Medical Cringe

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Stu
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Medical Cringe

Post by Stu »

I have managed to reach a mature age (62) while avoiding the necessity of any kind of intimate or embarrassing medical examinations or treatments - lucky me! A couple of weeks ago, I was taken to see my local doctor because I had severe pain in the lower abdomen, a burning sensation when passing water and certain other symptoms. They took blood from me and discovered sky-high levels of a protein which didn't belong and I was sent to the hospital for further tests by a specialist who suggested I may have diverticulitis and maybe a prostate issue as well. Once released, I had a phone call from my own doc to say that I was to have a CT scan, cystoscopy and colonoscopy. I had the CT yesterday and I am awaiting the results, but I have no intention of undergoing any invasive and embarrassing tests like the latter two unless it's a life-or-death situation which, so far as I know, it isn't. I know that some chaps on here will have had these, think nothing of it, and won't understand understand my reasoning, but I really have made up my mind.

My wife happened to mention this to an American friend who told her that, in the US, colonoscopies are carried out routinely as a screening method. In fact, she is required to undergo them for the medical insurance she has in association with her job. I was astonished that an employer could force an employee to undertake such a procedure. There is a school of thought which suggests they do more harm than good. Any thoughts on that?
Big and Bashful
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by Big and Bashful »

My only thoughts are pretty negative I suppose, I haven't taken part in any health screening programmes, reason being I don't much enjoy life and am not looking forward to being a pensioner, last thing I want is anyone prolonging my life if something wants to shorten it.
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crfriend
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by crfriend »

In the US it's important to recall that what gets done in the line of tests are more to drive up the profit-margin than enhance the probability of a successful cure.

I am not, and never have been, a fan of invasive and undignified procedures if someone is asymptomatic. If there are symptoms that a procedure can verify and explain, that's one thing; performing them scatter-shot is something completely different.
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Freedomforall
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by Freedomforall »

crfriend wrote:In the US it's important to recall that what gets done in the line of tests are more to drive up the profit-margin than enhance the probability of a successful cure.

I am not, and never have been, a fan of invasive and undignified procedures if someone is asymptomatic. If there are symptoms that a procedure can verify and explain, that's one thing; performing them scatter-shot is something completely different.
Carl you stated the truth! Medicine here is controlled by profit and big pharma. Big pharma has deep pockets and lobbyists that cater to all of our so-called representatives. I personally detest doctors and "modern medicine". The Rockefellers spent millions to suppress holistic medicine and folk remedies that had been handed down for generations.
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by stevelous »

Have recently had an endoscopic examination of my colon, offered to all 55 year olds here in the UK. A bit undignified but they found nothing to be alarmed about. The worst part was the pre exam enema!

Also have regular Prostate exams, PSA blood test and the finger up you know where, advised for me as I am in a high risk group as my Dad had Prostate cancer. Having seen the treatment he had I feel that the exam is better than the treatment.

Mind you all men should be tested, caught early Prostate cancer can be cured.
pelmut
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by pelmut »

Stu wrote:... I have no intention of undergoing any invasive and embarrassing tests like the latter two unless it's a life-or-death situation...
You won't know until you have had the tests - don't put them off until it really is life or death because, by then, death is far more likely.
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crfriend
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by crfriend »

Freedomforall wrote:I personally detest doctors and "modern medicine".
I don't have the detestation you do, mainly because my grandfather was an Old School Doctor of Internal Medicine of some renown and who taught me quite a few lessons on how things work. That said, I despise what the landscape is like now where it's driven mostly by the "insurance" companies for their own financial good. Even my grandfather hated it late in life.

In Stu's case, he's dealing in a reasonable system and they're trying to get to the bottom of the question at hand, and I wish him the best. I'm also not going to speculate on what may be going on as I'm vastly more qualified to do that with computers than humans. That said, I'd go about it one step at a time based on what various findings are.
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Fred in Skirts
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by Fred in Skirts »

I have suffered through 3 colonoscopies and have said no more. I had mine thanks to the Veterans Hospital and it still had to go through my insurance company. I have had an endoscopy and have had an internal ultra sound of my heart, they stick the damn thing down your throat and it feels like it is about 6 inches in diameter. It the goes through one passage to your left lung so they can get close to the heart. Not fun!! :cry: :cry:
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K_Highlander
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by K_Highlander »

2.5 years ago I passed out, was diagnosed as anemic, colonoscopy found cancer at the top of my small intestine.
3 days later surgery, found I had stage 2 cancer.
Cut it all out, and no recurrence (followup colonoscopy after one year).
If not for the events leading to the colonoscopy, my cancer would not have been found, and who knows how it may have progressed.
Now my two sons will get their first colonoscopy at age 40 (which they are not too pleased about!)

So my suggestion, have the procedure done. As someone else has mentioned, the prep is the worst of it.
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by Happy-N-Skirts »

I believe in preventative medicine. I have had three colonoscopies and was so doped up I was barely aware of what was going on. I have known too many people who have died a horrible death from cancer. I would prefer nearly any other way to die. I have routine doctor appointments with different specialists and up to now I am reasonably healthy at 74 years old. I love life and live it to the full that I am capable of and plan to continue as long as possible. If I can prolong my current quality of life I would like a few more years ahead. I enjoy watching our children and our grandchildren develop and help where I can. My wish is that I have made even a small part of this earth a better place because I was here. My wife and I have had numerous discussions about this over the years. She has definitely made contributions to humanity as a great teacher. I am very convinced that I have improved or prevented several issues of land use disasters. I thoroughly enjoy being an eccentric old man.

I recommend anyone to have their medical conditions examined and treated if discovered, and don't be modest in front of medical personnel any more than you should be when a mechanic lifts the hood (bonnet) on your automobile. Please review your purpose for being on this planet in your allotted time here.
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Pdxfashionpioneer
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by Pdxfashionpioneer »

Thank you Happy for your contributions and for your contribution to the thread.

There is little history of cancer in my family. One grandmother died of esophageal cancer, the other of jaw cancer so it’s not a huge deal for me, but as you said, the worst part is the prep and even that is getting better, and the risks of missing out on early detection are huge.

As far as it being a phony scam cooked up by the insurance companies, that’s ludicrous. The insurance companies want to maximize premiums and minimize payouts. Looked at that way any profit-driven insurance company, and that’s the only kind, is only going to want to/be willing to pay for screenings that work to reduce premiums by helping us avoid future, expensive claims. Such as cancer.
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Sinned
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by Sinned »

stevelous, I've never had a colonoscopy in my life. But then there's no history of bowel cancer in my family so there's probably no need. So I don't think that it's England-wide that it's offered to over 55's. Maybe just in your area.
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denimini
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by denimini »

I have had a couple of colonoscopies in the last few years. The first one being my first ever procedure in a hospital, so I am certainly no veteran in any sense of the word.
The prep was the worst part. My greatest fear was having any sedation, messing with my mind and requiring someone to pick me up from hospital and watch over me for 12 hours after; A problem when you have to travel 200 kms from home. I wanted to walk out afterwards and drive straight home, so I insisted that I didn't need any pain relief or sedation, not being afraid of short term discomfort.
As it turned out there was some minor surgery required but I hardly felt a thing and had the educational opportunity of watching the event on the monitor.

Go for it. It is no big deal and they all have seen plenty of bum holes before.
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pelmut
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by pelmut »

denimini wrote: I hardly felt a thing and had the educational opportunity of watching the event on the monitor.
My experience was similar.  A nurse rang me the following day to check if I had any worries after the procedure, I said I had: I would never be able to go on the Docklands Light Railway again without getting flashbacks...
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Re: Medical Cringe

Post by dillon »

I recently had an endoscopy because of difficulty swallowing certain foods, and I feared esophageal cancer. And since it had been a decade since my last colonoscopy, I had both done in the same session to save both me and my insurance some money. Got an all clear from the doctor. He also did a balloon procedure to open my constricted throat a bit, but it really made only a minor difference.
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