Are you over 50? .........read this.

Quint4

Quint4

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Oct 6, 2006
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Okay guys here goes. I am 51 and have been putting off the dreaded colonoscopy for a year. I had it done Monday and it is no big deal!
Colorectal cancer is a silent killer and affects many people over 50. One of the best ways to prevent it is removal of polyps before they turn cancerous and early identification.
I have a coworker in his mid-50s battling it right now.

If you have been putting off getting a colonoscopy do it........... You owe it to yourself and family. As I said it was really anti-climactic I was all worked up over nothing......... They sedated me with propofol, the next thing I knew I was in recovery and ready to go home. The whole event from the time I checked in took about two hours.

The doc gave me a clean bill of health and told me I did not need another colonoscopy for 10 years! What a peace of mind to have.
 
I 2nd what Quint said. I put it off 4 years, til age 54. The whole thing was such a non event I was stupid I delayed. And I had couple polyps which were removed. Go get it done.
 
Dock buddy of mine is a sports doctor that helps with many of the professional sports teams in the area and beyond actually. I think he was at one of the LSU games talking to someone from there about helping whatever, don't really know the details obviously. BUT, dock talk one night was about colonoscopy's and he said he wouldn't recommend them any longer BUT does recommend and new procedure for checking the colon, has something to do with a non invasive method for collecting stool and sending to a lab for testing. Much better way to do it. Here is an article from WebMD that says is it showing promise, apparently he is already using this test and many he know in the field as well.

http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-can...ool-test-shows-promise-as-colon-cancer-screen
 
I have been doing the stool sample for the past 5 years but plan on the roto-rooter in 2016. Can't wait...
 
I second everything that has been said here. Even if you're not yet 50 it doesn't hurt to get your colon and prostate checked on a regular basis. I'm 46 and the doc recommended the colonoscopy and, as Quint4 said, it was no big deal at all.
 
I just turned 36 but had my first one this summer. They found a nasty polyp which was causing my issues. The prep was not as bad as I envisioned, drink a bottle of magnesium citrate and an hour later start drinking the bottle of laxative a dose at a time with 6oz Gatorade.

I failed the initial non-invasive test, so it was an inevitable procedure for me. Also, my paternal grandfather had colon cancer diagnosed at 42 so this will be a routine thing for me I'm sure.
 
Not really the greatest Christmas conversation but, go with what Quint says.
I am a perfect example of what not to do. I was having regular checkups every 5 years and they always found small polyps but noting cancerous.
long story short, 3 years ago they found cancer in my throat and I put off the colonoscopy until I was done with cancer treatments. During that time my doc retired so, I just kind of forgot about it. The 1st. of the year I went in for my cancer follow-up Pet scan and something showed up in my colon.
I went in for a colonoscopy and they found more polyps (non cancerous) but they were too large to remove. They sent me to a second doc that removed them with a different procedure but, same story. I ended up going in for the 3rd. time and they had to remove 20" of my colon and I spent 7 days in the hospital. The good part is they were not cancerous. it is much easier to be checked than the alternative. A few hours would have saved me many dollars and days had I done the checkup when I should have.
 
Had it twice. First one at 51. Found one polyp (but it was big) so they said come back in 3 years. Did second one at 55 and all clear. So my next is now at 60.
 
I've done it a couple times, it's a breeze, you get cool color photos if you want them, and get to meet some new people too.:lol:
 
I had mine done at 55 two large pre cancer polyps came back negative, then had it done twice at 2 year intervals no new polyps don't need another one for 5 years. The night before is no fun better than the alternative.
 
I've had several. One was the "virtual". Same prep but they insert an air hose, inflate the colon and run you through a CAT scanner. Advantage is no deep "invasion", no drugs and therefore no need for someone to drive you home. You do have to hold in that air bubble for a while and that's a funny feeling. I think they allow virtual every other time, but as soon as they start finding polyps you go back to the instrument for good so they can take them out during the procedure.
 
I'm 69 and have had several of them done. When I had the last one done they found some polyps and removed them. I was feeling pretty good so went home and mowed the lawn, sitting on the law tractor. No big deal until the next morning I started crapping blood. I asked my wife about it and she asked me how much blood. Well, how do you measure it. There was quite a bit but I didn't want to excite her.

During the morning there were a few more bloody craps so about 10:00 a.m. I called her and she said to get to the hospital. I drove myself (can you say "guilty of speeding") about 100mph because now I was scared. When I got to the hospital I passed out as I walked into the ER. They got me into a room and started pumping me with saline solution. I took 5 units of saline before my blood pressure normalized.

According to the doc, I was about one unit from biting the big one.

Note to self: After the next one, take it easy you dumb sh!t.
 
Been going since I was about 45, had a 5 year gap, last year they removed a polyp, so back to a 3year gap.



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My first was at 45 due to something they found at my physical. Had a colonoscopy and a endoscopy - was completely flipped out over the whole thing. Prep is no fun, but the procedure is no big deal. Had my second one last year, non event. If your 50 just get one, most insurance pays it 100% and the alternative is much worse than a doc and a couple of nurses checking the caboose. Funny thing, my last one, setting in the waiting room, hungry and tired from crapping our brains out, a young cute 20 something bops in with her Starbucks in hand, clearly in the wrong place, kind of funny the look she got from all the old men about to get their crapper reamed.
 
I have been having colonoscopies since my twenties due to Crohns. Better safe than sorry. I go no longer than every 3 years and it is not a big deal. Endoscopy is important as well as it seems there is more Barrett's presenting but without symptoms for a lot of people.


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The drugs alone are worth the price of admission!

Seriously. I had a friend die from colon cancer at 35. If there is a history in your family, I don't care if you are 20. Get checked. My nephews have been getting checked for prostate cancer since their 20's after my brother and I were bothe diagnosed with cancer within a year of each other.

My PCP says the 10 year thing is an Obamacare deal. Five years is and barring abnormalities, should still be the norm.
 
Had the joy of having my first colonoscopy a few years ago at 51, thought I would man-up and forgo the anesthesia, first part of the procedure was kind of cool, got to watch on a big screen tv and talking with the doc and nurse but when they started pulling the scope out real slow it felt like someone kicked me in the jewels. Doc get that alian thing out of me! I think he found it funny and pulled out slower and then went back in to take closer looks at spots. Take my advice, take the drugs !!! Goods news, no polyps so don't have to do that for another 10 years.
 
I will post up some pics of my colon for Christmas...........just kidding.
 
Bob & Sue said:
I had mine done at 55 two large pre cancer polyps came back negative, then had it done twice at 2 year intervals no new polyps don't need another one for 5 years. The night before is no fun better than the alternative.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to add as long as your going in for a lower GI you may as well get the upper GI done at the same time with all the folks with GERD it can be a silent killer too me included, I had some heart burn & took over the counter pills for it. When I had both ends done I found out there was scaring damage done to my esophagus, I changed my diet it helps but I'll be on pills for the rest of my life. My uncle died last year from Cancer of the Esophagus he put off going to the doctor for years and lived with heart burn, when they did the upper GI it they diagnosed him with less than 6 months he made it a 1 1/2 years.
 
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