Bertram33 User Forum

GET A COLONOSCOPY! Guys, don't put off or say no one is sticking a camera up my butt. I had my first scope when I turned 55. That was clean. Stretched the 10 year window out to 12 years & went on Feb 29. This one they found a couple of polyps & a frigging tumor in my rectum. Doc operated on Mar 30. & took out what he thought was a T1 tumor. When the results came back from the pathology lab it turned out to be a T2. If I do nothing & go on a 6 month monitor schedule, I have a 25% chance of the cancer coming back. Recommendation was for a complete removal of the rectum & go on a colostomy bag. That reduces the re-occurrence rate to 3%. I'm going for my surgery on June 21. So, if you think it is to embarrassing to have a camera, try an 8" ultrasound probe. By now I must of had about a hundred nurses, technicians & doctors checking my butt out. That's besides after the 1st operation running to the toilet 25 times a day. Finally got the trips down to about 6 per day. Started radiation this week & I'm back down to 2 hours between trips. The kicker is the urgency. I have less than 5 minutes to get my butt on the seat. So your choice is get a colonoscopy or go through what I am doing. Al

Al, I am sorry to hear that you are going through this and I wish and pray for your continued health! Thanks for the reminder and sharing your experience. Best of luck and if you need anything please let us know.

I too am sorry you're having to go through this and with pray for your recovery. I had my first colonoscopy at 50 and had polyps, since then I've had to have 3 more colonoscopies finding polyps every time. Thank you for the reminder why it is so important.

Yup, My third colonoscopy coming up this month on the 20th. The last time , 3 years ago,they found polyps so I'm all about regular checkups. I can live with the colonoscopies.

Al, good advice as usual. I'm due for my next one this fall. Also, keep a eye on your PSA and don't let your doctor say not to worry until it hits 4. I'm 5 years out and pulling 0's.

Good luck Al.

Good luck, regular check ups and maintenance is not only for the engines.

Thanks for the best wishes. The reason I posted this is because I have an older brother who won't go for one. I figured there are others out there like him that MIGHT be persuaded to go after hearing of my experience. Al

Hi Al, So sorry to hear of your health issues. It sounds like you are taking all the right steps, and I wish you the best possible outcome.You did all the right things. Ignoring screening and symptoms is a bad plan. I thought I was done 3.5 years ago when I had by open-heart-surgery, but something wasn't feeling right recently as I was jumping off the boat to the dock to tie up singlehandedly. Couldn't be my heart, I got that fixed!! Yeah right ! I am now the proud owner of three shiny new stents in my coronary artery after the vein graft put in there 3 years ago was totally blocked up. Can't wait to see what's coming next. Best wishes, Al !!! Ron and Pat

Al... Glad see you are facing the health thing straight on. When I turned 50 my family Dr. in Beverly suggested that I start having them done, but he cautioned me that some guys won't have them for any number of reasons. He and I are about the same age, and I asked him if he had them done to him.. he said yes, and I told him if they were good enough for him they were good enough for me. I have had one pretty much every 4 or 5 years since. Stepping back in time, In the early 60s I was a freshman at Northeastern Univ, and on my co-op semesters I lived with some friends in North Reading. I started dating the girl next door, who was a freshman nursing student. We dated for two years or so, but our relationship was sort of "rocky" for lack of a better term. When we finally broke up I was sort of a dick and wasn't very pleasant to her. Fast forward to about 10 years ago. I went into Lahey Clinic in Danvers for a regular 5 year checkup. After going through the admitting process I found myself in a screened off space with a gurney and a small stand up desk. I was laying there watching traffic on Rt 128 when a nurse came in and stood at the desk, and asked my name, date of birth, reason for being there, and similar stuff. While I couldn't see her I heard something in her voice that was familiar. As she inserted the IV needle into my arm I finally realized who she was.. she was the same girl I had scewed over 40 years ago! She had already started my anesthesia when I finally built up enough courage to ask her name.. yep.. the same girl! All I could imagine as I started to get groggy was her going with me into the OR, where she would say to the Dr.. this guy was a dick to me 40 years ago.. stick another two feet of that black hose up his butt as a way for him to remember what he did to me all those years ago. Later I sent her a letter and found out that she felt she hadn't been nice to me during the breakup, so there wasn't any extra hose for me! Talk about co-incidence! I am sending you all the good vibes that I can muster.

Al, I had my first last year. Unfortunately, I woke up 15 minutes into the 20 minute procedure... Unpleasant to say the least. On the positive side though, no issues to report.

Al, Thank You for the advice. Hope your situation is improving. Take care.

Good news: I was put on the 10 year program on my last Colonoscopy. Bad news: Time's up, getting mine in November Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA