Hi everyone,

This is my first time to post on the colon board. I need to somehow get my husband to go and have a colonoscopy done this year! He had one about 5 - 7 yrs. ago. He most always has polyps cut out and has a great family history of colon and rectal cancer! Any tips or suggestions on how yall got someone to go and what made you go to your gastro?! I think he is just putting it off because he is afraid of what might be found. No bleeding or anything. Just the big family history of colon cancer.

Thanks for any help yall can give me. Wannabe

I was supposed to have a c'scopy 3 years after my first one. I put it off and in the fifth year I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I have a permanent colostomy and endured chemo and radiation. Tell hubby my story and ask if he wants into my club!

Hi ToBeFree

Do you remember how often he was advised to get his colonoscopies? I guess he may have forgotten or just needs a reminder. Is it possible to get your doctors practice to send him a reminder ...... sometimes reading it will spur people into action.

Perhaps another way is to sit down with him on the premise of discussing the family health plan. What I mean is that a lot of people have yealy checkups at the dentist and optician and so on. So in the course of deciding who makes the appointments and when, you could maybe add that you will make an appointment for him for his colonoscopy.

Jaydees idea is good...... maybe you could print out his story. There are loads of other posts regarding the importance of keeping up with colonoscopies on this board so you will not be short of material.
good luck
ktee

I say go straight for the guilt on something like this.
Tell him that you worry so much because you love him - that it is giving you stomach problems and you love him so much - if he would just put up with that stupid ol' test again for you you'll never say another word (cross your fingers behind your back on that last part).
Honest, I'm not kidding. Sometimes a man can't say he's afraid and he'll put it off - but give him the opportunity to make YOU feel better and...
:angel:

I think I know how your husband feels. I was absolutely frightened to have one. In fact, I did not have my first until after I had surgery and colon cancer was discovered. When I mentioned to the doctor how I was probably going about this backwards, he said you'd be surprised at how often colon cancer is discovered by accident and the person then has a colonoscopy. My wife is a good one now to get others to have a colonoscopy. I know if someone tried to persuade me, I would probably have resisted (which I did). I agree, that if you have a general conversation about health you can bring up the issue of a colonoscopy. Maybe if he realizes that most colonoscopies find nothing it would help, or if something is found, the sooner the better. Good luck, I hope hope you are successful.

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for all your advice and stories. I may print some of them and show him. I also have 2 daughters, who he needs to do it for. They have been advised to have their first colonoscopy when they are around 30 yr. old. So you see the great need. I may just have to threaten him. With what, I do not know!

Thanks again. Take care. Wannabe

Hi all,

BUMP!!!

Anyone else out there who has not replied but has an answer or story or anything, before I print and make my husband read this?

I appreciate all the help I/he can get!!!

Thanks, Wannabe

Hi everyone out there!

Please, please, tell your story for me. Either one about how you got cancer because you did not have colonoscopies. Or, how, someone got you to go or why you went in the first place. Any relative situations are good too... The more the better, for my persuading my husband - soon.

Thanks in advance. Wannabe

I can understand your concern and will certainly tell you how my husband was dx Stage 111c at the age of 65. His sister died of colon cancer at 53 so he should have been having colonoscopies but never did. His symptoms, such as they were, started only 6 months before diagnosis. He had just been put on medication for high blood pressure so when he started having two bowel movements a day instead of his customary one, we thought it was the BP meds...in fact, I was often on the board for High and Low Blood Pressure during that time. He kept changing meds but the problem remained. His also felt a bit nauseous. He did later tell me that his stools had become narrower. Funnily enough, his GP had examined him for enlarged prostate and did not feel the tumour, but should have been able to as it was quite low. He had a stool test for blood but that came back negative, giving us a false sense of relief, but about a week after that, his GP said he should have a colonoscopy, which he had about 10 days later. The rest is history. I will never forget the doctor bouncing into the room after the test saying "Some unpleasant news, I am afraid" Those words changed our life forever.

It is SO important to get tested early. It is SO easy to treat in its early stages and much more difficult once it has advanced....surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy...none of which are pleasant and can cause complications and side effects, not to mention the cost and the ever lasting fear of recurrence.

Good luck with persuading your husband.

#1-If my mother (early 50's) had a colonoscopy, they would have seen the cancer thru her bowel and she would have had more than 0-3 months to live. She died.
#2. Same with her mother 5 years before that. She died.
#3. Same with her brother who was much younger than she and only lived 1 month. He died.
#4. Because of the ^ above I had pre-cancerous polyps at age 37 and was to have a colonoscopy every year till I got a clear bill of health. I just let it pass for the past 3 years and again am having problems. I'm still alive and want to see my retirement and grandchildren someday. Colonoscopy appt. set for Sept. 2. I'm almost 49 now. If I never had that colonoscopy at 37 because of my mom and uncle and grandma, I don't know if I'd be here now.
#5. If you are afraid to get it done....the prep is the worst, (like a bad case of monster diahreaha), and it's done quick and you can take the day off and sleep away the afternoon.
Just do it! The prep is nothing compared to what you'll be feeling if this turns into full-blown colon cancer. Just do it!! :bouncing:

Like bill-collector's...don't put em off too long or they'll take your paycheck.

Welcome to my world. I had 4 colonscopys in a year ( you don't want to know) So finally he did it and he did the pills and he didn't get cleaned out enough so it didn't work!!! I had colon surgery 6 weeks ago so he has real fear now... Men can be so afraid.. It is all about taking care of themselves and my husband is not very good at it but I don't want to be a nag either. I may call his doctor on the sly and tell him to get on his case. Lizard50

Hi all you great people!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I really do appreciated the stories and answers! I will print in the morning (too late, sleeping people) and present the works to my husband and make sure he reads them all. I will add my $1 million worth to it also!

What does it take in time?! We have both had them b4, so we know, but... 1 initial gastro dr. visit (1/2 day), 1 blood lab visit (only a few hrs.), 1-2 days prep (and you can do things on the 1st day, if the dr. orders 2 days), 1 colonoscopy day, 1 after visit (hopefully only a few hrs.). And with any luck that could be all!

Thanks again everyone! I will let you know if he does indeed go, soon.

Wannabe