# Ask the Man Who Had a Colonoscopy **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729 "2007-04-12T00:10:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/21 "2007-04-12T15:44:12Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] **Quiddity** - I’m terribly modest. Considering that there’s a link between breast cancer and colon cancer and my mother, aunt and a sister have had breast cancer and two of my mother’s brothers have had colon cancer, it was very hard for me to go in for a mammogram. Colonoscopy is 100 times worse. It’s so _vulnerable_ a position to have to be in, so humiliating. I just can’t bring my self to go there. StG [/QUOTE] Another vote for getting it done ASAP. You have a family history like mine. The choice is to go in and have the exam and if they find a problem early, it can generally be fixed. If you don’t have an exam and discover the cancer when you begin seeing blood and clumps of body parts in your crap, it’s too late and you face a truly horrible death by wasting away. It’s your choice but a couple of hours of embarrassment can save your life. This is a type of cancer that doesn’t need to happen!!! ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/22 "2007-04-12T15:57:21Z")
Ah, a subject I actually know something about… As many of you know, I have ulcerative colitis, which means pretty regular colonoscopies, to make sure it’s not turning cancerous. In 10 years, I’ve had 5 of them…and I’m due for another one in June. I actually look _forward_ to mine…I know, I’m a sick puppy. I hate, hate, hate the prep the day before, though. The first time I did it, I had to drink a gallon of colyte in 8 hours (polypropylene glycol). Anything that chemically close to antifreeze is NOT supposed to be ingested…I’m sorry, but that’s how I feel. Unfortunately, I had a surgeon doing the scope at the time, and heaven forbid he should have to deal with anything but a pristine colon… Subsequent purges have been done with lots of fluids, a dose of Fleet phospho-soda (hey, is there a decent way to get that stuff down? I HATE that stuff…maybe an all-liquid diet the day before, with lots of laxative would be an alternative…) and some Dulco-lax pills. It’s allllllll worth it, though, for the Demerol-Versed cocktail they give me…I sleep all day afterward, and sometimes part of the next. If I haven’t been sleeping well up until then, it’s the sure-fire cure… Anyway - as stated by everyone else…the prep is worse than the procedure…once they hit me with that stuff and I count back from 10 to 7 (I never get to 6), I could care less… ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/23 "2007-04-12T16:02:10Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] One polyp removed, Any questions? [/QUOTE] Were you symptomatic or was this a routine procedure? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/24 "2007-04-12T16:33:25Z")
I’ve promised my wife I’d have one when I turn 50, and while that’s still nearly a year off, I’m dreading the night before. Should I just have my computer, my guitar, a few books, and some food in my bathroom and plan to spend the whole night on the throne? ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/25 "2007-04-12T16:42:39Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] Should I just have my computer, my guitar, a few books, and some food in my bathroom and plan to spend the whole night on the throne? [/QUOTE] Start earlier the day before, and you should be pretty “cleaned out” by the time evening comes. You will be up and down a few times in the night, but it shouldn’t be too bad. Also, NO MATTER WHAT, do NOT let them talk you into “go lytely” or any other colyte-type procedure for your cleanse. Insist – nay, make a giant scene in the doc’s office – so you can get the phospho-soda option. It’s still way nasty, but trust me, it beats colyte any day by a factor of at least 10. One other note: make sure it’s a gastroenterologist that’s doing your scope - NOT a surgeon. The gut-doc will not mind having to use a little air and water during the scope to flush things out a bit here and there if he has to. Surgeons? Not so much… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/26 "2007-04-12T16:46:15Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] I’ve promised my wife I’d have one when I turn 50, and while that’s still nearly a year off, I’m dreading the night before. Should I just have my computer, my guitar, a few books, and some food in my bathroom and plan to spend the whole night on the throne? [/QUOTE] It doesn’t take that long, not for me anyhow. I’m not sure I’d want either a computer or a guitar in there. Plenty of books, yes. And another vote for the pre-op being much worse than the procedure. I mind the drinking more than the emptying out myself. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/27 "2007-04-12T16:49:38Z")
[QUOTE=DirkGntly] Start earlier the day before, and you should be pretty “cleaned out” by the time evening comes. You will be up and down a few times in the night, but it shouldn’t be too bad. Also, NO MATTER WHAT, do NOT let them talk you into “go lytely” or any other colyte-type procedure for your cleanse. Insist – nay, make a giant scene in the doc’s office – so you can get the phospho-soda option. It’s still way nasty, but trust me, it beats colyte any day by a factor of at least 10. One other note: make sure it’s a gastroenterologist that’s doing your scope - NOT a surgeon. The gut-doc will not mind having to use a little air and water during the scope to flush things out a bit here and there if he has to. Surgeons? Not so much… [/QUOTE] If the “go lytely” is the stuff that cleans out both your stomach AND your colon, then yes…I have to agree. That stuff is brutal. The Phospho-soda is hideous, but I choked it down with apple juice and it wasn’t too bad that way. You just have to chug it and be done with it. And if you eat light the day before, you’re done with the worst of it in just an hour or so. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/28 "2007-04-12T16:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] My doctor has been wanting me to have one done, because I have two uncles with colon cancer. But so far those depths remain unplumbed. And hopefully will for many, many years to come. [/QUOTE] Really, the only unpleasant part is that they pump you up with air to the point where you feel bloated and you then become a giant whoopie cushion. Seriously, you could time your afterfart with a sun dial. The rest though is piece of cake. You’re out, the scope diameter is small, you remember nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/29 "2007-04-12T16:53:36Z")
I had to do the gallon of colyte for mine. Pineapple flavoured. And I **despise** pineapple. Plus, the _texture_ of the stuff… \ It’s not quite as light as water, but not quite as heavy as say, olive oil. But somewhere in between. I can’t quite think of a fluid that’s comparable. Anyone? But the drugs during the procedure? Pure heaven. Almost makes me look forward to getting my next one done. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/30 "2007-04-12T19:52:18Z")
Mine was 4 years ago, and 'twas no big deal. I was dreading the gallon of nastiness, but my doc had me get this Fleet lemon-ginger stuff that got mixed into a glass of water 2 or 3 times over the course of a day. I just held my nose and gulped it down, followed by a chug of Sprite to cleanse my palate. All I was allowed to “eat” was non-red/orange/purple jello. ugh. The actual procedure was done in what the doctor called twilight sleep - I was alert enough to respond to their instructions but out enough that I honestly don’t recall a thing. Didn’t get any pictures, either. I expect I’m due for one next year, although the only colon cancer in the family was my maternal grandfather - dunno if that affects my risk. _\_ ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/31 "2007-04-12T19:56:28Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] It’s so _vulnerable_ a position to have to be in, so humiliating. I just can’t bring my self to go there. StG [/QUOTE] If you really have a problem with the procedure, then get a [virtual colonoscopy](http://www.virtualcolonoscopy.net/). If they find anything, they might have to go in anyway, but you might escape the cable up yer butt. However, as someone who has had 4, the prep can be horrible (and you have to do the same thing with a virtual one) but the procedure itself (and I am talking about a real colonosopy here) is just a nap and a cookie. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/32 "2007-04-12T21:34:22Z")
The first couple I had done were without any meds during the procedure, one with a rigid sigmoidoscope and one with a flexible scope. Those were uncomfortable. That was over 30 years ago, though. I had one done just 7 years ago, and was sedated, and there was nothing unpleasant about the procedure at all. Just a pleasant dreamy feeling afterwards, the nicest sort of contentment. The prep was, I guess, a bit worse than getting carried away with the chocolates - but not much worse. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/33 "2007-04-12T22:06:38Z")
I’ve had lots. Usually on liquid valium but one with no meds and a movie of up my butt Bob with the snippy scissors and some adrenalin shots. Interesting. But not great. However, my real reason for posting is to admit that for the past 6 years I thought **kunilou** was female. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/34 "2007-04-12T22:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] I put it off for too long, and finally sucked it up and had it done. One polyp removed, which didn’t seem to concern my doctor too much. It wasn’t bad at all. Any questions? [/QUOTE] Did you watch any of it on the wall monitor like I did? I woke up during the last foot or so of retrieval and saw it. I only got pictures of the 2 precancerous polyps. I wrote the first one (of 3) up chapter and verse(d) herein a couple of years ago but can’t find it now. Check your stools everyone, every time.. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/35 "2007-04-12T22:24:54Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] **Quiddity** - I’m terribly modest. Considering that there’s a link between breast cancer and colon cancer and my mother, aunt and a sister have had breast cancer and two of my mother’s brothers have had colon cancer, it was very hard for me to go in for a mammogram. Colonoscopy is 100 times worse. It’s so _vulnerable_ a position to have to be in, so humiliating. I just can’t bring my self to go there. [/QUOTE] Please, PLEASE, don’t allow yourself to literally die of embarassment. The entire process of the colonoscopy is set up to preserve the patient’s dignity. I mean, I \*wanted \*to joke about it, because that’s how I deal, and my wisecracks made the staff uncomfortable. 😃 I feel much more exposed and vulnerable when I have my yearly mammograms, or heck, when I have my yearly pelvic exam and pap smear, than I did during the colonoscopy. It felt more like I was going for a minor surgical procedure. You’re sedated by the time you’re asked to roll on your side for the insertion of the scope, and you’re draped in blankies and such. You don’t have to raise your butt and spread your cheeks or anything like that. 🙂 Your doctor might even give you some tranquilizers to take before you even go to the facility to calm your nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/36 "2007-04-13T00:35:35Z")
[QUOTE=ethelbert] but the procedure itself (and I am talking about a real colonosopy here) is just a nap and a cookie. [/QUOTE] I didn’t get a cookie. (Something tells me this isn’t a real cookie however?) Then again, I did have a large Meatlovers Deep Dish Pizza after my first one. Then again, that probably was not the best thing to have after the Colonoscopy… Then again, is a Meatlovers pizza really the best thing to have ever? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/37 "2007-04-13T01:32:37Z")
Huh. No colonoscopy yet, but I went for my first mammogram last year- piece of cake. My friend Paul has colonoscopies every year, because he is a thyroid cancer survivor. He had his first around age 31, and the doc said he had the polyps of a 50 year old… :eek: So they’re watching his ass pretty closely. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/38 "2007-04-13T02:22:21Z")
Is there a link with thyroid cancer? My breast cancer sister just had her cancerous thyroid removed and my 23 year old nephew had thyroid cancer, to. My doctor told me yesterday that she wants to refer me to an endocrinologist, but she thinks the right side of my thyroid needs to be biopsied and removed. I tried to get her to move back tomorrow’s gallbladder removal and just have them double-team the surgery adn take out both so I wouldn’t have to go through all this again. She said the gallbladder needs to come out ASAP, so they couldn’t do that. StG ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/39 "2007-04-13T02:27:33Z")
My mother had one last year and keeps calling the procedure a, “colonoscofy,” [sic]. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729/40 "2007-04-13T02:33:26Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] How much of it do you actually remember? My mother had one few months ago and she said she was so doped up on versed she doesn’t remember it all. [/QUOTE] To be honest, I remember “Okay, you’re going to get drowsy now,” followed by my wife asking me if I was awake. By the clock, I was out for an hour. > [@](#): > > I’m terribly modest. Considering that there’s a link between breast cancer and colon cancer and my mother, aunt and a sister have had breast cancer and two of my mother’s brothers have had colon cancer, it was very hard for me to go in for a mammogram. Colonoscopy is 100 times worse. It’s so vulnerable a position to have to be in, so humiliating. I just can’t bring my self to go there. I can name several medical procedures I’ve had that I found considerably more humiliating, but I don’t think that’s the kind of reassurance you’re looking for. Honestly, though, all I can say is that everyone behaved quite professionally and worked to minimize any discomfort (physical or emotional) that I might have had. Tell your doctor you know you should have it done, but. . . A good doctor will help you through it. > [@](#): > > I had to do the gallon of colyte for mine. Pineapple flavoured. And I despise pineapple. Plus, the texture of the stuff… \ It’s not quite as light as water, but not quite as heavy as say, olive oil. But somewhere in between. I can’t quite think of a fluid that’s comparable. Anyone? I went with the cherry flavor. I thought it was like Jello that hasn’t set yet, or thin pancake syrup. Anyone else? > [@](#): > > Were you symptomatic or was this a routine procedure? I didn’t have any symptoms. What I had was a mother who died from colon cancer and a sister who had the procedure a few months ago and who (quite rightly) badgered me into doing what I’ve known I should do for several years. > [@](#): > > However, my real reason for posting is to admit that for the past 6 years I thought kunilou was female. Sorry about that. Considering that I’m normally a pretty anonymous poster, I’m flattered to see that someone actually is aware I’ve been around for awhile. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-man-who-had-a-colonoscopy/399729.md?page=3)