Had Appt With Dr. Smith

to continue being off topic..sorry cynthia..jj..my gastr had the latest CT scan of my Indiana..he knew how much bowel was resected...he just didn't realize where he was without the ileal cecal valve and he knew that also...so next time hahahahahaha...i will go for the virtual colonoscopy and see if they can figure out what they're seeing with that. One Radiologist not familiar with Indiana's once read my CT and said i had gallstones.....uhhhhhhhhh...nope..call my regular radiologist who has read all my previous scans and he confirmed...no stone..just unfamiliar with what the Indiana looked like.
See why i never take a first opinion on anything




pat

Hi Mike,

Yep, for now I'm on the 5 year plan due to polyps last go round. Mine were small and just cauterized so no path for me to 2nd guess. The best (most tolerable) bowel prep I have had was for that colonoscopy (a couple of pills during the night and some dulcolax later), but I think this is almost unused anymore due to possibility of renal damage (almost always due to insufficient hydration by not drinking enough during the prep). I would like to say that probably all of these preps carry that risk to some extent since they induce a diarrhea which results in a lot of fluid loss, so everyone should try to get as much additional fluid on board as they can. I'll beg and promise to be good if my colorectal surgeon will let me do the pill prep again. As to the neobladder colonoscopy potential problem. Since most with ileal neobladders have their neobladder formed from ileum several centimeters proximal (before) the ileo-cecal valve the valve should be intact and not a surprise and it would be unusual for the scope to get to the level of the anastomosis (where the two ends were joined back together) due to the distance beyond the valve. I do believe it is always a good idea to let anyone who you can get to listen to you know about your prior diagnosis, surgery, and the type of diversion you have and its potential for problems. Best wishes,

jj

Ann,

Yes, the mag citrate is probably the stuff you are thinking of.
My doctor's instructions said it had to be the lemon flavor. It was salty and a bit of fizz. Kind of like a salty sprite. Wasn't syrupy though.

Every Wal-Mart, Safeway, King-Sooper, Albertsons, Walgreens around Fort Collins has the magnesium citrate available in the "Digestive" section.

Not sure where you live but Fort Collins always ranks high on the best places to live, best places to retire, etc. lists. Maybe colonoscopy tourism will take off since our gastroenterologists use mag citrate instead of the nasty stuff you guys have been having to use.

Now there's a headline for you: Fort Collins tops list of best cities to get a colonoscopy!



Mike

We're wandering a bit off topic here, but I want to chime in with my hatred of golytely/halflytely. For my first colonoscopy, I had the concentrated stuff that tastes like pure salt syrup (was that the magnesium citrate?)and it was tolerable. I, too, had major trouble with the golytely due to the sheer volume, and couldn't finish the last 10-12 ounces. Pharmacist said they no longer use whatever the other stuff was due to the very high sodium content. I say, bring on the sodium--I promise to drink a lot of water afterward!

Ann

Wow!

I did tell mine, and the anesthesiologist, and the nurses that I have a neobladder and that it was from my small intestine. I tell pretty much everybody whenever I go for any kind of procedure (ok--not so much the dentist or eye doctor).

I figured if he was anywhere near my neobladder he'd gone WAY too far but I did figure he should know.

Mike

About colonoscopies...do NOT let any gastroenterologist near you if you have an Indiana Pouch and your ileal cecal vavlve is your stoma!! I learned that one the very hard way. Go back to the original institution who did your diversion and preferably have the uro in on consult. My gastro didn't know where the heck he was and went into my ileum...and blamed me!!
This is probably not an issue with the neo.
pat