Colonoscopy

painless · Post by **painless** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:58 am

Ok, so its a little off topic, but something that us older pilots should explore. Since we sometimes borescope our engines to locate potential trouble, why not ourselves?

I just had "the big look-see" done this morning, and only one small polyp was found and removed. Doc gave me a 5 year TBC ( time before conlonoscopy). So it all came out in the end. Happy to say they didn't find my head up there. At least for today.

All kidding aside, if you are over 50 or have a family history of colorectal disease in your family, get a colonoscopy done. It has a high incidence of being a lifesaver. We spend so much time and energy focusing on making our airplanes safe and in top performance that we can sometimes lose track of our own health. The plane won't fly unless we the pilot are also airworthy.

As for my experience, it was a breeze. I no sooner got into position for the test than I was awake in the recovery room. Even the prep the day before was easy. They gave me a solution called Moviprep, a total of 2 liters, that was essentially rocket fuel, cuz it had me "blasting off" with 45 minutes of finishing the first litre. I had heard all the horror stories of how awful the prep was, but seemed to breeze through it. I guess they don't call me "Orear" for nuthin'!!

my nickname in dental school was "rectum", so I guess I have lived up to my billing.

Bottom line guys, to make sure you are healthy and able to be a safe pilot ( there's the RV tie-in), and be around for your friends and family for a long time, go get your colonoscopy done if you are 50 or older, have a family history of colon cancer, or if you notice any long term changes in your bowl movements. It could save your life.

Ok, this concludes me being on my healthy pilot soapbox. It's just that I would hate to lose any if my friends here due to something that is totally preventable.

Best regards to all of you, be healthy, and fly safe

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:40 am

rectum? Damn near killdum!

painless · Post by **painless** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:26 am

Ian, were you in my dental class??!

That's what my classmates would say when they saw me in the dental school clinic. Took the profs awhile to figure it out.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:20 pm

Not quite there yet, but excellent advice post none-the-less...

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:43 pm

Good Advice Painless! However don't get to frisky afterwards for a few days. I had one 12/1/10 with about the same results as Painless. Thursday everytihing was fine. Friday everything was fine and drove to Minneapolis 60 miles to watch a grandson play basketball and stayed overnight to attend another grandson's Christmas Program. Went to a meeting that afternoon and drove back to St. Cloud. We stopped for supper at a Restruant to spare my wife cooking. I passed out in the booth and was carted out to the local hospital where they discovered I had started bleeding sometime Saturday. I had another Colonscope on thethe 6th to stop the bleeding. I don't know if I was over active but will take it easier next time!

painless · Post by **painless** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:09 pm

Wow Bob, bum deal. There I go again with the colonoscopy puns. Sometimes I just can't help myself.

I'll have to watch for that. They really didnt tell me about any restrictions. Then again, as I told my wife, I don't even remember getting dressed after the procedure!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:43 am

Remember that there are 2 kinds of 'scopes.

One for down your throat and the other one for the breezeway.

The only way to tell the difference is by taste!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:10 am

captain_john wrote:The only way to tell the difference is by taste!

CJ

You really didn't just say that CJ!!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 12:37 pm

Hahaha...

Chad, just think about that when you go in for an upper GI!

I gave up practicing medicine long ago but still know my way around a 'scope!

hahahaha

CJ

aparchment · Post by **aparchment** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:43 pm

cjensen wrote:
captain_john wrote:The only way to tell the difference is by taste!

CJ
You really didn't just say that CJ!!

Oh, butt he did!

dipaneta · Post by **dipaneta** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:32 pm

My Family Doctor referred me to a general surgeon for a colonoscopy? Now everyone I talk to says I should have a gastro specialist to do the colonoscopy., I don't know what to do., I am a nervous wreck and have been avoiding getting one done for years., I do not want to feel anything or know anything., I understand you must drink alot of stuff., I am scared.
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tshort · Post by **tshort** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:47 am

captain_john wrote:Remember that there are 2 kinds of 'scopes.

One for down your throat and the other one for the breezeway.

The only way to tell the difference is by taste!

CJ

Oh, boy ... I came across this while returning to the site after a hiatus from the build. LOL - this is the most recently updated thread.

Actually, CJ, there is only one kind of scope ... it goes down the throat and then in the breezeway. Be nice to the doc lest he reverse the order!

re: dipaneta

I'd say check into the surgeon. In lots of places, the general surgeons do tons of scopes. Some smaller towns might not even have a GI guy full time. If the surgeon is capable and experienced, the risk should be no more than that of a GI guy.

T.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:38 pm

Thomas, yes... I know this. Michele is a nurse and I only jest.

I understand they give you the same stuff that Michael Jackson liked, just in lower quantities!

Propofol is supposed to work quickly and effectively with NO nasty hangover or residual effects.

I have never been scoped but that day is coming.

Hope all you guys fare well for the experience. The worst and most rare issue is a perforation but that takes some serious horsing around. Those tissues are durable.

If anyone needs any medical advice or procedures performed, I am available and could use some cash as my engine has me a bit tight this month!

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:16 am

Bob Barrett wrote:Good Advice Painless! However don't get to frisky afterwards for a few days. I had one 12/1/10 with about the same results as Painless. Thursday everytihing was fine. Friday everything was fine and drove to Minneapolis 60 miles to watch a grandson play basketball and stayed overnight to attend another grandson's Christmas Program. Went to a meeting that afternoon and drove back to St. Cloud. We stopped for supper at a Restruant to spare my wife cooking. I passed out in the booth and was carted out to the local hospital where they discovered I had started bleeding sometime Saturday. I had another Colonscope on thethe 6th to stop the bleeding. I don't know if I was over active but will take it easier next time!

Bob, Michele says that you may have had some bleeding and didn't even know it. Did they snip a polup while in there? That lesion could have been slowly bleeding and anemic which would cause you to pass out.

CJ

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:42 am

I never got a full explanation but the second colonostomy stopped the bleeding but found a polyop that was missed on the first one so I was scheduled for a third one three months later to take care of it.

I had the second and third colonostomy done by a different surgeon than the one who had done the previous three.