Won't get a colonoscopy

Yes, I, OP, am still here. No, I have not gone for a colonoscopy. I am scheduling a bunch of doctor appointments in May when I turn 54. When I visit the gastro doctor I will still look into getting another test other than a colonoscopy since a dear friend of mine died from one and I know of many others that have died from them. Maybe it's just a "coincidence" but I am still very unsure of the test. Yes, I know they have saved peoples lives but tests comes with risks, look at Joan Rivers who went for just a "simple" test.

Yes it is fact. I am sorry about your friend. What was the complication if I may ask?

That being said I know people that had colon cancer & the medical hell they have (had) sucks. I would rather accept the risk.
 
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I made the mistake of reading this whole thread the day before my first colonoscopy this week. But I went through with it and I am so glad I did. It truly was a quick and easy procedure. A coworker's mother passed from colon cancer last month and my heart was breaking from what she and her family were going through. Then the shocker came when I read her obituary -- she was only 2 years older than me!
 
The prep my husband and I used was really simple. I posted it once before in a similar thread but I will post it again. All you have to drink is two 5 oz. shots of prep (split dose) and then just make sure you drink clear liquids of your choice for the rest of the time. The shots are spaced out and were easy to get down.

The prep really was so easy!!! We drank water, had broth, wonton soup (without the wontons of course), tea, etc. No nasty pasty drinks or laxatives.

Here is some info on it.

http://www.prepopik.com/how-to-take-prepopik/
MJ

That looks great! As an aside, I always wonder how companies name drugs.

"We have a great bowel prep! What should be call it?"
"Well, you take it before your colonoscopy so it needs the prefix"pre" in it."
"Great idea! And it makes you poop, so it should have the word "poop" it it ..."
"It makes you a poopnik! How about Prepoopnik!?"
Everyone laughs.
"I'd love to, but we can't have the word "poop" in it. Let's riff on that though."
"Precrapin? Prefecalon? Preguanoria?"
"Let's concentrate on "poop". What if we shorten it to "pop" but everyone will still know what we mean?"
"Prepopnik? Hmmm ... that's close. What about Prepopik?
"By George, I think we got it!"
"Score!"
"Perfect."
 
That looks great! As an aside, I always wonder how companies name drugs.

"We have a great bowel prep! What should be call it?"
"Well, you take it before your colonoscopy so it needs the prefix"pre" in it."
"Great idea! And it makes you poop, so it should have the word "poop" it it ..."
"It makes you a poopnik! How about Prepoopnik!?"
Everyone laughs.
"I'd love to, but we can't have the word "poop" in it. Let's riff on that though."
"Precrapin? Prefecalon? Preguanoria?"
"Let's concentrate on "poop". What if we shorten it to "pop" but everyone will still know what we mean?"
"Prepopnik? Hmmm ... that's close. What about Prepopik?
"By George, I think we got it!"
"Score!"
"Perfect."

Love your thought process!!!

MJ
 


Yes, I, OP, am still here. No, I have not gone for a colonoscopy. I am scheduling a bunch of doctor appointments in May when I turn 54. When I visit the gastro doctor I will still look into getting another test other than a colonoscopy since a dear friend of mine died from one and I know of many others that have died from them. Maybe it's just a "coincidence" but I am still very unsure of the test. Yes, I know they have saved peoples lives but tests comes with risks, look at Joan Rivers who went for just a "simple" test.


I hope you find a suitable test. If so, please share the news. I agree that the colonoscopy centers seem like a bit of a racket. Not that we don't all need colon checkups, but is this kind of (expensive) procedure the best way.

That said, I've had one colonoscopy and my husband two. They went very smoothly; no issues. I don't know anyone who has died from the procedure. A family member was very sickly, though, until they had the procedure and found that they needed surgery ASAP. That person is now doing great at almost 90 years old.
 


My aunt died from colon cancer because she waited too long to get a colonoscopy. Her family had a history of polyps turning to cancer and they kept trying to get her to have a colonoscopy. When she finally did get one, it was too late. She had colon cancer.

I have had one and will do it again. The benefits far outweigh the risks. My aunt was a robust woman and to die because she just didn't want to do this procedure was a really sad. They could have caught it prior to becoming cancer and she would have lived longer.
 
My aunt died from colon cancer because she waited too long to get a colonoscopy. Her family had a history of polyps turning to cancer and they kept trying to get her to have a colonoscopy. When she finally did get one, it was too late. She had colon cancer.

I have had one and will do it again. The benefits far outweigh the risks. My aunt was a robust woman and to die because she just didn't want to do this procedure was a really sad. They could have caught it prior to becoming cancer and she would have lived longer.

Yes, with exceptions it takes 10 years for polyps to become cancerous. That's why the protocol is to get one every ten year. If you have a history of cancer it would be sooner. I had colon cancers and had one. it was clean but told to come back in five years. Also if you had precancerous polyps you will be told to come back sooner.
 
I suffer with IBS, and I had a bad experience during colonoscopy over 10 years ago. I'm due for another one, and I've been putting it off out of fear. Now I know why zombie threads are bad. I will have colonoscopy nightmares tonight.
 
I am 52 year old female. I don't have a great stomach, never had, have reflux. I have been having stomach issues lately (bloating, gas, increased bm's). I am going to a gastro doctor next week. I had a stomach virus a month ago and it seems like my stomach hasn't been right since then. I know the gastro doctor will want to do a colonoscopy. I will refuse. I had a co-worker/friend that died after a colonoscopy. I also know 2 other women who have died after getting routine colonoscopies (my sister's friends mother and another friends neighbor, they were all female). I was discussing this with a co-worker who has crohns disease and she is young and her mom doesn't want her to get colonoscopies as she is required to do. She told me her and her mother know 3 people who have died after a colonoscopy. I have done some research since it seems strange that that many people can have serious complications. I also know someone who did not die but had to have surgery after a colonoscopy (perforation) also my husband had a lot of bleeding approx. 3 days after a colonoscopy and he had to go to the emergency (luckily it resolved itself)

My question, do any of you refuse colonoscopy? Are there other tests to get instead? I heard of one that tests your fecal dna? Any insight/comments are appreciated.

Yes, I know some will say the risks outweigh the complications, but my research on the matter shows different.

If all those people died were using the same doctor, I wouldn't use that doc either. But otherwise, I'd get the test done if I was having troubles. Honestly I'd have it anyway for screening. I know people who have died from colo-rectal cancer.

You could die in a car on your way to the hospital. People have died on Disney rides. I don't know anyone who died from a colonoscopy and have never heard of a friend of a friend either. Not to say it doesn't happen because you clearly have heard the worst case scenario.

But, if your issues are from colorectal cancer, the doctors are going to get in there eventually. And it's a LOT better sooner than later in the disease.
 
Here is a good reason to get one:

ormer IndyCar and NASCAR driver John Andretti says he is undergoing chemotherapy for stage-four colon cancer that's spread to his liver.

His chance of survival isn't very good. Stage four is as bad as it can get!! Especially when it is in the liver.
 
Both DW and I both had one last year. I know of 1 person that had complications from the procedure. The prep was the dulcolax, etc. Was supposed to drink 32 oz gatoraide in 1 hour, nurse told me not to drink it so fast that it made you sick. The 1 hour wasn't really important. I resisted the test for a couple of years until I got a nice ride in the ambulance to the ER one morning. My hemoglobin was at 9 compared to what it should have been about 13, so decided it was time, they did a endo to at the same time. Everything was clear and I'm on the 10 year list now. I'll agree with others, you can not go by reading on the internet or a few that had problems, you are in a much higher risk of dying driving to the colonoscopy than the procedure itself.
 
As a 49 year old who is currently going through chemo for Colon Cancer, this was some interesting reading.

I started having issue just about a year ago. Sever lower intestinal pains, up thru the abdomen. I ached all the time and would get hit with pain that took me to my knees. And it wasn't food driven. I am the not a fan of doctors, so I just kept putting going to the doctor off. Finally in May of 2016, DH made me go. After lab work and an ultrasound of right side of my torso, the determined that my gallbladder was the issue. So out it came. And while that did take care of the issues of the pains in the upper abdomen, it didn't take care of the lower pain. But with the schedule we had last summer, I just did mind over matter and carried on.

Finally in Sept, DH had enough and told me to go back to the doctors, because by this time, I had lost 60 lbs, was in pain all the time and food and I didn't get along. This time it was a CT Scan. Within 3 hours of the scan, I got the call from the family doctors office that I had "inflammation" in the colon and they were referring me to a Colon/Rectal specialist. Met with him, mid October and with a packed schedule, I didn't actually get the colonoscopy until Dec 9th. Needless to say, I wasn't even awake from the procedure and the Doctor and DH already had talked about the tumor he had found, it was the size of a large egg, and they already had me on the surgery schedule for Dec 20th.

Never in my wildest dreams, would I have thought that the issues I was having would be from cancer and never would I wish this on any one.

At 48/49 (I had my 49th birthday while in the hospital), I wasn't at the age to schedule a routine colonoscopy. But what should have played a big factor into my having one earlier than normal, is the fact that I am adopted and have ZERO family medical history. According to my colon doc, I should have had one at 35, 40 at the latest. And now thanks to my bout with these medical issues, DS22 and DD20 will be getting tested earlier than normal.

Was the prep fun, no but I also knew it was going to suck and made dietary changes so I didn't have much to clean out prior to the 9th and kept that same diet leading up to the 19th. Did I have some pain after the colonoscopy, yes, but that was due to the size of the tumor and the fact that it was causing my colon to be 98% blocked. The scope had to be forced past the tumor to make sure the rest of the colon was clear. Will I be doing colonoscopies every year for the next 5 years, then once every five year for the rest of my life, sure will. Cause I would rather drink that nasty prep, then ever have to do chemo again. 6 treatments in the book, 6 more to go. #kickingcancersbutt
 
As a 49 year old who is currently going through chemo for Colon Cancer, this was some interesting reading.

I started having issue just about a year ago. Sever lower intestinal pains, up thru the abdomen. I ached all the time and would get hit with pain that took me to my knees. And it wasn't food driven. I am the not a fan of doctors, so I just kept putting going to the doctor off. Finally in May of 2016, DH made me go. After lab work and an ultrasound of right side of my torso, the determined that my gallbladder was the issue. So out it came. And while that did take care of the issues of the pains in the upper abdomen, it didn't take care of the lower pain. But with the schedule we had last summer, I just did mind over matter and carried on.

Finally in Sept, DH had enough and told me to go back to the doctors, because by this time, I had lost 60 lbs, was in pain all the time and food and I didn't get along. This time it was a CT Scan. Within 3 hours of the scan, I got the call from the family doctors office that I had "inflammation" in the colon and they were referring me to a Colon/Rectal specialist. Met with him, mid October and with a packed schedule, I didn't actually get the colonoscopy until Dec 9th. Needless to say, I wasn't even awake from the procedure and the Doctor and DH already had talked about the tumor he had found, it was the size of a large egg, and they already had me on the surgery schedule for Dec 20th.

Never in my wildest dreams, would I have thought that the issues I was having would be from cancer and never would I wish this on any one.

At 48/49 (I had my 49th birthday while in the hospital), I wasn't at the age to schedule a routine colonoscopy. But what should have played a big factor into my having one earlier than normal, is the fact that I am adopted and have ZERO family medical history. According to my colon doc, I should have had one at 35, 40 at the latest. And now thanks to my bout with these medical issues, DS22 and DD20 will be getting tested earlier than normal.

Was the prep fun, no but I also knew it was going to suck and made dietary changes so I didn't have much to clean out prior to the 9th and kept that same diet leading up to the 19th. Did I have some pain after the colonoscopy, yes, but that was due to the size of the tumor and the fact that it was causing my colon to be 98% blocked. The scope had to be forced past the tumor to make sure the rest of the colon was clear. Will I be doing colonoscopies every year for the next 5 years, then once every five year for the rest of my life, sure will. Cause I would rather drink that nasty prep, then ever have to do chemo again. 6 treatments in the book, 6 more to go. #kickingcancersbutt
Hugs to you and hopes for a full recovery! :grouphug: Thanks so much for sharing your story.
 
I've been avoiding it too but I will have one done by the end of the year. On the lighter side, have you ever heard Robin Williams' stand-up on the topic? Hilarious!

 
I believe the original question was about alternatives to colonoscopy. Here is my question, is there an alternative that does not rely on small amounts of blood in the stool? When I was in my 30's I went in for my yearly womans exam and the doctor stuck her finger in my anus. The is not standard operating procedure for a yearly exam so I was surprised and didn't say anything. A few days later I got a phone call from a Gastroenterology office says that I needed to schedule a colonoscopy. I was shocked to suddenly without warning to get this call so I called my womans doctor and asked them what was up. I was pretty angry that they hadn't called me first and discussed the issue. The nurse told me they had ordered the test because I tested positive for blood in the stool. I could have told them I'd been constipated the week before! I saw no reason to have a colonoscopy so I didn't and I also changed doctors. Long story short I don't have much faith in the alternative tests since they all just test for blood in the stool which can be there for a million different reasons. Isn't there any non invasive test besides those testing for blood in the stool, or involve complete colon cleansing?

I'm now 67 and have yet to have a colonoscopy. One of my big issues is with the prep. It's now 2018 almost 2019. There have been multiple studies showing good results with a low residue diet which allows you to eat up until the evening before the colonoscopy. Despite this doctors continue to require a starvation diet the day before and two days before only liquid. There seems to be no reason for this based on multiple studies on the low residue diet. In addition a friend purchased a different prep than the one the doctor prescribed. The one the doctor wanted cost over $100 and the pharmacist said that an alternative only cost less than $20. Also the doctor wanted one which required drinking a gallon of foul tasking liquid and the other prep required only a small amount of liquid laxative followed by a quart of basically any liquid you wanted, my friend drank gator aide. When he went in for the test he lied and said he took the prescribed medication instead of just telling them what he had taken. He was cleaned out just fine so what he did take did the trick. So why don't doctors give their patients options? What my friend took was certainly more pleasant. It turned out he had some kind of "flat" polyp that needed to be removed by a different doctor so he had to do the whole thing again. The second time he took what the doctor prescribed, because he didn't like lying. He could barely choke the stuff down. I think it was called Golytely and it was terrible. He had a lot more cramping and other discomfort.

I guess I wonder why doctors don't allow patients to follow the protocals that make the test more pleasant? After all people avoid having the test, and I'm one of those people, because of the unpleasant prep. I am far from the only one. My understanding is that with the starvation diet twice as many people cancel the scheduled test or just don't have the test at all.
 
I am 52 and had a colonoscopy two months ago. My doctor bugged me about it for two years and I finally scheduled it because my mother's friend died of colon cancer and she suffered horribly before she died. The prep is not the greatest. I only had to drink the two small bottles though. The procedure itself was easy. They started an IV, moved me into the procedure room, and the last thing I remember is me telling the anesthesiologist that I was nervous and him saying that he was about to take care of that. The next thing I knew, I woke up in a recovery room. I had no polyps and no pain whatsoever and I'm good to go for the next 10 years. My husband and I went out to breakfast afterward.
 
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I had three before age 40. One colonoscopy, One endoscopy and one enteroscopy. One of those was to stick a camera pill into my stomach because I couldn't swallow it and the doctor needed to see what was bleeding.

The prep wasn't bad. It really isn't a starvation diet, just stop eating at 12 noon the day prior to the procedure, laxative at 2, and prep solution thereafter.

I think one needs to be completely cleaned of stuff in order for them to see down there (and up through the bottom). Obviously having food or feces would prevent it.
 
I had three before age 40. One colonoscopy, One endoscopy and one enteroscopy. One of those was to stick a camera pill into my stomach because I couldn't swallow it and the doctor needed to see what was bleeding.

The prep wasn't bad. It really isn't a starvation diet, just stop eating at 12 noon the day prior to the procedure, laxative at 2, and prep solution thereafter.

I think one needs to be completely cleaned of stuff in order for them to see down there (and up through the bottom). Obviously having food or feces would prevent it.

You had it easy, most doctors require only clear liquids for almost two days before the colonoscopy. You only had to stop eating at 12 noon the day before the procedure! Wow, you should read online what most people go through. And complaints about the actual procedure are rare because they usually zonk you out. Some people would prefer to do the test without the happy juice and often have to fight with the doctor over that. I'm glad to hear that your doctor let you eat until 12 hours before, maybe doctors are beginning to listen to the new research.
 

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