I am on a 3-year schedule for for a colonoscopy, which will be in Jan 08 again. I am a survivor of thyroid cancer, and also of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The lymphoma is not curable, but is treatable.

Being active helps in many ways...makes you stronger, and helps your mental outlook as well.

For the record, I am 55. I was diagnosed with lymphoma at 39.

Way to give cancer a whoopin', AZ!

I just scheduled mine for 9/21

I have one scheduled for Tuesday...I should have done it when I turned 50...I hope I didn't wait too late.

I am on a 5 year schedule. First time found one benign polyp. Second time all clear. The best nap you'll ever have.

god knows I can use the extra sleep
.
I wll let everyone know after my exam on Friday,saturday.

This was about 6 yrs ago, I was half awake and feeling no pain.

I got one recently, just after my fiftieth birthday. Good luck to you, and thanks for the sound advice.

I had one about 15 years ago and I didn't get a sedative! I remember the whole thing...

I suppose I should get one. Runs on both sides of my family.

My doctor has a sense of humor. His first comment to me was "You really cleaned up nicely for this visit".

Well my first colonoscopy in 62 years is done. Expected a few dozen polyps but had none. Wants me back in ten years. Fat chance on that happening unless they change the stuff I had to drink before hand. Anyway I hoped to lose some weight after a liquid diet of pretty much nothing for 36 hours, but gained a pound?? I either retained a lot of the GoLytely or I breath too much.

Maybe the colonoscopist forgot and left something behind.

Which reminds me, I've wondered from time to time what makes a person decide -- nay, aspire -- to become a colonoscopist?

Some people will do ANYTHING for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!

Well the procedure started out with the wrong patients chart. Wasn't caught till question 6, when he asked how many children I gave birth to? I sure hope they took an inventory of tools afterwards. I'll be sending some solid waste down stream soon.

I recently had a physical, but the doctor offered another option to the colonoscopy that is much simpler. It involves placing a small smear of feces on a card from three separate bowel movements. It is supposed to be just as effective in spotting cancer as the colonoscopy. There is no barium enema and no risk of a perforated colon, nor any anesthetic or missing work. You do restrict certain food items for about a week before taking the samples. This test needs to be done every year, whereas a colonoscopy can be done only every ten years.

I would not trust the stool test. At 47, I am now a four month survivor of stage 3 colorectal cancer. First and only sign was blood on my stool - STOOL TEST SHOWED NOTHING!! Everyone thought haemorrhoids, luckily my Dr. still booked a barium, something showed, colonoscopy proved cancer - pT3,N0,R0,V0 was the determination after surgery (removed 90% of my rectum and part of my sigmoid colon 3/29/2007). 1 layer of cells away from having it spread - timing and location was my saving grace. Extremely lucky to need no radiation or chemotherapy - only a 5% increase in survival rate (75%). I suggest this thread be made a sticky and everyone over 40 read it.

My riding has been very therapeutic.

On the upside I am no longer a complete a**hole!

I do this twice a year with the VA more or less a chance type finding using this method

My colonoscopy was done this morning @ 7:00 no worries no problems. Nothing a big relief as the VA contracted an outside source and usually they do not do this unless they feel it the utmost importance.
A very simple,simple procedure with zero pain.
The worst part is drinking the liquid, the fun part passing gas after the colonoscopy.


The GoLytely is a salt type solution mixed with sodium bicabonate, sodium potassium and other minerals, taste like salt water from the ocean

I'm going to take the pills instead of drinking the liquid prior to the colonoscopy. I know a couple people at work who had horrible reactions to the liquid (extreme diarrhea, nausea) but no problems with the pills. Another person I know didn't experience much of anything unusual taking the pills, but was "cleaned up" fine for the scope. With my work insurance the liquid stuff is free, and the pills cost $15. Well worth it to avoid possible nausea IMHO.

Geez, this reminds me that I have a couple 50+ tests to schedule in the next few months. I've been putting off one particular exam that was ordered by my Dr early this year due to some questionable growths. Maybe I've been sticking my head in the sand because I so do NOT like anything to do with doctors, examining tables, needles, backless gowns, and cold speculums. This thread reminds me that all of this is still better risking a lot worse.

---Ally

You don't like backless gowns? They are great for those hot summer days when you are riding a century....

I saw this and am thinking....aw....here? But....great idea, great post and great encouragement. I have had them done and encourage it. Have friend that got CC and is now symptom free for 2 years. Not that big a deal to get the procedure done....just sounds awful.

You speak with great wisdom. Listen to him, everybody.

"Which reminds me, I've wondered from time to time what makes a person decide -- nay, aspire -- to become a colonoscopist?"

Well you see, its like this. When I was a medical student one of the faculty came to me and said, "Son, would you like to be able to get in 18 holes a day?" I swear I thought I was signing up for golf lessons......

Had mine last spring. clean as a whistle and my wife says I'm a perfect *** hole

going in at 7am tomorrow...

I'm still waiting for the office to call me to schedule the appointment. The way they do it, they mail you the forms to fill out (or you print them from their web site, which I did), you complete the forms and mail them to the office which is about 20 minutes from my home, then wait for someone call to schedule the appointment. The forms were mailed last Thursday.... should have arrived on Friday... it's Tuesday now. Does this seem like a strange practice? I'm anxious to get the show on the road... so to speak.

A very prominent and well-liked news anchorman in the L.A. area passed away this morning, apparently less than a week after being diagnosed with colon cancer that spread to his liver. I saw him do the news last Tuesday night. I missed it on Wednesday, then on Thursday his co-anchor announced that he collapsed on Wednesday night and while being treated for an infection they discovered colon cancer which had spread to his liver, adding that he planned to "fight it". Then, this morning, I heard the sad and shocking news of his passing. The first thing I thought was "I wonder if he ever had a colonoscopy....." Sad news for Hal Fishman fans everywhere.