What about a good colonoscopy prep thread?

[clovishound]

Well, it's that time again for me. A couple new things. Same old Miralax and Dulcolax prep, but this time they want a week of low residue diet. Wouldn't really be an issue, except I'm diabetic now, which really limits some of the things that fill out the meal. Oh well, I guess I can relax some of my carb restrictions for a week. Most everyone has been recommending a couple days of low residue. I will be eating a few potatoes later this week.

The PA who saw me last week was asking me if I was having any trouble with food sticking in my throat. I have been having some issues with that lately, and she said they could do an endoscopy at the same time and, depending on what they see, stretch out an area of the esophagus. I'll be under at the time anyway, so sounds good to me. I occasionally have trouble when eating nuts with skins, or carrots, and the pieces get caught in the back of my throat. Had no idea that there was something so simple that might help with this.

[Sir Henry]

There is now another way. No, not another way to your colon but another way to test. I currently have a stool testing kit that I do at home and mail it to the lab.

[CT_Shooter]

Good luck, CH.

I had my very last colonoscopy two summers ago. The Dr. removed a benign polyp and found a blood vessel that was about to rupture, so he cauterized it. Sadly, that procedure failed and a week later I was in the ER bleeding from my rectum. It was repaired (successfully) but required another colonoscopy and three nights in the hospital. Same prep, but this time with lots of blood in the mix. Not pretty. I'm 76 now. I've called it quits on colonoscopies. Unless someone somehow convinces me otherwise, I'm not having another one.

Hope you get the desired result by stretching your esophagus, but it sounds like a sore throat might be in your future. Keep us posted.

[clovishound]

I've been reading that somewhere in your late 70s to 80s most doctors don't recommend doing colonoscopies, unless there is a personal history that demands it. At that point, the risks normally outweigh the benefits. Apparently it takes a long time for a polyp to turn malignant and then grow to a size that causes a problem. As callous as it may sound it is a case of something else will probably take you out first. Some docs may want to keep on at older ages, if you are otherwise in good health and likely to last into advanced age.

[Mags]

I've been reading that somewhere in your late 70s to 80s most doctors don't recommend doing colonoscopies, unless there is a personal history that demands it. At that point, the risks normally outweigh the benefits. Apparently it takes a long time for a polyp to turn malignant and then grow to a size that causes a problem. As callous as it may sound it is a case of something else will probably take you out first. Some docs may want to keep on at older ages, if you are otherwise in good health and likely to last into advanced age.

That's how it went with my mother-in-law. She did come down with colon cancer, but it was so slow growing that she eventually passed of old age.

[Mags]

There is now another way. No, not another way to your colon but another way to test. I currently have a stool testing kit that I do at home and mail it to the lab.

Unless you have polyps that are bleeding, the stool test is inconclusive.

[Sir Henry]

There is now another way. No, not another way to your colon but another way to test. I currently have a stool testing kit that I do at home and mail it to the lab.

Unless you have polyps that are bleeding, the stool test is inconclusive.

I guess that is why they only use it when you are older.