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Just Had My First Colonoscopy! :)

Huntn

Huntn

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
May 5, 2008
24,457
27,580
The Misty Mountains
I'm 58, I've had two sigmoidoscopy which are the short versions, but my new Dr convinced me that sigmoids were not enough. In and out on Friday, about 2 hrs for entire process. Colonoscopy was about 30 min. Instead of fully conscious and uncomfortable as with a sigmoid, I had an iv and was sedated, pain and discomfort free... except for prep, drink a gallon of laxative day before and spend 3 or so hours camped on the pot with a good book. ;) What ever sedative they used, it was wonderful. I woke up feeling very comfortable and at ease as compared to the last time I had surgery (in the 70s) nauseous, like I was gonna puke.

As far as results, do you really want to know? ;) If so keep reading.

Mild to severe diverticulosis, several aphthous ulcers (of the colon vs mouth), and no colon polyps. Ulcers were biopsied although I don't think they are associated with cancer like polyps can be. Anyway the Dr did not seem concerned and they will call me in a few days with results.

As far as I know the age were you start getting these exams are 50, earlier if you have any family history.
 
I've got number four coming up in August. Shouldn't take as long this time as the sigmoid and half the ascending has already been chopped out. :)

KGB
 
sucks

I was hoping to make it to at least 40 before my first but at 34 I had a bad case of dysentery overseas and they got me!
The doctor talked to me about having the short AND long, he said in my condition the long presented more risk but if they used the short and didn't find anything they might have to go back with the long. I was already in the hospital and drugged up so I told him I just wanted to get this over with and just go ahead the long scope. He actually talked me out of selecting the long scope. Wouldn't you know it, they didn't find anything and for about 2 days it looked like they might have to go back with the long scope. I was NOT happy, but I did start getting better and they did not need to go back.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Pics or it didn't happen!;)
Click to expand...

When you've seen one colon, you've basically seen them all accept for the specific items of worry. I do have pics but I'm lazy and not into showing intimate pics of myself anywhere, much less on the net. ;)

Here, not me Polyp:
colon_polip_6_20100906_1524302460.jpg


Four Stages of Cancer:
colon_tumor_20100906_1619982331.jpg


Grey Beard said:
I've got number four coming up in August. Shouldn't take as long this time as the sigmoid and half the ascending has already been chopped out. :)

KGB
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So they got it in time? How long between scopes are you? With polyps running in the family, although I had none, my next one will be in 5 years.

lostngone said:
I was hoping to make it to at least 40 before my first but at 34 I had a bad case of dysentery overseas and they got me!
The doctor talked to me about having the short AND long, he said in my condition the long presented more risk but if they used the short and didn't find anything they might have to go back with the long. I was already in the hospital and drugged up so I told him I just wanted to get this over with and just go ahead the long scope. He actually talked me out of selecting the long scope. Wouldn't you know it, they didn't find anything and for about 2 days it looked like they might have to go back with the long scope. I was NOT happy, but I did start getting better and they did not need to go back.
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I thought I read something about it was recommended by some doctors before 50.
 
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Huntn said:
...Posted as a general health reminder for the oblivious types... ;)
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It's a valuable reminder, too.

Colon cancer, according to the dr who did my most recent coloscopy, is a slow-growing cancer, so it's also one that can be caught and dealt with as long as you have these exams when you're supposed to. :cool:
 
Preparation H

Yea, I am going to need to get one of those things in the next 4 years or so. Polyps/colon cancer runs in my family. My father found out when he got his last one (he has had about 10 of those things) that Preparation H works wonders when you have to empty yourself out with that gallon of magical diarrhea drink. If only he knew about 8 times sooner, I guess I know now.
 
Huntn said:
So they got it in time? How long between scopes are you? With polyps running in the family, although I had none, my next one will be in 5 years.
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Yeah, the sigmoid was to attend to chronic diverticulitis and the ascending just caught the polyps in time, so that got sectioned too. Still not right with GI troubles being monitored and a seroma being aspirated monthly. It's all just a great bundle of laughs.

KGB

There's an old thread that dealt quite extensively and a search using 'diverticulitis' should bring it up. I think it was started by Freeny

KGB
 
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Glad to hear everything went well, Huntn.

Gonzo3333 said:
My father found out when he got his last [colonoscopy] (he has had about 10 of those things) that Preparation H works wonders when you have to empty yourself out with that gallon of magical diarrhea drink. If only he knew about 8 times sooner, I guess I know now.
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Do you mean using Preparation H afterwards to, umm, relieve some of the strain from emptying yourself out? I've never heard this advice but am going to try to remember that.

Like a few others around here, I have Crohn's Disease and so I'm quite familiar with the colonoscopy process. As Huntn has reported, the prep is the worst part, the actual procedure is nothing assuming you're properly sedated. Don't be afraid of it.
 
Lyle said:
Glad to hear everything went well, Huntn.

Do you mean using Preparation H afterwards to, umm, relieve some of the strain from emptying yourself out? I've never heard this advice but am going to try to remember that.

Like a few others around here, I have Crohn's Disease and so I'm quite familiar with the colonoscopy process. As Huntn has reported, the prep is the worst part, the actual procedure is nothing assuming you're properly sedated. Don't be afraid of it.
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Ulcerative colitis (UC) here, so I know the process well, too. I agree the prep is the worst part. The prep is the same for a sigmoidoscopy anyway, so only rookies think they've "won" by avoiding the colonoscopy (as the OP discovered). Even the new "virtual colonoscopies" require the same prep, so why bother? I've had seven colonoscopies and one sigmoidoscopy and I hope to never have another sigmoidoscopy.
 
Grey Beard said:
Yeah, the sigmoid was to attend to chronic diverticulitis and the ascending just caught the polyps in time, so that got sectioned too. Still not right with GI troubles being monitored and a seroma being aspirated monthly. It's all just a great bundle of laughs.

KGB

There's an old thread that dealt quite extensively and a search using 'diverticulitis' should bring it up. I think it was started by Freeny

KGB
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Found it . Thanks!

Lyle said:
Glad to hear everything went well, Huntn.

Do you mean using Preparation H afterwards to, umm, relieve some of the strain from emptying yourself out? I've never heard this advice but am going to try to remember that.

Like a few others around here, I have Crohn's Disease and so I'm quite familiar with the colonoscopy process. As Huntn has reported, the prep is the worst part, the actual procedure is nothing assuming you're properly sedated. Don't be afraid of it.
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What I find really "irritating" about autoimmune disease, is that the body can't figure these things out, going after healthy tissue, when it could easily attack and kill cancer.



jzuena said:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) here, so I know the process well, too. I agree the prep is the worst part. The prep is the same for a sigmoidoscopy anyway, so only rookies think they've "won" by avoiding the colonoscopy (as the OP discovered). Even the new "virtual colonoscopies" require the same prep, so why bother? I've had seven colonoscopies and one sigmoidoscopy and I hope to never have another sigmoidoscopy.
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I believe sigmoids have been discredited as the most effective screening.
 
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Lyle said:
Glad to hear everything went well, Huntn.

Do you mean using Preparation H afterwards to, umm, relieve some of the strain from emptying yourself out? I've never heard this advice but am going to try to remember that.
Click to expand...

Yes, from what the old man told me, Preparation H is the stuff to use that will relieve the "discomfort" from the emptying out process.
 
Gonzo3333 said:
Yes, from what the old man told me, Preparation H is the stuff to use that will relieve the "discomfort" from the emptying out process.
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One of the keys is to avoid wiping when it becomes just water and dab instead. It (you know of the "it" I refer to) will still get tender. :)
 
I got my biopsy report back today. All is benign which is good, however I have non-specific ileitis which is an inflammation of some part of the bowels. It is common in people from 20-50 years old. I have no symptoms as described in the linked article. The doctor has directed me to have a "small bowel" series which involves drinking barium (?) or whatever it is you drink so that it will show up on an xray. Then the Dr will talk more about what I should do to minimize whatever the threat is. Considering I have no symptoms, I like being in the proactive mode.

Keep in mind this has come about because of a screening. It's always better to know earlier than later and this is much better than waiting to double over with cramps and such to be rushed to the hospital. ;)
 
I looked but could not find the Michael Jackson/Dr Murray Trial thread. Where the heck is it? Anyway...

Very interesting article on propofol and Michael Jackson in Newsweek- Doctor's Crush on Jackson's Drug. It's what killed him and it is used as an anesthesia in operations like colonoscopys. Most interesting is that the sensations are so compelling that there is a history of medical professionals becoming addicted. I experienced this drug and regained consciousness feeling all most euphoric, definitely upbeat and a feeling of well being flooded me. I see it's attraction, especially compared to the last time I was put under in the 1970s for an operation with something that made me like crap upon waking up. However as with most serious drugs, regular use is not good for you. For addicted abusers, 30% of them eventually die.

Propofol also increases levels of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine, triggering a sense of reward not unlike sex or cocaine. Some patients experience euphoria, sexual disinhibition, and even hallucinations, followed by a feeling of calm and an upbeat mood. Since propofol is so widely used—it revolutionized ambulatory anesthesia, allowing a physician to knock someone out in seconds to perform, say, a colonoscopy, and have them up and about after only 10 minutes
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This was me (bolded):
Once propofol wears off, some patients report feeling well rested, energetic, and happy. Murray said he gave Jackson propofol because the singer wanted to feel energized for rehearsals, but propofol does not provide a restorative sleep; anyone using it regularly could become dependent on the drug to function.
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