Liquid diet Saturday and Sunday: Prep last night for colonoscopy today

Hopefully they found nothing of interest. I have had 11 of them over the last 25 years. One saved my life, but led to another painful cleansing a month later, and cancer surgery with 6 month colon scoping follow-ups. The last 7 years has been a yearly colonoscopy, but now I am paroled for 5 years.

It is a life saving procedure and well worth the discomforts of drinking antifreeze. :ROFLMAO:
 
Paco Dennis said:
Just think, you will enter that timeless, lifeless state of "death" while "out". :) I hope all goes well, and you have a clean bill of health.
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They use a hypnotic anesthesia that leaves you conscious and breathing on your own, unlike total paralyzing anesthesia for major surgery, that stops your breathing and requires machines to help you breath.

According to my doc, "It hurts like hell, but you don't remember it." Some patients tell the docs secrets while under the hypnotic anesthesia.
 
A new version of colonoscopy uses a CT scan, and the rectum is gently inflated with an inert gas to expand the tract. Pre cleansing is still required but less liquid is swallowed beforehand. Twenty minutes on the table for the complete CT scan of the digestive tract and colon. Results in 10 minutes afterwards.

CT colonography

I had this done in 2023 here in Toronto at Women's College Hospital. It is the least invasive procedure of it's kind that I have ever had. JIM.
 
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Had one every 5 years for many years, then I aged out. It is OK now if I croak from colon cancer. Ain't gonna happen though I have now out lived the family who had it and caused me to have the colonoscopies every 5 years.
 
jimintoronto said:
A new version of colonoscopy uses a CT scan, and the rectum is gently inflated with an inert gas to expand the tract. Pre cleansing is still required but less liquid is swallowed beforehand. Twenty minutes on the table for the complete CT scan of the digestive tract and colon. Results in 10 minutes afterwards.

CT colonography

I had this done in 2023 here in Toronto at Women's College Hospital. It is the least invasive procedure of it's kind that I have ever had. JIM.
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Is that as a screening or diagnostic test?
 
SamiD said:
Hope they will find nothing. I lost one third of my colon and nothing but small polyps since. How often do you get scoped.
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Honestly, I don't remember. The pandemic interrupted so much. It was only last January when I was scheduled for one. My gastroenterologist (sp?) told me I didn't need one due to my age (I was 74 last January). I was going to take it anyway, but more severe health problems interfered with that. Then, this September my PC gives me a blood test, demands I go back to gastro who, upon looking, now decides I should get colonoscopy.

I'm very dehydrated. I think they think I'm leaking out fluids due to a tumor. I've lost a lot of weight, but then again I don't eat very much.

I'm scared, but I've always been more scared of everything since I became widowed. Ashamed of that. Was once a powerful person.
 
Pepper said:
Honestly, I don't remember. The pandemic interrupted so much. It was only last January when I was scheduled for one. My gastroenterologist (sp?) told me I didn't need one due to my age (I was 74 last January). I was going to take it anyway, but more severe health problems interfered with that. Then, this September my PC gives me a blood test, demands I go back to gastro who, upon looking, now decides I should get colonoscopy.

I'm very dehydrated. I think they think I'm leaking out fluids due to a tumor. I've lost a lot of weight, but then again I don't eat very much.

I'm scared, but I've always been more scared of everything since I became widowed. Ashamed of that. Was once a powerful person.
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A colonoscopy reveals a lot more than just a cancer check or polyp removal. Many diseases or disorders can be found. I also insist having a endoscopy at the same time. An ultra sound might be a good idea also. I suffered for months recently and both scopes showed nothing changed. Other test showed nothing. Finally my doc sent me to have an ultra sound and the problem was detected. My gallbladder was slugged up. I had it removed and everything is much better. At our age, nothing is going to make us like we were even 10 years ago.

Living alone most of my adult life, I can understand your being scared. I get unscared when I consider going to semi assisted living. Also watching the National Geographic series, Life Below Zero has relieved my fear. When I see the lady in her 60s, living at the remote arctic outpost, hundred of miles from another human, with her fuel supply running low, outside temperature -40F with winds at 60 mph, wolves circling the outpost, supply plane having difficult time landing, but she holds it together and things work out, I tell myself to stop whining and get tough.
 
SamiD said:
More screening since they cannot remove polyps. It reveals things that might be hidden from the scope.
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Was asking, as to my knowledge, this is CT one available here, that is not covered by Medicare; UNLESS it is for diagnostic purposes. Am thinking this CAT scan one would be classified as diagnosing in US, once a screening one (standard paid for here usually without copay) found the polyps. Will they also be using contrast? Are you/were you in the medical field?
 
Anyone else here who has any feedback re: Medicare or VA, to add regarding CT contrast/no-contrast colon scan, versus standard Versed/conscious sedation manual colonoscopy?

I am interested in finding out if VA does newer scan and what the requirements are IF they do; or if we vets can just request one. I researched this scan and it seems more thorough as it does tend to pick up things better; things a standard cannot, that are hidden on outside the colon on exterior surfaces, internal things.
 
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