I am probably not the right person to be answering, but this is one test I have refused to have done. I have no family history. For me, it is an invasive procedure that has risks that I don't want to go through. Truthfully, from what I hear about the colonoscopy, I would rather have a bone marrow test.

Yes......some of us have them done on a regular basis. I find it to be the same pain in the *** as it always is. Depending on your doctor....try to get the pills vs the liquid for the prep....it's a little less unpleasant. For me it has been fairly routine that just requires me to miss a half day of work. Good luck

Yeah left feet, me too. Odd, occurs that this is one thing my GP has completely dropped mentioning since my RA diagnosis which isn't disappointing to me at all.

Nah. The test itself isn't so bad. They knock you out for the actual procedure. And actually I think it's wonderful that modern science has a way to prevent many colon cancers this way. My first colonoscopy found a polyp, which was removed. Gotta get these polyps before they get naughty and grow up mean.

The challenge is in the prep, which, while not painful, is annoying. The bowels must be emptied and there is no magic wand to wave- only medicine to take. This is my first while I have RA. I know I need to sit on that darn toilet for many hours. Five years ago I could do it. Now, not so sure. What I don't know is how it will affect my RA. Will I flare? Do I have to skip my meds? (Oh no!) I will have to be a big girl and do it. I WILL take advantage of everything modern medicine can offer to prevent/diagnose cancers. (Mammograms, colonoscopies, dermatological exams etc). Some things in life one cannot prevent, but some things I can control.

Oh! And by the way, I'd MUCH rather do a colonoscopy than a bone marrow test. I've seen hubby do that test twice. Nooo thank you!

AtHome - I did have the bone marrow test 6 months ago. It was not the most fun I have ever had, but for me the problem was anticipating how bad it was going to be. I got enough novicaine for the majority of the event. There were 8-10 seconds where it was really, really painful. But, I would still prefer that to the other procedure.

My Hemotologist/oncologist, who I am seeing for my high (over 500,00) platelet count asked why I had not gotten one of those yet. I told him my Gynecologist had suggested it several times. The last time I saw the Gynocologist he was getting very insistent on having the test done. I told the Hemo/oncol that I was no longer seeing that Dr. The Hematologist smiled and said it would never come up again. However, he did want to run extra tests that would indicate a problem, and if there was a problem, would I be willing to have a colonoscopy done. I did agree to that.

The prep wasn't that bad at all. The products they use make it easier than it used to be.

my colonoscopy place offers about 12 different protocols. yes, you too can designer choose from how you want to blast out your colon contents...

i was a hurler with one of the products on protocol one, so I chose voluntary starvation when I tried again the following week, which was a no food for 2 to 3 days rather than the usual 1 day. i found that gentler. i went to work during the clean out and hung out in my office handicap bathroom. I did not consider this to be a big deal at all. I missed a total of 1/2 day of work the following day when I took an afternoon procedure.

my boss was a colon cancer survivor and at one point he was going in every 6 months. he had it down, man and he thought it was a cakewalk. I loved his attitude and the jokes he would make. He's still alive - alleluia colonoscopies!!

my uncle died of colon cancer - I wish he could have had the same attitude. I miss him.

depot

I've never had one done, and don't intend to, unless there are some actual indications I need it.

I totally agree it is an invasive procedure, and totally unnecessary! But then, considering I have had a high fibre diet my entire adult life, I don't see anything happening in the near future. Couple that with no family history of any kind of cancer, or bowel diseases, and I am not worried about not getting the procedure.

I have enough to worry about with RA, fibromyalgia, asthma, yadayadayada!

I have been told NOT to get one. Why? I was anally gang raped at age 6 and my therapist thinks it would push me over the edge to have one. I suspect he is right.

Luckily, no colon cancer anywhere on either side of the family back at least 3 generations. But if I did develop symptoms, I'd have to consider doing something...perhaps the new "virtual colonoscopy" where you have the same prep but they do an MRI....works well apparently but they can't do biopsies or remove polyps.

Maybe something our 2 nay-sayers could consider.

Jen

Oh my gosh, Jen! I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you. Bless your heart. There are so many sick, sick people in this world!

I have to say I've had one colonoscopy, and I told my GP the only way I'd consent to doing it is if the gastro doctor would let me do the pills vs. the gallon of liquid. That wasn't so bad. It's still unpleasant, but not nearly as bad as drinking all that stuff.

I had a colonoscopy 9 years ago, totally clean, my friend waited until he was 55, they found cancer. Luckily they removed it, and saved his colon.
On the subject of Bone marrow biopsies, I get the results from mine tomorrow. I had it done under twilight sleep, as they used a CT scanner to pinpoint the location, they were hammering away for sometime, I couldn't imagine how unconfortable that would be if I was under a local. Ended up costing me $2,500 for the room, $750 for the doctor, $3,000 for the lab work...

Jonsparky - i hope your bone marrow results have a great outcome, like mine did. The plus side of not having any sedative was I could drive myself. It is almost a 4 hour round trip, plus the hour plus the procedure took. The downside of not having any sedative was.......I didn't have a sedative. Ouch ouch

They took the biopsy from the illiac bone next to the SIJ, i have a lot of erosion there...
I think it was a pretty big needle, they took about 5 swings of the mallet on both extractions. I was laughing in my twilight sleep...

great attitude Jon :)

my clear and decisive preference is to know that it is cancer, like, say, you ,know, when they can do something about it, unlike my uncle and my boss.

and if my boss can man up and do it every 6 months, then I can every 5 years. childbirth was a lot more involved than this silly test where you do a dumb clean out and get konked out dreaming of sugarplums.

depot