Counseling others on bowel preps, somewhat comical read.....

That is funny- that little stinker! I have yet to convince my 52 year old husband that he MUST go this year. Also he needs his Stress test the doctor has been prescribing him for years. His newest line of defense is that our medical insurance lowered it's benefits and we will have to pick up a significant portion of the cost.  I told him that's no excuse to neglect his health....

I fully expected my mom to call at any minute today to say she cancelled her appt. But so far, no phone call. And since she's under going the prep I won't bother her. But my daughters and I have chuckled a bit today over it all. My youngest - 20 - said - Mom, you know that Grandma had breakfast don't you? I thought - wow, how you'd get so smart. She said - you know that Grandma just played dumb! Out of the mouths of babes....

Anyway, wish me luck tomorrow. My mom is so afraid of this procedure even though I keep telling her she'll be fine, they'll sedate her.

Now I wish I had lined up one or both my brothers to help out. My mom is 85 but very sharp (mentally, except for her eating today, lol).

Hi Shawn - good news, no polyps or cancer detected. Her chronic diverticulitis (pockets) showed up so she still needs to avoid the foods that disagree with her. But they found red, inflamed areas in the middle of the rectum. My mom said she has trouble holding urine and sometimes bm's, so everything seems lower to her. The GI doctor confirmed she has mild rectal prolapse. The irritated part seems to be aggravated by her half dozen bm's per day too. Again, not cancer although he did biopsies in this area to be certain but for now he prescribed a suppository to be used at bedtime, it will help heal the tissue, has her on Bene-fiber, and she's to drink more water. Finally, he also recommended a specialist, a colon surgeon (ironically my doctor) to be certain there isn't anything else she can do (other than surgery, she is 85). My doctor is good at offering suggestions when you know you are avoiding surgery (my opinion too). My mom does not want surgery at her age and I can hardly blame her. The GI doc shook his head too, whispering, she doesn't need surgery. My mom heard the S word and said - no surgery! lol Well, that's the update.

Thanks for asking!

She does manage the diver. with her diet, this I know. But in assisting her yesterday I realized, that I cannot make her take care of her health the way that I would. She is not senile, up on current events, 100% alert but she's rather careless with medical details (dates for previous surgeries, etc.). I guess I've just confronted my health and current IBS symptoms head on and dealt with it. Asking questions, gleaning info from med. journals, online sources, forums such as this one. My mom would rather put her head in the sand. And even though I asked her to make this colonoscopy all summer long (I work part time for a school district), she made the appt. the week before I report back to work. Now she needs another appt.! I know she'll see this colon specialist/surgeon, listen half heartedly to the advice given, imply she'll cooperate but in reality, I don't think she will.

Of course these observations with my mom's approach to her health are indicative of any age. People my age (mid 50s), put off tests and pretend things are normal too.

I don't know how health professionals do it when they assist the elderly. It takes a special person to take care of them, this I know. I can be patient up until a point and then I need a break. My gosh, at one point my mom did announce to all in the room - I am being a big baby about all of this aren't I? We all looked at each other and wanted to nod our heads yes but no one did. We all just smiled. And at the time I thought, Lord don't let me need a bathroom today (She wanted me glued to her side for almost 9 hour yesterday!). I can't get there!

Well, it's over with now. And onto seeing the specialist. I think my mom will go to her once or twice and that will be it.

You just cannot encourage others to approach their health needs and care, the way you do (but it sure would be nice if you could!).