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colin rowe
Trad climber
scotland uk
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Mar 29, 2015 - 06:00am PT
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In Scotland everyone over 50 every two years is sent a faeces sample kit which is analysed for blood and cancer of the colon, courtesy of the Scottish National Health Service. The NHS is costly but worth every penny for us ageing climbers.
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Roger Brown
climber
Oceano, California
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Mar 29, 2015 - 07:05am PT
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I just got my third one done. Good for another ten years. My doctor sets up a monitor so I can watch what is going on in there. Modern science is amazing!
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Mar 29, 2015 - 07:57am PT
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Other options include pooping in a box and getting it to a lab. Or the getting your own scraping and mailing it to the lab in a special envelope. Not sure why most physicians don't let the appropriate patients know about this. It is way cheaper, way less invasive and way faster. This is appropriate for someone without a family history however.
Maybe a physician can offer some info?
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Roger Brown
climber
Oceano, California
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Mar 29, 2015 - 02:33pm PT
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I stay away from Doctors unless there is a real need. I get at least two full blood tests a year and I pretty much know what to look for.(I get copies of everything) My regular Doctor likes that. She say's she has 1200 patients but I only have one. I know what my PSA-TSH3-LDL-A1C-TRIG are. Those I watch. For me, keeping A1C and LDL under control is a daily battle. Hardest thing I have ever done. How are your numbers?
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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Mar 29, 2015 - 04:56pm PT
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reading this as i sit on the porcelain throne. Whiling away the time. I go in for the tubing 6 a.am tomorrow. I'm getting doped up!
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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Mar 30, 2015 - 01:11pm PT
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got back a few hours ago. all clear. propofol, the new anesthetic, is f*#king awesome. who knows what they really did?
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Mar 30, 2015 - 01:18pm PT
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Gulping down the gallon of gack isn't really that bad considering the alternatives...
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skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
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Nov 25, 2015 - 01:39pm PT
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Just remember to get one who can steer that thing. My driver was taking the corners like she was driving a bumper car at Disneyland!
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Nov 25, 2015 - 01:44pm PT
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Leave it to the couch to connect colonoscopies to debt holes.
Let's face it, this procedure is disruptive and unpleasant. But, while there are numerous tests which can help monitor your colon health, there's nothing quite as effective as simply getting in there and having a look around - particularly with respect to polyps. Are there risks? Sure, but like anything else it's a trade off between being informed and ignorant bliss.
As far as it being a bloated scam, I would disagree, my scope doc has a private clinic and the procedure is performed by him a nurse and a nurse anesthetist - in and out with great efficiency as it were (not that I'd know for sure because no way I'm conscious for that ride).
Get one or don't, but I consider it worth the hassle and expense.
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Lorenzo
Trad climber
Portland Oregon
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Nov 25, 2015 - 02:43pm PT
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Just before they put me under last time, the doc asked if I had any questions.
" no, doc, I'm pretty sure I know what's going to happen here. Do I get ice cream after?"
"Only if I get your tonsils"
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Nov 25, 2015 - 02:44pm PT
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LOL!!!
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Bushman
Social climber
Elk Grove, California
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Nov 25, 2015 - 05:52pm PT
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I used to dread the the idea of having a colonoscopy and thought it would be extremely humiliating. Then at age forty five with bleeding hemorrhoids the doctor suggested I have my first colonoscopy. Aside from a few hemorrhoids things appeared all clear down there. At age fifty I had another and they removed two non malignant polyps during the procedure and at fifty five they removed three more. I never felt any discomfort, only a huge relief. I'm up for another in two years so it's routine for me now.
I have a high fiber, minimal red meat diet, and eat those big chalky probiotic horse pills just to be on the safe side and so far so good. I'm sure being diagnosed with colon cancer early on would still be no laughing matter but what but could be the alternative? Not finding out until it was too late.
I couldn't resist composing a little ditty as a kind of advertisement to help get folks here on the pro colonoscopy band wagon...or not.
Get a Colonoscopy
It's colonoscopy time again
So let the doctor be your friend
On life or death it might depend
So let them stick it in your end
They'll check you out and that's for sure
Some flatulence you will endure
You find it early there's a cure
Before you grow a huge tumor
And afterwards when passing gas
You won't mind that they probed your ass
With peace of mind your shame will pass
So welcome to the elder class
They'll scope your rear it's nothing gay
And don't let cancer to ruin your day
What the hell just do it any way
Get a colonoscopy today
-bushman
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Shetville , North of Los Angeles
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Nov 25, 2015 - 06:04pm PT
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It looks like Werner is doing on-line colonoscopy's at supertopo.com...? Does Crankster have any polyups left..?
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Winemaker
Sport climber
Yakima, WA
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Nov 25, 2015 - 08:20pm PT
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Did it this year. The worst part was drinking that gallon of god damn flushing sh#t. The procedure was easy compared to the day before. Just do it. It's no big deal and could save your ass. I'll see the doc again in five years.
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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Mar 25, 2017 - 08:27pm PT
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Except for the fasting, this was totally no big deal. Even the juice - get it real cold and swig it on down! After the toilet firehose an hour later, I slept six hours solid. As everyone says, the procedure itself was the easiest part.
I put it off - now I have the box checked with nothing found! Ten years till next time.
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jstan
climber
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Mar 25, 2017 - 08:45pm PT
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My mother died of colon cancer. She told me how to double my money by folding it over and putting it back in my wallet before buying anything. So she did not have regular colon tests. At the end she was in so much pain she stopped taking any water or food. Was dead in two weeks.
I have seen true courage.
I'll never get over that experience.
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rmuir
Social climber
From the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
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Mar 25, 2017 - 09:07pm PT
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I've had a few recently, nothing found. Like Ricky, I strongly recommend them.
A hard-riding cycling buddy and I were talking as we climbed into the hills… He's seventy-two. …said that with Medicare, they only approve a colonoscopy every ten years. Seriously? Hmmm.
So in December, I thought it prudent to get another scoping before I turn sixty-five. Why not? After all, it's been about five years. Called them, and the doc said that the request has been handed-off to the appropriate group for evaluation and scheduling.
Months roll by… I still hadn't heard from Kaiser about this optional colonoscopy's schedule, so I wrote again to my doctor. They came back with a report that Kaiser's been running three months behind and I might hear from them in April! Maybe…
Last week, I'm officially on Medicare handled through Kaiser. grrrr.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Mar 26, 2017 - 10:23am PT
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Randisi, maybe you have not seen this most recent study, published in the journal Science:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cancer-random-genetic-dna-mutations-two-thirds-of-cases/
You are right in that if you don't have a family history, your odds are lower.
But if you have no family history and no symptoms, your health care provider will still recommend a colonoscopy when you are 50, because the statistics (risk vs reward) favor your outcome if you get the procedure. Many, many people with no family history, no symptoms and a good diet have precancerous polyps found and safely removed. Ok, maybe their diet could be better so finding the polyps may spur them to adjust their diet.
If you are completely clean with no symptoms, and again with no family history, you will be asked to come for a repeat of the procedure every ten years.
RMuir, I am unaware that there are any statistics to justify why you would have an "extra" procedure outside the 10 year guidelines if you have no symptoms, no family history, and have had a clean result at your last procedure. Have you found some?
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Contractor
Boulder climber
CA
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Mar 26, 2017 - 11:42am PT
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Winemaker-The worst part was drinking that gallon of god damn flushing sh#t. The procedure was easy compared to the day before. Just do it. It's no big deal and could save your ass.
Glad I had it done...Sort of. Like Winemaker, I found the fluid/diarrhea phase to be very rough on my anus as this image documents.
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