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Hubby's Colonoscopy Adventure
Jun 27, 2008 12:40PM
- 8 comments
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I suppose it could be worse news, but it ain't great either. Hubby's scope went for over an hour because he has polyps all over the first part of the colon on the right side (the cecum). The Doc resected the biggest one and sent it to pathology. He's pretty sure it's benign, but wants to recheck that entire area in 90 days. The polyp was a kind of flat one, and the cecum tissue is very fragile, so there is a definite possibility of the wound area rupturing over the next couple of days. If that happens, he'll need an emergency bowel resection. The doc will call us tomorrow to see how he's doing.
In the meantime, he's still on a clear liquid diet for the next 24-48 hours (got conflicting written instructions on that) and antibiotics. Any sign of blood or abdominal pain at all and we are to go directly to the ER. I've known this gastro doc for over 10 years and I've never seen him quite this concerned. Same thing with the nurses. I knew something wasn't right when it took longer than 40 minutes, and the nurses' behavior was totally different than what you usually get.
With the numerous small polyps he's got going, I won't be at all surprised to see resection surgery somewhere in Hubby's future, and certainly plenty of scopes in the interim. He's basically a colon cancer victim just waiting to happen if he doesn't keep up with this stuff. And keeping up with medical issues isn't exactly his strong suit.
In the meantime, he's still on a clear liquid diet for the next 24-48 hours (got conflicting written instructions on that) and antibiotics. Any sign of blood or abdominal pain at all and we are to go directly to the ER. I've known this gastro doc for over 10 years and I've never seen him quite this concerned. Same thing with the nurses. I knew something wasn't right when it took longer than 40 minutes, and the nurses' behavior was totally different than what you usually get.
With the numerous small polyps he's got going, I won't be at all surprised to see resection surgery somewhere in Hubby's future, and certainly plenty of scopes in the interim. He's basically a colon cancer victim just waiting to happen if he doesn't keep up with this stuff. And keeping up with medical issues isn't exactly his strong suit.
Well, like you said, not the best news, not the worst.
Ugh, lets face it, it just ***** all around.
I hope it works out. Just be sure his liquid diet stays alcohol free. :)
Ugh, lets face it, it just ***** all around.
I hope it works out. Just be sure his liquid diet stays alcohol free. :)
Wow! My family history is rich with colon cancer, so I have had to have scopes every 5 years since I was 35. Best wishes for your husband--I hope its all benign!
god bless you both,hope all goes well!!!
I can finally breathe again. Hubby's recovery is coming along just fine, and he can finally eat again. Much as he loves veggies and salads, those are off the menu for the next 10 days. He can have soft foods like pasta and even some meat, but no fiber, seeds or nuts. I'm just glad he can finally get some calories in him because he gets a serious case of Arseholeitis if he doesn't eat regularly. :-/
Most polyps are little teardrop shaped things that grow on a stalk and are easily removed. Hubby's was a decent-sized "carpet" polyp that causes damage to more tissue because it isn't on a tiny stalk. Apparently these kinds of polyps are the ones that tend to go cancerous, hence the 90-day follow-up colonoscopy.
He was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophogus a few years ago after some horrific chest pain. It took me two months to finally beat his rear-end into my gastro doc's office. Barrett's is a condition related to a lifetime of reflux. The esophogus cells begin to mutate to protect themselves from the stomach acids. Given enough time and irritation, they eventually mutate into cancer cells without treatment. So far, the PPI meds have kept the condition stable and subsequent biopsies show no displaysia. Yeah!
Had Hubby not already been under the care of our gastro doc, he would never have been persuaded to have the colonoscopy when he turned 50. Matter of fact, he put it off for several months because he was terrified of the procedure. Go figure - he's seen me go through it 10 times already, and knows this doc is the best in town, but his irrational paranoia won out in the short term. I just thank God that things worked out the way they did and that polyp is out of there and he's 100% on board with whatever the doc asks him to do. There is a dam good reason that colonoscopy at 50 is recommended whether you have symptoms or not. Just DO IT!
Most polyps are little teardrop shaped things that grow on a stalk and are easily removed. Hubby's was a decent-sized "carpet" polyp that causes damage to more tissue because it isn't on a tiny stalk. Apparently these kinds of polyps are the ones that tend to go cancerous, hence the 90-day follow-up colonoscopy.
He was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophogus a few years ago after some horrific chest pain. It took me two months to finally beat his rear-end into my gastro doc's office. Barrett's is a condition related to a lifetime of reflux. The esophogus cells begin to mutate to protect themselves from the stomach acids. Given enough time and irritation, they eventually mutate into cancer cells without treatment. So far, the PPI meds have kept the condition stable and subsequent biopsies show no displaysia. Yeah!
Had Hubby not already been under the care of our gastro doc, he would never have been persuaded to have the colonoscopy when he turned 50. Matter of fact, he put it off for several months because he was terrified of the procedure. Go figure - he's seen me go through it 10 times already, and knows this doc is the best in town, but his irrational paranoia won out in the short term. I just thank God that things worked out the way they did and that polyp is out of there and he's 100% on board with whatever the doc asks him to do. There is a dam good reason that colonoscopy at 50 is recommended whether you have symptoms or not. Just DO IT!
your blessed to have a caring GI, good doctors are hard to find. the gi i go to has an endless list of clients and i seem to be getting put on the back burner since im young.
Thanks zoomistic. :-) Yes, this doc is just fabulous. I've referred him to several people over the years and they all just love him. He's not one of those "ivory tower" docs who charge a fortune in order to maintain the showplace offices either. He's a modest, sort of a redneck man who genuinely cares about his patients - no matter how old or young they are. He and my general surgeon have been something of a dynamic duo in medicine in west Houston for many years and they both know me so well that I dread the day they both retire. Hope you keep trying to find a doctor like that as it's well worth the time to find one. :-)
My brother and his wife just went through this. Fortunately, what she had removed wasn't cancer but is the type that can turn cancerous so she goes every three years.
Hope you and your hubby get through this alright. You're fortunate to have a good dr. It makes a big difference to be treated like a person, not a "case".
Hugs ....
Hope you and your hubby get through this alright. You're fortunate to have a good dr. It makes a big difference to be treated like a person, not a "case".
Hugs ....
I'm a 63 yr old male have had an ileostomey since i was 35 , I remarried after I received my ostmey and was an over the road semi driver coast to coast, guess what I'm trying to say any one can lead a normal productive life wearing an ostomey appliance also anyone who is diagnosed with "FAP" should have an endoscopy ( scope down to stomach ) to check for growth's (polyps) that will grow in a cluster like formation in the area where the bile duct meets with the duodenum I'm no expert by any means but I was just hit with this and it is worth looking into if you have "FAP" Good luck to all future ostomey mates ,and remember you can lead a normal productive life with an ostomey appliance
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