Feeling discouraged

I had my colonoscopy today. The last thing I posted about was having to take Clenpiq for my bowel prep and not knowing much about it. I did it and it was awful. I am so, so bad at taking anything that's not pleasant, so I'm willing to bet that the average person wouldn't have thought it was that horrible, but I did. I ended up leaving about 1/3 of the second dose because I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to work so hard not to throw up. Has anyone else been having problems getting Prepopik lately? I still don't know why my doctor didn't give me that one again (I don't believe he's ever had a problem with me not being cleaned out enough). I NEED that prep. I cannot do that again.

He found polyps and removed. I know those can be common and most are benign, but I'm only 30, why am I already getting them? If this means I'll have to be scoped more often, I'm screwed because like I said, without that one particular prep that I can handle, I simply cannot do it. I tried mind over matter, but I just couldn't. And I hope getting polyps this early (was diagnosed 3 years ago with pancolitis) doesn't mean I'm much more likely to develop cancer one day.

I guess I had to be given more anesthesia-I may remember waking up during it and struggling against the pain. But then again I'm still confused about everything that went down today and don't trust my memory. I kept asking questions and then forgetting what the answers were.

In my experience whenever the doctor comes to talk to you afterward, they don't seem to wait for you to be a little more awake, so I often have to ask my parents what they said. This time my boyfriend took me and the doctor just happened to pass him in the hallway and my boyfriend asked him how things went (everyone was given permission to share results with him). He said the doctor really didn't say much and I don't think he even came in the room to see me afterward! I wanted to ask what to do about my symptoms between now and my followup since it has gotten to the point of having accidents again.

A little while back I was researching other gastroenterologists and considering switching. I've already switched once before. I really do like this one and he's got great reviews, but his staff is rude and unhelpful and there's no online portal, so unfortunately many times if I have a question I'll just fend for myself because that's how much I can't stand having to call his office. He's very abrupt on the phone if you talk to him directly. For a short time he finally had a nurse and she was so helpful, but of course she didn't last long there. My first gastrenterologist was too "doom and gloom" for me and his staff made so many mistakes with me when I was at my sickest. I'm so torn and frustrated.

I'm probably babbling because I'm still a little loopy. I've never been this out of it from a scope before and I'm just lost and confused about it all. Feeling down.

*Edited because I'm so out of it that I wrote "I had my colonoscopy yesterday"!! It was today, doofus.

If the polyps are inflammation-polyps, they are not true polyps. They just look like true polyps. So, revisit the "why getting polyps" questions again when you know if they were pseudo, benign, or pre-cancer polyps. I suspect they are pseudo.

Age has nothing to do with getting (pseudo) inflammation polyps - it is only a function of chronic inflammation. You are having inflammation polyps because you had pancolitis.

After 8 to 10 years, every UC patient - especially pancolitis patients - are advised to get yearly scoping to screen for colon cancer. You can do it less often at your own risk.

As for prep, I have always used a day of clear liquids, two 8oz bottles of mag citrate taken 6 hours apart, and sometimes docolax. The fact that they are only 8oz bottles helps a lot. I can pinch my nose and down them. Work with you doc to get a prep you can handle.

good luck

There's other preps to try the next time. Wait on results and don't worry!

DBwithUC said...
If the polyps are inflammation-polyps, they are not true polyps. They just look like true polyps. So, revisit the "why getting polyps" questions again when you know if they were pseudo, benign, or pre-cancer polyps. I suspect they are pseudo.

Age has nothing to do with getting (pseudo) inflammation polyps - it is only a function of chronic inflammation. You are having inflammation polyps because you had pancolitis.

After 8 to 10 years, every UC patient - especially pancolitis patients - are advised to get yearly scoping to screen for colon cancer. You can do it less often at your own risk.

As for prep, I have always used a day of clear liquids, two 8oz bottles of mag citrate taken 6 hours apart, and sometimes docolax. The fact that they are only 8oz bottles helps a lot. I can pinch my nose and down them. Work with you doc to get a prep you can handle.

good luck

Oh wow, I didn't know about the pseudo polyps. Thank you. That does make sense that someone who started out with pancolitis would get polyps more easily.

Yeahhh I'm really looking forward to only 5 years from now when it'll be yearly. There seriously better be reasonable preps by then. I think mine were only 5oz but it didn't matter because it was so strong that I couldn't even handle that. Pinching my nose didn't help; nothing did.

quincy said...
I've never had yearly scopes as of yet, been 30 years with UC.....but mine is much in control, and the only polyps were visible 4 years ago....and hylerplasic (pseudo).

When you get your results, you will know more.

I, and my husband, do the gallon preps. His last one included Dulcolax, and the doc was super pleased with the results. No liquid diet previous..

q

Oh okay, so you didn't have increased scopes after the polyps were found? I'm guessing that's just if they're pseudo.

Gallon...ugh. It's interesting, though, that you don't have to do the liquid diet.

Kulinarykidz said...
Next time do the Gatorade/ mirilax prep. You don’t need a prescription for it.

Yeah, I wonder if I should do that. Miralax is flavorless, right? Does it have to be Gatorade or can some of the glasses be water? My only concern would be the short intervals.

The only thing I have found that helps with the prep is to use a straw to get it past my mouth and into my stomach. And yeah, sometimes I’m sitting on the toilet and throwing up in the tub.

quincy said...
Your scope schedule will depend on the results.
Im sticking to every 2 years for now....but that doesnt mean I'm not worried about the next one.

q

True. Can't wait! lol. What are you worried about?

quincy said...
Precancer or cancer cells.....

q

Ah okay, thought so.