My turn to ask for prayers...

Absolutely ... right here and right now!  My husband's Dad passed away from colon cancer and can I get him to go get tested?  no.  I so understand. 

I don't think this is a test that anyone wants to take and I'm guilty of procrastinating on it myself.  I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers that it all goes well.

  I'll pray for your husband; hope the test goes well and brings good news.

Oh boy,,,,,,,,,can't say that I blame your DH though....but I hope he goes and gets it over with...and that you don't have a nervous breakdown getting him there!!!
Best of luck to you both!!

You've got 'em Marty.  There are lots of other stuff that it *could* be, so please try to keep the faith.  Yes, getting them there is a major, buttkicking PITA.

Many prayers for your DH and your sanity. The test, itself, isn't so bad as I've had it done twice and I'm 46. When my dad had his he found out that he had colon cancer, he'd not shown any symptoms whatsoever. Anyhow, they removed 18 inches of his colon and all the lymphnodes in that area, he required no chemo or radiation. He's been cancer-free for the past 6 years and has a colonoscopy every 2 years now, just to be safe and keep a close check on everything. So, even bad news doesn't mean you're facing the very worst. I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. [sm=angel.gif]

Well,  Marty,  I'm just north of you guys a wee bit, and it must be something in the air!  I've got that and an endoscope on the schedule.   It's my third time for the bottom half (we make whatever jokes we can, right?) and I've had barium x-rays before, but never an actual endoscope.
 
The stuff they have you drink now is WAY better than before.  I think that b/c they only make you drink some kind of a small bottle of liquid and 1/2 gallon of the really yucky stuff.  Back last time, there was no little bottle to start with --- and they gave you an entire 1 gallon of that stuff.
 
I do not exagerate when I say that I believe that stuff is melted plastic.  There were times that I had to sniff a saltine cracker just to keep from throwing up.    The worst part was that I had drank so very much of it, and had to keep drinking the stuff, but, ummmm,  wasn't releasing any of it.  That hurt.  Boy was I glad when things started moving along.    They say its much better now.  I hope so......  (don't tell him I said this- don't want to scare him off of doing it).
 
So, yeah, we get to be uncomfortable and then, just for extra fun, we get to pay a lot of moola for this!!  I'm not looking foward to the bills, either! [8D]
 
But, it's kinda almost a standard procedure these days with so many people getting this done. Boy, Katie Curic really was good to do what she did to make this not be something to hide.  Reminds me of when people used to not talk about depression b/c it wasn't to be talked about.  Well, Katie really brought out this out so people would talk about it like a normal procedure and be more apt to get this done.
 
Please do let us know how it goes.   Maybe he has irritable bowel?  Good thing that you can get mad when appropriate if that's what it takes.   You and DH will certainly be in my prayers for an uneventful experience. 

Just wanted you to know that you guys are on my mind. I am praying for both an uneventful prep and uneventful surgery.  Also, since my last post, I have read up on the new prep procedure, and it is supposed to have 1/2 the issues that the old prep did - things like fullness and vomiting, etc.   
 
Just wanted you to know that you and DH are still in my thoughts and prayers.  

Marty_ga, you got my prayers and I hope everything turns out ok.  It is scarey when you are uncertain what will be found, if anything.

I am not sure what trigger the test but this procedure should be done starting at around age 50 and then every 5 years thereafter.  For my first time there was some small polyps that were removed.  Other than that, everything was ok. 

The bad part of the process is the cleansing and then after the procedure the releasing of gas.  Both are very uncomfortable.  During the procedure you are anesthetized with a truth serum type drug, so you are awake and you watch the procedure on the monitor.  The drug makes you say whats on your mind and boy do you speak up.  Afterwards, you do remember but for some reason, you're not embarrassed.  It really is not that bad.

David

Hmmm, Hubby has not said much (you can't get an answer out of a mule), but I thought he would be totally under.  As far as cleansing, it is a couple of Fleets.  He has just been very quiet today...anticipation is the worst.  

Marty,
 
a couple of things:  First, DPU is pulling your leg!!  Ha Ha.  That was funny!  Truth serum drug!  Let me just say that if they did that to him, then someone bribed someone else just to get some info from him!  hehe.  (sorry, David, but I think you just acted funny to the drug they gave you --- it is a funny thought, tho).  They usually use either versed or propfonil (sp?).  Versed is less expensive, and so probably the most common one.
 
Second,  DH is not getting a colonoscopy if he is only doing a couple of Fleets.  He would be getting a sigmoidoscopy.  That only does the first 1/3 of the lower bowels.  For that you are awake.  I really think they should do the whole thing.  That's like someone wanting a mamogram and only getting one breast x-rayed.  But, for many insurance policies, doing a siggy is the first and easiest thing to do.  Should really do the whole shebang, tho since he is older.  It might be that he has to reach a certain age for the insurance to pay for the colonoscopy.
 
So, since he will be awake, tell him there is only one secret for dealing with this -and it's a really big one.  He must remember to breathe.  Truley.  You end up holding your breathe and it tenses the muscles and that does cause some pain.  If he will slowly and steadily take in breaths and release them, then that relaxes the muscles and the pain / discomfort will subside greatly.  Don't breathe in too, too deep or fast.  Just focus on the breathing and not what they are doing.
 
They do put you under for the colonoscopy b/c once you round the curve it gets too painful for someone to stay awake.  But, he would be doing a HalfLytley for a full procedure.  No way would they send him in for the full deal on just a couple of fleets. 

Thanks for the help and reassurance...not!!!

I just spent 30 minutes doing a sincere apology and explaining how I was out of line and why the doctors would have a good reason to only do a sigmoid on him.  There is no way I can re-create that post now. 
 
And, I just fed the dogs and must walk them.  So, I'm going to summerize what I wrote.
 
1) I am truly sorry for causing you more pain.  I should not have been so blunt.  I feel very bad about causing you more worry.  It was insensitive and unnecessary. 
 
2) There are a lot of good reasons for a doctor to only call for a sigmoid.  For example, if a person has high blood pressure, or heart problems, then that tilts the scale quite a bit.   I think that the odds of having a polyp in the upper portion and not having one in the lower portion would be very slim.  So, from a doctors point of view, why do the full scope when they can do just the sigmoid, get a good idea of what's going on, and not stress the organs or blood pressure for these sensitive individuals.  This would be a better protocol for many individuals.  I would imagine that in the majority of cases that they will find something in the lower portion, if there is going to be something in the upper portion as well.  If they do find a polyp in the lower section, then they will feel the need to do a full scope outweighs the other factors. But, until then, it doesn't.  They are thinking of the entire person and their personal issues.
 
3) I don't know what DH's issues are.  Maybe the doctor truly thinks it is not polyps.  I am sure he is going to a qualified doctor who is making decisions based on his full case history.
 
4) Again, I feel terrible for making you worry more.  Please don't.  I was out-of-line to say things the way I did.  It does make sense as to why a doctor would only prescribe a sigmoid in some cases.   I was thinking of the time off work, the worry, etc, and thinking it just makes sense to do the whole thing.  But, for some people, it wouldn't be in their best interest.
 
Please forgive me for being so insensitive. 

Marty, I'm late seeing this thread, but am sending both of you good vibes.  I know how unsettling tests like that can be (and it sounds like your DH is like mine -- and most men -- when it comes to health/medical things).  My mother has had both the sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy.  The former was under some kind a sedative or something, but she was awake.  She found it a bit easier than she anticipated.  The colonoscopy was done under some kind of anesthesia -- she didn't remember or feel a thing, and next thing she knew, her friend was helping get dressed and driving her home. 
 
Anticipation is the worst, but you'll both be relieved when it's done and there are some results to help address whatever his issues are.  Again, good vibes coming your way!