dread, Dread, DREAD

[sandra]

I'm on the clear liquids now. I don't start drinking the yummy stuff until 6 p.m. I have my tv table set up in the bathroom. I expect y'all to entertain me. Until 6 p.m. I'm just going to stay busy. I've heard that you don't get that hungry because you are so focused and then once all the fun starts, there's no time to think about eating.

[Bad JuJu]

When I had my first (and so far, only) colonoscopy, they gave me a full-color photo of the inside of my colon. Pretty interesting, depending on your perspective . Not exactly like a an ultrasound of a fetus, that you 'd display on the fridge, but sort of like a little prize for going through it all (or having it all go through you??? )

[tygab]

FWIW, I am glad you're doing this. My sister's best friend from childhood (and still to this day, as they both settled in LA as adults) was diagnosed with colon cancer several months ago after months of other diagnosed illness, with a very difficult prognosis. It was not "expected" in her family.

She's 38.



Take care of yourself...
-T

[Tuckervill]

I know someone else who had colon cancer at a very young age--32. Her youngest child was a baby. But she's very healthy now.

My grandmother died of colon cancer and my FIL is a survivor of it x 13 years now. Good that it's caught early.

Re mammograms--no big deal. Dreading it was worse than the actual squeeze.

Karen

[Pax]

Mammograms are torture for me, I've had a breast reduction so it smashes a bunch of scar tissue.

I think if guys had to have them they'd get a week off with pay and a government sponsored spa treatment to recover from the trauma.

[Tuckervill]

I think you're prolly right about that, Queen!

Karen

[snapdragen]

Actually, men can get breast cancer too. There was a guy at the mammography center when I was there. The tech said it's actually more difficult to give men mammograms. I felt so sorry for the guy, he looked so scared.

[Tuckervill]

Oh, I was thinking if they had to get the equivalently pendulous body part put in a vice....

Yes, I know men get breast cancer. It's horrible no matter who gets it.

Karen

[Tokie]

Hi Sandra! I know this is too late for you, but for anyone who is reading I have some more helpful tips for the prep. My favorite is to have a wedge of a lime to bite into after you drink the prep. It helps take the shudder out of the wierd tasting stuff! I also recommend having a tube of vaseline, and 1% over the counter hydrocortisone cream.When the prep really starts to work, you can coat you tender hind end with the vaseline or hydrocortisone cream before the liquidy stool comes out. Helps alot with the stinging which usually develops. I had to have a bunch of bowel preps last year for kidney xrays, and honestly, the worst part for me (as an athlete who eats alot) is the day of clear liquids! I get sooooo hungry and tired of sweet liquids. For variety, I have been known to throw in some non-alcoholic beer, and my friend swears by vitamin water. Colonoscopys save lives, and truly, the prep is the hard part, the colonoscopy is pretty easy! I hope yours is easy too! Tokie

[sandra]

All I can say is that if you must have one, beg your doctor for the EZ Prep. It does not taste that bad. Sort of like lemon flavored Alka Seltzer. It's only 12 oz you have to drink. I drank it with a straw; I heard that was easier.

I wish I had known about the vaseline earlier. OUCH. And baby wipes are a MUST.

[bike4ever]

sandra - So are you reading a book, watching a movie, or surfing the internet? Don't worry - this too shall pass!

[sandra]

Surfing the internet and reading the Sunday newspaper. I will be so happy when this is over. Everyone should do it during Christmas! What a way to celebrate!

[KnottedYet]

Hang in there, kiddo!

[Starfish]

Don't worry - this too shall pass!

Yes, "this" and everything else!!

[Duck on Wheels]

A lady doctor and med professor I know wrote a med journal "article" once that was a spoof. Actually got it published. It was a recommendation that all men have regular ballograms. All the text was quoted directly from mammogram info given to women or published in med journals, just with mammo changed to ballo and she to he throughout. Stuff like the frequency of cancers (similar), age they strike and are most deadly (similar), and then the cautions about pain, about possible iatrogenic damage from contusions and x-ray exposure, about the occasional accident where the plates smash too hard together and get stuck. Even as a woman reading that piece I really had to cringe. I know it's still remembered well in feminist circles. Wonder what impression it made on medical men.