I wanted to let you all know that this month is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. My mom died of it, my brother has it I don't but I still went in for the colonoscopy because of the risk. I have done some research and found that if you have a history of colon cancer or think you may have it, you go in for your colonoscopy and if you have it and it's found early that you have a greater chance of surviving. Basically the earlier you find it the better chance you can treat it and live a long and healthy life.
Since I have actually had a colonoscopy I can tell you from the experience that it's not as scary as you think. The reason why most people don't go is because they're afraid and uncomfortable about the process. I was very nervous about getting mine done and especially after I was told that I have to take four Dulcolax tablets (which my doctor's office provided for me) by 9am and then I had to also drink 64oz of Gatorade mixed with MiraLAX and had to drink 8oz. every 15 minutes until it's gone. FYI when mixing, use a cleaned out gallon milk jug or else it's a mess and the mixture won't all fit in the bottle.
So after being on an all day liquid diet, water, jello (no purple or red color), chicken broth that it wasn't as bad as I thought. After I take the Miralax I really spent maybe a total of an hour in the bathroom. I still went throughout the night a little and I made sure that I used Vaseline do that way I would be as uncomfortable with going so often. I stayed up until midnight because that's when I had to quit drinking water for the procedure.
My procedure was scheduled for I think 9:30am and I was really starting to have an anxiety attack because I didn't know what to expect, how smooth it was going to go and I was the youngest person there.
The nurse I had was nice because she saw how nervous I was. I was given the IV and waited I think maybe a half hour to go back and I remember meeting the doctor and his nurse and a few minutes after she gave me the meds through the IV, I was out. With the medicine you are given, in there is also something that will give you amnesia. That's why you are not allowed to go anywhere alone, cook, basically just don't do anything because you may/may not forget what you were doing.
When I came to, I talked to "The Hubby" and just kept giving everyone a laugh because I kept asking for my glasses but that story isn't important but you can read it.
I can tell you from experience that the procedure is not that scary. Yeah you are getting something shoved where it's not supposed to be but that's why they knock you out. You won't remember it anyway.
If you have a family history of colon cancer you need to be checked I think I was told 10 years before the age your family was diagnosed. I was told to go in before I turned 28, I went in while I was still 28. If you have something serious like this, you need to take it seriously and get it checked out. If you have a good doctor like I do, take his advice and question or tell if you have any concerns or think you should go in earlier.
Better to hear that you're fine, than find out after waiting so many years because you're scared and then you're told, you have full blown cancer and then you're world is just turned upside down.
Remember that prevention in the best medicine. Doctors say go in when you're 50 years old, I think you should go in way before that whether or not you have a history just because you never know. You go in and if you don't have anything then you will probably wait 5 years for your next round but hey, you get peace of mind. After getting my colonoscopy I have never felt such freedom and now I can really enjoy life and not to be dumb but I'm really looking forward to the next one because I slept great and I was allowed to be lazy and didn't feel bad in the least.
I'm not trying to joke because this is very serious, this is your life that we are talking about. You need to protect it so you can be the best parent, friend, spouse for as long as you are taking care of yourself. Start now! Change your eating habits! Increase your fiber intake, it's not that hard just add Activa to your cereal or add Fibersure to your food. When buying groceries look for stuff that has the highest fiber. Just remember that when taking Fibersure that children under the age or 12 SHOULD NOT TAKE IT. You can change their eating habits now, you'll be golden.
Go out and exercise. I don't mean just go to the gym, ride your bike, clean your house, go gardening. Anything that gets your heart pumping is good. It's not hard to change your habits, you just have to want to change. This cancer is not preventable but is treatable.
Here are some good sites that you can look at:
You can just Google Search colon cancer or whatever you feel you need to do to help yourself understand that you need to take control and not be afraid. I swear that going in for the colonoscopy after it's all done you'll say, "Why was I really afraid? It wasn't that bad." If you have a good, positive support system and you find out bad news, at least you now know and you can begin to to deal with it and make the right decision with the rest of your life.
Remember that the internet does not replace doctors and if you have any questions concerning your health, you need to talk to them.
If you have a story that you would like to share about colon cancer or a colonoscopy whether it's good or bad, please email it to me and that way people can get different accounts from different people. When you do email me and I post your story, unless you tell me to use your name, you will be posted as Anonymous. Please share your stories because people need to hear about you because someone else could be to afraid to talk and when you send it and it's posted, you will be doing a good thing.