A Simple Colonoscopy Can Save Your Life

If you are reading this, you are likely already dealing with some sort of cancer. I'd like to encourage you to spread the word that anyone you know that if you are 50 or older or have colon cancer in your family, to please get a colonoscopy...it is so easy...they put you out and the 24 hours of prep beats years of chemo anyday!

My father had a colonoscopy...about 2 years ago. The Dr. said he was a little red....but fine otherwise. He also went in to tell the Dr. he had stomach pain...and heart burn. He also told the Dr. he belched alot. The Dr. told him you have acid reflux...without any kind of exam. My dad is now in stage 4 cancer. Stomach cancer. That has gone to his liver. My faith is great with god, but not Dr. and that doesn't make sence really because I feel god guides Dr.s. I am so devistated, my dad was so healthy until now.

 

On 2/27/2007 Very Sad Daughter wrote:

My father had a colonoscopy...about 2 years ago. The Dr. said he was a little red....but fine otherwise. He also went in to tell the Dr. he had stomach pain...and heart burn. He also told the Dr. he belched alot. The Dr. told him you have acid reflux...without any kind of exam. My dad is now in stage 4 cancer. Stomach cancer. That has gone to his liver. My faith is great with god, but not Dr. and that doesn't make sence really because I feel god guides Dr.s. I am so devistated, my dad was so healthy until now.

That is extremely frustrating...we had doctored prior to them finally consenting to a colonoscopy and my dad also had stage 4 to colon and liver. we were blessed to then find great docs. Not sure where you are located, but don't give up hope and if you are near these locations, i'd highly encourage you to seek their expertise. They've saved my dad's life:

Dr. Ahmed Ghany at Ohio State University James Care East

Dr. David Geller at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center...Liver Cancer Center

Best of luck and prayers to you!

That's right! Here's my experience: Actually, the "prep" wasn't nearly as bad or harsh as people were making out, even though I was up a little past midnight but slept all or most of the night. Before all this, I was imagining really bad cramps and nausea -- like having intestinal flu type sh*ts all night. It wasn't even close to that and was more like a regimen of using the can at specified times, not because you REALLY HAD to go. And besides, after the first few "goes," it's all fluid anyway. Gross, huh? Not too bad at all but I hear it varies from person to person. They say the "prep" is the worst part. "Worst"? Really? Seriously, I didn't find it bad -- just an inconvenience because I couldn't watch a TV program all the way through! All tolled, I had 20 "movements" in an eight hour period. Sounds like a lot but it's just "clearing out." Seriously, no big deal. You just do it. (I used the Fleet phospho-soda and two 32 oz of Gatorade four hours apart -- pretty standard.) I didn't find the taste bad either but I drink single malt Scotch from time to time so I'm used to strong "tasty" things. The actual procedure was easy and I think I sort of woke up once with a little [very slight] discomfort, yelled "more drugs" then went off into la la land. Next thing I knew, I woke up in recovery with my wife there and can't remember how she managed to get me home. But, once we arrived home, I remember having a deli sandwich (yum!) before passing out on the couch for three hours to the music of Van Morrison. All in all, it wasn't bad and the mega stress was for naught. Oh, the nurse at the place said the doctor was running late so I sat all prepped waiting for him. Argh! I asked if he would show at all. The nurse said said "yes" because (I'm not making this up), "It would be a shame to have a clean colon with no place to go." ha ha. Nothing like a little colonoscopy humor. These colonoscopy people must sit around thinking of these one-liners. Oh, turns out I had one polyp and it was small and no biggie. It was removed. I'm supposed to return in five years. I can handle that. People, don't stress. This is a no-brainer. Have it done. Cheers, J. Kerouac