Update on DH's Health

[HillSlugger]

At the tender age of 46 (on Sunday) I am already a veteran of 5 bowel preps (4 colonoscopies and another procedure). They are not fun, but the worst part is drinking the prep medicine. I never used the Golytely, but I did use Phospho Soda for my first procedure. Rather than having to drink a nasty liquid there is a pill-form bowel prep medicine called Visicol. I used it the last four times and found it to be a much better alternative. Now, it's the only way I'll do it.

[MomOnBike]

In addition to GoLytely, there is also HalfLytely.

Also a new product called MoviPrep.

There is a special place in Hell for the people who dream up these names.

[CycleTherapy]

Another pill form for bowel prep is Osmo Prep. I've used it (3) times in the past four months. It's the only thing I will ever use.

Please everyone, commit to a colonoscopy screening.

[Aggie_Ama]

Haudlady that is FUNNY! Who comes up with those ridiculous names, they must think they are SO clever.

Please everyone, commit to a colonoscopy screening.

March is Colon-Rectal Cancer Awareness month. If you or someone you love is due for your screening, please make it a priority.

My father is currently in remission from colon cancer, he had part of his colon removed and 6 months of chemotherapy last year. I will have to have a colonoscopy at 40 instead of 50 due to my family history, but I have have seen the alternative so I won't complain. My Pawpaw had colon cancer and had a colstemy (sp?) bag for a month. I will take a day of awful prep over that.

My Step-MIL said she would never have another colonoscopy, it "wasn't worth it". Broke my heart to hear anyone think like that.

[emily_in_nc]

Please everyone, commit to a colonoscopy screening.

Seconded.

One of my husband's best friends was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer nearly five years ago. He's been doing pretty well (given the severity of the disease) up until the past several months. He's had surgery (permanent colostomy bag), multiple radiation treatments, and multiple rounds of chemo. Recently, they found that the cancer had spread to his lungs (it had previously spread to his liver), and now he has been given less than two months to live. His friends, including my DH, are all devastated. He lives across the country now, so that makes it harder, though we got to visit him last year, when he was doing much, much better.

The saddest part? He was having symptoms for months before he finally went for a colonoscopy. He had been laid off during the high-tech bubble (same time as my DH) and didn't dare go to the doctor before he had employer-provided health insurance again. He was on Cobra but knew that was going to run out soon. He had four children and a stay-at-home wife and didn't want to wrack up huge medical bills and burden his family or cause them to lose their home. That decision could have been the difference between life and death.

That something like this can happen to a college-educated computer professional with everything going for him who had the misfortune of getting sick at the wrong time points out some major inadequacies with the US health care system. It makes me furious just to think about this!

My DH and his friends have all learned from this, and DH got a screening colonoscopy when he turned 50 without even being dragged in by his ear. Thankfully, it was all clear. I'll be getting one when I turn 50 also (or earlier, should symptoms arise).

It's really important, folks.

Emily

[LBTC]

The prep I had was called pico-salax. Mix one packet with about 250 ml (I think) of water and drink. 7-9 hours later do it again. I did not have a choice about what to use - I don't even know if we can get all those happy sounding preparations here in Canada!

Drinking this stuff was not the worst part. Having only clear fluids for 2 days before drinking this stuff, and then no fluids after midnight (and, of course, the effects of the drink).....that was pretty hard.

I'll see the specialist on Wed next week to find out what they discovered where they looked, and what the biopsies showed.

In the meantime, I'll try to do more than just sleep whenever I'm off work.

Keep us posted, HL

Hugs & Butterflies,
~T~

[mimitabby]

The prep I had was called pico-salax. Mix one packet with about 250 ml (I think) of water and drink. 7-9 hours later do it again. I did not have a choice about what to use - I don't even know if we can get all those happy sounding preparations here in Canada!

Drinking this stuff was not the worst part. Having only clear fluids for 2 days before drinking this stuff, and then no fluids after midnight (and, of course, the effects of the drink).....that was pretty hard.

I'll see the specialist on Wed next week to find out what they discovered where they looked, and what the biopsies showed.

In the meantime, I'll try to do more than just sleep whenever I'm off work.

Keep us posted, HL

Hugs & Butterflies,
~T~

TWO DAYS of fasting??!?!?! wow, I wonder why they made you do that.
You only have to fast one day here.

[LBTC]

TWO DAYS of fasting??!?!?!

Yup, that's what knocked me on my @$$ the most, so to speak.

Not sure if the exam for Crohn's is perhaps more thorough than a routine cancer screen....or if the product I had to use to do the clean out is not adequate and the extra fasting helps give them a cleaner work area.

Either way, I will ask about the other products if/when I have to do the next scope.

H&B
~T~

[Starfish]

Thirded.

A friend here in town (who can still kick my @ss on the bike while on chemo) is fighting this cancer, too. The docs said if they had found it with a scope even a couple months earlier, they could have just snipped it out.

I've had 4 bowel preps for several reasons, and they are no fun, but better than the alternative. Great to hear about the pill form of the *make you go* stuff. Never heard of that before!