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I guess my new GI Guy goes to a different school than the previous Docs. Why would he take me off the Pentasa , knowing my Colitis history then ? One problem is upper ( colitis) the other is Lower intestinal never the two shall meet ? still confused.
Well, not everybody with colitis is on mesalamine and perhaps your GI feels that there are better ways to treat you. Or perhaps he wants to save the Pentasa for when you're having a flare-up rather than use it as a 24/7/365 maintenance drug. I'm sure he knows more about your condition than I do. But what really concerns me is how confused you seem to be about it. You need to educate yourself so that you can participate in your treatment plan. It's very important for you to know the drugs that are available, what they do, and what the side effects are, so that you can make an informed decision as to whether you want to take what your GI prescribes or whether you can suggest other alternatives to him/her.
Well, not everybody with colitis is on mesalamine and perhaps your GI feels that there are better ways to treat you. Or perhaps he wants to save the Pentasa for when you're having a flare-up rather than use it as a 24/7/365 maintenance drug. I'm sure he knows more about your condition than I do. But what really concerns me is how confused you seem to be about it. You need to educate yourself so that you can participate in your treatment plan. It's very important for you to know the drugs that are available, what they do, and what the side effects are, so that you can make an informed decision as to whether you want to take what your GI prescribes or whether you can suggest other alternatives to him/her.
I am not confused anymore than the average person. Fact is , I beleive as you say, "know what's going on it's your own body". ( maybe you did not say that directly in those words). What has been going on for the last 50 years with my GI has been a Mistery , not just me , but for so many of the " specialist" I have seen over the years. I have been told what was going on from an ulcer to colitus , IBS , IBD, nearves, " learn to live with it"gall stones ( which I did have removed, not related ) at lest 100 ER visits to hospitals all across the land. The attacks I have mimic a heart attack , which in earlier years was less exciting to those around me, but now as an old guy, well it's alarming. Last summer we were casually walking around an art fair when suddenly I had an attack, chest pain, I set on the ground holding my chest area waiting for the pain to go away. Sure enough, here came the ER wagon. I tryed to explain, but it always falls on deaf ears off I would go to the hospital. So , you are correct I am confused, but so are some of the best GI docs in the country. I could write a book about this, but no one would buy it, who wants to listen to some old Guy complaining about his health problems.
With as much knowledge as you've shown on this thread, I'm surprised that you didn't know that. Coffee is also acceptable as long as you don't add milk/cream to it. I'm a 10-15 cup a day coffee drinker (yes, I know that's bad) and having to do without the morning of the procedure is bad enough; I don't know that I could survive if I had to do without it the day before as well, lol.
I guess I didn't know it because I drink my coffee with creamer and sugar - ditto with tea (which I drink only once in a blue moon). So I always thought no tea/coffee. Didn't draw the "fine line" between with/without. But thanks for bringing it to my attention (and the attention of other people here). Robyn
...I could write a book about this, but no one would buy it, who wants to listen to some old Guy complaining about his health problems.
Pretty much no one. But if you're on traditional Medicare with good Medigap coverage - how about a trip to the Mayo Clinic (I live near Mayo JAX - and give it ). Not that there is always an answer/solution for everything. Sometimes it's simply an issue of learning how your particular body works. Even if it's not all that comfortable - it's good to know that what you go through on a regular basis isn't serious/life-threatening. You get the big deal work-up a la Mayo to rule out all the possible really bad stuff.
FWIW - my BP is high in the winter - low in the summer - go figure (there was an interesting article in the WSJ about this today). Robyn
I haven't read the whole post and I apologize if I posted this before, but my doctor told me white wine was ok as it was clear. I certainly loved that answer and am sad he retired.
I honestly wouldn't worry about drinking white "spirits" unless I was drinking a lot late at night - and having a very early morning procedure with very heavy duty anesthesia. The point of the prep is to "clean you out" - not "dry you out" . OTOH - you always want to make sure you're not over-sedated. So I'd always mention any alcohol/sedative drug intake to the person administering any kind of anesthesia you've chosen. Robyn
I did not read all the posts, too many at this point. The question is , when are you considered too old to have the procedure? I am 72 and my Gastro guy seems to think I am past the age to worry about it.
The one I will never forget was at lest 10 years ago . The recovery was hell ! That's when He discovered I had what looked like
IBS. I have been on the very expensive drug Pentasa ever since. Today He took me off the drug , after all these years....
When my father moved here - he was in his late 80's. And my GI doc said the cut-off was about 80-85 for routine colonoscopy (at those ages - the risks of the procedure outweigh the benefits). FWIW - my late mother died of colon cancer at age 84. I think age 72 is too young based on what I've heard from my medical professionals.
I was diagnosed with IBS when I was in my 20's. Still have it 40 years later There is no good solution IMO - but it has zero to do with colonoscopy IMO. Robyn
Robyn, thanks for a very informative thread. My mom is 82 and had one about six weeks ago. I was concerned about it because of her age but everything went smoothly. Her Doctor had advised her to have it. The worst part was the prep as she could barely get the solution down, but finally did. The other bad part was having to have her at the ER/Outpatient Center by 6:00 am. My parents are late sleepers and it is an adventure to have them get up so early to be anywhere! Anyway things went well and my dad and I got to see her in recovery and while she was a bit groggy, we were home by 9:30 am. She wanted a sandwich for lunch and then slept much of the afternoon.
As for me, I am 55 and see the need to have one as well. I had one along with the upper GI series test about 30 years ago. I had a bleeding ulcer at the time and had surgery for that as well.
You're welcome . My husband and I are also not very early morning people. So we tend to schedule procedures like this at about 8-9 am - not 6 am. Still - if you need someone to drive you to/from - their work/day schedule may dictate your procedure schedule. Robyn
Pretty much no one. But if you're on traditional Medicare with good Medigap coverage - how about a trip to the Mayo Clinic (I live near Mayo JAX - and give it ). Not that there is always an answer/solution for everything. Sometimes it's simply an issue of learning how your particular body works. Even if it's not all that comfortable - it's good to know that what you go through on a regular basis isn't serious/life-threatening. You get the big deal work-up a la Mayo to rule out all the possible really bad stuff.
FWIW - my BP is high in the winter - low in the summer - go figure (there was an interesting article in the WSJ about this today). Robyn
Going to Mayo is a very good choice, however I have had so many tests already, from ultra sound ,CT Scan MRI , whats left ? Just to let you know, I am not shy when it comes to my health. Four years ago I had a Tonsil that was bigger than the other , my Internist was concerned enough that I go to a ENT guy for a look see. Well, I did, he watched it for almost a year, no change. The last visit He told me, this is it, end of your visits here, I see nothing wrong, go home. I did, and for three days I was experiencing panic, depression , worry , just because He said I was OK no further treatment.I was due for my 6 mo physical, so I went back to my Internist and told him how I felt. He immanently contacted the ENT guy and demanded a biopsy. So I did, and a few days later the ENT guy called me on my cell as I was driving in heavy traffic, just to tell me " guess what you have cancer ! " As soon as I got home I hit the books, Google, anywhere I could learn more about it. ..The next week I went to my ENT and told him I wanted an app t. with the guy that invented the robotic tonsorial surgery, latest and best way to get that sucker out, now ! Within a week I was at Mayo in Rogester, fought a snow storm, 500 miles , but I got there. 3days later I was under the knife.and 4 days later I was going home, a basket case and in extreme pain like I never had seen, but I was alive,! six months on a liquid diet . I returned to Mayo for followup, got a paper stamped cancer free ! I thanked the Doc, good work.!!!
So, here was a case where I think I saved myself by demanding what to do next, no more shuffling around, no more not knowing. .Its been three years so far so good, two more to go and I will be at almost no risk...I be leave in the Mayo Clinic, if I thought they could do something about my 50 year what-ever problem, I would be there in a New York Minute.!
If you visit Mayo JAX - you'll never have to battle snow storms - at least not after you get here . Robyn
Well I will be coming down on the way to Key West in Jan.....but I do not want to have any problems.along the way ...considering what they are charging me to park my coach on the beach, a cement pad w/power and a Tkee Hut thing...Owell, its only money !
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. OTOH - you always want to make sure you're not over-sedated. So I'd always mention any alcohol/sedative drug intake to the person administering any kind of anesthesia you've chosen. Robyn
. My husband and I are also not very early morning people. So we tend to schedule procedures like this at about 8-9 am - not 6 am. Still - if you need someone to drive you to/from - their work/day schedule may dictate your procedure schedule. Robyn
