Thinking of writing a letter to the New York Times!

OK, it's been a hectic couple of days, so I'm just reading yesterday's paper (Thurs. Feb. 23) this morning. On the front page is a big article about a study showing that colonoscopies have indeed proved very helpful in cutting colon cancer rates. Yay.

What drove me crazy, however, is that this same article could very easily discourage many people from getting a colonoscopy! The author, who I strongly suspect has never had one, describes it as an "unpleasant" test that "requires...strong, foul-tasting laxatives to clean out the intestine..."

OK you guys (who I know, like me, have had your share of colonoscopies): Isn't this a bit excessive? To me the most "unpleasant" part of a colonoscopy is not getting to eat anything but gummy bears for 1 and a half days (then again, I am "ilovefood"). I think most people who haven't ever had one picture lying there more or less awake while some doctor jams something up their rear for half an hour. They probably don't realize that most of the time you wake up and it's all over. And "foul-tasting laxatives"? Having been diagnosed in 1995, I remember the CoLyte days. Now, THAT stuff was gross, and you had to drink a ton of it. These days, I just drink the Miralax in Gatorade and it tastes like-- um, Gatorade. Why make people think they're going to be chugging milk of magnesia?

Anyway, what do you guys think? Should I write them a letter and r--- them out, so to speak?

You got to eat gummy bears? I had to eat broth and lime jello.

Yes, I think you should write a letter. I think people have this idea of being awake and having things shoved up your butt. I think that is what turns people off. I was out cold for mine and I woke up feeling great!

Honestly, I didn't think my prep was all that bad. I did throw up while drinking the gatorade mixture but all in all, it was ok. After it was over, I asked my doctor if I could do it once a year. He looked at me like I was crazy.

I also told my doctor that the 'cleaning out' process was not bad at all. He said that because I eat very healthy, cleaning out is easier.

I've had at least 10 colonoscopies and I have to say the prep really is pretty awful for me. The first few I had, the prep was that Go Lightly stuff - horrible, horrible, horrible. My current GI uses Magnesium Citrate. That stuff is awful too but you only have to drink 10oz of it twice, not gallons like the old stuff. The Miralax/Gatorade prep sounds great, as do the gummy bears, I never heard those were ok to have during prep. The procedure is nothing, propofol is great stuff.
But as to the article, I think you are right, it is wrong to characterize it in that light especially when they are trying to show how beneficial they are. It's really amateurish.

I understand what you're saying ilovefood, and thats great you're trying to reach out about this topic with the New York Times.

But I need to add, my colonoscopy was probably one of the most unpleasant moments of my life. I was really mishandled I felt. I wasnt given a choice to stay awake or be put to sleep, so i was put to sleep. But my sister had told me they gave me an exceptionally large dose of anesthesia because thats what it took to put me fully under. When I woke up I was obviously oblivious for a bit, but even past that I was panicking and my heart was racing and I felt suicidal. I've went under for anesthesia before but this was a little ridiculous whatever they did, I couldnt have just layed there half asleep? What would have been so bad about that? My sister tried to get them to give me some room and air before the procedure was over but they were so quick to toss me out like a used needle. On top of that I couldn't even get my results back for two weeks. I've already expressed my views on the doctors in my area.

I've also read an article somewhere that we have too many colonoscopies in our lifetime which can actually damage the insides a bit. If i find the article I'll dig this up.

Stereofidelic, that's a terrible story. You should try to have your procedures done elsewhere if you can! Believe me, I have plenty of complaints about GI doctors, but the actual colonoscopies have never been a source of my aggravations.

My first GI, whom I adored, always only semi-sedated me so I could "participate" in the procedure. (He would also give me little photos of my inflamed colon to take home!) In some ways I think this was good. The drs. I've had since have always just knocked me out totally. I definitely agree that one should ideally be given the option regarding how much sedation to have.

Gonk said...
I have never been given the option either come to think of it. But given the option, I'm going under! That propofol is good stuff!!

Me too!!! You wake up to a nice valium drip and you are feeling really good!!

Also, did anyone run to eat after the procedure? I went to the diner but I wasn't hungry at all. I really didn't get my appetite back until later on that evening.

Here's what I wrote (their limit is 150 words):

It is great news that colonoscopies have decreased colon cancer deaths. What a shame that the Times's coverage may actually dissuade people from having these tests.

The article calls the procedure "unpleasant" and states that it entails taking "strong, foul-tasting laxatives." As a veteran of many colonoscopies due to a less serious digestive disorder, I find such descriptors misleading. In fact, one is commonly sedated for the entire procedure; one simply wakes and it is all over. The most "unpleasant" part, in my experience, is being restricted to consuming only clear liquids for 36 hours prior to the procedure. The laxatives my doctor now uses are simply mixed with Gatorade, and add no extra flavor to it.

One can understand reluctance to undergo colonoscopies after learning what the doctor does there. But it does no public health service to encourage that reluctance through excessively negative accounts of the actual experience.

Michelejc, I definitely run to eat after the procedure! I am soooooooo starving by that time. Especially the last time. Next time I have to try to control how much & what I eat. They tell you to eat lightly immediately after for a reason! I overdid it last time and paid the price. LOL.

After my last colonoscopy about a year ago, I went and ate a pretty big meal as I always have after these. I had a healthy lunch and then big dinner. Big mistake. The next morning I was having some serious abdominal pain. What happened was my colon shut down so it was not moving anything through and I became impacted. My GI said the trauma of the procedure does this sometimes, has anyone ever heard of that?
The good news is that all it took to get it going was a few days on Miralax. Learned my lesson.

The prep using Go Lightly was basically the same - you have a huge jug of the stuff and consume it one glass at a time on a schedule. Same. It's just so much liquid to drink. Each GI has a prep they prefer for whatever reason.

I think it's a great idea to write a letter! I agree -- the worst part is having to fast the day before!

I never knew that about gummy bears either! Definitely getting some before next time. :)

Rupturing colons? -Really does that really happen?
Now I'll never want to get another one!