Check 6

Thought I would share this with the NIB as I am here more often than other subforums, though it wouldn't be out of place on all the subforums. It is early for the annual reminder I know, but I turned 50 last November and had my colonoscopy today. Large mass found and scheduled for next available surgery. The prep is pretty miserable, but you never know. I was feeling fine until getting that news.

I'm only 30, but I had to have my first colonoscopy last May (when I was 29). I was suddenly anemic, and after some testing a colonoscopy was ordered. The test found inflammation and damage to 1/3 of the colon. A short time after that, I began losing weight, muscle mass, and I wasn't properly absorbing nutrition.

After a whole mess of other tests (and every GI test that can be done, apparently), a few more hospital stays, and doctor visits that numbered into the double digits, it was finally determined that I had an autoimmune condition that was just tearing my body up, ramping up the inflammation in my intestines, bones, and muscles to levels off the charts. The pain it caused was hell. Getting on the right treatment regimen took a LOT of doctors and a lot of tries, and currently I'm still recovering, months later, with a pill regimen and physical therapy 3x a week.

It wasn't cancer, and I'm very glad for that, but it was still wreaking havoc on my body. And I would've died without proper treatment. And it all started from an intestinal bleed that I didn't even know I had.

Yes, the prep is hell. I had to do mine in-hospital, and the GI doc said it would be "no big deal." It was far from that. But I'm still glad I went through it, because it started the ball rolling.

I wish you luck in your treatment. Hopefully they get it all in one go, and you will be right as rain before long.

Kevan said:

I'm only 30, but I had to have my first colonoscopy last May (when I was 29). I was suddenly anemic,...

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Thanks and best wishes to you on your recovery.

Funny thing was when I went for my annual physical they found I was anemic. Just put me on iron but because I qualified for the colonoscopy because of my age I decided to have it done.

wishing you both the best, glad you guys got check out and hope for a speedy recovery

Mr5x5, what ever it is, you are gonna be just fine. You've caught it early. The next time you see your Doc, have alittle fun. Instead of bringing up football, tell him how happy you are to see him. Ask him if he'd like you to go ahead and bend over. Mind you, this will only have great comedic affect if some one else is with him.

syngent said:

wishing you both the best, glad you guys got check out and hope for a speedy recovery

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+1 My best wishes to the both of you!

I had my first 50 year old colonoscopy about a year ago. They found nothing bad, just 5 small polyps but those could have turned in to something bad. I urge everyone to get theirs. The prep is no fun but you've been through worse when you've been sick. The procedure itself is nothing. They used conscious sedation with me and I fully woke up with about 10 minutes left. No big deal at all. I got to watch the monitor which was actually pretty cool. I did have to ask the doc to apply a bit more lube! Hope everything works out great for you guys!

Been there twice, once at age 48 and again 10 years later earlier this year. No sweat.

Glad they found it early. Speedy recovery to both of you guys.

Sppedy recovery to the 2 of youse

All the best for you both. My father had colon cancer, so I've already had 5 colonoscopies. I'm recovering from a broken wrist and finger and heel, so I don't consider a couple hours of having the runs a dramatic preparation.

Thanks everyone for their well-wishes. Although it was touch & go over the summer, I think the doctors and therapists have gotten the upper hand on this condition. Finally. Autoimmune conditions can be tricky beasts, and mine certainly is. My GI doctor wanted to do an article on me before a rheumatologist (the 2nd one I saw) finally figured out that I have some form of spondyloaropathy. And it was doing more than attacking my bones; it was wreaking havoc on my entire body and causing problems in my GI tract too, and all sorts of other stuff.

I've said it before on the forum, but most here probably don't know that I'm handicapped. I have cerebral palsy (thankfully relatively mild). This condition caused it to go absolutely crazy. And the rather good mobility I had my entire life was taken away from me. So the therapy and the drug regimen will hopefully work together for me to get it back. It's progressing nicely, but I'm an impatient person that's being forced to be patient.

The moral of the story is, stuff could be lurking in the shadows and you don't even know. It doesn't even matter what age you are. I was feeling completely fine, blissfully unaware of the bomb inside me that was about to blow up. Even though I know NOW that there were signs stretching back to 2013 of the coming storm, you need to keep up on your blood tests, and also pay attention to little things your gut (the literal one) is trying to tell you.

Of course though, my thoughts are most with Mr5x5, as he is dealing with a far fiercer beast. Good thing they caught it early!

Now how do we get our little Check 6 badge-thingy?

I believe March is the colon cancer awareness month, IIRC. You just have to post about getting checked during that time frame to get the badge which lasts for awhile then it disappears some time later. My wife has rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease and it affects far more than her joints, to include the GI tract.

Best wishes to both of you for quick & full returns to good health.

There are many med tests that are overused; this is NOT one of them. This one saves lives!

The prep stinks, but I've had polyps removed each time, so I'm glad to go every second year now.

To the rest of you: when your doctor tells you to get a colonoscopy, just do it.

This is a topic that cannot be discussed often enough. Having had several myself at a relatively young age due to family history, the complaints about the prep are overblown. You hate to hear that the docs found something, but then I'm glad that they did. At the very least, it gives you a chance to fix what they found. Good luck on the next steps, Mr5x5 and Kevan.

Good luck to you, Mr 5x5 and have a swift and full recovery. My brother just underwent the same surgery and he's recuperating nicely. I've been having my colonoscopy exams since I turned 50. Once you go through it once, prep for the second (or third, or fourth) time is no big deal.

50 this year.
Time for the first.

Prayers for a successful surgery and for healing.

Just an update. Pathology showed malignancy and the CT scan showed a spot on my liver. They aren't sure about the liver spot, might be fat spot so they moved the surgery back to the 26th so the liver specialist can take a look at it while they have me open. They will also be removing the right third of my colon which was more than anticipated. Thanks for the prayers and kind words.

I had 18 inches removed along with all the lymph nodes etc.....that was 26 years ago. My thoughts and prayers with you