Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Lesson(s) in humility - Yikes

OK, partially based on the "What's Your Age?" thread and the responses given , as a friend, moder-tator and under the "If I did it, so do you" philosophy. I'd like all you old over 50 folks to strongly consider scheduling a colonoscopy to your list this winter, or summer in Aussie land.

Yep, spent yesterday in the endoscopy ward in Missoula. The bad news, I sat in a ward bed from 10 am till 4 pm periodically ringing a buzzer asking the rarely heard on the street phrase "Is it clear enough yet?? Through the curtain I overheard and made every self-deprecating joke known to formally self-respecting human beans.

The good news, after drinking two gallons of "God knows what", the last thing I remember was the doctor saying "Hello my name is", Oh and the nurse saying you're fine, just a little polyp was removed. And at least for a day or two, people can't say I'm full of it.

On the serious side I have lost a couple good friends to colon cancer, so now the balls in your court.

Ride on and on and on

Cheers,

jh

i hear ya brother. 348 days till the big five oh...ouch


whatthehellisthatsmell?

I've been putting off coloncam for 4 years now. Friends and family keep prodding me to go. One of my daughter's friend's dad is in ICU right now after the procedure, can't stop bleeding. I know his event is rare, but I keep hoping for some kind of Star Trek technology.

My boss just got back from his surgery.
He waited to his late fifties and had a scan done to look for other problems.
There was a spot so he had the colonoscopy and they found the tumor.
He is back at work now but starts his chemo next week.
just a preventitive , the tumor was a tight golf ball size mass and not a spread out mess.
they are sure they got it all but is was a slightly aggressive cancer.

So go get the camera stuck up there before you end up with that cork in your A$$.

Just do it-The only uncomfortable part is the night before when you have to cleanse out the ol' colon! Otherwise it's completely pain free and your back on your feet as soon as you wake up.

Ooohh , the best part of a colonoscopy is the Demerol , wife's an RN and friends and family get an extra dose , woooooo , feels good . Like said previously , the worst part is drinking 1 gallon of propylene glycol , eeeeoooowwwwwyuckmakesmehaveheebeejeevies thinkin' about it .

My Dad refused to get checked or have a colonoscopy , became ill , and in 2 WEEKS was dead of COLON cancer .
My Mom refused to get checked , became ill , and was dead in 2 MONTHS of kidney and bladder cancer .

Denial and procrastination .

Mother-in-law just passed after a three year dance with the Devil. She thought the process her husband went through every three years was stupid.
My first was when I was 50 my second is Feb 2.
Guess what I'll be doing during the Super Bowl.......
Just do it.
ModelMaker

I haven't done it yet but I know those who have and that stuff they give you to drink the day before really cleans you out. Better just stay home and with in a quick dash of the crappie'

Had two so far, once with the liquid, last time chewing pills, clean both times.

Just do it!

Got the roto rooter done in August, nothing found, had 2 endoscopes (Down the throat)July and Nov. So far found nothing.have Other issues but won't go into that here.
Like Freedom says, You won't remember a thing, lasT Thing I Remember Was The Nurse Putting the Needle in The IV.
Steve_Sixmil

Well, just so all you folks are fully informed, here's a little somethin' to read:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BPC/is_4_27/ai_100484251

My own recent experience with an endoscope resulted in a mysterious high fever about eight hours later. It didn't go away for nearly four days. Because there were no other symptoms, and because everyone else in my family was healthy, I had to consider the possibility of cross-contamination from the procedure. So, against the condescending and patronizing advice of my now-ex-regular physician, I initiated two screens for HIV and another for hepatitis. The screens came back negative, but I'm not sure I'm willing to go through this again. The doctor who performed the procedure is recommending that I have it again in three years.

I enjoyed the anesthesia so much the last time I asked if we could do this again next week. I think I embarassed the technician when I said "fater, faster, don't stop now."
On the serious side we need this super diagnostic technique. Also get that PSA test. They have a nerve sparing technique that may not make you impotent if they have to take out the prostate. One of the few advantages of living now is the medical care. I am 57 and just started taking an anti cholesteral rx. No side effects and my Doc says we get to cheat death by 10 years. More time to ride!
Wade- We got to meet. I think we are twin sons of different mothers. (Dan Fogelberg album title). I rode with Mark a couple of times. Good guy. I met his friend John. Also a good guy.

I generally don't chime in very often, but in this case I have to I have to agree. If your 50 and haven't had a colonoscopy don't wait. About two months ago I had one done. The test came back negative, but in the course of the exam, the doctor found something he didn't like so he decided to do a biopsy. Turned out I have prostate cancer. The good news is it was caught very early and hadn't migrated. I am scheduled for the roboticly assisted surgery in two week. Never thought I'd be happy to have surgery, but when they tell you it's surgery or death, it doesn't take long to make that choice!!

never thought id be happy to be 44 heh heh ,5 yrs 1 mth to Arsecam ,wonder if that movie will be out on blueray

The pills and water are a lot easier to do than that foul tasting liquid.
the next day you go in and it is over before you know it.Some doc's say patients talk a lot during the procedure. A scary thing happened a year before I had mine was they found the equipment was not cleaned properly and a lot of people had to be tested. Don't let that scare you.. get it done.

mike

Good advice John. Nothin' to it. Fast for 48 hours, drink the PEG w/electrolytes the night before. Takes about five to six hours to down and out the whole four liters.
Keep it cold, put it on ice if you need to, chug eight ounces at a time. Lemon/lime and cherry flavors are the best (or least the best of ).

Due to a medical condition that greatly increases my risk of colon cancer, I get to have that party every year. Been doing it annually since 1998, with a few extras thrown in. Three years ago the doc found a mass he couldn't excise with the scope tools, so they opened me up and took a foot of my colon. Pre-cancer but still benign (whew).

I too have known people who died from colon cancer, don't plan to join them.

Let me add to John's good advice: If you notice ANYTHING to do with your guts that's out of the ordinary-diarrhea that won't go away, constipation that won't go away, bloody poop etc., etc. GET TO A DOCTOR, STAT.

I had a similar thing when i was having the camera put down the top end , not very nice trying not to choke as they feed it down and then the male nurse say`s to the doc that there has been a lot of cases of equipment not being sterilised lately , i almost spat it out

Let me guess Bill , Diereticulitis ,or how ever it's spelled.

Ulcerative colitis

I know what that is too, sorry to hear it.

Thanks Ian, I'm in full remission now, have been since the surgery, take my meds, so life is good

Cool. Glad to hear it my great uncle and my father were both doctors plus I have a family member with similar health issues. with all that around me I can't help but learn some.

Had a scope done years ago after some scary bloody excrement,turned out to be 'riods(painful enough thanks) during the scope I farted long & loud right in the guy's face (I'm guessing I couldn't see) while they pumped my colon full of air, and naturally I couldn't stop laughing.

Yup, just had 'er done. The last thing I remember saying after being injected with the pain killer was , "hey I'm not feeling anything yet" , next thing I know I'm waking up , never felt a thing. It really was a non event.

Never argue with a medical instrument that measures by the foot!

Bob

sometimes giving your soul back is best. cancer is horrible. my aunt gracie passed this morning. "no, i think i'll not take my medicine this morning" she closed her eyes and exhaled one last time. I last visited her the day of zeke's 60th birthday party. funny how we all look like little kids when the light is brightest.

always be proactive, then when a point is reached, follow the light.

colon cancer won again