Colonoscopy before age 50..........

[FinanceDude]

My doctor said a good idea, as I lost a sister to breast cancer at 46 and a grandfather to prostate cancer.

We had flex ben dollars left to burn. Scheduled it and will get one by the end of the year. I read all the helpful insight from Nords and others, hopefully will go well.

I guess no news will be good news from the doc after the procedure? The guy doing it has done over 6,000 according to my doctor........probably a good thing......

 

[rodi]

I had my first colonoscopy at age 41. For me it's because I checked the "blood on the stool" checkbox at a physical and Kaiser Permanente hounded me till I went in. It was a good thing - they found 3 polyps.
Now I'm a frequent, um, prober.....? Every 5 years. Due for one soon.

You'll be told when you wake up whether they found anything. No need to wait for the results.

make sure you do the prep right. It's useless if you don't properly prep. A friend of the family works in a clinic that does them - she said the compliance rate is only about 60%. Which means they send 40% of the people home because they didn't prep.

 

[Lcountz]

I had my first one done last Friday, I am age 56 and it went well....My doctor says I dont have to return for ten years...no findings.

They gave a mild sedative first that just about put me to sleep, then came in and said "please roll onto your side"...I was halfway thru the roll, and the next thing I knew I was awake and it was over!!! You will NOT feel or know a thing.

I walked out of the hospital myself-they didnt even wheel out in a wheelchair like they normally do even when you feel you can do it on your own.

I am relieved nothing was found. I am retiring -last workday on January 4th, 2013, then vacation til my actual date of March 1. I am getting everything done -already had mammogram and internal exam and physical and all is good!!!!!

Do it and don't look back. I am sure if you are UNDER 50 you will be OK, but if they do find something, you can be relatively sure you'll live til OVER 50 cause they find it early!!!!!

Good Luck!

 

[Lcountz]

Ditto on prep. IF they recommend the small 10oz bottles of magnesium citrate, chill it, and hold your nose when you drink it down. IF you are thirsty you can probably do it in one drink. I had to take two bottles, two hours apart. You will definitley need to be near the bathroom. afterwards!.!!!!!

Eat lightly the two days before that will help.

And if it is a little unpleasant....it is nothing like letting this test go and then maybe having to have surgery to remove part of your lower bowel and have to use a colostomy bag ( like a coworker of mine did-he died 2 years after early retirement, at age 60, because he ignored his MD adivce to get this test done sooner).

Dont want to preach but only YOU can make sure you take care of yourself.......!!!!

 

[nun]

I'm sure the people who get such early cancer screenings are either glad that they found nothing, or glad that they were able to intervene early if anything was found. However, their efficacy is dubious, but the cost is certain.

 

[imoldernu]

Just do it!

It was 1989, and digestion problems. Colonoscopy. Found cancer. Operation for removal... Sigmoid section.

I was in the process of expanding my business, taking on significant debt and major changes in our lives. Even with a successful operation, significant chances for recurrence. After some agonizing days of reviewing finances and looking into the future, decided to take a chance and retire.

Post operation, annual colonoscopy for five years, then every three years, now every five years. Lucky... over 23 years, a few polyps, no cancer.

IMO the colonoscopy is a non event... (except for the prep)... I no longer take anaesthetic, so I can watch the TV and discuss with the doctor as he's working.

Have had some neighbors who waited too long.

 

[Purron]

Oh man. I've been putting it off for no good reason other than, you know,

Gotta get it done. Trusted Doc recommends it. No real problems other thank being at that "special age".

 

[Ronstar]

I had 40% of one today. I need to go back. There was an sharp angle in my colon that the scope couldn't navigate. So they have to go back in with a balloon, and then rescope it. I wasn't conscious enough to take the barium that I'll have to take next time. So next time I'll need to do the gallon of prep, the barium, and have it done while I'm awake.

 

[ohyes]

Hey Ron,

Sorry that happened to you today(!), but glad you are going in for the rest of it. You will be look back and be so glad you did. Did you already know you had this sharp angle in your colon? (guessing not).

From what I have read, once you get in the groove of the periodic checks , cancer is very seldom found because you are getting the colonoscopies and polyps are found before they become bad things.

I had a colonoscopy this very morning. Perhaps we were partying at the same time (in different clinics). My dad was diagnosed with Stage IVB colon cancer about 21 years ago. Despite dire predictions from oncologist, he made it. So, my first one was at age 37. Have had two since.

and, thank goodness yesterday is a distant memory. That is one sure way to slow down time. Do the prep.

Keep us posted. You gotta do it.

 

[Lazarus]

I had one a few years ago. No problems. The prep was worse than the actual
procedure. That said I felt the "moment of insertion", really good drugs if you can feel that and not care!

 

[frayne]

I had mine at 60 and it wasn't that bad, and actually looking forward to my next one.

Colonoscopy - YouTube

 

[Lazarus]

That was great!

I had mine at 60 and it wasn't that bad, and actually looking forward to my next one.

Colonoscopy - YouTube

 

[easysurfer]

I had my first one done a few months back (I was 50) without issue.

I sure each one may be different.

For me, I had the over the counter + gatorade prep. I was knocked out so didn't remember any of the procedure and when I got home, I had no discomfort whatsoever.

I'm so glad I did it just for the peace of mind. I'm good for 10 years until the next time.

 

[bbbamI]

If you're lucky, FD, they'll give you an 8x10 glossy.

 

[Lazarus]

If you're lucky, FD, they'll give you an 8x10 glossy.

I got a nice picture showing my appendectomy scar from the inside.

 

[Ronstar]

Hey Ron,

Sorry that happened to you today(!), but glad you are going in for the rest of it. You will be look back and be so glad you did. Did you already know you had this sharp angle in your colon? (guessing not).

From what I have read, once you get in the groove of the periodic checks , cancer is very seldom found because you are getting the colonoscopies and polyps are found before they become bad things.

I had a colonoscopy this very morning. Perhaps we were partying at the same time (in different clinics). My dad was diagnosed with Stage IVB colon cancer about 21 years ago. Despite dire predictions from oncologist, he made it. So, my first one was at age 37. Have had two since.

and, thank goodness yesterday is a distant memory. That is one sure way to slow down time. Do the prep.

Keep us posted. You gotta do it.

Thanks ohyes! And yes I have no problem going back. My dr did my appendectomy 8 yrs ago, and he said that adhesions occur post abdominal surgery that twist the colon. He said it happens in about 1 out of every 20 of his patients. This is my 2nd (and 3rd). My 1st was done in order to help diagnose my ruptured appendix. The prep I took last night tastes like lemonade - the whole thing was not bad at all.

Glad to see you had one today also. Yes - we were probably partying at the same. I really didn't come back to earth for several hours.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I'm 52 and have already had two. I lost my Mom when she was 65 and her Mom when she was around 70, both to colon cancer. So I have a real incentive.

The anticipation is the worst part. Well, that and the "prep." They gave me pills, but it was an entire bottle of large pills, each to be taken with 8 oz. of water 15 minutes apart, in two, 1-hour sessions 4 hours apart. (Did that make sense?) Anyway, LOTS of water and by the time I was forcing down that last full glass I didn't think I could fit any more H2O into my body. Keep lots of good reading material handy - you'll need it.

Contrary to what I was told, and what I've read above and heard from other family members, I vividly recall every second of the procedure. But not to worry; it's no big deal. I kind of enjoyed seeing my innards on the TV monitor. It pinched a bit making the first 90-degree bend, but that was over quickly. Besides, I was so pumped up with Valium (or whatever) that when they brought in the six-foot scope and told me where they were going to put it, I said, "bring it on!"

All kidding aside, early detection is very important in treating this terrible disease. I've seen what it can do to a body. Everybody - just get checked.

Oh, I've had no problems so far.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

make sure you do the prep right. It's useless if you don't properly prep. A friend of the family works in a clinic that does them - she said the compliance rate is only about 60%. Which means they send 40% of the people home because they didn't prep.

At my first one the nurse told me that she once asked a patient if he had had anything to eat since the prep the day before. "Oh no!" he said. "Just eggs and toast this morning."

He got to do the prep again and come back another day.

 

[BTravlin]

Both my mother and her sister died from colon cancer so my doc recommended I have the colonoscopy due to high risk factor. Had one done a year after my mother passed and they found 3 polyps of which two were said to be of a kind that can turn cancerous over time. Was glad to have those removed! Had another one year later and another 5 years later and no more polyps.

As for the prep, if they give you the mix for the gallon jug, hand it back and ask for the small bottles. That gallon of mix is a killer to get down in the time interval they requested.

 

[obgyn65]

Still you should call within 72 hours to get any result confirmation + feedback.

I guess no news will be good news from the doc after the procedure?

 

[kyounge1956]

I had my first colonoscopy under age 50 because my younger brother was diagnosed with colon cancer. He was only 41 at the time. So they told us all to get screened. He's still with us 9 years later, despite some reverses and tough times. I agree with those who say the prep is the worst part. But maybe that's because I never remember the procedure itself. "Conscious sedation" works like a charm on me.

 

[Milton]

I do it every five years. As others have said, the actual procedure is essentially a non-event; the prep is the worst part but in the grand scheme of things it is nothing. I don't see any downside to it, it's good for peace of mind and I would not wait to age 50.

I agree with obgyn65; there should be some express feedback, don't just assume that no news is good news. Physicians and their staffs are busy people and are quite capable of making mistakes, and you don't want to 'fall between the cracks'.

As for the prep, if they give you the mix for the gallon jug, hand it back and ask for the small bottles. That gallon of mix is a killer to get down in the time interval they requested.

+1. Both times that I have done this, I was told to ingest some ridiculous quantity (4L, IIRC) of nauseating mixture. On both occasions I was physically unable to manage more than 2L, but after the procedures the doctor complimented me on the excellent prep. So the quantity is at least twice what is actually required, but I suppose it depends on the individual patient and they gross it up to allow for the worst cases.

 

[Walt34]

Add another encouraging voice to get it done. The worst part is the prep, and that is more inconvenient than anything else. I had the first one done at 42 in the process of diagnosing anemia (turned out to be an ulcer, long since healed) but in the process of that they also found a couple of polyps and [-]stumbled across[/-] diagnosed celiac disease.

The latter knowledge has proven to be of immense value.

 

[Milton]

However, their efficacy is dubious, but the cost is certain.

? To the best of my knowledge, colonoscopies are a highly efficient means of detecting problems. And the cost (to the individual) is free, at least if one is a Canadian.

 

[H2ODude]

Had mine ~ 4 years ago at 57, clean. Now, DW was dragging feet even after her mother had ~16" of colon removed. I kept badgering, and sure enough, they removed three good sized polyps. So now I can hold this over her head (claim I saved her life!) with the time I Heimliched her in Outback. After that one she would not eat solids without me around for 2-3 days! Really!