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Tips for successful colonoscopy prep
Digestive Health | Last Active: Nov 4 11:01pm | Replies (58)Comment receiving replies
Had large precancerous (benign) polyp 2012 (first colonoscopy, lots of symptoms for years, who knew?) Followup (same doctor) 2014. Advised to wait five years after that.
Next gastroenterologist (first one moved to CA) was some sort of jack the ripper murderer. Why, you might ask? He found a tubularvillous 2cm polyp and DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT IT because (in his notes, which I read when I sent for the records for the new gastroenterologist) because he found my colonoscopy "very difficult". He actually told my former PCP (I fired her too) that I should have a cologuard test next time instead of a colonoscopy!!
So I was terrified by this new doctor and I don't respond well to fear and terror. It makes me ANGRY. He scared the heck out of me "You should have had followup in three years, it's almost four now". Scheduled for 9/14.
Problem: YOU CANNOT TALK TO ANYONE IN THIS OFFICE, EVER. The machine takes messages. They never call you back. I called for an appt. on this past Wednesday and today is Saturday, no call back. He joined a practice that I don't like, I never liked, and don't want to go there. He might be good (referred by a retired doctor I know) but he's in a TERRIBLE practice.
I got hemorrhoids about 6 weeks ago, first ones ever and I'm old. Now I'm terrified of the prep. Because of those stupid things, I lost five pounds in six weeks: change of diet trying to avoid any sort of straining during BM. So this prep is going to set me back and give me another six weeks of hell with these hemorrhoids and I can't afford to lose any more weight, I'm only 115 pounds.
I'm thinking of just letting it go. I'm so traumatized already, I have so much grief from losing my daughter in 2011, I have an anxiety issue now because of her death, I just don't know what to do. I don't want to hear horror stories OK? I looked for another Dr. and across the river in the hospital that does all my imaging (mammo, etc.) there's a gastro Dr. whose office is actually in the hospital if something goes wrong. I have no idea who he is, haven't called the office yet. I haven't found one single doctor I can trust upstate NY here and I'm living here 20 years now.
What % of tubularvillous adenoma come back? What % of those turn to cancer? How long does it take one of those to turn to cancer? Could one have developed to 2cm in only five years or did the gastro Dr. from 2014 miss it? WHAT SHOULD I DO I have no one to talk to.
Replies to "Had large precancerous (benign) polyp 2012 (first colonoscopy, lots of symptoms for years, who knew?) Followup..."
I've had luck eating raisin bran most mornings and using Miralax as needed.
You might get your current Gastro doctor to call in a prescription strength ointment and anal suppositories for hemorrhoids.
Then check into finding another Gastro doctor connected to hospital. You must do the prep to the "T" in order to have a successful colonoscopy procedure.
I'm sorry for your loss and all you've been through. For what it's worth, the unfortunate events of your past won't go away unless you can find a way to let them go, and you will.
As for moving forward, start by finding a good PCP, ideally at a well known medical facility where you live. The PCP can then refer you to specialists.
All the best to you.
I had SEVERE constipation last week. I really and truly thought I was going to die as I already had a burst bowel once with colostomy, resect and giant hernia and I HATE my local hospital! I decided to buy these little Fleet enemas with glycerin in them. They're called suppositories. It's totally liquid maybe about a tablespoon or less. I have very slow metabolism. Inserted it at 3 pm. Got up from the bed and it poured out and I was like "oh well". Went about my day. Couldn't eat dinner and was nauseous (not a good sign)Woke up at 3:30 am and was able to go for the first time normally in a long time! Took my body 12 hrs to metabolize the suppository 🙁😳 Also woke at 5:30-6 am to completely empty out. Omg. I felt normal again.
I don't know what it is with doctors these days. It's like since Covid came all the doctors left and it's just newbies with no experience or bad doctors.
If it's any consolation, my leukemia doctor never calls me back nor answers portal messages. It wasn't until I started writing in the portal about how I was('nt) being treated or responded to that I started getting any responses 😡😡. It's a 13 hr round trip into NYC to see him (by bus) for a blood test and him telling me everything is great. This time I told him to send the labs and I'd have them done out here and we can have a virtual - and that's what we're doing! I'm in plenty of leukemia groups and I've never heard of someone being treated like this.
I'm sorry you're having such terrible gastric issues. Since my burst bowel in 2015, when surgeon also took my sigmoid colon(!), I have a great fear of anything concerning my lower abdomen and bowels. I think this last episode was the most frightening. My husband said he had read up on what was happening to me and was going to take me to the hospital!! Glad that little tiny liquid glycerin suppository worked!!
Good luck to you. Keep searching until you find the doctor you are comfortable with. You've been treated very badly in the past and deserve better. ❤️❤️
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So sorry to read what you have been going through and although spouse has had polyps removed and anal cancer treated a few years ago, he did not have to go through the emotional trauma you are experiencing - on top of your pain and suffering... I agree it is so important to trust our doctors and others in medical field... just to say I hope you get some comments on here that might give you some support/advice ... or tell you a good place to get help.... the emotional side of illness and the way we are treated - all on top of coping with illness - is a lot to cope with.... best wishes, J.