Colonoscopy and "Colyte" or "Go Lightly" (my name) to be Gross!

[KoKo]

Anyone been through the prep for a colonoscopy lately. For those who don't know it's the exam that might have saved Katie Couric's husband and thousands of others........but the prep is so dreadful that .....maybe it's avoided?

I'm not wanting to be disgusting here.....but someone in my house is going through this tonight, and I've been through it......and we both have history of Colon Cancer in our families.....so we have to do this every few years....but OMG........the prep is dreadful...

I think some comedian should do a monolog about it.......It's dreadful but funny.......and those who haven't been through it with our histories need to do it and in your 40's if your parents had problems in their 50's.

I'm told that Colon cancer in families is now moving backwards "ten years per generation." So, just because old Auntie Em died of it in her 70's don't think you don't have to worry until you are in your 70's, too.

I don't know how they could make the "prep" easier than "fasting for 24 hours with clear broth and then taking a dulcolax and then drinking a gallon of this "Colyte" liquid at 20 minute intervals until Midnight before one hauls oneself off to the hospital and the gastroenterologist does his scop.......but OM Gosh......it's really a challenge.

:-)'s or :-('s for my poor family member tonight!

[asjr]

1. colon

I went through that last month. That icky, icky stuff to drink is terrible. I put tea and lemon juice in it and still gagged. But it is worth it. They found 4 polyps (benign) and I am glad I had it.

[this_side_up]

2. I refused to take

that crap. I think it is some form of anti-freeze? ethylene glycol?


Whatever. I wouldn't take it. Made the doc write
Rx for ... I can't remember the name of it.

I have not so good kidneys anyway and using GoLightly
is asking for trouble.

[this_side_up]

3. Yikes, how many

times did you hit Post?

Can you delete the excess threads?

[CatWoman]

4. What's up with the plumbing around here?

:D

I had to seek emergency room treatment last Thursday because of problems "down there".

Now I have to have an upper GI done on Thursday.

No food or drink after midnight.

The last time I had that done, I puked up the bromium all over the xray equipment :P

[KoKo]

6. Cat, I don't come down here...are there alot of gastro problems? Good

luck to you on this..... There's a pill they can give you to keep you from gagging.....

I'd hate to be the person who had to mop up the barium....but as I said, drinking "Colyte" glass....after glass....after glass........is hard.

BUT........many of you don't know this......before this hideous prep one would have symptoms and be put in the hosspital for what was called "AN EXPLORATORY" where they would essentially cut you open "stem to stern" like in an autopsy and the surgeon would look for those polyps that turn into CANCER.

This way.....they can get those little buggers before they grow and lop them off. It's important to do it.......but as I said....OMG the prep.....but worth it! If you care about living on to fight the BFEE! Whatever it takes.

[CatWoman]

10. do they put you to sleep for that exam?

I had a coworker who went through it last year.

She didn't want to talk about it.

Boy, do I understand.

[KoKo]

11. They do put you on a "low level" anasthesia and the procedure itself is

nothing. It's the prep which one has to get through.

I try to think, when I go through it that it's like fasting in the Medaeval times. One would only drink liquids and fast for religious reasons. I also think of Ghandi.......and that's how I get through it.

Plus.....straining Campbells Chicken Noodle soup through a wire mesh and drinking it all day..........

It does help to make one feel like they are just "normal" for that 24 hours.

But, as I said......a comedy writer needs to do something on GI prep.......it would help all of our sanities and also save lives by making it something that one can laugh at to get through.

Cat: The prep is worse than the procedure.......just do it. REALLY! But, I can't see how they can improve the prep at this point........after that you will be okay.....so laugh about the prep and realize nothing hurts after whatever they give you to drink!

[bookman]

5. Anything new?

I went through that a couple of years ago. My doctor told me I should have it again in about 10 years. I told him they'd better improve it by then!

I've had people tell me there is a less difficult method now. Anyone know?

[KoKo]

9. Bookman there are some (I call them) crooks who are advertising "Imaging,"

which is "non-invasive." BUT! Don't believe them any more than you would believe Faux News.

If your family has Colon Cancer there's a high likely hood you will develop those tiny polyps that grow and become Colon Cancer. The Gastroenterologists can snip them off with their "roto rooter" scopes which have camera's and scalpels attached before you end up with one of those innocuous polyps that grow into a big cancerous tumor and you have to undergo chomotherapy and radiation and hope for the best.

So, 24 hours of fasting and glass after glass of "Go Lightly" are but a moments blip on the radar to get the little things cut out before you have to go through months and months of Chemo drips and radiation therapy which are much worse!

[Punkingal]

7. I had to do that last year......

it was horrible...just horrible. That is the worst tasting stuff in the world...YUCK! And the way you feel AFTER the test...like an idiot, I thought I could go to work that day. HA!

[Nikia]

8. Just had one scheduled for next week

I have been having digestive problems lately. They said that they were sending information in the mail. I don't think that my prep is as extensive. I am suppose to get something over the counter that is only three ounces. There is the clear liquid diet but I had already done that for five days about a week ago anyway trying to get better. I have no desire to eat anything anyway.

[thermodynamic]

12. Great, I'm likely a candidate for the candid camera treatment too...

What does "colyte" taste like?

[KoKo]

15. thermo...it doesn't really have a taste.....if anything maybe a little

"lightly salty." If you can "chug-a-lug a beer you can do it.....the important thing is getting the full glasses down at 15 to 20 minute intervals. I had my third experience with this one year ago....and my hubby has his second tonight. In the last year apparently they "changed the "CoLyte" flavor which was nothing to be better. I'll let you know when he tells me if it tastes differently. If you can drink in gulps all at one time....it's not a big deal except for the fact that YOU HAVE TO!

I think if they put a strong flavor in it might be harder.....except for guys who might prefer a fake "hops" taste to get it down.

For our non-alcoholic tasting DU'ers its just slightly salty......it just the Quantity one has to down! LOL's as I said I wish I was a comedic writer because it's really an experience.!!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. As an radiographer who does these on a daily basis,

If there is any residual stool left in the colon, it can mask a tumor very easily.
Not going through with it, no matter how unpleasant, (and I HAVE had it done too) with a family history of colon cancer, is ignorance. Watch someone die from colon cancer sometime. It aint pretty.
The prep is only so that we can get the best pictures possible to aid in diagnosis.
If and when someone comes up with a better way, we will gladly use it.
Just be glad we can find these things early now.

[KoKo]

17. Wanna Jump if you are a radiologist..I'm so glad you are verifying..it's

so important to do this full procedure as hard as it is ......an to do it COMPLETELY......drinking that last glass of Colyte and getting it down no matter how full and sick of it your are.....because the gastroenterologist doesn't want to see pieces of "last night's dinner" masking a polyp however small which could kill you. And, if it doesn't kill you the chemo/radiation down the line ill make drinking a gallon of "Colyte" with a day's fasting seem like a VERY small price to pay!!

Thanks!

On Edit: You are a "radiographer," and I don't know how that differs from the "Radiologists" who have given me my reports.....but whatever, I'm so glad you've posted about this..........

[Sheet22]

14. From one who works around it everyday.........

I'm sorry for the unpleasant prep your friend has to go through, but it definetly is work the pain, especially if you get that lovely response at the end-"We didn't find a thing, we'll see you again in 5-10 years.

One thing for people to look into that isn't quite as rough is the new "virtual colonscopy". I believe it has similar prep, but not quite as harsh, and you don't have to go through the totally awful experience of having a camera shoved up your butt.

Just tell your friend this one to cheer them up, I heard it from a girlfriend of mine who's had the procedure, it's a quick way to lose a couple of pounds. Good time to try on the "skinny jeans"-LOL.

I hope things come out ok and that everything is nice and normal in the end (sorry, but the puns just kind of fit in there naturally) ;)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. ROFL welcome to Du

:hi:

And yeah Koko...I had to help my ex prep for it...she stopped being a big hypochondriac after THAT test!

[KoKo]

19. NSM! Well, one is often much more enlightened after that prep......LOL's

:-)'s

[KoKo]

18. Sheet,,,,,my question about the "Virtual Colonoscopy" is that if they find

a small polyp or many small polyps which then grow into Colon Cancer.....then how do they "snip" them off they way the old "rotor rooter" with the "camera installed and the scalpel" can do.

It's good for those who don't have any polyps which show up.......but if something shows up in the "virtual" then how do they snip them? Seems like one would need "two" procedures....the second being the "gallons of Colyte" routine.

If there's some new update on how this would work for those with family histories and those who already have tiny polyps which need to be excised by the "traditional method" it would be good to here.

BTW! Just been informed that tomorrow night on ABC there is a discussion of "non-invasive colonoscopys" but I think it's what I've discussed already on this thread. If it's new I will be happy to hear.

[Lars39]

20. My dad just had one done day before yesterday.

They found one small polyp(snip) and a little cluster of pre-polyps, which they cauterized. Mom died of colon cancer. GET THE TEST!!!!!
Just can't be emphasized enough....

[KoKo]

21. Exactly the cluster or even one will grow into Cancer. Why are we getting

these small polyps and at an earlier age is the question. What are we eating......or is it normal, who knows.

But.....DO IT! Even if the relative was very distant......It's showing up even in families without a history.....and if you do it once and have no polyps then you can wait ten years.......but so many people who thought they were okay are showing up with Colon Cancer that it's important.

All those people that you hear died from liver, pancreas, lung, bone or other cancers on their "death certificate....started off with a small polyp (looks like a tiny button mushroom) in their colon that grew and spread into their bodies.

I havent' wanted to put out on this Board all I know about this and my personal experience....but this is one of the biggest things one can do after they hit age 40! That......and to be tested for Diabetes and Cholesterol......If you do these three things......you have a chance of being like Strom Thurmond! (Well, I'm not sure I want to be around that long in that kind of shap) but I hope you get my point!

[avtho]

22. Fleets, folks, Fleets!!!!11

Make your gastro prescribe Fleets, little tiny bottle, drink 1/2 and don't stray from the bathroom. Same with the second half.

No problem, no mess, nothing.

I would do one every other day. I get chocolate pudding when it is over. In fact 2 or 3.

[KoKo]

23. BUT, many gastroenterologists say it "shrivels" you colon because of the

salt and they don't get as good an exam as they do with the "Colyte" which plumps out the folds in the colon and allows the camera and "probe" to do an inch by inch evalutation of all the folds and crevices. A surgeon also told me the same thing, that he won't allow his patients to use anything but Colyte....and won't operate because he wants "plump" colons rather than "shriveled" salted ones.

BUT, maybe the procedure you had wasnt a "full Colonoscopy" but a "Sigmoidoscopy" where they just do a rectal evaluation which is only "half" your colon and doesn't get the stuff above your pelvis, but is valid for some lower colon problems.

Yes...it would be great if you could just use "Fleets" or the "Phosphosoda" some old time Gastroenterologists reccommend.....but the one that seems to be the best from recommendations from the "Cleveland Clinic" (leaders in Colon Cancer) and Duke University (who killed the heart transplant patient) and others who are with big hospitals in my area is that "Colyte" is the best for "visualization." And, if you have a history of colon cancer in your family don't just do the sigmoidoscopy (lower colon) do the whole thing because you will die from up above if they don't catch it as well as from "down below" where it's just a "half measure."

I know, this is all gross..but if it saves one life.....it's worth it.......

Hubby just had a cup of coffee to get through his next glass of Colyte.....too funny.......I just kept gulping......and didn't take a break.......

[Best_man23]

24. Bush Brain Scan

Another name for a colonoscopy