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Mike4
23rd Nov 2016, 10:30 AM
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

sossity
23rd Nov 2016, 11:18 AM
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!

Stustoys
23rd Nov 2016, 11:56 AM
Hey if you want to try some DIY I know a guy :rolleyes:

A speedie trip home.

.RC.
23rd Nov 2016, 11:58 AM
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.

sacc51
23rd Nov 2016, 12:20 PM
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.

BobL
23rd Nov 2016, 12:35 PM
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.

Ray-s
23rd Nov 2016, 02:21 PM
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.

.RC.
23rd Nov 2016, 04:35 PM
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.

12bolts
23rd Nov 2016, 04:49 PM
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!
365402

Cheers Phil

.RC.
23rd Nov 2016, 05:14 PM
Well if you are asleep, how do you know that is not what they use ;)

China
23rd Nov 2016, 05:14 PM
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

simonl
23rd Nov 2016, 05:16 PM
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

Mike4
23rd Nov 2016, 10:22 PM
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

BobL
23rd Nov 2016, 10:45 PM
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.

sossity
24th Nov 2016, 09:15 AM
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.

China
24th Nov 2016, 10:37 PM
Mike4

My father had a very similar attitude he died from bowl cancer!

Ropetangler
24th Nov 2016, 11:09 PM
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 .

That is fair enough, while not massively uncomfortable it is no fun either with industrial strength laxatives, but in the end you are cleaned out and there is no more left.

I do not like how the medical profession treat people ,we are not a source of more money for a lifestyle .
A bit unfair to the medicos in my opinion, they are trying to diagnose or possibly eliminate a potential problem, and in the process may well save your life.


I would prefer a less invasive method ,which allowed me to return to work same day.
I'm sure that most of them would too. Not many want to whack a hose up someone else behind, and have to clean up all the mess afterwards.


I hate the attitude of " work is not important ", we know better .
It is not that they think work unimportant, but at the very lest you have been under sedation, possibly about the same effect as having half a bottle of single malt, so they have a duty of care to protect you and anyone else that you could injure while the sedation wears off. That is not being unreasonable under the circumstances in my view.


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.
You must be a pretty toughly coot Mike, broken fingers would definitely have me seeking medical assistance, both for initial pain relief and to get the best long term healing result, so that I might be able to use my hands as nature intended, and not have a permanent impairment.


I'll see how this turns out .
And I'm sure that we all hope for the best result for you, preferably nothing major to worry about at all. An amusing anecdote courtesy of my daughter when she was working in London 15 years or so ago. She had to undergo the same procedure and the anaesthetist was interviewing her just before putting her under. He asked if she wore contact lenses, or had dentures, and my daughter said no to the contact lenses, and then quipped just how far are you poking that telescope up. Got a chuckle out of him she said.

Michael

12bolts
24th Nov 2016, 11:58 PM
....To most specialists, I think you are just another set of golf clubs......Dont know about your age here but I had my first at 48 and 2nd at 53. No charge either one courtesy of the government Pretty sure anyone over 50 qualifies for a freebie

Cheers Phil

.RC.
25th Nov 2016, 06:50 AM
I have heard one visit to an oncology ward and you will be bending over and backing up to the doctor real quick to get checked.

sossity
25th Nov 2016, 09:18 AM
Dont know about your age here but I had my first at 48 and 2nd at 53. No charge either one courtesy of the government Pretty sure anyone over 50 qualifies for a freebie

Cheers Phil

I've had one colonoscopy and 10 gastroscopies, all on medicare. I have a tumour in my stomach that is very likely to turn malignant so I get regular gastroscopies as a check. I think hospitals are very good here, but I'm not the best person to ask about specialist because I am now very cynical having had ten years of bad health. Of course there are good doctors and maybe I'm unlucky, but I have met loads of bad ones. One example: A rheumatologist who didn't read the referral properly and didn't test me for my actual problem. He saw me for a total of 5 minute and charged $600. Arranged all sorts of blood tests and ct scan, just ticked from a list. next visit, another 5 minutes and only $400, told me I didn't have sarcoidosis (which has actually been diagnosed subsequently). he said the CTScan he sent me for didn't show sarcoids in my lungs so I didn't have it. (Lungs is where they usually start but not in my case as it turned out) He made some comments about the scan and said it all looks good but literally muttered to himself there was some signs of swollen thyroid but he didn't make anything of that to me. I said I wasn't here to get checked for sarcoidosis, what about the pain in my back, that's why I was sent here. he said what pain. Then he scrambled about trying to get an old xray I had done previously faxed over so he could make up some bollocks for his $1000 fee. Said go back to GP in 6 weeks. At home I noticed I had a lump on my thyroid, because of the comment. Went to GP after 6 weeks and he said "Sam" says you are OK. I said what about my thyroid. He said what do you mean, only women and children get problems with thyroid. So what's this lump then. oh OK, we better get that checked. Turns out I had tumours on my thyroid and there was 20% chance they were malignant and my thyroid was removed in the end. Anyway, the GP gave me the CT scan, but with no radiologist report in. I struggled to get it, but I persevered and they had to give it to me eventually. It said my lungs were clear but I have a granuloma in my liver (This happens with sarcoidosis) and tumours on my thyroid which I should have a biopsied immediately. Sam hadn't mentioned this, neither had the GP. They were all covering up their negligence. If I hadn't noticed the thyroid because of that brief comment "Sam" had said in passing, and been pretty adamant with the GP, that could have ended very badly. I actually have many stories far worse than this but I'm not going into those here. I don't blame people for not going to doctors. 50% of my medical investigations visits have been like the above.

Ropetangler
27th Nov 2016, 10:56 PM
Well Sossity, that truly is a horror story, and 'Sam' in particular needs to be reported. I fully understand why you might feel that reporting is a step too far, you can do without the hassle that would accompany the making of a report of the incident, truth be known, I probably wouldn't make the report either. Sam however needs investigation, and more likely than not a rocket up his posterior.
Unfortunately it is not an isolated case either, numerous events in the lives of friends and family, point to much incompetence and a lack of care or even compassion of many medical staff. That said however I believe that by far the greater majority of medical staff are caring and competent people, but the system which underfunds and under resources them is no help in the provision of sound and competent medical care to all Australians. I don't know if a Google search would show up troublesome hotspots or not, but it wouldn't hurt to try it, and avoid places and people who don't perform adequately.
I do think that anyone needing any complex medical procedure, especially if they have little knowledge of their issues and even the whole medical system, needs to have someone familiar with the system and medically informed, to be in their corner for them, because even basic care like keeping people fed, clean and on the correct medications, is not guaranteed even in major metropolitan hospitals. While some are fantastic, and most would be adequate, some would be worse than hospitals in third world countries.
Best of luck to you and anyone else reading this with your future medical situation, I hope that you have been through all the bad stuff, and only experience proper treatment from now on.
Rob

sossity
30th Nov 2016, 11:05 AM
That wasn't even my worst encounter. What can I say, i can only make judgement on my own experience and i have seen a huge percentage of specialists who are completely elitist. Sam will be long gone, that was 8 years ago and the comment to wait 6 weeks before going to see the gp again, I suspect might have been him covering his tracks. there was no other reason for it I can think of.
I've talked to a few people about why it seems specialists are so elitist. One guy is very interested in medical stories and his wife was a nurse, now ceo of a hospital, so very hard nosed to make it up there from the bottom. His theory was that the class system in Australia, while not as blatant as UK, does exist here. He said when he started work, children of wealthy background would expect to become doctors, lawyers etc, the system was more or less set up for them. If the child wasn't very bright and couldn't memorise for exams, they would be able to get into the encumbant telco of the time as a safety net. When he started in telecomunications he was asked questions that only someone coming through a fee paying school would know, stuff like classic literature and opera. I can't remember his examples tbh. He said they did that to ensure the wealthy that had to go that route, were allowed in and would get nice manager jobs. Somone also told me that asian doctors tend to be better because they had to work harder to get by (an asian cultrue thing anyway), while the elitist class just got through unless they were real stupid. Hows that for a controversial theory, that should get you going!
I met another guy who said he was glad his son was quite smart so he could make his own way through life. If his son turned out to be thick, he was going to put him in a fee paying school so he could make wealthy friends and get work through networking that way. i was a bit shocked about his attitude, I come from quite a socialist country and I very much resent the elitist class who don't get by on their own merit.
In my opinion, the medical system (all through the world) suffers nowadays because it is very commercial. If you have something that is not in the big ladybird book of diseases, then you end up going from specialist to specialist. Each will take his money. In my case, they all find things wrong. Usually a flurry of actively to get more tests done, more money. Then because the results are confusing, they inevitably say well some people just have high test results, or commonly, its not that far over the limits. Just as well doctors don't build bridges or aircraft. In the old days, you used to get phsyicians. That is someone who has a very broad expertise and can interpret the results from all the different specialists. That role does not exist now, and you are left with the gp taking that role and he is not skilled the same way that phsyicians were. My analogy is if you take a car to the garage and complain its much slower than it used to be. you will get sent to a fuel injection specialist, he will give you new system, cost a fortune. Still not fixed, you will get sent for a new cylinder head. Still not fixed, sent for a new exhaust etc. No-one ever looks at all the symptoms and can diagnose the tires are flat. If you are lucky, someone might stumble the flat tires but not until you've spent a fortune. The system is set up first and foremost to get money from you, or from medicare, not to find what's wrong. If you are lucky, its something obvious like a broken arm or a heart attack, something they can't get wrong anyway. Yes, I agree I am very cynical. I don't see that as an insult.

sacc51
30th Nov 2016, 05:39 PM
I see a rheumatologist regularly for RA, he, apparenntly, is a leader in his field and gives talks to others in the same field. He isn't your normal specialist as he is quite willing to just sit down and chew the fat. Unfortunately, his field is very complex and little is known about RA so meds are largely guesswork until they stumble on something that works. Unfortunately, he hasn't stumbled on one for me yet and the use of my arms/hands is growing less and les each day. This guy will ring me out of the blue every once in a while just to see how I'm coping, how many will do that? My GP on the other hand, although much the same, appears to have given up on me and I find myself now suggesting meds to help with side effects from RA meds, so unless I specifically ask for treatments/meds he doesn't help much and seems to have run out of ideas. I think the time has come for a new GP but I'm loathe to change as my medical history is quite complex now. I have had very good luck with GPs, not so with specialsts: in the main they tend to look down their noses at us rif rafs, very fortunate of me to have stumbled upon one not from the usual mold.

Mike4
3rd Dec 2016, 09:01 PM
My biggest problem is the total lack if information from the Medical people , I have been given instructions of what I can and cannot eat or drink before the procedure .

But nothing in the area of what anasthetic is used , the effects of that , or how I may feel when waking after .

I am not scared in any way but I do like to know what is going to happen and how I will feel .

I have actually found more on the web from clinics here in Australia and overseas, some reports good and some poor results .

Our medical system is still of the attitude that if a person is told the truth they will be frightened, not me I want to know and then I can decide how to deal with the problem .

Michael

sacc51
3rd Dec 2016, 10:25 PM
For what it's worth it is a very quick, simple and minor procedure, the anaesthetist will put you out and you will wake about an hour later none the worse for the procedure. You are worrying. yourself needlessly.

.RC.
3rd Dec 2016, 11:52 PM
Not being told too much is not that uncommon as doctors usually have a lot of patients to see and it is so routine for them they probably see little need to tell you everything. You usually get told to turn up at such and such a time and that is about it.

If you want to know more you have to know to ask, which you might not realise until after you have seen the doctor and it is too late. Especially if it is your first time for getting something done.

You just have to know the people there know what is going on and you just have to trust them. To them it is their job. A bit like when someone brings in something broken to repair. You do not tell the person the fine details on how you will repair it, just that you will do it and they trust you to know what you are doing. On top of that some operations will take longer, so unless you are first up for the day your slot might get delayed.

I cannot comment on recovery time as my experiences are for other things.

Mike4
5th Dec 2016, 07:47 PM
Well, I fronted up at 07-15 am after having been awake since 5-15am Sunday .

This was thanks to having the prep ,all three doses ,last one taken at 4-15.followed by more seat warming until around 6-30 .

Waited until 09-00 for procedure and got an all clear .

Now to wait until tomorrow to be allowed to drive back to Emerald and hopefully resume work .

I hope my mutts are ok as it has been a bit warm in Emerald , like 40-42 lately.

Michael

.RC.
5th Dec 2016, 09:09 PM
Did you get a DVD for christmas viewing? :D

Least you got the all clear and got done pretty smartly.

Ropetangler
6th Dec 2016, 12:23 AM
You only have to watch Question Time to see all the a/holes that you'd ever want to see, no need for a DVD RC, but glad you got the all clear Mike. I too hope that your mutts were ok when you got home, especially in th NW Qld hot summer. Just a lazy 20 degrees here in NW Tasmania today, just nice.
You worried about the procedure more than you should have I think, but I can understand why, potent laxatives are not pleasant to contemplate, and the general inconvenience made worse when you live in Regeonal Australia, without mulch medical infrastructure close by, all make for an understandable sense of doom and gloom, but hopefully the all clear will compensate pretty well for all the negative stuff. Keep well,
Rob.