Need Advice - Bowel Disorders Message Board

4dad · 05-12-2005, 08:29 PM

Hi,

I'm facing the decision to go for a colonoscopy at age 37. My father has stage III colon cancer. I just had a CT scan with contrast which shows only constipation. My doctor wants me to go for the colonoscopy but I keep hearing because of my family history. I would like to wait until 40 and I'm going to ask him if he is only recommending this because of my history. In other words, is the constipation (which is causing me pain) a reason to do a colonoscopy?

Thanks for any advice. I'm also very scared of getting this test. Lastly, I worry about everything and I'm having hormonal issues (perimenopause). I'm wondering if the constipation is from that and nothing else. Also stress and seeing my father so ill.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

CDauthier · 05-12-2005, 08:56 PM

4dad,

With your painful constipation....but more so your family history, a colonoscopy is certainly a good idea.... I had my first (I'm 52) and almost cancelled it the night before when a commercial came on late night tv advising people to have them as colon cancer is the most preventable cancer there is....with proper testing early.

Don't be afraid of the colonoscopy itself....the drugs are great during and you sleep like a baby the night after the colonoscopy. The clean out is a drag...but I found the Fleet Phso Soda prep is very mild compared to the gallon of awful crud you drink with the other prep. With the fleet, you take 1.5 ounces in the am and then again in the pm....drink clear liquids that day....but you have to stay close to the restroom. Many people can't take that extra day off from work and thus start drinking the gallon of crud early in the evening prior to the colonoscopy.

Again, go ahead and have it done....why wait another 3 years dreading the proceedure...promise you'll find it's no big deal....I can't wait for my next one....6 years and counting....like I said, the drugs are terrific!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your Dad.

Cathy

quincy · 05-12-2005, 11:09 PM

OMG!!!! the drugs --WooHoo...and you get to see it all on the monitor...what's not to like??

The only thing with your thinking is that if at age 40 there's hyperplasia (active cell changes towards cancer) it's too late to say I should have

You have it in your family. You're in the top risk category now. I guess that's when we don't want to be at the top of the list, but you now have the info that should have you open (but dreading, which is normal) to the proposal

One thing....you need a baseline...a starting place. If you're all clear, then that's good

Don't wait. Besides, the clean-out is really the worst part. I've already had 6 because of ulcerative colitis. I was diagnosed over 16 years ago, and the risk of cancer increases the longer I have it -- I'm still at every 3 years for the c-scope. I don't like the the prep (will only use the CoLyte or GoLytely and ilk), but the rest is really no biggie

You'll have a choice of whether to be put out or what's called twilight sleep (slightly stoned I believe is a good way to put it). You have a good sleep afterward, empty yourself of most of the gas then go out for a nice breakfast. Spend the rest of the day in a most mellow mood

Why wait for 40 when you can do it now....

Keep us posted.
We promise -- we have no financial investment in the scopes or meds

quincy

chigs489 · 05-13-2005, 08:12 AM

If you are only having constipation, I really don't see a need for the scope. Have you tried upping your insoluble fiber? (Metamucil), drinking coffee (makes you go), etc.

Have you modified your diet to include lots of beans and veggies? veggie burgers?

If you have tried all these things and still have chronic consitpation, I would go ahead with the scope. I just had mine a couple days ago and it was a breeze. They didn't put me completely under, just gave me a mild sedative like valium, and it seemed like it only took 10 minutes. The clean out wasn't fun, but I felt great the next day -nice clean GI tract!

Im 35, but I had other issues. 2 fissures last year that required surgery, tenesmus, excessive gas, and occassional diarrhea. Fortunately, everything is clear -no IBD or cancer, polyps, etc. The scope was the best decision I ever made.

4dad · 05-13-2005, 09:21 AM

Thank you everyone! I received the report back and in regards to the colon, this is what it said:

Large amount of stool present iwthin the colon, consistent with the patient's history of constpiation.
Small amount of free fluid within the cul-de-sac which is most liley physiologic and simply an incidental finding (don't know what this means really)

Otherwise negative CT of the pelvis

I have a cyst on my right ovary and one on my left kidney of which the nurse never told me about. I was suprirsed to see it when I obtained the report.

Also, is mucous normal? I never used to that (as a younger adult) but have noticed it much more in the last 2 years or so.

Okay, based on this report would it be horrible to wait a bit and try more simple things first?

Thank you!!!