anyone else had a colonoscopy?

[AdoreMyDogs]

I don't ever want one Not ever, ever, ever!!! I almost hate to get older because then I might actually need to get it done. It is good, however, that they sedate you for it, as I can't imagine anyone would ever get it done while awake.

[K9karen]

Shame on me. You'd think with all my surgeries, I'd be diligent. I'm not afraid at all. I just haven't made the time with everything else going on. Thanks for the thread and reminder. I have a doc appt coming up, so I'll ask for a script. "An ounce of prevention...."

[gini]

I can't believe that I am reading this thread. Just today I attended my Rotary meeting and the speaker was one of our own members. He had a colonoscopy PARTY for his birthday. Yes, you read that right - it was his birthday present to himself.

He explained that he knew he should have a colonoscopy because of family history. So for a very important birthday, what he did was ask his very best friends to have one too - as their gift to him.

He is a very funny guy, and he went into great detail about the prep - and that he thought he had time to do some errands. WRONG!

He said he was on the bathroom floor and his buddies were text messaging him from THEIR bathrooms. They all gave him a really bad time.

But right afterwards, he had a huge party for the eight guys.

He wants to start a trend - because guys are famous for not having these tests - and have to be dragged to the Dr's. office.

I missed it, but apparently the whole thing was on our local news.

[Pam]

The virtual colonoscopy has not been confirmed to be as effective in assessing risk, and if anything is found, you still have to have a regular colonoscopy for biopsy or polyp removal.

Then. God forbid, you need to "drink the stuff" again to have those polyps removed. No thank you. I'd choose to only have to do that once.

Gini, good for your friend! Yes men are the worst culprits when it comes to taking care of their health. Your friend is an inspiration and, yes, I can relate to him sitting on the floor in the bathroom. As I said before, you don't want to go too far after drinking that stuff.

I, too, lost a friend to colon cancer. It then spread to her kidneys. She died two months before her daughter was to give birth to her little granddaughter. She was 54.

[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.

[Cataholic]

i woke up talking to the doc after i said something that made him laugh. eileen later told me that i asked him if he found many heads up peoples' behinds....he had a big laugh....

OMG! That is hysterical!!!

[moosmom]

I called my doctor's office today and they're going to set it up for me. I KNOW it's gotta be done, but I'm looking forward to it about as much as chewing glass!!

[joycenalex]

donna, the prep isn't chewing glass ya know.... . and thanks for doing it, we love you and want you here with us for a looooooong time

[sirrahbed]

This has been pretty funny AND healthy to read. Mine is due - hubby has his next week. At my next followup. I know my doctor will *remind* me and request the test.

At my first (and only) colonoscopy, I was sedated and pretty out of it. But, when they went to stick the scope in, I woke right up yelling "S***!!", which I thought was quite appropriate

I will tell hubby about the "find many heads up there?" comment that joycenalex posted - and maybe he will remember to use it