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Constipation folo & Tortuous colon

Hi this is a folo to a constipation problem and fear of endoscopy/colonoscopy. Well I had these tests done the other day, and to my dismay, found out that I do have a hiatal hernia, and a tortuous colon? Does anybody have any idea with a tortuous colon indicates as in surgery? I am told it is caused by my years of constipation, it elongated my colon/intestinal tract?
Also, I read in papers (mine) that my colon was dialated, can anyone enlighten me on that...I wont' see specialist till a few weeks. Finally, the endoscopy was fine, but I had a nightmare of a colonoscopy, at some point, I could feel sharp poking near my diaphragm and hernia, so bad, that I screamed for them to stop, and in my sedated haze, grabbed the arm of the assitant to stop the poking, they continued and I screamed (dunno if it was audible,but I felt like I was crying under sedated state)..Later I was told that my colon is so spastic, that they couldnt reach where they needed to, and need to do a barium enema (oh no!)
Was this a bad colonoscopy gone wrong, or should I believe my colon is so spastic, that it was impossible for the scope to get through near diaphragm?

Today, that area is sore, and I feel very weak...and bloated.

Thanks for any words of wisdome
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Avatar universal
I too have a tortuous, long colon. In my case I don't have medical insurance because I can't find an underwriter. I live in a territory of the US and we don't have access to health exchanges under ACA.  I opted for a barium enema vs colonoscopy because of the price differential.  Believe me it was a tortuous procedure because of my colon length! I would pay 10x more in order to not have such discomfort.  It took 2 hours and was very uncomfortable.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just had mine this morn.  They used the same drug.  I also have tortorous redundant bowel.  Piece of cake.  They also removed a polyp.  This was my 3rd one over the last 14 years with 2 different docs.  I never woke up or had any pain.  If you do, find a new doctor.
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1704915 tn?1357601254
You sound alot like me.. check out my story here.. still trying to find answers myself.. 14 tests and 7 doctors/surgeons later...

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Undiagnosed-Symptoms/Undiagnosed-Digestive-Issues/show/1739309?personal_page_id=2196886
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Avatar universal
After 2 sessions in the hospital to clean me out, I am wondering if anyone has had any success in keeping their colon working  enough to avoid this type of problem.  I know I am in trouble again, but my physician seems to think 3/4 cap of Mirolax a day plus 2 now 3 Dulcolax "no more than twice a week" and suppositories "not every day" could be my solution.  That would be fine if it worked, but I am miserable.  I'm looking for a second, well really a third opinion.  Cleveland Clinic is on my list, but I need help NOW.  Has anyone had any success with a special diet.  I think I would do fine if I did not have to eat to live.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Avatar universal
I have just been informed that I have a Tortuous Colon. The nurse who phoned me did not know what it was so I typed in into Google not expecting to find anything! Very interesting that it seems to be fairly common. Many people with symptoms will not get to the colonoscopy stage, I was referred via the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, as blood was observed in the test sample. The colonoscopy was horrendously painful at the splenic flexure stage [ just under the stomach and diaphragm]. I had opted for Entonox which means you have some sort of control and are not so heavily sedated. They still give buscapan to relax the bowel. Had I not been aware of the obstruction and experienced more pain than ever before, the camera may have pierced the bowel!! As it was I had to really scream STOP and try to get the nurse who was pressing really hard trying to get the camera round the bend to STOP. I was then reffered for a CT scan the next day and to stay on clear fluids until after the Scan. This revealed the tortuous bowel!
Prior to this have been constipated more over the past 3 - 4 years.
What I find relieves it best is Aloe Vera juice, I get mine from Cytoplan, I put 25 mls Aloe Vera in a pint sized beaker and sip it throughout the day.
I have more normal bowel movements with much less discomfort. Also Actimel or similar.
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Avatar universal
NO!   Doctors guessing is what has most of us self diagnosing ourselves.  Your vegetarian lifestyle did not cause your tortuous colon.  I have always been a small eater, exercised since I was a young teen and pooped once a day.   In 1987, I had my daughter after a very easy pregnancy.  In 1989, went into the LASD Academy.  Everyday,  after three hours of physical training, we were ordered to sit and eat the largest meal I had ever had.   After two months I was ordered to go see a doctor to find reason for my lack of energy during PT.   X-ray revealed I had not had a bowel movement for weeks. . . .I was completely full of crap (doctors words) and the tech said if she pulled on the end of my colon, it would be one big knot.  Back then, there were not a lot  of colonoscopies being performed.  Therefore, the name, tortuous colon is really new.  After my colonoscopy in 2011 . . Being diagnosed with Tortuous Colon and researching intensely, I know that coffee, juicing, small whole food meals well chewed, exercise and hand stands have me feeling normal again.  Note that flax oil and coconut oil are healthier than any laxative.
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Avatar universal
According to my gastro doc, tortuous colon is caused by too much fiber.  A lot of vegetarians eventually have a tortuous colon.  I'm not a vegetarian, but have eaten lots of fiber for many years, because I thought it was good for me.  I just ate too much of it, I guess.  Anyway, this year, I just started to suffer from constipation and my doc says it's because I now have a tortuous colon.

And there is no excuse for pain during a colonoscopy.  I've had two and never felt a thing, but I have a great doc and get just enough sedation. I think I'm in and out, but mostly out, during the procedure
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Avatar universal
Donna,
I have had more than 20 years of bowel issues including more than 30 obstructions (long story) After years of pain, intermittent consitpation and loose bowels, i just accepted that i would never be normal.  Well, my syptoms worsened these past few months so they decided to do a colonoscopy.  I was given 10 of versed and 150 of fentanyl and was still writhing and screaming through the procedure which had to be stopped, not only due to my pain, but because he couldn't navigate.  I was diagnosed with a torturous colon and they have now ordered me to have a CT Colography next week.  I am worried with my history that I would have to have colon surgery.  Sounds like you are having surgery...what is your experence with this.
Thanks.

genie52768
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Avatar universal
Hello,
I just want to give you an update on my colonoscopy experiences.  As I said, I had rectal cancer which requires regular colonoscopies after surgery.  (I posted in the past here about this).
I had another one coming up and I was sick with anxiety about it because the others were quite painful to the point that I had chest pain.
I faxed my surgeon a letter outlining how horrible this was for me and that he had to do something to prevent this from happening again.
On the day of the colonoscopy he told me he got my message and said he would give me more medication but I had to sign a waiver to get it.  I signed it in a flash.  Anything to not go through that pain again.
After it went into my IV I woke up sitting in a chair.  A nurse asked me what I was doing and I told her I was waiting for my colonoscopy.  She said I already had it done!  She said that I did talk through it and called my surgeon "Pinky" which is the name of my beloved Chihuahua.  I wouldn't call anyone Pinky if they were hurting me.  
Anyhow, I have no memory of the procedure and was elated that it all happened without any horror stories to share later.
Moral of the story is:
TELL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR PAIN AND DEMAND SOMETHING IS DONE TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is my  experience: I had severe pains day and night in my left upper abdomen. My first colonoscopy was 16 years ago. My husband was outside and said I screemed all the way through it. I remember the nurse asking me, with a very conserned face as I came to, if I had felt pain. I was'nt aware of any, only the next five days or so I woke up every morning with doubling-over pain and I was extremly nautious. I had to take strong pain killers to cope with the pain.
    Since this doctor said he didn't find anything, also an endoscopy done two days earlier found nothing, blood tests showed a slight elivation for the pancreas and I began to take emzymes. The pain did not return until some months later. I had a second colonoscopy as a follow-up for pain again, nothing. Pain continuously coming back, I had another colonoscopy 9 years ago and was told I had I had IBS and an elongated descending colon. The following year another colonoscopy and they told me my colon was closed in four places and they had to masage it to continue the procedure, Diagnosis: mega colon, elongated colon, IBS, gastritous, all probably caused by stress and nerves. One doctor told me the pain was all in my mind.
   Having sever constipation, strugling to go a little once a week with normalax,ducalax, and water bottle, I tried Metemucel,Citricel, special high fiber diets, some quite costly to do it the natural way with no results. I have eaten large doses of every food recomended for constipation with no results.
    Now my husband and I know why. Going for my fifth colonoscopy; the preparatory solutions did not work, and I was hospitalized to clean out my colon. The doctor decided to do a barium enema exame instead of the colonoscopy, thank God.  It took two hours because my colon is so messed up the barium solucion could'nt even move through the colon without turning me all about and messaging it through my intestines. My ascending colon is pretty good with only a few twists but my transverse colon goes across makes a sharp turn and comes all the way back across, then another sharp turn and returns to the descending colon side, makes a loop then zig zags down to the sigmoid and makes two more loops. I am appalled that none of these doctors asked for the barium enema when they had so many problems with the colonoscopy. They could have ruptured my colon by forcing their way through. All that I am reading on my condition says it is not a colonoscopy procedure. I think everyone should get a barium enema first to see what the overall picture is before the doctor starts forcing a camera through the colon. I have suffered for 19 years with colonoscopies thinking it was just my nerves. I could have died of an emergency situation before now with my extremly complicated digestive tract. Please think about a barium enema exame to get the lay of the land first.
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Avatar universal
I wish everyone luck with their colonoscopies.  I never really suffered from constipation for the first 48 years but new I must digest slow. I knew this due to prep from previous surgeries. The prep would kick in when it was time to operate but they wold just postpone surgery for an hour or so.

It was a completely different story for my colonoscopy!  I had to postpone it 3 times!!  They had me drinking so much prep I actually gained 5 lbs!!  It's not that I didn't go at all. I just didn't run clear!  On the third day, they had me drink 18 (yes 18) doses of Miralax at once, chased by Gatorade.  I was miserable and still was not totally clear!  I told them I couldn't handle another day of this prep and they told me to come in and they would do it anyway.  It turned out I had a tortorus colon, also dilated a little? (was that from the prep?)  Anyway, the colonoscopy wasn't painful. but my system was so messed up, it took me over a week to go the bathroom again!  I was so afraid I was going to get a twisted colon in the mean time!  It's been almost a year, and I still have to take Miralax 2x a day just to go!  Did anyone else have trouble with the prep taking so long to work?  He (the Dr.) said it was due to the tortorus colon but I haven't heard that with the rest of you!?!  I am so obsessed with going to the bathroom now (not fun!).  I think my colon is messed up from carrying babies and prior hernias and such.  Also, I have always been thin and active but I now have a distended stomach.  Is that due to the enlarged colon??  I don't want to die from a twisted colon and a lot of crap some day! Any answers would help. Drs. just blab and don't really answer.
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Avatar universal
I just had my second colonoscopy and it ALSO was not clear. Doc said I had a torturous colon. I'm furious as I don't understand why the first colonoscopy didn't reveal that. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

eddie stinson
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Avatar universal
I have just returned home from my first colonoscopy and am appalled to hear that anyone had to suffer from this procedure. Not only was the prep tolerable ( I did dulcolax and (2) 10 oz. bottles of lemon magnesium citrate - no cramps or anything) I did eat lightly for a few days prior and started stool softners a couple of days ahead to speed up the process. Anyway, when I went in, was administered a saline IV drip for about 20 minutes. Then into procedure room. Turned on my side, was given IV propofol, and woke up in recovery 45 minutes later. The entire procedure itself was only 23 minutes, and that was with a "tortuous and redundant colon with spasm, and sharply angulated segments and myochosis". He also took out 3 polyps and had to use an irrigant and extra gas to get a cleaner look. I SWEAR the propofol was fantastic, absolutely no pain, no recall and no after effects. In fact I slept for an extra 1/2 hour, popped right up and walked out 10 minutes after I woke up. Perhaps I was lucky, but I used this doctor because so many of my employees (who are bigger chickens than I) used him and raved about the "painless" procedure. Ask about the use of propofol for sedation - I have read that some insurance companies will not cover for this anesthesia, but in NY (I have Healthnet and my employees BC/BS and or medicare) it is commonly used with great results. Good luck and good health in the future.
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Avatar universal
I also have a twisted "tortuous" colon due to chronic constipation according to my surgeon.
I just had another colonoscopy a few days ago and the pain was so bad that I started screaming and also had severe left shoulder pain.  When the doctor heard about the shoulder he said "she's having chest pain" and stopped.  Chest pain is frequently referred to the left shoulder, jaw or arm.
I too have FMS.  The first time I had the colonoscopy he said the pain was from a twisted bowel.  Rectal cancer was found and my rectum and a large piece of colon was removed. My doc said this would take away the twisting.  Well, the next colonoscopy, I requested a larger dose and I managed to get through it with manageable pain.  The one I had a few days ago was so painful that if they don't agree to do something about this problem I will self medicate prior the test. I have to keep getting regular colonoscopies because of the rectal cancer.  My sister said she slept through her test.  During the test he asked the nurse to press on my stomach while he was inserting the scope.  The pain became unbearable when she did this and I begged her to stop pushing, which she did.  I don't think the medical staff realize how painful this was for me.  I feel traumatized after colonoscopies. I will have a long talk with my surgeon next time I see him and demand that something be done so that I don't have to go through this ever again.
I feel badly for you since I know how terrible it can be.  It really is torture!
I suggest that people like us have a long talk with the doctor prior to the test and then remind them at the beginning of the test what plan was made to prevent this horror show from ever happening again.  
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Avatar universal
Hi Julie, I had a colonoscopy just a week ago. I had the 2 days prior fasting and bowel prep. I cannot remember a thing about the procedure apart from them putting a mask on my face so I must have either been sedated or maybe it's that amnesia you are talking about. Nevertheless I felt no pain at all and have had not a problem with the procedure. I must have a very good doctor here in Australia. I was diagnosed as having a normal colonoscopy with a long tortuous colon, and my symptoms are constipation for over a decade. I manage the constipation with Metamucil every day. I am sorry to hear you had a very bad experience but please just change doctors rather than never undergoing the procedure again. It could save your life. My grandmother and my aunty died of colon cancer and bowel cancer, and there was a lot of excruciating pain in the long leadup to that. Therefore, pain for one day that could lead to detecting early signs of cancer could save you from an early death and far more pain, embarrassment and discomfort later on.
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Avatar universal
I had my first and last colonoscopy two days ago.  I have never felt such pain in my life and I have never been treated so unkindly by medical "professionals".  I was given Fentonol and Versed apparently in the highest dozes as the pain increased on the way up to the upper 10% area of my colon.  By blowing air in that region I could not believe the pain.  I started crying and telling them they were hurting me.  They told me to take a deep breath which I could not because the air felt as though it was trapped right under my ribs.  Two people started manually pushing on my stomach.  At that I point I started screaming to stop and they finally did.  I think they thought I would forget all of this pain due to the Versed.  Well I did not forget the pain and the rough handling even in recovery.  This was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Kwan of the San Jose Medical Group in California.  I was told I had a tortuous spastic issue on a followup phone call the day after - I told this person she was definitely correct as far as the TORTURE that was inflicted upon me.  This facility also appeared to be some kind of assembly line operation - I was really appalled with the staff and when they conducted themselves.  Perhaps they think if they give everyone Versed no one will remember a damn thing.

I've heard from so many people that this test is a breeze. Perhaps the Versed worked on them and they don't remember the horrible pain? I've had it before for other procedures and it seemed to work just fine.

I will NEVER do this again and I pray my nightmares of reliving this will end soon.
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1 Comments
I experienced the same thing and the following month they put me under general anesthesia then the doc said I was not cleaned out enough...both times...now mind you, after the first horror I had my husband check the toilet before leaving the house, it was clear and smelled like lemon lime just like it tasted...so I had 2 of these horrible tests a month apart...they did remove a cancerous part that had not penetrated the wall but could get no further...my cecum and illem have issues that show on CT scan and Xray.  They then wanted me to do the small bowel follow through with barium and I checked my insurance and they will not pay for it at the facility they referred me to...10 grand out of pocket...nope...not gonna do it..I have been sick since 2009 and am on disability now  I also have COPD/Emphazema....terminal...so what do you do?
Avatar universal
I have been experencing a sharp shooting pain under my ribs and because of Medicare there is steps that I have to go through in order to get the meds that I need, besides the first dr that was treating me took off for Iran so I have lost all records that current dr needs  in order to treat....I have been totally miserable because my IBS has kick in again.  Really don't know where to turn or what to do at this point in the game.

Zelnorn is what I took first then, Amitiza was the drug last but considered myself lucky as it really hasn't bother me since 7/06 then now boom it hits me and hard.

God bless
cottoncandy
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Avatar universal
VERSED is a horrible drug that many patients can't handle.  It can cause long term mental disorders like PTSD.  If you have never had a reaction like this good for you!   The last thing in the world you want to do is encourage others to just go ahead and have it again, if they have reacted badly to it before!!  Sedation doesn't kill pain!  It disconnects your mind so that the doctors can get their money.  If you weren't sedated and they tortured you like that you would get up and leave.  They can't have that so they give you this drug VERSED and then they can torture you with impunity.  VERSED is a compliance drug and a CYA drug.  It's no good for anything other than EXTREME patient cooperation and (hopefully) amnesia!  All these procedures were done before this nasty drug and you DO NOT have to have it!  
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391685 tn?1200799454
I am SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU~!!! I have tears running down my face....

Now...you take your fleet medicine correctly. They will give you special instruction prior to test. You have to empty your bowls completely before you have this test. Have someone drive you. LET THEM sedate the heck out of you. AND most importantly let me know how your test goes. Friday it is....ok....I'll be waiting with bells on for your response. :)

You have made my day!
Sincerely,

Donna
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Avatar universal
You are one caring person...............After reading your post, I called my doc and she scheduled me for another colonoscopy at the local university hospital.. (Friday!).......Without your input, I never would have done this and I feel badly about using this board to vent a bad experience because it might prevent others from getting this lifesaving test.....Very sorry to hear about your sister; thanks again for caring.....My doc almost fainted when I walked into her office after reading your post to reschedule; she actually pulled me aside and asked what it took to change my mind after such a bad experience.  I told her:  "advice from a friend named Donna"   thanks
Helpful - 0
391685 tn?1200799454
Darn...you were so close! I want to ask you a question about the sedation medication, are you allergic to it?,  or is it you are concerned of nightmares after the procedure? I want to understand this better. And also, Let me be clear. If you did not do the 2 day taking fleet enema cleansing drink and then the doctor does the test in the outpatient hospital instead of a doctors office...then you do not have the right doctor.
I saw a gastronologist specialist. He scheduled a colonoscopy for outpatint procedure AT THE HOSPITAL. I was sedated and it was over within 30-45 minutes. you are GOING to HAVE to be sedated. LISTEN...this is your colon....you can't be sqirmming around on the table while the doctor has a prob inside your rectum...He'll tear something accidentally. THEN you will have serious problems. I want to try and help you. Please don't let other people's experience's of this test let affect the experience of your colonoscopy experience that you have not yet let your self HAVE.....
I want to give you something to think about. seriously... My sister feared needles, hospitals, doctors...the whole works. she inherited my mother's hypertension disease. My mother died over 7 years ago from her disease. My mother took her medicine religiously. My sister, well...she did not. She died last year in her sleep on the couch. Her daughter, Megan 7 years old at the time found her getting ready that mourning for school. It was not "directly" the disease that killed her...it was her fear of of getting treatment for her disease. The pain, more medicines, needles, doctors, more tests, the whole fear thing kept her from getting treatment. SHE could be ALIVE TODAY....if she could of seeked treatment. Now how am I going to explain this to her daughter Megan! So please, I'm begging you. Don't let fear control you like it did me sister. Find a good doctor and get this test done and LET THEM sedate you...If you absolutely wont do a colonoscopy...request a barium enema test. You just drink some stuff and they take pictures of your colon on an x-ray table...no drugs...and you go home within 30-45 minutes. Let me know what you decide. I am routing for you! I'll even recommend my doctor to you if would like his information.He is wonderful! Just let me know. Sincerely...Donna
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Avatar universal
I appreciated your input on your colonoscopy.  Like the friend (also a nurse) who I had escorted for her colonoscopy, I have had a previous terrible reaction to "conscious sedation"......a GI nurse told me that it doesn't work in about 10% of the patients and that they experience pain that ranges from moderate to severe.  But the colonoscopist relys on the fact that the drugs induce "amnesia" of the pain in "most" patients.    (I guess the rest  just have to live with the nightmares).  You post was so convincing, that I called around to find a facility that would do the colonoscopy without sedation (sedation is NOT universal, especially overseas)...anyway, the doc agreeed to do the test without sedation, she said that they do them infrequently that way, but they do indeed do them sometimes without drugs and it usually is no problem.   I did the prep last night (grunt, but not terrible), reported to the hospital this morning, changed, got the IV in and got wheeled into the room and was all ready to have the test.  Even though the doctor agreed to do the test without drugs, I had to grab the syringe that a nurse was trying to inject into my IV; I asked what it was and she said:  "something to relax you" ...I almost flipped out, yelled at the doctor to remind her that this was supposed to be drug-free, which she did, in a very unsupportive manner.....once again, the nurse  tried to inject me, I again resisted and this time out came the IV cannula, blood dripping, 2 people trying to hold my arm down........a nighmare..........especially for the person with the syringe, I think that she got stuck with the IV cannula.......obviously,  no colonoscopy for me......afterwards, as I was dressing, the doctor would only say that she agreed to do the test without drugs, but that I would have been more comfortable with sedation.   So I asked her: do you routinely lie to your patients?   We discussed the no sedation in an office visit, she agreed, I reminded them at the hospital and they tried to do it anyway.   That was wrong.   Now I will never get one.   The icing on the cake is that I have a message on my answering machine; not an apology, just a request that I come in for a blood test (I guess from the blood/cannula issue).   No way.  I'm mad, really mad.   And most people tell me that I'm normally a nice guy, quite calm, MS in med chem, and normally don't flip out.    never agan..
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391685 tn?1200799454
Listen to me very carefully, I am a nurse! and I just had a colonoscopy YESTERDAY!! I have the same symptoms as you for the last 10 years and as it turns out I have a tortuous/redundant colon. The test was a breeze. the doctor said I started to resist during the exam...so he gave me more medicine...I feel asleep in a second...I was out cold and woke up for the nurse to tell me I do not have cancer and out into the car with my husband and slept 6 hours later to wake up in my own bed....piece of cake. You are going to do what I did...what too late and then YOU WILL make your condition worse...like me. I avoided it. I am a nurse..thought I know better...was better than anyone...can't get sick I thought! I was sooooo wrong. I'm only 36 years old. I have my whole life to live. Now I will probably have to have at least 2 surgerys before I am your age...becuase I did not go to he doctor sooner. So PLEASE, do not make my mistake....get your colonoscopy and get it OVER WITH. Sincerely....Donna
Helpful - 0
391685 tn?1200799454
Listen to me very carefully, I am a nurse! and I just had a colonoscopy YESTERDAY!! I have the same symptoms as you for the last 10 years and as it turns out I have a tortuous/redundant colon. The test was a breeze. the doctor said I started to resist during the exam...so he gave me more medicine...I feel asleep in a second...I was out cold and woke up for the nurse to tell me I do not have cancer and out into the car with my husband and slept 6 hours later to wake up in my own bed....piece of cake. You are going to do what I did...what too late and then YOU WILL make your condition worse...like me. I avoided it. I am a nurse..thought I know better...was better than anyone...can't get sick I thought! I was sooooo wrong. I'm only 36 years old. I have my whole life to live. Now I will probably have to have at least 2 surgerys before I am your age...becuase I did not go to he doctor sooner. So PLEASE, do not make my mistake....get your colonoscopy and get it OVER WITH. Sincerely....Donna
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