Update on DH's Health

[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~

[Pika]

Thanks for all the info ladies:
I have an apt with the specialist for a colonoscopy next month. -Actually I think this first apt is just to meet the specialist- then he gives me an apt for the colonoscopy.
I am in Canada too- I know we likely don't much choice in what prep we take but then again it is all covered(gotta love universal healthcare) so I am not going to complain.- otoh- can't hurt to ask about the pill form- I am already having nightmares about the gagging and choking that is going to happen as I try to get down the prep!!

[kelownagirl]

Pika - where are you from? I see you've done the Golden Triangle. I would love to do that - maybe next summer...

[Duck on Wheels]

March 26? You've had a loooong wait for this. I'm glad it's finally scheduled. The prep is not exactly fun. Here too there's a day on clear liquids then day 2 you add in the saltwater-and-laxative treatment, and then on day 3 when you're totally drained and dehydrated you eat and drink nothing until after the exam (which is not too bad if you're first on the morning schedule, but if you're last in the afternoon you're pretty much wasted). But that's all about visibility in there, so not much you can do about it. The exam itself is not so bad, given that they sedate you pretty well. And after it's over then at least they know what's going on. For pretty much anything they find there are now effective treatments, even for colon cancer if it's caught before it spreads. Survival rates are up around 80% last I heard (and that was years ago).

Fingers crossed for you guys. Hopefully all will be well once the end's well.

[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!