1. < Colorectal Cancer

How to get a colonoscopy scheduled promptly?

Posted by marimodesta @marimodesta, Dec 13, 2023

I failed the colorguard test. I was referred to have a cup colonoscopy, but was told it could be 2 to 3 months. I want to get it done now. so I can be treated. I don’t want to wait. I have had constipation. and gas as well as my stool has been different for the last 3-6 months. Any suggestions how to get colonoscopy done ASAP?

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verol65 | @verol65 | Dec 19, 2023
In reply to @rjjacobsen "Near normal for someone's who is 70. Surgery took the entire colon, they connected the small..." + (show)
@rjjacobsen

Near normal for someone's who is 70.

Surgery took the entire colon, they connected the small intestine to the rectum. Did 8 months of chemo. Just turned 2 years post end of chemo. Cancer is fine, still doing surveillance scans and blood work. I have a few remaining minor side effects from the chemo.

Thanks for asking.

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@rjjacobsen How was the post-op period of your ileoanal anastomosis? How difficult was it to adapt? I'm to have a Turnbull-Cutait pullthrough with a coloanal anastomosis and I have many questions about the post-op period, it makes me somewhat scared and very preoccupied.

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1 reply
verol65 | @verol65 | Dec 19, 2023
In reply to @marimodesta "I have my appmt for colonoscopy on Januarys 8th instead of 2-3 months away. I just..." + (show)
@marimodesta

I have my appmt for colonoscopy on Januarys 8th instead of 2-3 months away. I just noticed I have a tiny bit of blood in stool. I don’t have any pain or any discomfort but I am a little scared. I guess the very worse I will die soon or the best I can do whatever I have to and live for longer. Where do I find what happens after the colonoscopy?
Thank you for listening. I have only told 1 person.

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@marimodesta First, sending you a hug.
Last year, I was in a similar position: over the months of june, july, and august I had noticed ocasional blood when wiping my anus and in the toilet bowl, not much. Had an appointment early in September with a colorectal surgeon, who touched a polyp. Had the colonoscopy late October 26. They found two polyps and sent samples for biopsy. One came back as pre-cancerous. Since I had to travel to take care of my parents the whole month of November, I had a transanal resection on December 17 with a new biopsy, this time of the whole polyp, which revealed positive margins. The surgeon sent me to an oncologist, and the plan of action was no new surgery because the polyp was close to the sphincter and they had taken out everything they could see. We went for the lowest dose radiotherapy (with oral chemo, because I chose the long course RT rather then the short course one).

Now I have a rarely occuring rectovaginal fistula because of the RT, and I have a new polyp or a regrowth of the resected polyp. I consulted with the surgeon to fix that but had doubts about her proposed solution, so I consulted with another more experienced colorectal surgeon and with a cancer investigator, who both said I should have had a second surgery because of the positive margins and should have waited before getting RT. So make sure you have experienced doctors on your team.

Make a good emotional support network around you. When I had the cancer diagnosis, I chose relatives and friends to tell them my story. Those in town gave me the opportunity of hugs and a shoulder to cry on, literally, and those out of town kept in touch by messages, phone calls or video calls. It really helped. With my new situation, I first decided only to tell my kids, my brother, my sister-in-law and three friends. But the emotional turmoil kept growing. I started therapy and last week I decided to tell everyone what is going on: someday one of them or someone they know may face a similar situation or a similar surgery to the one I will have in late January. And I let everyone know they can put those people in touch with me if they want to talk to someone who's had the same experience, which is what I'm missing very much.

REPLY
1 reply
wisco50 | @wisco50 | Dec 19, 2023
In reply to @marimodesta "I have my appmt for colonoscopy on Januarys 8th instead of 2-3 months away. I just..." + (show)
@marimodesta

I have my appmt for colonoscopy on Januarys 8th instead of 2-3 months away. I just noticed I have a tiny bit of blood in stool. I don’t have any pain or any discomfort but I am a little scared. I guess the very worse I will die soon or the best I can do whatever I have to and live for longer. Where do I find what happens after the colonoscopy?
Thank you for listening. I have only told 1 person.

Jump to this post

January 8 will be here very soon. Hopefully it’s not cancer but you are talking only a few weeks at most, it’s almost late December.
Hoping it’s something like a hemorrhoid or fissure, etc.
Best wishes!

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rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | Dec 19, 2023
In reply to @verol65 "@rjjacobsen How was the post-op period of your ileoanal anastomosis? How difficult was it to adapt?..." + (show)
@verol65

@rjjacobsen How was the post-op period of your ileoanal anastomosis? How difficult was it to adapt? I'm to have a Turnbull-Cutait pullthrough with a coloanal anastomosis and I have many questions about the post-op period, it makes me somewhat scared and very preoccupied.

Jump to this post

I had all of my colon removed and they attached the small intestine to the rectum. The rectum itself was fine so I never had a coloanal anastomosis or ileoanal anastomosis.

Wish I could be of help. All my best to you.

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marimodesta | @marimodesta | Dec 21, 2023
In reply to @apinzonc0627 "Tenga mucha fe que es lo principal, yo pase por esto hace dos años para estas..." + (show)
@apinzonc0627

Tenga mucha fe que es lo principal, yo pase por esto hace dos años para estas fechas, y se me hizo la colonoscopia y me salió un pólipo canceroso, me operaron en enero del 22, gracias a dios como dice el medico todo estaba allí no cogió ganglios ni ningún otro órgano, este año me hice una colonoscopia y todo salió excelente sigo en chequeo rutinario cada 6 meses y hasta ahora todo bien gracias a Dios y esperemos que siga así solo Dios sabrá.

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Me alegro mucho que todo le fue bien. Me da Esperanza. Gracias ❤️

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marimodesta | @marimodesta | Dec 21, 2023
In reply to @verol65 "@marimodesta First, sending you a hug. Last year, I was in a similar position: over the..." + (show)
@verol65

@marimodesta First, sending you a hug.
Last year, I was in a similar position: over the months of june, july, and august I had noticed ocasional blood when wiping my anus and in the toilet bowl, not much. Had an appointment early in September with a colorectal surgeon, who touched a polyp. Had the colonoscopy late October 26. They found two polyps and sent samples for biopsy. One came back as pre-cancerous. Since I had to travel to take care of my parents the whole month of November, I had a transanal resection on December 17 with a new biopsy, this time of the whole polyp, which revealed positive margins. The surgeon sent me to an oncologist, and the plan of action was no new surgery because the polyp was close to the sphincter and they had taken out everything they could see. We went for the lowest dose radiotherapy (with oral chemo, because I chose the long course RT rather then the short course one).

Now I have a rarely occuring rectovaginal fistula because of the RT, and I have a new polyp or a regrowth of the resected polyp. I consulted with the surgeon to fix that but had doubts about her proposed solution, so I consulted with another more experienced colorectal surgeon and with a cancer investigator, who both said I should have had a second surgery because of the positive margins and should have waited before getting RT. So make sure you have experienced doctors on your team.

Make a good emotional support network around you. When I had the cancer diagnosis, I chose relatives and friends to tell them my story. Those in town gave me the opportunity of hugs and a shoulder to cry on, literally, and those out of town kept in touch by messages, phone calls or video calls. It really helped. With my new situation, I first decided only to tell my kids, my brother, my sister-in-law and three friends. But the emotional turmoil kept growing. I started therapy and last week I decided to tell everyone what is going on: someday one of them or someone they know may face a similar situation or a similar surgery to the one I will have in late January. And I let everyone know they can put those people in touch with me if they want to talk to someone who's had the same experience, which is what I'm missing very much.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing! Good to know about a support group. So far I have only told 1 person. Right now I know I had a positive ColorGuard. My colonoscopy is 1/08/23. I am supposed to go on a trip - 2/28/23 and thinking maybe I ought to postpone. Reading your share, I get the impression that if it is cancer, I could still go on my trip and have whatever procedure at the end of March.
Thank you for your comments. ❤️

REPLY
1 reply
celia16 | @celia16 | Jan 4 1:39pm
In reply to @marimodesta "Thank you for sharing! Good to know about a support group. So far I have only..." + (show)
@marimodesta

Thank you for sharing! Good to know about a support group. So far I have only told 1 person. Right now I know I had a positive ColorGuard. My colonoscopy is 1/08/23. I am supposed to go on a trip - 2/28/23 and thinking maybe I ought to postpone. Reading your share, I get the impression that if it is cancer, I could still go on my trip and have whatever procedure at the end of March.
Thank you for your comments. ❤️

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How are you doing now? Jan 8 is very soon. I hope things go well.

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1 reply
marimodesta | @marimodesta | Jan 5 1:43pm
In reply to @celia16 "How are you doing now? Jan 8 is very soon. I hope things go well." + (show)
@celia16

How are you doing now? Jan 8 is very soon. I hope things go well.

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I have been doing well not obsessing over the negative. Keeping myself positive. I took a trip and picked up a cough with flu symptoms. Was convalescing for 3 days today was my first day that I could eat. Wonder if I could postpone colonoscopy to the following week? Thank you for asking 😘

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1 reply
celia16 | @celia16 | Jan 5 1:57pm
In reply to @marimodesta "I have been doing well not obsessing over the negative. Keeping myself positive. I took a..." + (show)
@marimodesta

I have been doing well not obsessing over the negative. Keeping myself positive. I took a trip and picked up a cough with flu symptoms. Was convalescing for 3 days today was my first day that I could eat. Wonder if I could postpone colonoscopy to the following week? Thank you for asking 😘

Jump to this post

Oh my…,so sorry. I’d check with the doctor to see if they can reschedule out just a little bit. I’d share your desire to postpone if sick like that. I picked up something too! Man, it’s kicking my butt! Hope you feel better soon. Take care.

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1 reply
marimodesta | @marimodesta | Jan 5 2:26pm
In reply to @celia16 "Oh my…,so sorry. I’d check with the doctor to see if they can reschedule out just..." + (show)
@celia16

Oh my…,so sorry. I’d check with the doctor to see if they can reschedule out just a little bit. I’d share your desire to postpone if sick like that. I picked up something too! Man, it’s kicking my butt! Hope you feel better soon. Take care.

Jump to this post

Thank you!

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