Colonoscopy anyone?

Hi everyone

I went to the doctor on Friday and everything was okay. But since I have been having more trouble with my lower back, she wants to schedule me to have a colonoscopy. She said with ovarian cancer that colon cancer is a high risk. Has anyone else had to have this done? Was it bad?

Sugar

Hi Sugar,

Yes, I do believe that your doctor is right. I had to have a colonscopy before my hysterestomy. My oncologist/gyn wanted to make sure that all was clear in that area and it was.

The test itself is totally painless because they put you into a good twlight sleep and I felt nothing at all.

The prep, however, is a totally different story. I remember having to be on clear liquids the day of the prep and then starting at about 5pm had to drink a gallon of the stuff called Golightly.

Doctors seem to differ on the colon cleansing process and there are lots of different things used. My doc said that this stuff cleans you out the best and that the clearer you are, the higher up he can get and see.

Good luck to you and am sure that all will go well.

Rosalie

mine is scheduled on the 13th I'll let you know. My daughter and mom and have both this. They said the prep the day/eve before is the worse part.

Sugar,
I just had one last week. It is the second one for me due to my mother having colon cancer. The prep is the worst part of it. You can only have clear fluid diet the day before and the fleet stuff that they tell you to get is horrible. Do yourself a favor because sometime they don't tell you - you can mix the prep med with a large glass of white grape juice. It still gets to you, but believe me it is more tolerable going down. The test itself is nothing because they sedate you and you don't feel anything and when it is over you may be gassy because they blow air in your colon. Let it out, and take it easy the rest of the day to ensure there is no problems. The doctor will instruct you afterward and mine gave me pictures! The doctor found nothing during my test and I pray you are "clean" also. The peace of mind you have afterward in knowing you are ok is unmeasurable and worth the discomfort.
Debbie

Yes, the prep is REALLY yukky, but there are a few different ones out there.

The gallon of liquid is the WORST, so you may want to see if there is any other option, the phospho stuff is not so bad because it can be mixed with fizzy soda.

Also, drinking it down thru a straw may be helpful-it was for me.

I also saw some info about a new product like the gallon stuff, but you only need to drink 1/2 the amount.
Maybe you want to ask the Doc about it.

Good luck, enjoy the good drugs that you get in the IV.

My 1st colonoscpy, the nurse came and showed me the very large polyp they had removed. I remember it being in a petrie dish!

Also, if you ask, you'll get some lovely photos if the inside of your clean colon!!!

Take care, hope that all goes well.

Marcia

I put off this colonoscopy for almost a year because I was plain scared. Had it done about two weeks ago.

As the others have said, it is painless (although the release form mentioned "you might feel this, you might feel that" and really scared me!)

The cleaning out is yukky, but is basically the same as I had to do prior to my surgery. then I was in shock though, so didn't have as hard a time choking the liquid down!!

When I got to the hospital for the test, and told the nurse this, she said I could have taken Pramin first (anti-naseau medicine), and that the stuff could be dissolved in sprite and not in water. so just be sure to ask before hand how to make it as un-unpleasant as possible.

esther

Well, tis the season....

I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy for 12/13, just like ncmove. This was on my "to do" list for 2004 and I'm coming in just under the wire.

Thanks for the suggestions about sprite, straws, etc. I'm doing the Fleets Phosphosoda, too. As my dear friend always says... "They can put a man on the moon but they can't make that S*** taste any better!!!??" Can't wait to start that prep on Sunday.

Yes, there is a significant connection between ovca and colon cancer. In fact, and I didn't know this till AFTER surgery and diagnosis and was meeting with the oncologist, my family history is rife with colon cancer (both maternal grandmother and grandfather) and polyps (mother and paternal aunt, so far). Oy!

Hoping they find nothing but clear sailing and good winds (couldn't resist) for you, Sugar, and the rest of our sisters who are being tested.

Maureenie,
My mother had colon cancer also, and when I had my hyster, they took an ovary and tube also because of a 9 cm tumor on the ovary which had cancer cells. I had the colonoscopy and an all clear from that. They insisted the cell generated from there. They told me it is rare to start on the ovary for that particular cell type, because it is a GI tract type of cell for cancer. Needless to say, I was blessed, I guess because of it being isolated in the ovary - so far. I am going for CT and PET on Wed. The more I have read regarding the types of ovca, I am thinking they better wise up to the colon cancer connection and stop just saying" it is rare" The hereditary cells seem to becoming more popular. Can you offer me more information on the subject and your experience?

Good luck and hope all is "clean" with your test. Ha!! Couldn't resist!!
Debbie