Bad Colonoscope Experience

[Ivan the Butcher]

A friend's dad was a WWII Vet, He died from Rectal cancer! My friend put it this way: MY DAD DIED SCREAMING! That convinced me to not argue when one was ordered. I've had 3 now (67 YO) and 5, 3, and 2 polyps found.

Wife had her first this year, (67 YO also) Cologuard first, found blood has to have the snake! Turns out the blood was no big deal, hemorrhoids bleed!

I took my brother for his last one. It took forever! Not a problem for my brother but another patient had the snake go through the colon wall!

I always get knocked out all the way. If something goes horribly wrong, I'll just wake up with my ancestors!

Ivan

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Something I have been contemplating. What is the bigger risk, getting a colonoscopy or not getting one?

Family history will answer that question! Avoid dying screaming at all costs!

Ivan

 

[waffles]

Sorry to hear it, but cmon, every colonoscopy is a real pain in the butt

 

[handejector]

Another I never thought of is the prep cleans out the good bacteria. The bacteria is critical to your immune system.

I take probiotics daily. They keep the good bugs plentiful. Our colds and flu decreased, and sinus infections went completely away after we started years ago.

Prep is changing too. My brother just had to take a pill instead of drinking the gallon of 'stuff'. I'll have to ask about that too.

SUTAB !!! I recently had a colonoscopy and used SUTAB instead of drinking the gallon of antifreeze. I had to buy it because our insurance and the VA doesn't cover it. $60 for 24 little pills. I will do it EVERY time. 12 little pills taken 3 at a time at 15 min intervals, and drink a pint of water the day before. Eight hours before the procedure, do it again. I highly recommend it!
I have had colon cancer, so I have had more colonoscopies than most people- like 6 or 7 now. I have used 3 different preps. As I said, I'll pay the $60 for SUTAB every time!


Folks, unpleasant as they are, colonoscopies are worth doing. They saved my life.
I saw a man in Oct of one year. He looked fine and felt fine. By Dec, they had found stage 4 colon cancer and they gave him 3-5 years. He was buried a couple of months later, just short of 64 years old.
My advice is get them. You decide.

 

[Onomea]

As Lee says. Agree 100%.

As we say about something else important to most of us, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[ZGrand]

I've not had one. Had a sigmoidoscopy in my 50's, and have done the Cologuard test twice in the last 6 years or so.

Hope the OP's difficulties are over soon.

 

[ameridaddy]

I went in for a routine colonoscope and haven't been the same.
... That night I went to the ER because I couldn't urinate. My bladder was drain, the catheter removed, and I went home only to return three hours later for the same thing. ... it was the anesthesia causing the problem and it is quit common with people in their mid seventies. Has anyone else experienced this?

Yes, the same difficulty, but after heart surgery anesthesia, not a colonoscopy. I had the catheter in and out 6 times over ~ 6 days because I couldn't urinate, no matter how hard I tried. I don't even have a prostate, so it certainly wasn't that stopping the flow. It also stopped my bowels from moving as well, but within about 10 days, everything came back to normal.
Anesthesia is nothing to to take lightly, and it can do strange things to your body.
Stay on top of the situation, and insist on immediate medical attention anytime you can't pee after a few hours of trying. You don't want to get a stretched, inelastic bladder. I hope you get back to normal very soon.

 

[GaryS]

I've been told that some doctors go into that specialty so they can look up old friends.

BTW, Go Lytely is false advertising. There is nothing light about it.

I asked the doctor if when he was in medical school, if he thought this is what they meant by 18 holes a day.

 

[Oldiron]

Have had a couple of the colonoscopies. Last one Aug a year ago found a large flat polyp and did a biopsy. Came back abnormal so the gastro Doc said it needed to be removed. He sent me to a surgeon that does minimally invasive surgery and we set it up for 3 weeks later. Found out later that the Surgeon graduated HS with my daughter. Anyway If you have to have surgery that is the way to go. Three small holes in my belly, largest about an inch and a half in my belly button, and he removed a foot of my intestine. He told me a foot will not adversely affect me and he had had 2 surgeries in the last month that had come back cancerous but with a foot worth gone no additional surgery was required.
Anyway, was up and walking and showering the next day. Went home the next. A little soreness but nod bad. Liquid the rest of that week and soft food the next. Worst problem was the 30 day 10 lb weight limit. Didn't go out to the shop because i knew I would grab something heavier. Surgeon released me 8 days after surgery. Only differences I have noticed is no constipation and I stay a little thirstier than before.
Larry

 

[Racer X]

I'm pretty sure it's not possible to have a good colonoscopy experience. But yours is over the top.

there is bad, and less bad. My step-son gets about 1 a year on average because of Crohn's. One year was 3. Just turned 25. I hope before too long, you can swallow a pill capsule camera with led lights and poop it out the other end.

 

[TXBryan]

Everyone's a bit different but the best advice (for men anyway) is to get your first colonoscopy at 50 and then schedule them every five years after that. I've had three, no family history of colon cancer, but my Dad had polyps virtually every exam. I had polyps the first two times, all removed, and none this last time around.

My experience with the procedure has been very good but I tend to tolerate general anesthesia well and have the good fortune of having excellent physicians (the quality of medical care is THE best thing about living in/near Austin).

My "regular" physician is my cardiologist and he prompted me 15 years ago to get on the colonoscopy schedule by telling me, factually, that "colon cancer caught early, not too bad, colon cancer caught late, kind of a drag." I thought he explained it pretty well.

Bryan

 

[robvious]

Everyone's a bit different but the best advice (for men anyway) is to get your first colonoscopy at 50 and then schedule them every five years after that...

, factually, that "colon cancer caught early, not too bad, colon cancer caught late, kind of a drag." I thought he explained it pretty well.

Bryan

Actually they now recommend starting at age 40 now... I was diagnosed at 48... had chemo for my 50th birthday present.

 

[Steve K]

Thanks everyone
It seems the best thing to do is continue with regular colonoscopes. I'll be 82 for the next scheduled procedure; hard to say if it will be necessary at that age.
Thanks again

 

[dockmurgw]

Nope. Weird. The worst part for me has always been the prep.

Same here...its the prep. My first attempt resulted in a broken nose. Sick as a dog, passed out and face planted on a concrete floor. I looked like I went overtime rounds with Ali. At the hospital as they are putting my nose back together they informed me that it didnt matter that I was prepped, they would not do it with a broken nose.

 

[SMSgt]

Some of the posts here amaze me. I get borescoped form both ends every 3-5 years. Polyps are found about every other procedure. Family history of cancer, 5 of 6 parents and siblings having had it. Yeah, it sucks having the procedure, but overall risks are very low. Cancer is too often forever.

I find it difficult to believe a doctor did or could insert enough air to push everything up and stop the heart. They don't use that much pressure. The intestines would rupture before the pressure stopped the heart.

 

[Doug M.]

I had two in 5 days in December while hospitalized for a GI bleed, along with other tests (including the camera in a pill). 8 transfusions, and a bunch of other unpleasantness. Finding the source of red stuff in your reddish-pink innards is not an easy task. 9 days. Experience was not good. Care was as good as it could be.

 

[IAM Rand]

2 times and no problems........knock on wood. I was knocked out or so I thought. I have recently had to have a hernia repaired and they really did know me out and tube me out for that. The doc said knocking you out for colonoscopy is not really knocking you out. He said it was kinda like a roofie. You are still conscious but, you forget about it all.

 

[Rule3]

As mentioned by several, having a colonoscopy is a very import procedure. It can save your life


That said we can't have a thread on the subject without Dave Barrys article. Very funny writer He also has some videos.


http://dremilykane.com/2009/02/18/dave-barrys-guide-to-preparing-for-a-colonoscopy/


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AaaO5aYBAI&ab_channel=PutnamBooks[/ame]

 

[Doug627]

You have an honest doctor. Do not lose him. He told you what happened during the colonoscopy. I am sorry you had problems. I pray for a full recovery.

 

[John_M52]

My only experience was that the anesthesia did not work and I was wide awake and aware the whole time. I kept telling the nurse and she was telling the doc but he just kept going sayin he was almost done. I had words with the doctor later and he said "the good thing is the drug we use creates a little amnesia so you don't remember any of it." This was after I told him in detail everything he did. ugh.