Notes on My Colon Cancer • Hacker News Board

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#21

Post by 01100011 » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:23 AM UTC

drewg123 wrote: post #13

whatrocks wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, this, totally this. Even the bowel prep [was] easy and painless [for me -- added this edit]. It's a good excuse to just binge a show, too. I think the traditional guidance has been to go for your first colonoscopy around age 50. My doc mentioned that they're recommending that move down to 45, because they're seeing more and more young people with issues. You should bring this up with you doc if you have any simi…

the bowel prep is easy and painless Bullshit. I've got Crohn's, and have had more colonoscopies than I can count since age 13. About 75% of the time, I'm throwing up due to the prep. The prep is the WORST part. It has gotten better over the years. If you go for one, do NOT let them give you the jug full of powder. I've had much better luck with prep-o-pik. The other PITA is they generally won't let you go for the pro…

Yeah, drinking a gallon of anything that fast is no fun, but the laxative they gave me was terrible. The worst part was that I tried drinking it cold, which made it sit in my stomach and build up, so I ran out of space to drink more. I heated it up, which got things moving again, but made it taste even worse.

I will say though, after having the colonoscopy, my general bowel symptoms(never ending gas, mostly) improved dramatically. I'm thinking about doing a chemical cleanse every year just to keep things working fine.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#22

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:26 AM UTC

stevecalifornia wrote: post #5

Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the f…

[deleted]

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#23

Post by JMTQp8lwXL » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:27 AM UTC

stevecalifornia wrote: post #5

Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the f…

I didn't know it was painful enough to require anesthetic. Consider me mildly more relieved.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#24

Post by xydinesh » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:27 AM UTC

Glad you got through this! I can only image that it is a huge relief. Good luck.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#25

Post by drewg123 » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:28 AM UTC

nerdbaggy wrote: post #14

drewg123 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the bowel prep is easy and painless Bullshit. I've got Crohn's, and have had more colonoscopies than I can count since age 13. About 75% of the time, I'm throwing up due to the prep. The prep is the WORST part. It has gotten better over the years. If you go for one, do NOT let them give you the jug full of powder. I've had much better luck with prep-o-pik. The other PITA is they generally won't let you go for the pro…

The laxatives make you puke? Is it from the flavor/consistency or something else?

After a while, its like your system realizes what you're putting into it and just eventually rejects it. Its not a squeamish thing. I can always swallow all of it. Its just that it comes back up some time (~1 hour) after drinking when I'm near the end of the prep.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#26

Post by uberuberuber » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:32 AM UTC

The specific robot used was likely the da Vinci Xi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q-YQwFjIj0

Nice explanation of how a robotic sigmoid resection is performed: https://youtu.be/LpzxfMRlBVk

Firefly perfusion assessment time-stamp: https://youtu.be/LpzxfMRlBVk?t=1527

Disclosure- Intuitive employee with no specific knowledge about this case.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#27

Post by ern » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:33 AM UTC

I cannot stress this enough: Learn your family's medical history and write it down in a note on your phone. You'll be asked for this info 10,000 times before every single appointment. But, more importantly, your family history can be a signal to you and your docs whether are "higher-risk" for certain conditions.

Doctors I've seen don't really care about anything beyond parents and siblings for family history. They wouldn't bother with grandparents' siblings, as referred to by OP.

Has this changed recently, or is it different for some conditions?

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#28

Post by uranium » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:35 AM UTC

Hey, in addition to all the cancer-survival stuff, congratulations on your marriage!

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#29

Post by dmm » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:36 AM UTC

JMTQp8lwXL wrote: post #23

stevecalifornia wrote: post #5

Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the f…

I didn't know it was painful enough to require anesthetic. Consider me mildly more relieved.

My understanding is that in many places they are regularly performed without anesthetic so they must not be that painful.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#30

Post by graeme » Thu, Oct 22, 2020, 2:38 AM UTC

JMTQp8lwXL wrote: post #23

stevecalifornia wrote: post #5

Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the f…

I didn't know it was painful enough to require anesthetic. Consider me mildly more relieved.

It isn’t. Considered better too do it under a milder sedative in most cases I think as there are fewer side effects.

I checked and general anesthesia seems to he a custom used in some regions of America. I’ve had 3 colonoscopies and been awake for each one. They aren’t painful in the slightest and you get to watch them on screen! Anyone who gets one should talk to their doctor about sedation options.