COLONOSCOPY How hard is it on you?

I had polyps removed less than two years ago, and I didn’t have any dietary restrictions afterwards. Maybe it depends on size?

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True. However, the precancerous polyp that they removed 14 years ago might very well have taken more than 10 years to grow into cancer if it had been left alone.

I am mostly just glad that the precancerous polyp is gone and was never given the opportunity to grow.

I am wondering whether this has anything to do with the size of the polyp (or the size of the largest of your polyps). It would make sense that a larger one might have more potential for bleeding, and might take a little bit longer to heal.

I don’t think it has to do with size. H wasn’t placed on any restriction after his giant one (at times they called it a polyp, other places a tumor). I believe it was 2.5” but I’d have to go back and look. Seems huge but I remember looking at the size on the chart and googling and thinking it was much bigger than the walnut that google said polyps could grow to. It was so large they had to dismantle it in pieces. And he now sports a tattoo at the site so they can check there at future visits (he was on the 6 month, then 1 yr than 3 year plan)

And no mention of diet after

edit: 2.5CM not inches. Makes more sense

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I assumed that the post-colonoscopy diet was due to the larger polyp (10mm, in the ascending colon). There were also two smaller ones (2 to 3mm in the priximal rectum).

in Recommendations (and also mentioned by nurse): Eat a low residue diet and no raw fruit with skin or uncooked vegetables, nuts or seeds for two weeks. I may call today with questions about it. Of course I do have some jello and white bread to eat up :wink:

Called the GI office. Sounds like my diet (after polyp removal) needs to be soft foods. The nurse sent me a pdf list of some soft foods… Per another resource online I think that avocado is OK (which is good - it’s a high fiber food that I like).

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Would you be able to post that list? TIA.

Just got a notice it’s time for my five-year colonoscopy, ugh. My biggest apprehension is the stick for the IV needle. I will ask for someone experienced, they will ignore me and try four times before getting someone experienced. I’m going to be a little more forceful in my request this time. I will call ahead of time!

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Tell them you are a very hard stick and that last time it took 5 tries! Hopefully that will scare away any newbies and they will go right for the veteran.

PS-some people are so hard that even veterans take more than one try.

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Had my 3 yr repeat colonoscopy a few weeks ago. Luckily, everything was clean and I need to go back only in 5 yrs next time, not 3.

Prep was not too bad - miralax the day before and the morning of the appointment. H had his yesterday - same story. We both were remembering how bad he felt when he had his first one - he was almost gagging with the medicine then!

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Just had my 10 year colonoscopy using Sutab. Prep not bad, especially compared with drinking the vile liquid. I spent way too much energy worrying about it.

But…I could have done without the phone call as I sat in the parking lot during the big storm on Monday morning waiting for the doors to open. A very apologetic worker said that they had no power and would need to reschedule the procedure.

Fortunately, she called back 5 minutes later and said the power was back on and it was a go (so to speak)!

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I actually fret over the IV needle too. The nurse at first though the stick might have to be redone - I think she did some kind of scan to check it.

I have on a few occasions come very close to passing out when an IV is started (never had a problem with other needles - drawing blood etc.) I think it is a sudden blood pressure drop? This past colonoscopy I told the nurse Hey I might pass out - so she reclined the chair and was extra careful when she started the IV (and kept on checking on me). I was fine this time.

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Here’s a good list:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15637-gastrointestinal-soft-diet-overview

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OMG. I mean, really, OMG. That’s horrible. What an awful five minutes you must have had.

They are actually pretty different. WIth blood draws, the phlebotomist only needs to get the tip of the needle into the vein in order to gain access and do what is needed.

With an IV, you have to have a certain length of straight vein in order to thread the cathether into it. It will need to stay in place for the duration of the procedure. Veins that are extremely small, torturous, collapse easily, or roll make starting an IV much more difficult than a simple blood draw. I can see why it would be harder on you than getting blood drawn. I don’t like it either when I’m the patient! :slight_smile:

Thanks for the explanation. I have very small veins that collapse and roll during any kind of blood draw or IV insertion. Even when I explain my situation beforehand and ask for the IV expert, it doesn’t always work out. It took 5 tries to get the IV inserted for my last colonoscopy. I was beside myself and almost hopped off the table and ran out.

I can relate. I just learned recently that it runs in my family on my dad’s side! We all have difficult veins.

Please tell anyone experiencing any of these symptoms to raise hell with their PCP ! Better safe than dead.

While some of the symptoms mentioned are not very specific and could result in lots of false alarms if every instance led to suspecting colon cancer, the blood in the stools mentioned is the usual big warning sign for colon cancer.

Ya sure ya betcha!! Blood is bad. You know what? No one needs to wait until blood shows up. Better safe than sorry. If your PCP tells you you are an alarmist when you bring up health concerns… change the PCP!

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