That was annoying - the colon report

Had my colonoscopy this morning. Seriously annoying procedure. Not too bad once they get IV in, but the prep - expect a lot of you know how yucky that can be. These days they're doing split prep at my hospital, half the prep the night before and half 4 hours before arriving for the procedure - supposed to clean things out better than doing it all the night before. I had a 7:30 AM arrival so I was up at 3:00 am finishing drinking the prep. I am now officially exhausted. Slept for a good three hours after I got home.

So the report I've got so far is: some inflammation due to the RT, no cancer (recheck in 10 years), and a hemorrhoid. The doc did a bit of laser treatment (think he said there were 4 spots that needed a bit of laser blasting). He made some suggestions on daily meds I'm doing for constipation - more miralax and stop the stool softners (he thinks the miralax is better at controlling my constipation than the colace). No mention from him on the need for follow up surgery - he seemed confident that the laser is what I needed today. I'll wait till my PCP gets a copy of the report and see how I recovery from the laser treatments before following up on that with her. I am somewhat hopeful that the laser blasting will do the trick.

Well, guess I'd better start writing my colonoscopy poem. So far I've got one two lines worked out:
with needles in your arm
and hoses up your backside

Peace, love and lots of fiber,
Andrew

Glad you got some results Andrew. I hope the laser does the trick

I've been having colonoscopies since I was 36 years old, when they found a pre cancerous polyp. I had one yearly for about 20 years after that, because evry year they found polyps. Then for the last6-7 years, I haven't had a polyp, so I do every 2 years. The prep is the bad part. I actually look forward to the procedure, because they put my totally out, and the drugs are good.

I get an endoscopy done at the same time. I always tell the doc, if he is using the same instruments, to do the endoscopy first.

Mike - I prefer the one with the drugs myself. I kept telling my wife - All I need to do is to tough it out until the IV is in.

Prat - never had to the topside checked out. I had my first colonoscopy about 16 years ago. This is my fourth. Each time I ask, "I do get the drugs after the prep, right?" In my case they've only found polyps the first time, the second none and these last two after my RT.

Allen - I thought the doctor looked a bit like a young Han Solo...

Pratoman said...


I get an endoscopy done at the same time. I always tell the doc, if he is using the same instruments, to do the endoscopy first.

THAT caused me to spray coffee out my nose.

Dewayne,
He didn't laser the hemorrhoid directly. What he found was inflammation from the radiation and a few bad spots that needed to be treated. As my GI explained it, the RT can cause extra blood vessels to grow in clumps. The laser zaps these and helps reduce the inflammation.

The theory is that I had been able to manage the hemorrhoid before RT, and the RT inflammation just made it worse. What they treated me for yesterday was closer to radiation proctitis.

Banding is still considered the best for a normal hemorrhoid. In my case, they were concerned that due to the problems I was having that I might need surgery. The colonoscopy was to evaluate for that and if any radiation damage was found to do the laser.

Right now I'd say I feel better for two reasons: The laser cauterizing the stuff that was bleeding and the fact that with the prep, I haven't had a solid bowel movement in three days - all very water which has given things a rest. As I reduce the laxatives that might change.

From guys I know who've done the banding - all good reports. Likely it will work just fine for you. Sadly my case is a little different.

Andrew

Andrew:

Have you been having issues with constipation and is that due to the radiation?

Mel

I asked because I have also had constipation for years. But it has gotten much worse starting 2 years after my SRT was completed. Much more severe. I have Hemmies too. So far, no bleeding at all.

I never heard of them doing the laser thing. Is this something a GI does? My next colonoscopy is due in about 16 months.

Also, I will be doing another bunch of radiation next month -- this time on the abdominal lymph nodes.

Mel