Studies prove colonoscopies save lives

When three people told me that I should have and write about having a colonoscopy, I thought, even if it was a double dog dare, that I didn’t need to do it despite knowing that it’s recommended for everyone over the age of 50.

Then I read an article about a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It said that a team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York found that colonoscopies in which precancerous polyps, known as adenomas, are removed could cut the risk of dying from colon cancer by 53 percent.

One in 20 Americans will develop colorectal cancer. About 140,000 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, resulting in about 49,000 deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. It is the third most common cancer worldwide and although there isn’t any history in my family tree, I certainly didn’t want to be one of those statistics.

We’ve all heard the nightmare stories of the test. Well, I’m here to tell you, it really isn’t that bad. I’m going to walk (there will be some running) you through my experience.

There’s no way to mince words. Having a colonoscopy will take two days out of your busy (or not) life. The protocol is to clean out your colon so the surgeon can see where he’s going. There are a couple of ways to do this, all obtaining the same results. In my case I was given a couple of Bisacodyl tablets (a laxative) and told to put 238 grams of MiraLAX into 64 ounces of a sports drink.

I found the Gatorade disgusting and getting it down was a challenge made easier because the week prior I had run into Ralph Merrick, a registered nurse at Bonner General Hospital who told me not to chug the drink if it made me feel nauseous.

Good advice. I started to drink the concoction at 3 p.m. and by 5:30 I was off to the races. But, it wasn’t like the diarrhea that you get when you have the stomach flu. No, this was just an urgent need to get to the toilet. No cramping, no feeling sick, just a need to let it out now. And I mean now.

At 7 p.m. I felt pooped, literally and figuratively and by 7:45 p.m. I thought I should write an apology to the sewer board. By 9:45 p.m. I thought I’d passed a lot more than the gallon of liquid I’d consumed and wondered if 12 jumbo rolls were enough.

Needing to check into the hospital at 6:15 a.m. I thought I’d get a little sleep, and little was the operative word. I was still going, and going, and going!

If anyone has told you that that was the worst part, they were right. But honestly, not that bad. It’s tiring. But, I’m saving my life here.

The hospital staff was amazing. They made me laugh, made me relaxed and were thorough and professional. My vitals were taken. I was given a warm blanket and each step of the procedure was thoroughly ex-plained.

An IV was installed, a blood pressure cuff applied, as well as heart monitoring electrodes. The doctor came in to talk about what was about to happen and to gain my consent.

I was told that I would be heavily sedated, not anesthetized. Dawn Wilburn, R.N., had the pleasure of making sure I didn’t get restless during the procedure.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure we preserve your dignity while you’re awake and while you’re asleep,” Wilburn said. “We respect our patients and strive to make them comfortable whether they’re here for a hangnail removal or something more serious.”

I remember that the colonoscope with its tiny camera spelunking my colon was cool, but there was no pain or discomfort. In just minutes I was awake having a cup of tea and passing the air they used to expand the colon walls.

The experience was as pleasant as it could be thanks to Lisa, Russ, Dawn and Steve. The after effects were no worse than eating a bowl of beans. Dr. Rich Neher removed a tiny polyp and invited me back in five years. See you then!

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at 264-4029 or by email at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.