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Question: Colonoscopy questions for all that have had it also stress test also also health concerns

I decided to take Friday off work. I figured my head would be elsewhere anyway. Still nervous about the hematologist visit. Hopefully this is nothing and I am worried over nothing. We shall see what the doctor says. Thanks to all my Tidefans brothers for your support and advice.

I had a treadmill stress test last week and everything was normal. The nurse helped me with some of my nervousness about this week by telling me that high white cell is better than low white cell.
 
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I had my 10 year colonoscopy today and fortunately I had no polyps again but the bowel prep was a bit interesting. I used the Miralax/Gatorade combo but only drank half the liquid. I was still going to the bathroom 6 hours after the first half and felt there was no way I'd be done going before I left if I took the second. The stool looked clear yellow so I felt it would be OK and I was right. They wrote on the post-exam summary my colon prep was good, but I didn't tell them I only drank half. So the point of my story is to let people know that if you either get sick on the prep and can't drink any more or if you feel you may not be done going to the bathroom before you leave if you keep drinking then you can stop as long as your stool is clear yellow. You don't always have to follow the instructions to the letter.
 
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PA Tide Fan said:
I had my 10 year colonoscopy today and fortunately I had no polyps again but the bowel prep was a bit interesting. I used the Miralax/Gatorade combo but only drank half the liquid. I was still going to the bathroom 6 hours after the first half and felt there was no way I'd be done going before I left if I took the second. The stool looked clear yellow so I felt it would be OK and I was right. They wrote on the post-exam summary my colon prep was good, but I didn't tell them I only drank half. So the point of my story is to let people know that if you either get sick on the prep and can't drink any more or if you feel you may not be done going to the bathroom before you leave if you keep drinking then you can stop as long as your stool is clear yellow. You don't always have to follow the instructions to the letter.
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Sorry, not true. Worked in GI during my nursing career for many years. Things are not always what they seem. It is always best practice to follow the instructions to make sure you don't have to come back because of poor prep or something gets missed.
 
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Toddrn said:
Sorry, not true. Worked in GI during my nursing career for many years. Things are not always what they seem. It is always best practice to follow the instructions to make sure you don't have to come back because of poor prep or something gets missed.
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Sure, follow the instructions "when possible". My point was to let people know when it appears they cannot complete the prep they should not panic, think it will be a failure and worry about having to reschedule and start over.
 
PA Tide Fan said:
Sure, follow the instructions "when possible". My point was to let people know when it appears they cannot complete the prep they should not panic, think it will be a failure and worry about having to reschedule and start over.
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Still poor advice. You have a sample size of one. I appreciate what you are trying to do, but it could cause others issues if misinterpreted.

If you are having an issue, call the nurse or doctor.
 
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I've had three colonoscopies, and it's always a question whether I'll stop "going" in time to make it to the clinic and through the procedure.

What would be the best alternative? Starting earlier than prescribed? Is there any harm in that? Makes the fasting part a bit longer, but I think both I and the doc would rather have that than deal with me making emergency runs to the toilet on the way or in the clinic.
 
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4Q Basket Case said:
I've had three colonoscopies, and it's always a question whether I'll stop "going" in time to make it to the clinic and through the procedure.

What would be the best alternative? Starting earlier than prescribed? Is there any harm in that? Makes the fasting part a bit longer, but I think both I and the doc would rather have that than deal with me making emergency runs to the toilet on the way or in the clinic.
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I started a few hours earlier than prescribed for the first dose as well as the second dose.
 
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4Q Basket Case said:
I've had three colonoscopies, and it's always a question whether I'll stop "going" in time to make it to the clinic and through the procedure.

What would be the best alternative? Starting earlier than prescribed? Is there any harm in that? Makes the fasting part a bit longer, but I think both I and the doc would rather have that than deal with me making emergency runs to the toilet on the way or in the clinic.
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You are on clear liquids the day before anyway. Starting your prep around noon, if that's possible for you, is a great way to do it. That way you will most likely stop "going" by bedtime and are able to sleep without having to get up in the middle of the night.
 
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Toddrn said:
You are on clear liquids the day before anyway. Starting your prep around noon, if that's possible for you, is a great way to do it. That way you will most likely stop "going" by bedtime and are able to sleep without having to get up in the middle of the night.
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mine told me 5pm, but I started at 2ish. Then told me 4 hours before the procedure but I start about 6 hours before. Did not feel like I still needed to go by the time it started.
 
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Toddrn said:
You are on clear liquids the day before anyway. Starting your prep around noon, if that's possible for you, is a great way to do it. That way you will most likely stop "going" by bedtime and are able to sleep without having to get up in the middle of the night.
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I guess a person could start the prep at noon but the medical community has somewhat changed their guidance and now allows someone to have a light breakfast up until noon the day before the colonoscopy. I received such instructions. Since it takes about 6 hours for the food to break down and get into the colon a person who chose to eat a breakfast late in the morning would have to wait till late afternoon to start the prep. I found eating that light breakfast helped me greatly since I felt much less hungry later on.
 
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PA Tide Fan said:
I guess a person could start the prep at noon but the medical community has somewhat changed their guidance and now allows someone to have a light breakfast up until noon the day before the colonoscopy. I received such instructions. Since it takes about 6 hours for the food to break down and get into the colon a person who chose to eat a breakfast late in the morning would have to wait till late afternoon to start the prep. I found eating that light breakfast helped me greatly since I felt much less hungry later on.
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There are some doctors that allow it but people take advantage of it because everyone's opinion varies about what a light breakfast is. I have had people eat oatmeal and bacon and then say that's light compared to what they normally eat. If you stick to clear liquids then there is no way to cheat. I have never understood why people can't go a day without eating. You may be hungry but you are not going to starve to death. If you have never had to assist during a colonoscopy where the patient had a poor prep then you can't understand why I'm the way I am about it. It's messy, takes forever to complete and the doctor can never be sure that they didn't miss something.
 
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Toddrn said:
There are some doctors that allow it but people take advantage of it because everyone's opinion varies about what a light breakfast is. I have had people eat oatmeal and bacon and then say that's light compared to what they normally eat.
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Yeah, I used the term "light" breakfast which was wrong. I should have said "fiber free" breakfast. The food allowed on my list were 2 fried or boiled eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, up to 2 slices of cheese, 2-3 slices of white bread and 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil. In my case I ate a toasted cheese sandwich for breakfast.
 
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Toddrn said:
There are some doctors that allow it but people take advantage of it because everyone's opinion varies about what a light breakfast is. I have had people eat oatmeal and bacon and then say that's light compared to what they normally eat. If you stick to clear liquids then there is no way to cheat. I have never understood why people can't go a day without eating. You may be hungry but you are not going to starve to death. If you have never had to assist during a colonoscopy where the patient had a poor prep then you can't understand why I'm the way I am about it. It's messy, takes forever to complete and the doctor can never be sure that they didn't miss something.
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What is your best advice for a type II diabetic in terms of medication (typically metformin and possibly others, as you know) and what to eat?

I'm certain some here fall into that category and changing diet even for a day can be more problematic for them.

Thanks in advance.
 
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NationalTitles18 said:
What is your best advice for a type II diabetic in terms of medication (typically metformin and possibly others, as you know) and what to eat?

I'm certain some here fall into that category and changing diet even for a day can be more problematic for them.

Thanks in advance.
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Most often we would tell them to hold oral meds and if they take insulin to take half their usual dosage. They will check their glucose level before and after the procedure and anesthesia will treat them as needed.
 
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DzynKingRTR said:
doctor took a ton of blood from me. Feels confident that it will be negative for cancer, leukemia, blood disorders, but knows something is going on. Also feels confident that the test will reveal the issue. Also feels like I should be checked for sleep apnea
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this has been the longest wait ever. the told me 2 weeks. it has now been over 2 weeks. what is taking so long?

one thing that has come back is my C-reactive protein was 5.2
 
DzynKingRTR said:
this has been the longest wait ever. the told me 2 weeks. it has now been over 2 weeks. what is taking so long?

one thing that has come back is my C-reactive protein was 5.2
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Typically, pathology reports take about 2 weeks, give or take. Sometimes they come in faster and sometimes they come in slower. And then the specialist has to review them. And if they are waiting on that last test to come in they will often wait so they have all the information before they call.

Be relieved they haven't called you to meet them at the hospital today.

No news is usually good news.
 
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