Having my first colonoscopy done!!

[thestrangebrew1]

Last night wasn’t too bad. Drank half the mix and let ‘er rip. Was done for the most part around 930ish, with some stragglers to about midnight. My sugar dropped to around 55 and that was actually the worst part. I tried to avoid it by drinking some apple juice before bed but I guess not eating at all was just too much. Anyway started the other half this morning around 630 and I’m going through it. Have to stop any consumption by 1030 so I’m going to have more broth and jello, then a few more cups of apple juice for my sugar. The nurse said high sugar is better than going too low while I’m out. May have to get some glucose tabs in case I drop again before the appt at 130.

 

[KLin]

I'll be 46 this year. Not looking forward to being advised I need my colon scoped out in the future.

 

[BoomerD]

I'll be 46 this year. Not looking forward to being advised I need my colon scoped out in the future.

So many snide comments…but I’ll be nice…for now.

 

[KLin]

So many snide comments…but I’ll be nice…for now.

 

[bbhaag]

Last night wasn’t too bad. Drank half the mix and let ‘er rip. Was done for the most part around 930ish, with some stragglers to about midnight. My sugar dropped to around 55 and that was actually the worst part. I tried to avoid it by drinking some apple juice before bed but I guess not eating at all was just too much. Anyway started the other half this morning around 630 and I’m going through it. Have to stop any consumption by 1030 so I’m going to have more broth and jello, then a few more cups of apple juice for my sugar. The nurse said high sugar is better than going too low while I’m out. May have to get some glucose tabs in case I drop again before the appt at 130.

I'm 45 and just had my first one a month or so ago. It's not pleasant but for me the prep drink was the worst part. I had a really hard time getting both bottles down.

Anyway, I hope everything went well for you. I see your appointment was at 1:30 so you by now you should be back home relaxing and enjoying that it is over.

 

[IBMJunkman]

Trying to be positive, but I'm miserable right now. Appt is tomorrow, so as of right now I can't eat anything but liquids and jello. My sugar levels are off the charts because I can't take my metformin, so on top of being hungry, I'm grumpy, sometimes dizzy, tired, and have a headache. And I get to start drinking the flushing medicine in a few hours to cleanse my system, so I guess I'll be on the throne pretty often tonight? I opted for the powder mix, that you have to drink about a gallon of, and I hear it's pretty nasty! Yay me!!!!

No red jello. Why no Metformin? I don’t remember that warning. And for me the Metformin did a better job than the special fluid.

 

[BoomerD]

No red jello. Why no Metformin? I don’t remember that warning. And for me the Metformin did a better job than the special fluid.

Nothing red or purple. I just went through my pre-rooter-rooting instructions. Nothing about discontinuing metformin or any other non-NSAID medications.

For anyone who is getting ready for this...mix Crystal Light into the prep liquid. (recommended by the GI doc) It REALLY does help make it more palatable.

 

[Muse]

Trying to be positive, but I'm miserable right now. Appt is tomorrow, so as of right now I can't eat anything but liquids and jello. My sugar levels are off the charts because I can't take my metformin, so on top of being hungry, I'm grumpy, sometimes dizzy, tired, and have a headache. And I get to start drinking the flushing medicine in a few hours to cleanse my system, so I guess I'll be on the throne pretty often tonight? I opted for the powder mix, that you have to drink about a gallon of, and I hear it's pretty nasty! Yay me!!!!

I've had a few, big big fun! Uh, try to get real clean. I had at least one where they made me have a do-over because they couldn't see well in there. That in spite of my thoroughly following the directions. An extra day or two of eating very low fiber food helps.

 

[Muse]

I've already had two and I'm only 56. The prep is a piece of cake compared to colon cancer. Seriously if you can't camp on the toilet for a few hours with a good Kindle book figure it out. My advice is to schedule it right away in the morning as early as you can, get knocked out if your insurance pays for it, and don't eat a bunch of crap afterwards on an empty stomach. The guy poking around in your blowhole has the hard part, all you have to do is lie there.

Yeah, the operation itself is a total piece of cake compared to the prep, but yeah, the prep sure beats getting colon cancer by 100,000 miles I figure. Myself, I was out during the procedure. They do an IV in getting you ready for the operation. I've had a number of those, no biggie.

 

[BoomerD]

Yeah, the operation itself is a total piece of cake compared to the prep, but yeah, the prep sure beats getting colon cancer by 100,000 miles I figure. Myself, I was out during the procedure. They do an IV in getting you ready for the operation. I've had a number of those, no biggie.

It's funny...I always thought when they tell you, "count backward from 100," I'd be one of those..."4, 3, 2, 1, OK, what's next?" kind of guys...Nope. I might have made 96 or 97...

 

[Chaotic42]

You going to live stream it on Twitch?

I'm 42 and asked my doctor about it when I turned 40. He told me not to be in a hurry. lol

 

[BoomerD]

You going to live stream it on Twitch?

I'm 42 and asked my doctor about it when I turned 40. He told me not to be in a hurry. lol

Unless you have a reason..like family history of colon cancer at an early age, no need...and your insurance might balk at payinf for it. (I think mine was ~$15000 all in)

 

[WelshBloke]

I think mine was ~$15000 all in

For a colonoscopy?! How?

 

[Chaotic42]

For a colonoscopy?! How?

They get paid by the mile

 

[bbhaag]

For a colonoscopy?! How?

For an early exam before the recommended age it might cost that much because the insurance companies in the US might not be willing to subsidize the cost? IDK just guessing. I'm 45 and my insurance covered most of it.

 

[bbhaag]

Unless you have a reason..like family history of colon cancer at an early age, no need...and your insurance might balk at payinf for it. (I think mine was ~$15000 all in)

You paid that much outright or did you have insurance to cover it?

 

[WelshBloke]

For an early exam before the recommended age it might cost that much because the insurance companies in the US might not be willing to subsidize the cost? IDK just guessing. I'm 45 and my insurance covered most of it.

Ive had a couple and I've helped out at a few and I absolutely can't work out how you'd spend $15000 doing one!

 

[WelshBloke]

So I looked up how much it costs to get a private self funded colonoscopy in the UK.

"You can also pay for colonoscopy yourself (known as self-funding). Typically, an initial consultation for a diagnostic colonoscopy will cost between £180 and £250. The procedure itself costs between £300 and £600. Colonoscopy costs in the UK vary depending on where you live."

 

[BoomerD]

You paid that much outright or did you have insurance to cover it?

Because it was diagnostic, insurance covered it all.



OK, I mis-estimated...just over $12,000 for the procedure. (and as always, what they bill and what they have negotiated with the insurance company are VASTLY different.


Then there was some lab work




Plus three visits to the doc...two before, one follow-up for the results...about $500 total...my cost $30.

 

[MrSquished]

May your poop chute be resolute.

 

[KLin]

Nice discounted rate there!

 

[William Gaatjes]

Is that stuff to flush the bowels, so nasty to drink in the USA ?
I remember vaguely i had these sachets but tasted like lemonade.

Anyway, we have a lot of people here in this thread who experienced the ultimate trekkie experience (With a Scottish accent) : "Captain, we got to dump the warpcore right now !" .

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Everything all good! The procedure itself didn't last long, but the dr. was backed up (pun intended haha) so my time was delayed about an hour or so. All in all from check-in (since it was my first time there) it took about 3 hours, then stopped for something to eat, then the hour drive home. Was groggy pretty much the whole time last night and my sugar was a roller coaster.

The last thing I watched before we left the house was a McDs commercial and man those golden fries looked sooo good. When I finished up I told the wife I wanted to eat some fries and just a small cheeseburger. Well my mouth was so freakin dry I still couldn't eat anything about 1.5 hrs afterwards. The food didn't taste like anything and when I chewed the texture just wasn't right. They had warned me not to eat anything too crazy and to take it easy but I had it in my head that fries would be sooo good lol. I got home and ate some chicken noodle soup and crackers and called it a night. I'll treat myself to steak this weekend.

I'd say hardest part for me was managing my sugars. I would drink some apple juice to keep it up, but man, sometimes it would just tank. They didn't want me taking my metformin in case my sugar crashed during the procedure. They preferred my sugar to be a bit high when going in just in case is all. I thought it was weird but I guess made sense. The concoction itself wasn't too bad. Tasted like shit for sure but I drank it cold and just powered through it. Good thing is it's done and over with and unless something changes, don't have to go back for another 10 years he said.

 

[IBMJunkman]

I had one memorable colonoscopy. I like early appointments. Could not find anyone to take me. Drove my self. They were surprised I did not want anesthesia. They still put in a line just in case. The only discomfort was when the doc had to make a turn and the nurse had to push on my abdomen to help the camera make the turn. Even watched on the monitor. They had me stick around until I farted. Afterwards I went to Five Guys for lunch.

 

[nakedfrog]

You going to live stream it on Twitch?

I'm 42 and asked my doctor about it when I turned 40. He told me not to be in a hurry. lol

Yeah, they only fairly recently changed the recommendation from age 50 to 45, I believe.