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Nervous About Upcoming Colonoscopy - Sorry, another whiner

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/12/2008 8:45 PM (GMT -7)
Hi All,

I am getting freaked out about my upcoming colonoscopy. 

Quick recap:  I've had ulcerative proctitis for almost 7 years.  For most of those 7 years, I have been flaring.  Sometimes just a little mucus, sometimes mucus and blood, sometimes just blood.  I have probably been flaring about 75% of the time.

Anyway, seven doctors later, I am finally getting another colonoscopy - I have not had one since I was diagnosed in 2001.

All kinds of thoughts have been running through my mind.  I am getting scared and starting to think and wonder why nothing has worked longer than 5 months, the longest remission I have ever had. 

I have read that the longer you have IBD and flare that your risk for cancer goes up, and that just makes the wheels in my head turn.  But then I have also read that if the disease is limited to your rectum, than your chance of developing cancer is not that much higher than the general population.  But, it's been almost seven years since my last scope.

Anyway, 90% of the time I don't have any pain.  If I do have pain, it's just a little dull ache that comes and goes.  I don't have diarrhea.  My stools are pretty close to perfect when I take my fiber.

Anyway, very sorry about the whining.  I am just really starting to worry.  And I don't even know if the doc is going to come in and talk to me after the scope or not.  I forgot to ask, but I will before I have the scope.  If he doesn't, I am not going to have any idea what things look like until 2-4 days after the scope when someone calls me with the results.  And that would really stink because let's face it, doctors are never in that big of a hurry.  So, I am thinking it will be 4 days.  Since my scope is on a Wednesday, I will have to wait all weekend!  So, I am actually probably going to be worrying/wondering for SIX days!!!

Thanks!

Beth

Posted 6/12/2008 8:54 PM (GMT -7)
Beth, I'm really glad to hear you're having the scope. It will help to make sure the UC hasn't spread beyond the rectum, in which case medication changes may be in order. Also, remember that colon cancer is pretty much 100% curable if discovered early. The chances of your having it are very small. People with pancolitis have about a 4% chance, and with only the rectum involved, your risk is truly about the same as someone with a normal colon. The difference is, because you have UP, if you were to get it, it would be discovered early and taken care of promptly.

Smile, the drugs are good. :-)
Posted 6/12/2008 9:16 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Beth, I know you are nervous but try not to be. I'm sure everything will be O.K. Before you're scope ask if the doc will talk to you after. Mine did and I had my daughter with me in case I was groggy and couldn't remember. I too get nervous right before, it's normal. You're not whining, you are simply talking to vent to people who care. I'll be thinking of you Thursday, Good Luck (: , Bellski
Posted 6/13/2008 2:09 AM (GMT -7)

HI Beth,

Please try not to worry too much since stress isnt going to help your colon. Colonoscopies really are a basic form of examination now and I'm sure that afterwards you will thing "What was I worrying about!?".

One small hint that might help you... I was doing some research into pain perception last year at Uni and I found a paper where they tested people having colonoscopies. The short story is that people rated the examination as less painful when the scope was left in the rectum for 1-3 minutes before complete removal.

Darren

Posted 6/13/2008 1:24 PM (GMT -7)

Thank you so much! 

Your words of encouragement truly mean alot to me.  I am just ready to get this over with.  I am trying to look on it as a positive thing because maybe I will get somewhere.  Anyway, I think this doc has alot of confidence in himself since he sees fit to charge $220 for an office call.  No, I still can't get over that.  Thank goodness I now have insurance.  I went without it for seven years, we have credit card bills out the wazoo because of my UP.

Thanks again,

Beth

Posted 6/13/2008 1:38 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Beth,

Good luck on the colonoscopy! I've had many over the last 25 years and found that I relied on my wife being with me to talk to the GI doc afterward. Versed plus whatever pain meds they use made it almost impossible for me to remember what the doctor said.
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