100 Colonoscopies

I'm having my first one on Tuesday. Been having some GI issues and just recently found out that I have a long family history of early (age-wise) colon cancer, on both sides!! I sure wish I had known that YEARS ago as I would have scheduled this unpleasantness a few years ago.

My doctor's nurse has actually told me that I don't need a colonoscopy. I am in my 60s and have never had one done. She believes that if you do not have a family history of colon cancer then a colonoscopy is not needed. I don't think that is good advice.

Father died of colon cancer. He lived four months after being diagnosed. I got one at age 48. Everything was good. So far my sister, oldest brother, and me have all had colonoscopies.

I'm having my first one on Tuesday. Been having some GI issues and just recently found out that I have a long family history of early (age-wise) colon cancer, on both sides!! I sure wish I had known that YEARS ago as I would have scheduled this unpleasantness a few years ago.

My doctor's nurse has actually told me that I don't need a colonoscopy. I am in my 60s and have never had one done. She believes that if you do not have a family history of colon cancer then a colonoscopy is not needed. <truncated>

...that's bad advice. I had my first at 55, no symptoms, no family history, excellent health and a high-fiber diet. They found one nasty (tubular villiform adenoma with high-grade dysplasia) which could have turned into cancer in another 5-10 years if left untreated. Two years later they found a couple of smaller polyps. They said to come back in 5 years but I plan to have my OB-Gyn get me a fecal occult blood test kit at my regular appt next month. If it turns up positive that means there's intestinal bleeding somewhere and I'll schedule a colonoscopy before 5 years. Nothing to mess around with.

BTW, I have mine done with no anaesthetic. Heck, I've had menstrual cramps worse than that and you get to watch it all on TV. You can also get back to normal a lot faster afterwards.

I had mine earlier this week, also DRUG FREE. :drinker: Although I was nervous, and it is weird as all get out, it was not at all painful. I, too, have had menstrual cramps and even gas pains that were FAR worse than the colonoscopy. The risk of infection, perforation, memory loss, and other potential complications from anesthesia are totally NOT worth it just to avoid a few minutes of pressure or embarrassment.

Because I declined all drugs, I was able to
- Watch everything on the monitor,
- Talk to my doctor about everything as it happened
- Help her by moving myself when the scope refused to go around a bend
- Simply get up and walk out 5 minutes after she was done
- Drive myself home
- Eat a big meal on my way home"
- Work in the garden that afternoon

Here's a HUGE THANKS to the MFP woman who replied to me about her own experience doing one without anesthesia.
THANK YOU!!! You really calmed my nerves about it all. :flowerforyou:

And I totally agree with her: at my next one (in 5 yrs) I will again have it done with NO DRUGS of any sort. Truly, there was NO PAIN at all (just a few moments of mild discomfort). Menstrual cramps and gas pains are far worse.

And for any men reading this, the doctor said men have it even easier b/c their large intestine has shallower turns and bends.

"Don't be whiny; check your heiny!"

OK, OK, alright already!!!!...........I'm overdue and I do know better (my father had a colostomy the last 10 years of his life due to colon cancer)...........I promise I'll make the appt. tomorrow......

I had mine 6 years ago and doctor pronounced perfection! :-)

I just scheduled mine for June 10th, after turning 50 THREE years ago and being a complete wimp about it. UNTIL I know someone who was diagnosed with a rectal tumor and is currently going through the horrendous treatment process of radiation, chemo, surgery, more chemo and radiation that should last for a good year in the hopes of saving his life. If I can avoid that by going through this yuckiness for several days, I decided definitively to do it!! I had actually scheduled it before seeing this thread, but am glad to feel the support and add mine!
I just read a few posts about drug-free, and I am so not going to do that because in my opinion (humble and not completely well informed on this!!) I am looking forward to the drugs!! My husband tried to do it without drugs because he wanted to see it and he asked to be put out about a third of the way into it. He has an amazing pain tolerance and he said it was excruciating. So many people go through it with drugs, that it just does not seem worth it otherwise. And what if they have to take a biopsy or cut out a polyp?? I so don't want to be awake for that!! :laugh:

I had mine earlier this week, also DRUG FREE. :drinker: Although I was nervous, and it is weird as all get out, it was not at all painful. I, too, have had menstrual cramps and even gas pains that were FAR worse than the colonoscopy. The risk of infection, perforation, memory loss, and other potential complications from anesthesia are totally NOT worth it just to avoid a few minutes of pressure or embarrassment.

It really helps when people talk about this; I decided to do it drug-free because my mother had hers drug-free and she was in her 70s. I thanked her later; I jokingly refer to colonoscopies as "the test we do not discuss in polite company", but talking about it encourages people to get them.

One question: how does the chance of accidental perforation decrease because you don't get anaesthetic? That's good news; I just wasn't sure why it would have that effect.

The basic reason is this: when a person is unconscious, the doctor can insert the scope more quickly all the way to the other end of the colon. Jiggling through the curves and a potentially tight twist without a conscious patient saying, "Hey, slow down a bit - that actually hurts" to warn the doctor of high pressure, apparently increases the chances of the doctor actually poking through the wall. Also, when a patient is fully conscious, the doctor usually proceeds a bit more slowly, to minimize discomfort.

There aren't sensitive pain sensors in the polyps or the lining, though there are pressure receptors/sensors, so a conscious person can provide feedback when there is a high degree of pressure (and doesn't have to worry if a polyp needs to be removed). I haven't seen more detailed reasons from any of the studies (doctor proceeding a bit more slowly vs. patient providing instant feedback vs. something else) as to why there is a lower percentage of perforations in drug-free colonoscopies vs those with drugs.

Finding a doctor who has performed them on fully-conscious patients and is comfortable doing so is very important.

Most important of all is just having one done, whatever way is preferred!

I am having one soon, I have low iron among a few other issues we need to investigate.

My cousin was treated for colon cancer last year and she is in her mid 30's with two kids, you never expect it

This is great thing to get out there. I don't count in the numbers b/c my doctor said I need to wait until 30 or 35 to worry about if for me (I'm 23 now). But both my parents are up to date on theirs. We are all at a slightly higher risk on my mom's side b/c her mom had Colon Cancer. They removed part of her small intestines and she is 20 something years past cancer. But a colonoscopy caught the cancer and saved her life!

I am not going to voluntarily be put under. But, if my doctor recommends it... Meh

You don't need to be put under- see earlier posts. I've had 2 without anaesthetic and will do it again. My mother is in her 80s and she doesn't get anaesthetic either.

Had my first EGD/Colonoscopy in April and found a mass; had to have a second procedure (sigmoidscopy) determined to be a lipoma (fat mass). Will continue to monitor, but cleared for next colonoscopy in 10 yrs.
I thought the prep was going to be awful, but it wasn't too bad. If I may suggest...if you can tolerate I did an extra day of clear liquids before I drank the prep solution. I did not have tne abdominal cramps, pressure, and pain like I suspected. Just load up on broth, ginger ale, jello (nothing red in color---as it is contraindicated for the exam).

Having my second one in a few weeks time because of my crohns disease. Where I live you have to really argue with a doctor to get one!!

It runs in my family too, hang in there. I'll say an extra prayer for you.