Questions about my first Colon Screening

We picked up hamburgers on the way home. Every ten minutes for about 2 hrs I asked my wife, “Did we pick up hamburgers on the way home?” Ahh, drugs.
 
asicer said:
I mean do you have a good reason to prefer a colonoscopy over a FIT, FOBT or sDNA test?
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FIT/FOBT has poor detection and is based on false premise that all cancer bleeds

sDNA is the newest kid on the block and I rec for ppl that have medical reasona that make colonoscopy hard to perform. ie advanced age, anticoagulation, ho severe diverticulosis, etc the test as a ~92% detection rate but can and does have false positives (no biggie we are talking about cancer here) but the test only has a predictive time range of 3 years. So you have to do q3 years.
Virtual colonoscopy - you didn’t mention this one but it is owed a line. A test invented due to a machine capability burning holes in large hospitals wallets. Expensive. Lots of radiation and it can tell difference between polyp that is cancerous or not.And by the way this test is required and air contrast enema. You are awake for this.
colonoscopy- The gold standard. Has risks that advance with age and perforation rates of about 1/1000. But if you see something it get box or removed. A clean colonoscopy gives you 10 year clean bill without other risk factors. Yeah so it’s a tube up your butt. But Contrary to popular belief your friends won’t be there high-fiving drinking beer and taking selfies. The preps have gotten better and I think MiraLAX prep is the gentlest one out there. And just remember to be happy that you’re in America because in some other countries they don’t put you to sleep for this test
 
You will be very intimate with the toilet. Procedure is a piece of cake, as long as they don't perforate you colon.
 
Regarding the drug(s) used for sedation, is that something that needs individual calling out on the MedXpress? or are they "assumed" to be part of the process and don't need to be specifically mentioned?
 
benyflyguy said:
FIT/FOBT has poor detection and is based on false premise that all cancer bleeds

sDNA is the newest kid on the block and I rec for ppl that have medical reasona that make colonoscopy hard to perform. ie advanced age, anticoagulation, ho severe diverticulosis, etc the test as a ~92% detection rate but can and does have false positives (no biggie we are talking about cancer here) but the test only has a predictive time range of 3 years. So you have to do q3 years.
Virtual colonoscopy - you didn’t mention this one but it is owed a line. A test invented due to a machine capability burning holes in large hospitals wallets. Expensive. Lots of radiation and it can tell difference between polyp that is cancerous or not.And by the way this test is required and air contrast enema. You are awake for this.
colonoscopy- The gold standard. Has risks that advance with age and perforation rates of about 1/1000. But if you see something it get box or removed. A clean colonoscopy gives you 10 year clean bill without other risk factors. Yeah so it’s a tube up your butt. But Contrary to popular belief your friends won’t be there high-fiving drinking beer and taking selfies. The preps have gotten better and I think MiraLAX prep is the gentlest one out there. And just remember to be happy that you’re in America because in some other countries they don’t put you to sleep for this test
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Ah, very interesting.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Regarding the drug(s) used for sedation, is that something that needs individual calling out on the MedXpress? or are they "assumed" to be part of the process and don't need to be specifically mentioned?
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Nah...just report date of procedure an dr report that everything is fine. Had 3 while I was on class 3 medical, no big deal.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Regarding the drug(s) used for sedation, is that something that needs individual calling out on the MedXpress? or are they "assumed" to be part of the process and don't need to be specifically mentioned?
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Dunno - I reported the procedure on my medical, I didn't write down all the drugs they gave me since I didn't know what they were anyway. They told me, I'm sure, but I didn't remember. There was no prescription, so nothing to report there. It's a colonoscopy, the AME and FAA medical probably know all about them.
 
Agree with @Matthew and @murphey. Wait to see what Bruce says, but I would bet money that he will agree. I certainly didn't report any of that - just the procedure, and I'm pretty sure I just relayed the results to my AME orally. I do not recall needing to give him a written report, since nothing cancerous was found.
 
azure said:
Agree with @Matthew and @murphey. Wait to see what Bruce says, but I would bet money that he will agree. I certainly didn't report any of that - just the procedure, and I'm pretty sure I just relayed the results to my AME orally. I do not recall needing to give him a written report, since nothing cancerous was found.
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I put it down as a visit to a medical professional within the last three years, there was nothing else for me to report.
 
The anxiety about the prep is worse than the prep itself. You drink foul-tasting stuff and **** your brains out for a day and most of a night. It's not the end of the world. Colon cancer, on the other hand, may very well be. My cousin died of it a few months ago.

As for the procedure itself, I had it without the sedation, and it was no big deal. With sedation, I suppose it's even less of a big deal. There was no pain to speak of -- I've had worse cases of gas -- and I enjoyed the guided tour of my colon narrated by the (female) Russian nurse, which the (female) Filipina nurse must have found amusing because she kept giggling throughout the procedure.

The doctor was also a woman, so they had to ask me if I wanted to have a man in the room for the procedure. I guess that's a VA rule. I declined. I figured six eyeballs looking at my ass from all possible angles were more than enough.

The part where they vacuum the farts out of you is... interesting. I had to chuckle at the idea that some engineer was actually tasked with designing a machine to suck farts out of a living human's colon. He must have been thinking, "For this, I went to college?"

I had the procedure done at the Albany-Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York. I showed up at 7:15 a.m., had blood work and the world's fastest physical, and was on my way home by 8:45. I didn't need an escort or driver because I'd declined the sedation. They did start an IV, however, just in case they blew a hole through me and needed to operate. Everything -- including me -- was handled with the utmost professionalism.

In retrospect, the worst part of it was the thirst. I was so thirsty that I was looking forward to the IV. I only wished they could have spiked it with some caffeine.

When all was said and done, they found nothing -- including my head, which Jeannette was sure they'd find up there -- so they gave me the ten-year warranty and sent me on my way.

Rich
 
@RJM62 made a good comment. I ended up with a pretty bad case of dehydration, along with the associated headaches. Next time I'll try to drink more water.
 
Don't throw out your trash until you check it the next day. I had someone who drove me order fast food for me at a drive through. I can remember sitting on the couch eating a KFC dinner and sharing with my dog before I fell asleep there. When I awoke, I went to throw something in the kitchen waste basket and something glimmering in the bottom caught my eye. It was my silverware. Don't have a clue how it got there, but I don't think Fido did it.
 
dtuuri said:
Don't throw out your trash until you check it the next day. I had someone who drove me order fast food for me at a drive through. I can remember sitting on the couch eating a KFC dinner and sharing with my dog before I fell asleep there. When I awoke, I went to throw something in the kitchen waste basket and something glimmering in the bottom caught my eye. It was my silverware. Don't have a clue how it got there, but I don't think Fido did it.
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Heh - my story earlier about the lunch stop on the way home... I kept asking, over and over, if we had stopped to get some lunch on the way home. My wife kept saying, "YES!! For the hundredth time, YES!!!" Finally, I wised up. The next time I wanted to ask, I walked into the kitchen and opened up the trash can. Inside was the wrappers and bag of our lunch, and I asked, "Did we get lunch on the way home?"
 
Point heard regarding hydration.... I already have a 32 oz water bottle I use on the stationary bike and at my elbow during the day. I'll make sure to up the frequency I take a drink from it.

Got the 16 oz. gatorade in the pantry ready to move into the fridge. And I just change the filter in the Brita pitcher.
 
Matthew said:
Heh - my story earlier about the lunch stop on the way home... I kept asking, over and over, if we had stopped to get some lunch on the way home. My wife kept saying, "YES!! For the hundredth time, YES!!!" Finally, I wised up. The next time I wanted to ask, I walked into the kitchen and opened up the trash can. Inside was the wrappers and bag of our lunch, and I asked, "Did we get lunch on the way home?"
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Once nice thing about having this done in Texas....

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dtuuri said:
Don't throw out your trash until you check it the next day. I had someone who drove me order fast food for me at a drive through. I can remember sitting on the couch eating a KFC dinner and sharing with my dog before I fell asleep there. When I awoke, I went to throw something in the kitchen waste basket and something glimmering in the bottom caught my eye. It was my silverware. Don't have a clue how it got there, but I don't think Fido did it.
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LOL. Made me laugh. Not colonoscopy related but I sent my car keys home with my mom along with a prescription pill bottle after my infusion the other day. Hahah. She mailed them back. :)
 
It’s a non-event. At my last one, after I came to, I asked the nurse if they found my head up there.... That’s where it is occasionally.

I’ve been told by my wife, who I think makes this stuff up, that I am quite chatty while coming to, and that I am rather proud of myself whilst relieving the gas they inject for better visualization. In other words, I’m my usual self.
 
It’s really no big deal. Drink the stuff with plenty of fluids. Start producing dark brown water which fades to light brown and finally almost clear. Next day go to the hospital, get sedated, and let the doc have his or her way with you. Wake up. Go eat. That’s all there is to it.

Btw, I did the prep just last night and am currently waiting to be called into the fun room. And, if you are wondering it’s a cute young female Indian doctor who is going all up inside my butt today. Sort of hot, huh?

This is my second one. First was five years ago. Went on the medical as a colonoscopy, no more, no less. No worries.

Update: Out and back home. All went well. @AggieMike88 so will yours. You just got to lay back,relax, and enjoy it... just like Bobby Knight said.
 
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I agree with the others. The procedure itself is a big nothing.
Two funny stories about mine. The "cleanout" stuff I had to drink the day before was called "GoLYTELY," which I thought was a rather humorous name. Someone in marketing has a sense of humor! I had to drink about a gallon of it. It was supposed to work in a half hour or so, but two hours later - nothing. A little while later it was "Katy bar the door!" Once it started, it started (and continued) with a vengeance!
Prior to the procedure, I was told that I'd have gas afterward, but it was normal and I should not try and "hold it." They inflate your colon with air during the procedure, and there's a lot left in you afterward. They didn't have a "fart sucker" that others have mentioned - maybe that's a new thing? Anyway, when I came out of the anesthesia, they brought my wife into the recovery room, and shortly thereafter, I let out a thunderous blast. It embarrassed the heck out of her. She was the only one in the room that didn't know that it was normal!
 
Surprep is gross stuff to me - anti-nausea medicine was required and I still couldn't keep it all down. More power to you if you can chug it.

Will probably ask for an alternate method next time. A gallon of gatorade with a tasteless powder in it, that I can do.
 
Had two of them, and due for #3 in a couple years. Not a big deal when you go lights out. Only thing I had to wait for before I could leave, was to urinate and fart at least once each. I had asked about the alternatives to the scope with the gastro, but he indicated that while they were okay, if there were any signs of problems or questions, then he would have to go in anyway to make a determination. First one, I was there at 0530 and home about 10 am....things got slowed with a patient that had some definite problems and wasn't just a look. 2nd time was delayed for 2 hours due to weather and the Dr getting caught in traffic that got blocked in and couldn't move for almost an hour and a half due to flooding.
 
My wife had colon cancer at age 49. Personally, I believe everyone should have a colonoscopy at 45 to see if they have a propensity to grow polyps.

Alcohol, I believe, increases risk of cancer in the esophagus and stomach. Possibly into the lower-GI, I don't know.

I've had three colonscopies and no problem. The day before is pretty unpleasant, but the procedure itself was a piece of cake. (Odd simile...)
 
AggieMike88 said:
Regarding the drug(s) used for sedation, is that something that needs individual calling out on the MedXpress? or are they "assumed" to be part of the process and don't need to be specifically mentioned?
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All considered as part of the acute process!

Report: “benign colonoscopy, invited back in ____ years”
 
AggieMike88 said:
Regarding the drug(s) used for sedation, is that something that needs individual calling out on the MedXpress? or are they "assumed" to be part of the process and don't need to be specifically mentioned?
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In what space would you report this? There's not a general question about drugs administered in the past.

The prep is the worst part, but only because it's the only part you'll remember....
 
FORANE said:
Don't worry, soon it will all be behind you!

Few thoughts:
I think you could likely do fine without an antiemetic.
You may not be out of it post procedure. Propofol only sedation is commonplace and if that is what you receive, you will likely feel completely normal between 15-20 minutes post procedure.
We often suggest starting slowly to avoid nausea, etc. You will likely know if you feel up to a buffet before you are discharged.

There is at least one study that found more polyps when a patient is sedated with propofol rather than conscious sedation. The theory regarding the reason for this is that if the patient is more relaxed then the colon expands better allowing for superior visibility of the entire colon lumen. Also, if a patient isn't squirming in discomfort, the endoscopist is less likely to rush.
Propofol is a non-barbiturate induction agent that produces unconsciousness; you will be unconscious for the entirety of the procedure typically. For conscious sedation, typically versed and a narcotic are used. Versed is a benzodiazepine that commonly results in amnesia, so you often do not recall events after the drug is received. If you get conscious sedation, you will likely be a bit out of it hours after the procedure because those drugs last longer.
Personally, I would choose propofol over conscious sedation every day for me, but there are some individuals that are not great candidates for propofol. Lastly, there is no way I would consider a colonoscopy without some sort of sedation.
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Not sure which one they gave me, but they told me I wouldn't really remember because it had an amnesiac quality but I'd still be awake and respond to them.
 
BrianNC said:
Not sure which one they gave me, but they told me I wouldn't really remember because it had an amnesiac quality but I'd still be awake and respond to them.
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That most likely was Versed aka midazolam. Frequently it produces amnesia but not always. The amnesia is not retrograde so typically one remembers everything clearly until about a minute after the drug is given. That amnesia may last 30 minutes or all day long; the results are typically much longer in the elderly.
 
Went by the store today to purchase the allowed food items and such for the preparation.

Never thought about it before, but I'm amazed at how many food products on the shelves, especially liquids and Jello, that contain red or purple food dyes.
 
FORANE said:
That most likely was Versed aka midazolam. Frequently it produces amnesia but not always. The amnesia is not retrograde so typically one remembers everything clearly until about a minute after the drug is given. That amnesia may last 30 minutes or all day long; the results are typically much longer in the elderly.
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Yes. However, the amnesiac effect seems to be dosage-dependent. I had conscious sedation with midazolam last fall and remember everything. As an additive along with propofol, it was utterly lethal to my memory.
 
As others have said the prep horror stories are just that...my recommendation is get baby wipes, you'll be doing a lot of wiping and you'll want something that goes easy on your bottom.
I have a family history so get one every three years, always hit a bbq joint after :);)
 
azure said:
Yes. However, the amnesiac effect seems to be dosage-dependent. I had conscious sedation with midazolam last fall and remember everything. As an additive along with propofol, it was utterly lethal to my memory.
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I remembered a couple of fragments but that's all.

I was supposed to get a call from the Dr.'s office this week to schedule one. Still haven't called.
 
azure said:
Yes. However, the amnesiac effect seems to be dosage-dependent. I had conscious sedation with midazolam last fall and remember everything. As an additive along with propofol, it was utterly lethal to my memory.
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Yes, correct, it is dose dependent but is is also dependent on other factors such as age and concurrent medication usage.
While it is additive with propofol, if you received propofol you likely received enough to render you unconscious like that time back in college... but, I digress. That being the case, the propofol alone typically is enough to prevent any recall.
 
FORANE said:
Yes, correct, it is dose dependent but is is also dependent on other factors such as age and concurrent medication usage.
While it is additive with propofol, if you received propofol you likely received enough to render you unconscious like that time back in college... but, I digress. That being the case, the propofol alone typically is enough to prevent any recall.
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In my case it was definitely the versed. After that time, I had 2 colonoscopies with propofol alone, and had no trouble either time remembering the debrief from the procedure. The first time, with the added versed, it is lucky my Dad was there, as I had no recollection whatever of what the doc told me. Last fall I had the procedure done by a team that didn't include an anesthesiologist, so it was versed alone or nothing. I told them to use a VERY low dose, and had no troubles with recall afterward.
 
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