We've decided that we should try to get doctors for our "normal" needs in the Mesa area as we are anticipating that we will be located here for a few months each winter.
Both of us were due for a colonoscopy. We had tried to schedule an appointment in the spring, but, weren't able to get it scheduled (oh bummer -- not!). So...
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... we both had appointments just over a week ago Thursday at the Gastroenterology place for the initial consultation.
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We went in together, so the doctor only had to tell us the information once, and then we each got to hear the questions and answers for each other.
My colonoscopy was supposed to have been done in 2023 -- 10 years after my previous one. This implies that I had no polyps when my previous colonoscopy was done in Dallas. Carl had his last colonoscopy in 2019. The doctor who did it seems to now be out of business, but Carl thought he was supposed to get one done again in 5 years, which probably meant that he had polyps either in 2019 or when a previous colonoscopy was performed.
Evidently the presence of polyps means that cancer could grow -- so they remove polyps if you have them during the colonoscopy. The doctor also told us that colonoscopies are only recommended up until you are 75 as the cancer that may result from the polyps is slow growing and "something else" would probably take you before the colon cancer even if it was found after 75 (this is Patti's interpretation of what he said). However, if you are quite healthy with no other comorbidities, you can choose to continue having regular colonoscopies up to your 90s. (He mentioned a patient who continues to be very active and very healthy and is choosing to continue to have colonoscopies.) For anyone who has never had a colonoscopy, let me just say that the prep for it is the worst part of it (totally cleaning out your digestion system), and I have a hard time imagining that I would continue having colonoscopies after age 75!!!
My previous colonoscopy also had an endoscopy (looking in from the "other" end) -- I had been having problems with anemia at that time and they were trying to figure out if I was losing blood somewhere -- never found any reason for the anemia so I just take a multi-vitamin with iron to resolve the anemia.
You must have a "responsible adult" to take you to and from the surgery center so we were not allowed to schedule our colonoscopies on the same day. We did fill our "prep" prescriptions at the same time, and when I went in to pick them up, the pharmacist said, "Oh! You're doing it together!" - and then realized that we probably weren't. Carl had told me to ask the pharmacist if there were any "side effects" of the prep, and she assured me that, "Yes, there is a definite side effect!"
Since mine was supposed to have been completed in 2023, I elected to do mine first. It turned out that there was an available appointment for this past Monday morning, so I took it. That meant only clear liquids and Jello for me on Sunday (but not with any red or blue dyes -- I found only the Fry's store brand of orange gelatin had neither red or blue dyes), and then prep all evening. We were glad to have our park model "casa" so I could use the bathroom there for most of the evening.
Carl took me to the surgery center on Monday morning -- they ask you to check in an hour before your procedure, so we were in the waiting room for a while...
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... in addition, you see that red dot on the board? That indicates that my doctor was running 30+ minutes late... |
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Carl got a picture of the poop-decoration on the end of one of the pens that could be used to sign paperwork.
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No issues with my colonoscopy -- so I don't have to do another one for 10 years, and I'll be 75 then so it will be my last one! Hurrah!!
I really was not hungry at all on Sunday -- and not on Monday -- but I was VERY thirsty (the prep has a lot of salts in it). Before Carl goes for his, we want to find out whether he could have water after the prep. I was craving brewed sweet tea, so asked to go to Cracker Barrel on our way home...
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Chicken 'n' dumplings -- good comfort food! Seasoned green beans and turnip greens on the side - yum!
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Carl had Country Fried Turkey (I guess it is a fall special option) - he liked his dinner too!
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I got a good nap in the afternoon and was back to feeling myself by evening.
Carl gets to look forward to his colonoscopy in about 3 weeks...