All about my colonoscopy

[pagerbear]

I was blown away by the response I got to my thread yesterday about having a colonoscopy. Thanks everyone who was concerned and who has asked how it went. If you missed it, here's the original thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=1554260

The anxiety was much worse than the procedure itself. I was none too eager to have folks messing with me down there--not for the obvious reason (I am a gay man, after all--let's just say those are not uncharted waters), but just having them stare at my big, white, pimply ass! Especially since the anesthesiologist and the nurse assisting were women. I was also worried about whether I was clean enough--you know, inside.

The actual unpleasant parts were the fact they were running late, the haughty anesthesiologist who seemed peeved I actually wanted to read the release she had me sign (and stood over me while I was reading), and the fact that when she shot the anesthesia in my vein it really hurt. Yes, two of my three complaints are about the anesthesiologist.

I was a little groggy for a little while, but after a short rest, some coffee and a very welcome meal (a day and a half of fasting, remember!), I was fine.

Oh, the results? Internal hemorrhoids and diverticulosis, which is not the same as diverticulitis. (Read about it here.)

[Deja Q]

1. May you have a speedy recovery!

That procedure is not fun...

[jeff30997]

2. Did the tube come out of your mouth?

:)

[Nite Owl]

3. Glad it all went well.

I have an appointment for a consultation next month. Family history, my mom had colon cancer and died from it. I am thinking of putting it off for a few months though.

[bearfan454]

7. Don't put it off.

Especially if it is in your family. It is very important to have this done.

[pagerbear]

8. I agree

As I said, the anxiety about the procedure is much worse than the procedure itself.

[GOPisEvil]

4. I know more about your ass than my own!

Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

[pagerbear]

6. GOP, I'd be proud to make the acquaintance of your ass!

[GOPisEvil]

29. If I switch teams, I'll let you know.

:-)

[wakfs]

5. Ah, the colonoscopy

I just had one in June. I was anxious about it myself but it turned out not to be too bad. Sorry you had to deal with some idiots. My surgeon and his team were great. In fact, I could see the video screen even in my drugged state although I had no concept of time, and I have to say that it was very cool to look at my own insides.

Hope you're feeling better!

[Kat45]

9. Did you have a hard time drinking that crap they make you drink?

I think I'd be more worried about that than about the procedure itself.

[no_hypocrisy]

10. Glad you weathered the procedure well. Now, in the future to prevent

polyps (and cancer to a certain degree) in your colon, add more fibre to your diet. Raw fruits and vegetables to start, and you might want to consider psyllium husks added to juice once a day (found at the healthfood store).

[dolo amber]

11. They're not uncharted waters with me, either

Does that make me a gay man?? :D

<so confused...>

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

33. Hee hee

me either. My husband and I have broken some laws, I think. No wait, they overturned the Texas law last June. Well, anyway....

[redqueen]

12. Good to hear it wasn't so bad

Sorry to hear about the anaesthesiologist... some people. :eyes:

And also glad to hear you don't need antibiotics! :D

[liontamer]

13. Glad it went fairly well!

[commander bunnypants]

14. Speedy recovery

DDQM

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

15. To your health!

:toast:

[LynneSin]

16. Pictures!!! We want Pictures!!!

[pagerbear]

17. Those cost extra

[Joanne98]

My friend got pictures of his.......

They were wierd looking. He was saying, "Do you want to see my asshole?" lol

[pagerbear]

41. I've seen this procedure on medical shows

Don't know why I like medical shows, but I do. And I've seen pictures of this. I just don't want to see my own! Just like I had no qualms about seeing my dad's gall stone in a jar, but my own--no way!

[XNASA]

18. That reminds me of a song by 'The Police'.

With one breath, with one flow
You will know
Colonoscopy

A sleep trance, a dream dance,
A shared romance,
Colonoscopy

A connecting principle,
Linked to the invisible
Almost imperceptible
Something inexpressible.
Science insusceptible
Logic so inflexible
Causally connectable
Yet nothing is invincible


If you act, as you think,
The missing link,
Colonoscopy

We know you, they know me
Extrasensory
Colonoscopy

[eyesroll]

19. I think you need to write a pop-up book, pagerbear...

"All About My Colonoscopy"
by Pagerbear

You could have pop-ups about the anesthesiologist...and the colonoscope...and maybe the prep solution...

Glad it went well! :hi: (I think the :thumbsup: graphic would be very, very wrong here...)

[DS1]

21. wouldn't that be more like a pop-in book?

:evilgrin:

[BurtWorm]

20. Blown away, eh?

;)

I'm facing a GI series and small bowel series in a couple of weeks, followed by a colonoscopy. I had ileus (intestinal paralysis) at the tail end (so to speak) of my vacation in Maine and wound up with a tube down my nose and throat for half a week. They don't know what caused the ileus, which is why I'm having these procedures. After my experience with the NG tube (if you saw Titticut Follies you know what I'm talking about), I'm hoping nothing could be worse.

Glad you're doing better. My gastroenterologist puts his patients under for colonoscopies. Maybe you want his name and number for next time?

[miss_kitty]

24. the ng tube is pure evil

i got to wear one once for two and a half WEEKS, because they hooked it up wrong to the vacuum thinger. thinking about it can still get my gag on

[BurtWorm]

42. My sympathies!

:scared:

[TX-RAT]

22. Glad every things semi-OK

[watercolors]

23. You are lucky

my husband's went badly! He had a large polyp and it was remove and cauterized. Evidently the burn went deep into the colon wall, my husband was in extreme pain. Spent the next four days in the hospital on IV's , pain killers,and antibiotics. He had to stay on a very soft diet, lost a total of 10lbs, he was only 170 to start with. I am trying to build him back up, muscle mass is gone in arms and legs, no butt either! We'll get back to the gym and I make sure he is getting two protein supplement shakes a day. It was scary! We were informed that 1 in 1000 cases this can happen, so be aware, he has had 2 previously. Also had Charley hit day after he got home from hospital, we are fine, little damage, 50 miles east of Orlando.

[pagerbear]

25. Ouch! So sorry

Glad he's on the road to recovery. And glad Charley spared you too. What a rough time you've had in the past coupla weeks!

[jukes]

26. OK!

doesn't sound like the condition is too bad. prol have to give it a rest for a while, though;)

glad it's nothing serious, bud.



:pals:

[Pithlet]

27. Glad to hear everything is okay

Well, at least not serious. Bet you're glad to have that over with.

I'm still facing mine on Thursday.

[Aristus]

28. Ah, the joys of colonoscopy!

I've had so many of my patients say for another shot of fentanil and Versed, they'd go back in and do the whole thing again! The fun part is, all that air they pump into you to expand the colon? You get to fart it all right back out!! With no guilt or blaming the dog.

Still, the "swamp-water" is atrocious, or so my patients have told me, and it's not likely they'll come up with a more palatable prep any time soon.

[VOX]

30. I was given Versed and Demerol = not a worry in the world!!!!!

I went into the procedure as anxious as all get-out, but as soon as I got the first bit of the "cocktail" into my system, the docs could have done *anything*, and I don't think I would have cared.

The high was indeed so pleasant that I told my wife that I'd like to have another colonoscopy ASAP! :)

As for the "Go-Litely" prep, or whatever it's called, it does taste like concentrated sea-brine, and chugging that stuff is enough to make you heave. :(

[Aristus]

31. What flavor did you have?

I'm told Lemon-Lime is the best of a bad lot.

[VOX]

39. It was lemon-lime! The first dose the day before wasn't all that bad...

It was the second dose on the early morning of the procedure that was the kicker.

My body was saying -- "This is really bad stuff, and I'd like to regurgitate it immediately," but my will power and a short apple-juice chaser turned the tide (literally).

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

32. You made it!!!

I know you are SO relieved to have that overwith.

For what it's worth, I had the same concerns. About---inside. Ick. I didn't understand how ANYONE could be a proctologist!

Here's to a speedy recovery for ya, pagerbear!!!

[Bunny]

34. Glad to hear the good news.

The gas that results from this is awesome, isn't it? I sat in the recovery room with my former SO, and he and several others played several verses of oom-pa-pah with their asses. It was quite comical.

Sorry to take your thread to the lowest level. I'll try not to do it again!

Is is true that they can do a virtual colonoscopy? I heard someone from the local Open MRI facility talking about it. Apparently there is no penetration into your body. That is my kind of colonsocopy!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

36. Glad to hear everything went okay

You should be feeling fine soon - my stomach only hurt for about a day after I had mine in 1996 (family history; my beloved mother died of colon cancer). I need to schedule another one because I'm turning 42 next week and it's been 8 years. I remember the enema as being the worst part; strangely, drinking the stuff didn't bother me that much. My husband got up at 4:30 a.m. to administer my enema; I told him that's the height of love, especially because he loves and needs his sleep! I remember feeling a wave of chills and nausea passing over me and almost falling off the toilet! The actual colonoscopy was okay. It also marked the first and only time I've ever had IV fluids. That Versed is good stuff, too! I remember seeing my blood pressure on the monitor and commenting that it looked good; the next thing I knew the nurse was saying I was all done. I looked at the doctor and repeatedly accused him of not doing anything because I didn't feel a thing!

Okay, this thread has convinced me - I need to schedule a repeat performance (grumble grumble sigh - more for timing purposes than the procedure itself). Thanks for sharing, and glad it's nothing really serious.

[pagerbear]

35. Thanks everyone!

You're all wonderful for being concerned! What a great community the DU Lounge is!

[DU GrovelBot]

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[pagerbear]

38. Thanks for caring, Grovelbot

[Bunny]

40. He really is a helluva guy, isn't he?

So warm, so caring. Ya just gotta love him!

[medeak]

43. LOL

shouldn't laugh but you reminded me of funny story. Had colonoscopy and brought home and still "under" a bit. Door bell rang...it was landscaping company asking me what I wanted them to do.

I told them to take out my entire yard!

Next day 30 people showed up and before I realized what was happening they had removed a 1/4 of front yard.

Cost me thousands to replace.