Ask Me Help Desk - Colon Cancer

Coffee? You're drinking coffee? Isn't that a no-no right now until they know what's going on?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I too had to see a specialist first -- I didn't just walk into a clinic. I ended up in the hospital for it. We can compare notes later on the prep mixture you will drink before the procedure can be done.

Going to the hospital is still an option. Actually, that's what my doctor really wants but I talked him into letting me stay home, for now anyway.

I'm getting blood work done twice a week. He's keeping a close eye on things. I do already notice that the joint pain I was experiencing isn't as bad today. I hope that means that the iron pills are working.

I've never had a colonoscopy before, not looking forward to it, but we have to find out what's causing the bleeding. Just crossing my fingers that it's something that can easily be taken care of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Coffee? You're drinking coffee? Isn't that a no-no right now until they know what's going on?

It's a no-no when I take the iron pill and for 2 hours after. I'm still allowed to have some, maybe because I threatened to kill people if I couldn't. ;)

I have to cut down, only one cup a day, but going cold turkey is actually worse right now.

WG, I just threw up a little in my mouth. BLECH just thinking of that concotion you had to drink before hand. Uggg...

The colonoscopy is almost fun, painless. It's the liquid laxative that you take the evening before that keeps you at home and near the bathroom. No pain, but boooooring. The liquid stuff they gave me tasted like ten-year-old Gaterade. No bad, a little salty. Golytely (Go lightly), it was called. You're supposed to drink a gallon in about three hours. No other food or drink before or during or after. I preferred it straight, not on the rocks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

WG, I just threw up a little in my mouth. BLECH just thinking of that concotion you had to drink before hand. Uggg....

It better not be a drink filled with iron. That's all I'm saying. ;)

Lol, no if I remember correctly, it's a tar like substance. Delicious!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

The colonoscopy is almost fun, painless. It's the liquid laxative that you take the evening before that keeps you at home and near the bathroom. No pain, but boooooring.

Fun? I don't know if I'll feel that way. I'm actually really worried about that test. I don't like the whole idea of it. Painless is good. I can do painless.

Liquid laxative? This is funny. So I'm on iron pills which make you constipated and then they're going to give me a liquid laxative? This should be interesting. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

lol, no if I remember correctly, it's a tar like substance. Delicious!

Is it sad that I'm not worried about the liquid? I just want to know what's going on. I'd drink dog pee at this point if it would help them find out.

Okay, now I just threw up a bit in my mouth. :(

Bad memories, about the stuff they give you, mixed it with orange juice to give it a bit of flavour, still absolutely horrible. :(

Okay guys, can we stop talking about the yucky liquid? I'm about to eat lunch. ;)

I mostly LIKED the liquid!!

Oh WG, that's just gross! What about the stuff they make you drink when you are pregnant and they are testing for gestational dibabetes? That orange liquid sugar concotion?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

Oh WG, that's just gross!! What about the stuff they make you drink when you are pregnant and they are testing for gestational dibabetes? That orange liquid sugar concotion??

I missed out on that -- never had to drink something to be tested for that. My babies were born in 1970 and 1975, back in the dark ages before gestational diabetes testing.

Oh well lucky you (? ). Maybe J_9 can send you some? Lol.
It wasn't as bad as the tar like substance, but yours sounded different then mine. Mine was dark brown/green/black/blueish, and it almost had a chalky texture. I don't know, I've had to drink so many hospital concoctions, I get them mixed up :s

I hope they have Golytely in Canada. Alty would really like it, I bet.

Golytely?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

It wasn't as bad as the tar like substance, but yours sounded different then mine.

My gastroenterologist is a nice Indian man who has been in practice for 40 years. He told me from the get-go that he does good work, and painless too. He was right! I sent him a Valentine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

Golytely?

Yup. Clear. Pronounced Go Lightly. Cute, huh?

That is cute. *sigh* lucky.
The procedure didn't hurt as bad as you would think. I know I was so stressed they offered to give me a muscle relaxer, or a seditive of some sort. I can't remember what the procedure is called but when they x-ray your stomach... it was the same liquid as that.

Colonoscopy? I watched a monitor near my head as a tiny camera zoomed down a pretty, pink tunnel (my colon).

I had a esophagogastroduodenoscopy too, before the colonoscopy.

Isn't this what old people do? Sit around and exchange stories about their various surgeries and medical procedures? Oooops, I'm an old person. Hmmmm, and true to form, seems like.

When asked weather id like to be put to sleep or watch : today on 'up your Arse' , I went with the 'please knock me out I do not want to remember this' option

Which end did they enter for the Colonoscopy? Sorry, wait that may be TMI!! But I had a few ENVASIVE procedures. I am pretty sure esophagogastroduodenoscopy was the one I was looking for. I am young in body, but old in soul.

Quote:

Originally Posted by albear

bad memories, about the stuff they give you, mixed it with orange juice to give it a bit of flavour, still absolutely horrible. :(

I absolutely agree Bear, it tasted kind of oily to me and they wanted me to drink the whole gallon at one sitting... uggggh!

Quote:

Originally Posted by albear

when asked weather id like to be put to sleep or watch : today on 'up your Arse' , i went with the 'please knock me out i do not want to remember this' option

Haha I watched them all. The only one I was nervous about was my ultra sound to be honest! All the other ones were very interesting!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

Haha I watched them all. The only one I was nervous about was my ultra sound to be honest! All the other ones were very interesting!

When I broke my neck and had to have an ultrasound they had to do it three times. I kept swallowing and that caused movement... It's hard not to swallow when you are told not to... :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

Which end did they enter for the Colonoscopy? Sorry, wait that may be TMI!!! But I had a few ENVASIVE procedures. I am pretty sure esophagogastroduodenoscopy was the one I was looking for. I am young in body, but old in soul.

Both are "invasive." Colonoscopy is going inside from the bottom end, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy is going into the esophagus and stomach ("gastro") and duodenum from the mouth. For the esophagogastroduodenoscopy, the doctor sprayed something into my mouth and throat. Instant numbness!! (Don't tell the terrorists about this stuff!) and then I was knocked out before the cable with the camera was stuffed down my throat.

I think I will send a yummy sample of Golytely to all my friends here on AMHD -- maybe for Christmas?

Sorry I spelled that wrong! I am a terrible speller, and I am probably going to make you short circuit soon :D

I was not knocked out for the colonoscopy, but I was very heavily sedated. I had an ectopic pregnancy 3 years ago, and the first procedure was making a small incision in my belly button, and they put a camera in there. I was out for that one. I wish I could have seen it though. I do have a very cool looking scar from that one. It's a perfect X inside my belly button.

Alty I am sorry. I have been talking about me! This is your thread :(

You guys are making me laugh, I need it, so keep it coming.

I have an appointment, April 6 at the University hospital, Diagnostic Imaging. I know you probably all think that's a long way off but considering that most people have to wait up to 6 months to get into a specialist, my doctor did good. :)

So, step one, April 6, then go from there.

My husband is making jokes about the colonoscopy, little funnies like "When you said I'd feel pressure you didn't say it would be on the roof of my mouth, pull back!" or "I taste metal, I think that thing is in too far" and my favorite "Doctor, you know that in Arkansas we're now legally married". :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

circuit

You mean circuit? (hee hee)

Quote:

I do have a very cool looking scar from that one. It's a perfect X inside my belly button.

Oh, man! Some people have all the luck! Could you post a pic of it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

You guys are making me laugh, I need it, so keep it coming.

I have an appointment, April 6 at the University hospital, Diagnostic Imaging. I know you probably all think that's a long way off but considering that most people have to wait up to 6 months to get into a specialist, my doctor did good. :)

So, step one, April 6, then go from there.

My husband is making jokes about the colonoscopy, little funnies like "When you said I'd feel pressure you didn't say it would be on the roof of my mouth, pull back!" or "I taste metal, I think that thing is in too far" and my favorite "Doctor, you know that in Arkansas we're now legally married". :p

Hubby is hilarious! :) Those were funneeeee !

If I get a picture of my colon I am definitely posting it here.

Just saying. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

You mean circuit? (hee hee)

Oh, man! Some people have all the luck! Could you post a pic of it?

Oh dear Lord that would mean I would have to take a pic of my stomach! Ok maybe tonight after Ihave a few glasses of wine, and find a flattering position!

I am typing all of my responses in my email and doing the spell check there. I'm trying! :o

That would be the best pic ever Alty!

Please warn us before hand so those that want to can vacate the premesis, yep your husbands poking fun, that's good :D

My gastroenterologist's name sounds like Satan, so I have to tell you I was a bit scared at first, but he turned out to be a big sweetie. And I never had a bit of pain before, during, or after. His first words to me when we met were "I do painless work" -- and he does. His office manager (Barb) is a hoot! If you ever need a gastroenterology joke or a esophagogastroduodenoscopy one, she's your girl.