oh. wonderful!

**Edwina's Secretary** · 08-31-2007, 05:49 PM

You will be sedated during the procedure. The preparation is the uncomfortable part.

As a general rule you will be directed to a doctor of the same sex for the procedure. And of course, you can request a doctor of the same sex if it makes you more comfortable.

**Freedom** · 08-31-2007, 06:19 PM

There are 2 prep procedures. For one, you drink gallon or so of a fluid made up at the pharmacy. Kind of a chalky thing. For the other, you take tablets and drink sodas. Not colas. I think it was Lemon Lime or some such, they will tell you.

Do thee tablets it is a MUCH easier prep. ASK for it if they give you a prescirption for the other method.

**Pam** · 08-31-2007, 06:30 PM

David I had one and I can tell you the test is a piece of cake. You simply sleep. The prep the night before sort of ties you to the bathroom if you get my drift.

I mean you seriously won't be able to leave there.

The stuff I drank was a lemony-lime but had a very salty flavor. It was a chore to get it all down. That all said, there is nothing in the world quite like having your doctor tell you afterward that everything looks fine.

**Donnaj4962** · 08-31-2007, 06:55 PM

David, like the others have said, the prep is the worst as you will be asleep for the actual procedure. My prep consisted of some over the counter dulcolax and then mixing (again over the counter) miralax with water. I drank the mixture slowly, kind of sipping it until I had it all gone. And then I spent my time in the bathroom!

Although I am only 45, I had my first colonoscopy just a few months ago. My mother is a colon cancer survivor.... so myself and my sisters have all had to have the procedure starting when we turned 45. For me, the doctor removed, as he said, "a fairly large sized pre-cancerous polyp". Had I NOT had the procedure done at 45, and instead waited..... who knows what would have happened.

All in all.... the prep and the anxiety was well worth it all!.

You will be fine. You won't remember any of the procedure.

**sasvermont** · 08-31-2007, 07:10 PM

I just had my second one on Aug. 17th. The prep is the trying part. Each hospital/doctor has their own little set of instructions and suggestions. I was not totally sedated this time, so that the recovery time (they are trying to get folks up and the hell out of the hospital) is quicker than if you were totally sedated! I was admitted at 8AM and home by 11AM, with 2 hours of that time for travelling!

I have had this proceedure done twice now and both times they discovered pre-cancerous areas. I now have to go back every three years. I am happy to do so.

So, for all those folks 50 and over, they need to get with it and go schedule themselves for a colonoscopy! It isn't fun but it sure is necessary.

Good luck.

**joycenalex** · 08-31-2007, 08:22 PM

david, mine is booked for 10/15. the test doesn't hurt. any and all stool in your colon needs to be out so the doctor can see all of the lining of the intestine, check with your gastroenterologist if they want you to eat a low residue diet for a few days and then do the prep. the prep is the most unpleasent part, invest in a padded toilet seat, save a few people magazines or other reading material.

the day of the test, wear easy to get out of clothes like sweat pants and a tee shirt. the nurse who runs the sedation part is usually really good about getting into a vein, she'll give you a low dose of something to relax you and right before the test starts you roll onto your left side, she gives you the rest of the sedative, and you wake up an hour or so later. the tube the doctor looks through is small and very very well lubricated, a bit of air is used to inflate the colon, sometimes, and you might be a tiny bit gassy later that afternoon. you'll be hungry after the test. i worked for doctors who did this 2 days a week, so if you want any more info PM me. your doctor is smart to ask you, and you're very smart to get it done, colo-rectal cancer is very treatable if caught early.

**davidpizzica** · 08-31-2007, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by joycenalex

david, mine is booked for 10/15. the test doesn't hurt. any and all stool in your colon needs to be out so the doctor can see all of the lining of the intestine, check with your gastroenterologist if they want you to eat a low residue diet for a few days and then do the prep. the prep is the most unpleasent part, invest in a padded toilet seat, save a few people magazines or other reading material.

the day of the test, wear easy to get out of clothes like sweat pants and a tee shirt. the nurse who runs the sedation part is usually really good about getting into a vein, she'll give you a low dose of something to relax you and right before the test starts you roll onto your left side, she gives you the rest of the sedative, and you wake up an hour or so later. the tube the doctor looks through is small and very very well lubricated, a bit of air is used to inflate the colon, sometimes, and you might be a tiny bit gassy later that afternoon. you'll be hungry after the test. i worked for doctors who did this 2 days a week, so if you want any more info PM me. your doctor is smart to ask you, and you're very smart to get it done, colo-rectal cancer is very treatable if caught early.

` At 59 I feel this proceedure is way, WAY over due! I will PM you with any more questions and make sure my "home away from home" has plenty of reading material! I can even watch my portable DVD player in there. I want to thank you and everyone else that has respomded for relaxing me about this and helping me feel more confident about having this done.