Had a colonoscopy back when I was 51... was told there were polyps (which were removed) and I should come back in 3 years. Just had the second colonoscopy... it came back clean. I was told to come back in 5 years.

Truth be told the colonoscopy is nothing... I was fully asleep both times. The prep for it just sucks though... if only someone could invent a solution that does the job without tasting like old spit. I can usually get the first 8 oz down, but after that, I have to really fight it.

Oh and as someone said, stay close to the WC... and bring reading material. Sheesh. Just when you think it is over... whoosh!

Today I made my appt for my first ever (I'm 56). Some of the impetus came from this thread [thanks].

Good luck.

You were likely in twilight and not really asleep. I thought they put me completely under, but I was told that no, it was an amnesiac drug(twilight). Just like my hand surgery, I don't remember a darn thing about the procedure. The prep, not eating and the "cleansing" sucked, but boy did the the lunch afterward taste oh so good.

@Stormcrowe,
Wish all goes well.

Bingo ! Don't put it off, get one done. JM

Hope all goes well for you, Tom.

+1..best wishes for quick recovery Tom.

Camped OCEANFRONT! in Encinitas - drove over for my colonoscopy at Scripps Tuesday, I'm 51. It's payback cuz when DH was 51, Katy Couric's husband had just died of colon cancer and I nagged DH into getting one. On his pre-anesthetic bloodwork, elevated proteins were discovered, eventually leading to a diagnosis of lung lymphoma & chemo (colon was clean). So he's going in for his cancer recheck while they're scoping me. His successful outcome enabled us to ride the TransAm this summer, albeit him on a Trek electric assist bike

https://bicyclelife.topicwise.com/doc/yumadons1

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY! While everyone should get a colonoscopy, people with blood relatives that have had the disease are at a higher risk. I'm in that category. I lost an uncle to colon cancer (on my mother's side). Apparently that makes me a higher than average risk for the disease. I've had several colonoscopies, all with favorable results.
The most memorable was accidently scheduling one the day after the Superbowl. While everyone else was drinking beer and eating pizza, I was drinking that crap that cleans out your gut. Note to self: Do not schedule a colonoscopy the day after the Superbowl.

I want to thank Kurt Erlenbach and the other, veteran members of the 50+ forum for their periodic, gentle prodding to get all of us 50+ cyclists to get a colonoscopy. I'm 56, and my family physician had been after me for years to get mine, but I always exaggerated the unpleasantness of the prep and the procedure in my mind and always found an excuse not to get one. But after being a member of the 50+ forum and reading discussion threads like this one, I wised-up and got mine today. My results were fine--I had no polyps, and now I can breath easy. This does lift a load off my mind, since I had two paternal aunts who died of colon cancer.

The reason I am posting today is because I want to emphasize that the actual prep and procedure were far less unpleasant than I imagined. I used two tips which were provided earlier in this discussion thread to make the prep easier: I chilled the mixture (Golytely) in the refrigerator, and I used Chrystal Light ("Pure" variety, lemonade flavor) to flavor it. I drank 8 - 10 oz at a time, and I held my breath when I chugged it down so only a little of the flavor "leaked" through.

The actual procedure was a non-event. The sedation knocked me out completely, so it amounted to a 40-minute nap. I was a little groggy on the way home, and I slept for three hours once I got there. That's it. Now I have to take it easy for the rest of the day.

So, if any 50+ member is putting off getting their colonoscopy because they think the prep or procedure will be extremely unpleasant--don't, both have been improved so much it really is a non-event for most people, and the benefits gained are so worth the very little inconvenience/unpleasantness involved.

Thank you Banded for posting your experience.

I used SuPrep and didn't find it bad at all. The only thing I worried about is that if I drink/eat too much, especially in a short time, I will puke it up(side effect of my diabetic med), but I didn't have that issue at all. I too was completely unaware of anything until after the procedure and my wife stated getting me up and dressed afterwards was like waking the dead.

Yup, all good info. Time for me again next month.....Oh joy.

As much as the prep sucks for the operation, I would do it all over again without hesitation. A few months after the September 11 attack I went in for a endoscopy and it, ahem, saved my a$$.
They removed a polyp and it tested as precancerous. Family history had me go in and darned glad I did. Been in since then and no problems.
Unfortunately the doc was Iranian and I am not sure what words came out of my mouth right before I went under...

The prep pretty much sucked, but I quite enjoyed the procedure. I was awake and could see the TV screen the doc was watching. It was like Star Trek or 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Zooming through vast pink space wastes! Exciting stuff! Started and ended with a hairy a**hole, but otherwise quite interesting. And I got a nice picture suitable for framing, and very complimentary things said about my guts. Very gratifying.

I had my done last year in a hospital and the result was good . I was told my the doctor that I do not have to do another one for 10 years . My question is why everyone here is doing it every year ?

I doubt many are doing it yearly. I have to do another 3 years after my last one because two polyps where found, not cancerous or precancerous, but of the type that can become precancerous.

Very likely Propofol. Consider going without sedation or anesthesia: https://voices.yahoo.com/why-chose-co...491.html?cat=5

My wife had put off getting another colonoscopy last year, at age 59, but decided to have it done after I had mine. Thank God she did, as they found something that was on the brink of becoming Cancerous. It was removed the following week and she's fine. GO GET A COLONOSCOPY! THEY DON'T HURT!!! You're basically knocked out completely and won't feel a thing, contrary to the BS about it hurting. I've had three done over the years (I'm 60), so I speak from experience.

Fred

Had my first one done at age 50 and have been getting them as scheduled ever since. Having to go through the prep phase each time certainly beats the alternatives of having to poop in a bag or not being around to talk about it.

Most docs recommend every five years, unless they remove polyps. If they do, they want you to do another one in three years to see if the polyps return or if you have polyps in new locations. If not, then it goes back to every five years. I was good until I had three polyps removed and had to repeat the colonoscopy three years later. That was a year and a half ago and it was clean so now I have another three and a half years until my next one is due.

Today I'm fasting (clear liquids only) and have my GIANT INTIMIDATING jug of GaviLyte mixed up and chilling. Tomorrow morning is my very first colonoscopy. I'm 50.
My directions are to drink 8oz every 15 minutes until gone. Then tomorrow morning (5:15am) drink a bottle of mag citrate.

I just had my second one in Sept at age 59. Results were good, don't need to go back for 10 years. Don't care what anyone says; the prep sucks....but it is a necessary evil.

I know we joke about this light heartedly, and it's almost always included in welcome notes to new members, but there is no such thing as over emphasizing the importance of this, and it's good that it keeps coming up.
Had my first two and a half years ago at age 56. They found and removed one 5mm polyp, and told me to schedule another in 4 years.
Did not find the prep or the procedure to be particularly grueling. I'd do another tomorrow with no apprehension.

10 years for me.

Not doing it every year. Frequency depends on history and colonoscopy results. Also, knowledge and understanding change and with them so does treatment recommendation. Don't forget impact from who pays the bills. Whether the government or insurance company there are protocols established for when they will and will not pay. All those things work together to determine what care, if any, a person gets.