Thread: Medical issues

I have been recommended by a doctor to have a colonoscopy.

I was initially told that it would be a short procedure and that I may need to go to a larger centre to get it done reasonably quicker.

Ok I think drive to Rockhampton Sunday , go in to Hospital for exam and drive home that night , NO ,the "prep " will make me very ill , the anesthetic will affect driving .
So now its like three days out of the week.
And a pain in the @r$e to boot.!!

Not what I was told.

Michael

Prep is a lovely big lemony drink - you'll never look at a lemon the same again. I woke up half way through and watched the camera on a screen for a while. I said that was particularly sore when they did something. He said, yeah, that's just the camera folding back on itself. I said, well don't do that but it didn't stop them!

Hey if you want to try some DIY I know a guy

A speedie trip home.

Apparently from people I know that have had one, the prep is an industrial strength laxative designed by NASA. It is that powerful you get a good cleanout and everything is as clean as a whistle afterwards for good photography.

It is a nothing procedure to have done. It might surprise you how many people you know have had one done.

I've had five. Some Docs put you out others give you a twilight. If done under twilight anesthesia the procedure can be mildly uncomfortable for a second or two when they inflate, bonus is they let you watch on the screen, for that reason I prefer twilight. Either way they were no biggy, your not supposed to drive or operate machinery afterwards and have a responsible adult (very hard to find) handy, but I had no pain or feeling sick afterwards. I did fart good afterwards though, but then again, I'm olympic material in that regard anyway! The worst bit is the nice lemony drink - it's lovely. I had an endoscopy (same, but entrance is from the other end) and esophageal dilation a fortnight ago, again no problems, not even a sore throat. After effects depend on who does the procedure - not all Docs are created equal.

Originally Posted by Mike4

So now its like three days out of the week.
And a pain in the @r$e to boot.!!

3 days to save your life or at least add some years? I'd say that's a bargain.

Its not worth doing much after prep or aesthetic. One time after some day surgery and I had been walking around the ward for about half an hour to wear of the anesthetic they said I could go home. The missus came in to pick me up and was fine walking out of the hospital until I reached a short set of 3 steps to the carpark I lost my balance and fell, luckily I sort of fell on top of my backpack and no damage except a bit of pride damage.

Mike, I have a family history of bowel cancer and volunteered to participate in a long-term monitoring program 20 years ago.
I have had 6 of the procedures (full anesthetic in my case). I termed the procedure 'gardenhose-ectomy' after seeing the kit they used but it is definitely worth doing. My uncle termed it all bull-dust and wouldn't do it - he only lasted 3 months after the symptoms appeared.
Now, as for the prep - it will make you crap like no tomorrow so once you start the process you need to be with reach of a loo. In my case I have always started that the night before.
I also found that after the full anesthetic you might think you are OK but I usually can't remember the wife driving me home so don't even consider driving straight after.
As already observed the drink is the hardest bit - it was way worse 20 years ago but still horrible.

Originally Posted by Ray-s

I also found that after the full anesthetic you might think you are OK but I usually can't remember the wife driving me home so don't even consider driving straight after.

You cannot drive for 24 hours after a general anaesthetic. Well not supposed to.

Funnily enough I have just got home after having had one this morning. (2nd for me) The doctor decides on what level of conciousness he wants the patient at. Level 2 is twilight. I had a level 3 sedative, (you are asleep for the procedure) but able to go home pretty much once you wake up. It is a couple of days prep and the drink is not just your garden variety laxative, its a purgative. You do not want to be more than a few steps from a toilet. I found no discomfort afterwards. If Emerald has a hospital you may find they do them locally but you need to go on a wait list until its worth the health dept sending a specialist out to treat a days worth of patients'. It is such a minor procedure for peace of mind its just not worth avoiding having. Women, as well as also requiring colonoscopy's have a number of other invasive and painful procedures more often than men do. Harden up princess, it may just save your life.
Just be thankful technology has progressed beyond these!
s_vhs_movie_camera_nv_ms1_1330837.jpg

Cheers Phil

Well if you are asleep, how do you know that is not what they use

Local pub talk makes this procedure sound far worse than it is it really is no big deal there are many worse procedure's to have and this one is definitely a life saver. Can't see three days, prep the night before procedure next morning home in afternoon

Hi there,

I have had a colonoscopy in the past. Two types of laxative taken the day before and fasting. The laxatives (The only I remember was called colon lightly - it's got to be a joke name!) are amazing in both their effectiveness and severity. As others have said, a lemony type drink mixed with water. drunk every 30 mins or so over the course of many hours. It took 8 hours before I even felt ANY effects and then
BANG
all hell broke loose. In the safety of our ensuite, my wife could hear me from the kitchen and asked what the noise was. For the next few hours I was stuck in a holding pattern of no more than a couple of metres from the toilet. Luckily everything calmed down in time for bedtime, leaving me with no doubt I must have been pretty empty!

Next morning I thought I'd do a pre-emtive strike sit on the throne but figured I couldn't possibly have anything left. Buggar me but when I looked, all I could see was a single defiant husk of corn floating in the bowl. Where or how that thing hung on I got no idea!

The procedure was a non event. I have a twilight anesthetic which feels pretty bloody funky! I woke up naked with a nurse helping me pull my undies up!

The anethetic had an effect on me that made be a little naughty. I called out at the top of my voice "I'm hungry as an " Not realising but beyond my curtained off bed were about 20 or so people sitting in a waiting room. Some were a little amuzed but the nurse was not!

Went home and then got the all clear.....

Simon

China,
I have to drive to a larger centre to get the procedure done before the end of the year ,about three hours , find a motel near the hospital .
As I have to be there on a Monday around 7-30am .

As I am not to drive for 24 hrs after its another night .

I am not scared of the procedure ,just the amount of "slight discomfort " that the prep puts you through .

I do not like how the medical profession treat people ,we are not a source of more money for a lifestyle .

I would prefer a less invasive method ,which allowed me to return to work same day.

I hate the attitude of " work is not important ", we know better .

I have a totally different outlook than many , I dont believe in going to doctors unless absolutely necessary ,a bit of a cut or broken fingers dont make me run to a surgery.

I'll see how this turns out .

Michael

Originally Posted by Mike4

I have a totally different outlook than many , I dont believe in going to doctors unless absolutely necessary ,a bit of a cut or broken fingers dont make me run to a surgery.

That's actually a pretty standard outlook for most blokes. I was also too busy at work to go for my regular sugar stress tests (diabetic check) until I developed a massive DVT and ended up falling through a plate glass door. Now it looks like I have irreparable kidney damage and I find out I only ever had one kidney to start with.

its best not think about things and try to make light of it. I don't think there's a right or wrong to going to doctors. You can spend a fortune and get nothing but god complex attitude and no help. If you are lucky they wills stumble on something that might save you. To most specialists, I think you are just another set of golf clubs.

I had to get a lump removed from my head once (no, not my brain) The doctor cut it off but it took ages. He said it looked just like a haricot bean. I said, "so is that you taking my pulse then".
Not funny? He didn't laugh either.