Of equal importance to the colonoscopies is getting a PSA test. I was getting a PSA with my annual (whenever I got around to it) physical. In 2003 my doctor noticed a small change in my PSA level and sent me to a Urologist. Had a biopsy taken and I had prostate cancer - at an early stage. I went the removal road. I have my PSA checked every 6 months. My readings have been 0.000 for the past 6 years. Early detection saved my ass -"Don't wait!!!"

Ted,
How right you are.. The PSA will give the Doc's a good indication of what is going on with you... I have my bloodwork done every 6 months here at the VA... They give me, and all the other veterans here EXCELLENT care.

I have lost some friends due to prostrate cancer and don't want to loose any more.. I have also had quite a few have their prostate removed and beaten this one... Stay HEALTHY...

Wray...

I just had one in May. As I was married to a RN for 22 years, I always asked what they were going to give me to put me out. They said they were in their 2nd week of testing the powerful anesthetic and sedative drug propofol, also known by the brand name Diprivan. This is the same one that supposedly put Mr. M. Jackson out. They had a CRNA administer it to me; not by the GI doc. It was very quick and I woke up without any kind of after effects. I understand the FDA is now investigating the safety of it. It worked for me, but YMMV.

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:
Ted,
How right you are.. The PSA will give the Doc's a good indication of what is going on with you... I have my bloodwork done every 6 months here at the VA... They give me, and all the other veterans here EXCELLENT care.

I have lost some friends due to prostrate cancer and don't want to loose any more.. I have also had quite a few have their prostate removed and beaten this one... Stay HEALTHY...

Wray...

Remember Andy Sipowicz of NYPD Blue? He got into the office after having his prostate or as he pronounced it, "prostrate" checked and could hardly sit down. Then he looks over at the gay male secretary and says to Simone..."and to think some guys find enjoyment in that...."



Don

Wray,

My new insurance company says a PSA every 5 years. I went berserk. I asked the obviously clueless claims person when 5 years became the acceptable interval for a 59 year old man. Of course, she had no freakin' idea.

Something you might want to think about..I got a note from the Doctor after my colonoscopy to confirm he did not find my head up my arse. Now I can prove to my wife she's wrong when she says that where my heads at!

I think the prep takes care of most obstructions in your colon such as: fecal matter, your head, fids, feet, boots, duct-taped gerbils, whale sperm, tongues, brown noses, condoms, ****** bags, vibrators, CFL/incondescent/fluorescent light bulbs, and marlin spikes. Please let me know if I left anything out.

Probably like many, I found this topic a little distasteful at first. However, it did remind me that I had "backburnered" my colonoscopy for the last several years. The stories published here were exactly in line with with what others had told me. The bottom line is the posting here reminded me of what I had been putting off and that it wouldn't be so bad.

I had the procedure done yesterday. I learned there are 3 types of polyps and that 1 of them WOULD cause cancer and the other 2 might cause it. They found and removed all 3 types from me. I've always been healthy and never had digestion problems, so I never dreamed they would find a problem. The doc was beaming when he came to see me afterwards. He said this one was the best colonoscopy he has given in a long time - because he really got to stop something really bad from happening. He wants to do it again in a couple of months to be absolutely sure he got it all. You can bet I'll be knocking down the doors to get in there. We can't be too sure.

Thanks to the original poster and all the others - you probably saved my life! To be honest, my mind is still trying to process that.

I joked about my last post, but here are the facts about why I had my 3rd one back in May: My dad, a Navy Chief of 27 years, died of colon cancer at age 62. He, like me, was about 5'7", 150lbs, and they found a 5 lb stage 4 tumor in his colon. They removed it in '93. Mom, my siblings and I took care of him for 2 years before he passed the bar. I was the only one in the room when he passed. As I had just screamed to the duty RN the phone rang. My nephew told me his father was in the hospital w/a ruptured diverticulia and had just come out of surgery with a colonoscopy. My sister came down with diverticulosis a few years later. I had my first one done @ 45. They found I was loaded with inflamed diverticula, causing narrowing of the bowel, leading to an obstruction. They took out 4 feet of my lower colon. I get one every 3 years now. 'nough said

I haven't been here for some time, but this thread caught my attention.

My mom procrastinated for nearly a year after her brother started pestering her to get a colonoscopy (their father died of colon cancer when they were young). When she finally did go in, there was cancer. She died three years later in 2004 at the age of 71. It broke my heart.

Before her surgery, her surgeon recommended I get a colonoscopy immediately, and every THREE years after that. They found a polyp during the first one. I'm going in for my third colonoscopy next month. Doesn't bother me in the least.

My mom said four words to me when she made me promise I'd get regular colonoscopies like the doctors recommended: "The alternative is grim."

And grim it is...

My original intent to begin this topic was to get people to understand the importance of getting a colonoscopy. Having my father die just two weeks short of 60 and a wonderful sister die a month after turning 57 of colon cancer makes me feel like the poster child for this test. If you're getting close to 50 and you haven't had one previously, get it done. It's important.