I wish I had good news, but I never got to actually have the colonoscopy. On Monday I fasted and repeatedly took three different laxatives and over two quarts of fluid. I did not sleep at all Monday night. All that prep was supposed to leave me empty and clean for the test. I did not work. Instead, it left me full and foul. At the doctor’s office, they told me they could not perform the procedure, because the prep had not worked. They said I can try again with a prep of two days of fasting and purging, but that because of the effect it had on my blood sugar, perhaps it was not that important to have the test done. It did play havoc with my blood sugar, giving me, in one twelve hour period, both the highest (352) and lowest (55) blood sugar readings I have ever had. To make matters worse, lack of sleep sets off my COPD. I spent all day yesterday and most of last night with a combination of severe runs and a violent cough. The combination was a disaster. In any case, I am not yet able to research and write as normal. I need another day of recovery time, so my articles should be back early Friday morning. Right now I’m completely disgusted with my doctors. Here’s the best way I can describe it.
15 Responses to “Personal Update”
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Hope you’re feeling better soon.
give up politics for a bit…… you are just ingested too much shit to take a decent crap is all.
They call it “practicing” medicine for a reason. And no matter who makes the mistake, YOU get to pay the bill.
That kitty looks pissed off! So sorry you had to go through all that. I’ve had to take that nasty shit before back surgery (why? who knows?) and every half hour I wanted to puke because I knew I had to drink another glass of that nasty shit.
TomCat,
We all wish you the very best, and I am concerned. As a 50+year long term type I diabetic, those wide blood sugar swings seem very strong. Are you a diabetic as well, and, if not, have you been tested for the disease?
I’m with you Jack. I am a type 2 diabetic these past 11 years and while I was high at 23 when diagnosed (that’s 414 on the US scale), I am usually in the normal range now. I do get lows, the lowest being 1.5 or 27 US, but that is usually in the early morning. It sounds like your liver went into overdrive to compensate for the lack of food to give you the high. I agree that you should check into it. A simple blood test and no fasting required. Also, some medications can shoot your sugars right into the stratosphere so when you talk to the doctor, check on that too.
By the way, I’m glad your sense of humour isn’t in the toilet! Well done!
Please take care my friend! Rest and stay out of the deep end of the litter box! We’ll be here when you return. Have no doubt!
It seem as to me that the most important thing is to get your system stabilized first. Then, reconsider the importance of a colonoscopy. It may be good to get a second opinion.
You don’t have to listen to your doctor. You don’t have to listen to me. But you do have to listen to your body. Right now it is saying, “Cut this crap out.”
Thanks all. You can believe that my doctor is in for a big-time ass chewing over this. Also the same doctor’s office that told me this probably wasn’t necessary woke me up from a sound sleep late yesterday afternoon to try to reschedule the procedure. I hope her ear has stopped hurting.
What a friggin bummer. My doc has been after me for over two years to have this photo shoot but I’ve refused because I am also Type II and I know damn well I couldn’t get through the prep without dire consequences. The procedure itself is no big deal but the prep is horrendous, especially if a patient has other health issues such as diabetes. I have enough trouble just having a fasting blood test! I’m sorry you’ve had such a shitty time of it and hope you feel better asap.
I look forward to your return, Tom. Hang in there!
AWW, TC
DON’T BE DISCOURAGED.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF OVER 50+. I’M SURPRISED YOU GOT AWAY WITH IT THIS LONG, I’VE HAD TWO!!
NEXT TIME . . . YES, NEXT TIME – THESE TESTS ARE IMPORTANT – YOU’LL BE BETTER PREPARED.
THE FIRST TIME IS THE HARDEST.
Thanks all. Like Leslie, I’m also type 2 and have been for over ten years. I’ve kept it well controlled, usually in the 90-110 range. Under 80 or over 120 is a bad day for me.
Leslie, sorry you have similar problems.
Thanks, Angelica. I’m back.
Pat, until I could qualify for Medicare, there is no way I could pay for it, but I don’t know there will be a next time. My system will not tolerate fasting and purging for 2 – 3 days.
Hey there TC, glad to see you back, but certainly not under these conditions.
You my friend need a new doctor…god knows you’re never going to trust this one again, nor should you. They have made a gross mistake in their calculations, and should not be allowed to get away with it.
Tell your insurance of the problems encountered and they’ll take care of giving them an earful from their end.
I didn’t do anything when my hand surgeon cut a nerve during surgery as he said “it happens” and it wouldn’t cause any problems…That was 4 years ago…
He must be republican, because he lied, and it still hurts, and i couldn’t get approved for the medicine needed to treat it because he wouldn’t sign off on it. Well, i got a letter from the fraud division of DSHS about 6 monts ago, which i filled out right away.
And a few months ago i noticed he no longer has an office associated with that hospital.
But you really need to get it done my friend. Not only do we need you, we all kinda like you as well :-))))
You do however, need to get this done.
Even though the medical community says it’s imperative to have all the procedures under the sun that have been devised “for us,” I don’t think it is necessarily mandatory. It looks to me like you may be one of those candidates for the “common sense test” which may indicate that the colonoscopy procedure is more harmful than good for you. Remember when all these tests were not available… people lived to ripe old ages or they didn’t. Perhaps that’s not such a horrible thing to consider OK. In any case, I have faith that you will be making your own decision about whether there’s a next time for you.
It is a shame it was so uncomfortable for you to go through this time. One thing I’ve learned through your letting us in on your experience is that diabetics really have to weigh the pros and cons of this procedure. I had given it no thought that fasting could be dangerous for diabetics… it makes perfect sense… I just hadn’t thought about it. My family is full of Type II diabetes and I’m watching for my own susceptibility to it… so my interest was piqued by this info. Thanks, Tom. I hope you’re feeling much better already! And, ugly details or not, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Ellen. I know a few people that have had it done, and they had the same purge routine I did. The difference is, it worked, so it’s not the doctors’ fault that something about my system is different. Before I decide whether or not to try again, I need to learn more. I’m concerned that if a one day fast and purge has such a severe effect on my blood sugar, a two day fast an purge could be dangerous.
Caity, if you do do it, you shroud monitor your blood sugar as though you were a diabetic. Have you had an AIC?