Open up and say AH... Colonoscopy time

"Open up and say, "Ah" isn’t what the doctor will be said when he approaches me.  Actually, I better not be hearing him and best be asleep when he comes near me with that THING. I don’t want to hear rumors of comments about “black holes” or that “I’m a one-eyed-brown-Susan”, if you get my drift. because... joy of joys and wonder of wonders I’m over 50. If you’re over 50, boys and girls you all know what that means…yuppers…that dreadful day of the colonoscopy happened this morning. What fun!  Actually, the worst day was yesterday…the prep…but that isn’t for polite conversation. Really it wasn't as bad as I expected. So rather than discuss it let’s just let the following cartoon speak for us…

Now, I don't want you to miss out on all the fun. All joking aside, this test can catch cancer in the very early stage when it is just a polyp. At that stage, it is curable. So the question is, "To be or not to be"... Seriously, that is the question. If you want to make sure you're going to be around for a while, go get checked out by a colonoscopy if your over 50. Really, the prep is the worst. It tastes a bit like over salted cherry water.

I was lucky. The doctor didn't find anything. I was out for most of the procedure. I woke up once or twice during the scope; I asked if they found anything. I was told, "No" then I went back to sleep. Unfortunately for me, because of family history I will have to have another one in 5 years. I won't be fearing the prep (really, I heard horror stories...); all the stories of how bad the prep was were exaggerated greatly. Don't let the stories keep you away from getting a harmless test to help you stay healthy.  

Colonoscopy... You Want to Stick What, Where!

Source

Time for a Stick Up

My birthday is fast approaching and this old gal will be 52. That is both good and bad news; the good news is I have made it to basically 52 years of age on this side of the sod. Now for the bad news; is it is time for a stick up. Yup, you guessed it; the doctor says it is time of a colonoscopy.

The doctor called it a “surveillance colonoscopy”. What are they going to do; send a miniature spy team up there and take pictures of incriminating evidence? Geez! Evening a screening test at this point sounds bad. Picture Miss Suzy’s screen test; let’s just say I don’t think my hind side is not my best side for a screen test. To me this just feels like a robbery and somebody yelled, “Stick ‘um up”.

Too Many Doctors So What’s One More - Gastroenterologist

Normally when your Internist/family doctor orders a colonoscopy, it means going to see a gastroenterologist. Basically, this is a doctor that enjoys looking down mouths and into your stomach or up peoples colons through special tubes all day long. It is a wonder these people can look people in the eye afterwards

There really isn’t a problem with seeing a gastroenterologist; however, what happens if you cancer is found during the “stick up”.  Then you would need to see either a general surgeon or a colorectal surgeon. If you have as many doctors as I do, the very thought of adding possibly two more makes me sick. So I found a colorectal surgeon that also does colonoscopies.

The Basics

I have had an upper endoscopy before (this is where they look down your throat and into your stomach with at tube which requires you not to eat after midnight). From that I learned that the actual procedure of having an enormous tube shoved down an orifice doesn’t hurt do to the anesthesia. As a matter of fact, most people have no memory of the actually procedure of either an upper endoscopy or colonoscopy. However, the worst thing able a colonoscopy is the prep.

http://featheredfibers.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/public-service-announcement/ 

They say, “What goes up must go down”. Well I say, “What when in must come out”. Hence the principle of the prep of a colonoscopy, in doctor’s terms that will say to you is that “The prep is used to clean you out. If the 

prep isn’t done as directed and you aren’t completely cleaned out, both the prep and the procedure will need to be rescheduled”. I don’t know about you but after you hear about the prep (if you haven’t heard urban folklore already) there is NO WAY I’m repeating it).

The Prep

I’m not going into great details as each doctor has his own “cocktail drink” or version of liquid laxatives or the 32 pill version that was approved by the FDA that you can take to clean you out. If you are poor or have kidney problems the bad news is the pill option is out for you. You will be stuck the “cocktail”.  I’ve heard tails that it tastes horrible. I have no point of reference but you can either drink a ½ gallon (the cheaper option) or a quart of liquid (an expensive option that might not do the job). The choice and risk is up to you. Follow the instructions to the letter and pray everything comes out ok in the end. Pun intended.

I’ll let you know how this …went… when I have a point of reference. My only laughing point is that later in the month of October, I’ll get to laugh at my husband as he has to go through the same thing. He’ll be turning 52 too. 

     The above video is from YouTube and called Lookin Up My Back Door


*Thanks Carla Barrett for the great chicken cartoon