I Dodged A Bullet And Need To Get The Word Out...Please Let Me!

Hi Opal During the whole time I am sure you were so worried as test after test to finally find the polyps. I am glad you had a great doctor who took the time and patiently thoroughly examined and did all the right testing. I don't blame you for not wanting to wait the full five years as I think if it were me I would want to push for way sooner and continually pester to test more often. I do know that they don't but my mentality and obsession would want it. lol You are right with being proactive towards our health as you are proof that anything caught sooner then later has far more chances of being cured then not. I do hope you can now be a tiny bit of ease, at least now you know where the issue stemmed from and will not neglect any future testing. When it is time for me to go and be tested, though it sounds like it is not pleasant I will definitely keep in mind that it is my life I will be gambling with if I do not bare it and grin.

I know that being tested for colon cancer is most important. I had pains ion my right side too b ut what the coloscopy showed was diverticulitis which means I have small pouches in my colon but no cancer.also I am not to eat nuts, corn,seedy fruits specially black berries. I found that out the hard way. I woke up one morning and had bleeding diarrhea and when it did not stop on the weekend I got in to see my doctor actually one of his fellow doctors,. when he examined me he saw the liquid stool with bright red blood on my panties.I was put in a cab and sent to the ER at once. I after numerous tests all day was admitted that day to the hospital. I was there five days and four blood transfusions before the barium enema that flushed out the hard pack of blackberry seeds that had nicked an artery and almost killed me from loss of blood,. I have never ever ate another fresh blackberry since. after that seige in the hospital I was sent to have a colonoscopy to be sure I did not have any cancer or precancerous polyps and I was free of any problems.

This is an important test for people over 50 to get. Most insurances still do not pay for it, but Medicare will pay part or most of it, every five years. I have taken my sister and my husband for theirs this year. Both had some reasons for concern but it turns out both have a clean bill of health.

I am so thankful that your GYN found those polyps. I have a very high regard for these young people. One found that the Boss had fibroidswhen nobody else could be bothered. Your message is well made and I hope that women (and men) here take heed.

I'm glad they were able to find it before it turned into cancer. I hope your other GYN issue turns out okay too!

WOW Opal26...I'm sooo glad you're OK. I see people with colon cancer[ every day and it's not a pretty site, neither is any cancer. You think working in a Hospice with terminal ill cancer patients would make me go to the doctor more often NOT, I'm terrible when it comes to doctors, I never even had a mammogram. I made 2 appointments and canceled both of them. I will seriously think about going to get checked out soon. Stay well Missybear

Thank you for posting on this VERY important topic! I'm so glad you "dodged a bullet" and I have a feeling this discussion just might help at least a few others do the same. My husband also had a polyp a few years ago when he had his first colonoscopy. He didn't say so if the doctor told him the polyp was pre-cancerous but I know they can and do turn into cancer so I guess he dodged one too and the only reason he and I both went for the test, despite knowing it was time for us to start doing so, was that our daughter's doctor scolded us for not having done so. Kristie has Crohn's Disease and it was during one of her many hospitalizations we happened to be there when her doctor came in and we got to talking and the next day called his office to set up appointments. (Mine was fine except for I have a mild case of diverticulosis.) My poor daughter had had more of those awful tests while still in her thirties than most of us would in a dozen lifetimes but at least we know she doesn't have colon cancer! Annie

Three cheers for you. Colonoscopies aren't pleasant, for sure, but they are vital. I forced a friend to go for one a year or two ago, and they found polyps. She was so glad I made her go. She's still having problems and is scheduled for a CT next week. I hope they find out what's wrong with her. She's so bloated she looks about 12 months preggie. Again, I'm glad they found yours before they got worse.

Opal I applaud you immensely for two reasons! One for going through the test yourself AND for not being quiet about it!! This is what the world needs!! A voice to say "Hey! I did it and this is what happened, you need to do it too!" The more the world hears it the more the people will come around and realize that it's just another part of our bodies and there's nothing to be ashamed of! Good for you!! I'm so proud to call you my friend!

So I guess they're going to have to do something to remove them? Or did they do that right away when they found them. Yep, thank goodness they found them now....

Good morning, Opal. I am so glad your tests turned out as they did. U are very blessed they did the colon test & were able to do what they did. I have never had it done but am sure i need to. U take care of yourself & stay well.

oh i know about that. John, my late hubby just did not go often enough and he did have the colon cancer that got him. he also had pain in his side and many illnesses with his stomach. it still doesnt make me look forward to the test. i had it 5yrs ago myself. it was terrible. they did find the polopse and H-Pylori was still there. the problem mostly with me though is im so allergic to so many anti biotics, i hate going through the H-Pylori cure again. ive been through it twice and it just seems to come back. now im having more stomach problems from the Naproxen for my bursitis and not sure i can take anti biotics. so i called the doc today to see if i can take something easier on my stomach. like you im really sick of the stomach problems. so are you feeling better now?

Thank goodness for that doctor! So many doctors rush us in and out and don't find things like that. I know that a lot of people don't know it but a woman's yearly exam does not include a test for ovarian cancer. It has to be requested or suspected. That is one of the most dangerous cancers we can get. I am so glad that you had a good doctor that cared enough to go the extra mile.

Opal, you are luckier than you know! My sister-in-law had chronic gastric trouble, and when she finally went to see a doctor, she had a large colon tumor. She was only 40 at the time. She had to undergo surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, have a medication dispensing pump implanted in her chest, another surgery to have a waste disposable bag installed. After a year, when the cancer turned up clean, she had to have more surgery to remove the implants. The big problem then was to teach herself toilet training all over again, with a large part of the colon missing, which is no joke at all! Two years of agony, and now a checkup every six months. A lot of people don't survive colon cancer, but even if you do, it can be hell! Wouldn't wish it on anyone. Please take Opal's advice and take the test!

Wow--you can thank your lucky stars with that GYN doc for suggesting you get a Colonoscopy, since the other docs didn't seem to be all that concerned or make any such suggestions to at least do a follow up one after that six years passed. I have a different story and related to my mother. She was an outpatient to the hospital near me and not only went to see docs, but a social worker and even psychiatrist...there was one large major problem, she never signed a proxy that would have allowed me any intervention in her "clinical care"--interpretation they could only rely on what she was telling them, and from what I gather, never much. Then around 2003 she started a "bulimic" thing...yeah, that's right, she would eat her meals and I'd watch her race to the kitchen, stick her finger down her throat to chuck up--I tried to contact her docs, her social worker, her psychiatrist but was totally ignored--they wouldn't even talk to me on the phone. I even wrote and sent a LONG letter to the Executive Director of the hospital explaining everything. All I got back was a letter from the Director of Patient Relations "Due to the Hipaa Privacy Laws, we may not discuss your mother's clinical care with you. Thank you for sharing your concerns with us." Gee thanks for nothing Anyway, my mother's bulimic behavior continued for two years--I still tried to contact everyone without success..then a "fluke" thing happened. Long story short, in June 2005 I had to call 911 for my mother (she had completely passed out) and we went zooming over to the ER...long story short again..it was the FIRST time I had any say in anything...I especially told all the docs about her bulimic behavior...while she was at the hospital for two weeks one test given to her was to have a camera go down her esophagus...guess what? She had tumors there..THAT'S WHY she became bulimic...NOT due to a psychological reason but a medical reason. Now if the jerks had listened to me for those two years, they could have discovered the tumors LONG time ago and no doubt pre-cancerous, but now the tumors were stage 4, and yes she passed on in Aug. 27, 2006. I guess I'm relating all this, since I think it's important other people intervene SOMEHOW in the care of someone else, something I wasn't able to do, due to my mother's stupid stubbornness in not signing a proxy. It was later I found out, when I contacted a mental health organization and I mentioned the problems I had had that a person wrote back saying, that while my mother's docs/social worker/psychiatrist couldn't discuss my mother's clinical care, they should have at least listened and investigate into the matter

Glad you got a good doctor that took time to get everything taken care of....and thanks for the warning! It sometimes helps to get things done when you know that its someone you know!

Opal26, I am glad for you and that you've managed to dodge the bullet here. A lot of times, people have taken the easy way out and/or deem that the mandatory body checkups to be unnecessary or a waste of money. I encourage you to share this with your friends and relatives for your decision to follow up had actually saved you from a world of problems. Hope all will be well with time. Take care and have a nice day.

I have never wanted to have a colonoscopy. Recently I was at the doctor for a check-up and he mentioned having one. I was reluctant, but finally gave in since I had promised a friend (who had colon cancer) and also since my mother had a bout with her colon as well. The doctor prescribe the powdered stuff that you mix with GatorAde. At first it wasn't bad, the flavor was fine. It was just that you had to drink so much in such a short amount of time. I had a hard time getting it all down. Then after that I was just miserable. I felt HORRIBLE the whole evening! I swore I would never do it again! The next day when I had the colonoscopy it was a breeze compared to what you go through the prevous day. Everything was fine though. I came out with a clean bill of health, which I was thankful for. And yes, most likely I will do it again, but not for many years!! I'm glad that you dodged the bullet and that you found the polyps early. Someone up above was watching over you! Good luck in the future!

Hey Sweetie, I am so happy you found these problems in time. 3 years ago I had my first colonoscopy and the dr. found 1 polyp(non-cancerous). But I was told to have another in 3 yrs. So I did and I was clear. So I am supposr to have another in 5 yrs. I'm surprised that they told you 5 yrs. for the next test. You should make it 3 yrs. I'm planning to close my mylot account but I have your email and ereally want to keep in touch. Leenie

Here comes the late bro! Thank goodness for the thorough exam! And thank goodness for being led to this new GYN! Our lives are complicated enough that we don't need another drama for health reasons. I'm just glad that you found out soon enough. And that you really dodged a bullet. My age is getting up there, and I know I should go through tests too, but just haven't found the time yet. Maybe one of these days.