anyone else had a colonoscopy?

[carole]

For anyone who is feeling scared or does not want to have one, just remember you are one of the lucky few that are able to have this procedure done, it is NOT available in my country as a standard test, you cannot just go to a specialist either and ask for one, perhaps if you have a family history,maybe so,and of course if you are having problems in that area, i cannot wait until this country of mine starts offering these type of tests as regular yearly things, not that i would look forward to the procedure at all, but i sure would like the option to say yes or no.

These are available in the UK,Australia and obviously the USA,so i am not happy that NZ is not offering this.

[Donnaj4962]

One of my sisters had her colonoscopy this week also. Hers was fine, no polyps. And.... apparently they had an equipment malfunction and had to change everything out while she was in there! She remembers none of it!

I know that many of you are afraid to have the procedure done. But seriously, it is not that bad. The prep is not pleasant, but you just need to plan to stay near (or in!) the bathroom for the day. And there is NOTHING to the procedure. You won't even remember it. The fear is in the prep and knowing that a probe is going to be inserted.

My mother is a colon cancer SURVIVOR! She was diagnosed in 1999, had to have a colostomy that same year. She was so scared going into surgery to remove the tumor in her colon...that they found with the colonoscopy. She didn't want that "bag". But the tumor was too close to her anus to resect, and she had no choice. Had the doctor not done the colostomy, she would have been dead in 6 months. Today, my mother lives in Florida, goes boating as often as possible, swims, lays around the pool, goes dancing with Dad, and is very active in her American Legion. She will turn 78 this August! Her bag is now called "junior" and it is a family joke! She adapted. I am so proud of her.

Wouldn't you rather go through a little uncomfortableness than to die... or live with a colostomy for the rest of your life?

I am sorry to be so blunt, but that is what my family has learned! I have 4 older sisters, and we ALL have our colonoscopies as we are supposed to. Please, please, do the same for yourself and your family.