I turn 50 this summer and had my annual physical in January. They wanted to do a colonoscopy and I said no thank you so they gave me a kit to mail in some samples. I wasn’t going to do that either. It’s kind of gross so I won’t discuss it but I mailed them in. This is at the VA.
Well TriWest calls me today on behalf of the VA to schedule me with an outside doctor. A gastro something. I didn’t quite catch what it was. I asked her what this was for and they just said it’s due to the results of my test. They said they would call back with appointment confirmation next week.
I hope I don’t have colon cancer or something like that. I am probably going to end up with a hose up my rear after all.
Right before my grandmother died she told me not to get old. She died at 93.
Maybe it’s nothing. I had planned on moving soon. We will see when this appointment is.
I sent my healthcare team a message today online asking what this was about and if I should be concerned but so far they haven’t answered me.
They probably want you to see a gastroenterologist. I wouldn’t worry unless they tell you it’s something bad. The test could have been inconclusive and they just need to be sure.
Colonoscopys are a hassle to prepare for but they put you out for the procedure and they don’t hurt. If you’re the age where they recommend one it would be smart to get one.
Sometimes with these test they make you worry about nothing. Like when I had a mammogram they said I might have breast cancer. Turns out I didnt have it.
NO WAY will I be getting a colonoscopy when I get old enough. I wont even tell my dr. I have hemorrhoids in fear that they will wanna check my out back there.
IDK. Colon cancer kills a lot of people. Like I told atwave, the preparation for a colonoscopy is a hassle. They basically give you something to cleanse your colon which means they give you a liquid to cause diarrhea but not uncomfortable or chronic diarrhea that makes you feel sick. You do it at home. When you go to your appointment they have you lay on a table for half an hour then they wheel you in a room and, (this part is a little embarrassing) they expose your ass, but they knock you out with anesthesia. They do the procedure while your knocked out and the next thing you know is you wake up in another room and they’re finished. There’s no pain, you feel normal afterwards. The worst part is the preparation and it’s inconvenient but nothing horrible.
I’m a nurse who has worked on the general surgical ward, and had a lot of experience with people who had colon cancer. While it may be gross to send away stool samples and getting a colonoscopy may be embarrassing, believe me, it is a damn sight better than not doing those two things and the colon cancer isn’t picked up. Two things could happen then - you could require surgery to remove the affected part of the colon, and you may need a colostomy bag. The surgery will be painful and embarrassing as it isn’t uncommon for people to soil themselves after the surgery as their body hasn’t yet gotten used to the changes post surgery. It is 10 x more embarrassing being cleaned up by nurses than getting a colonoscopy. Then of course, there is the risk you don’t pick the cancer up in time, and that would just be so sad. Colon cancer is such a treatable cancer, and if picked up early, you have a high chance of recovery. So send in those samples, and take a deep breath and have that colonoscopy. It could be worse. I wish you all the best…i apologise if i sound preachy…i don’t mean time.
i have to go and have a colonoscopy in 2 weeks ive been bleeding as well as have diarhoe im a bit scared but i think oh well gotta have it done i feel a bit dirty like yuk but i also think well they look at bums all day so im gonna go n see what happens
, I cancelled the appointments