.
Gary

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

They jammed a 1/2" pipe into the top of my hand to pump in the Fentanyl, Valium and PCP, I think. Last thing I remember was the hottie operating the hose reel and the doc asking me if the tomato is still singing Hello Dolly on the intake valve of #3. Then they both went all bendy.

Fentanyl = bliss. Where is that opioid thread?

Ramming pipe up my backside and I was cracking jokes with them hotties.