Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸

RE: https://mastodon.social/@Desertdragon/116262515138997498

I’m so sorry about this.

And FYI if you’re a guy like me who puts it off because you don’t like the idea of a colonoscopy’s entry point: I didn’t know they’ll put you under—you just wake up like nothing happened.

Mar 20 at 5:14pmWeb
Show threadJason LefkowitzMar 20

@Holberg Can confirm, I had my first one this year. You sleep through the whole thing. The worst part is drinking lots of solution the night before to clean out the pipes.

One thing I didn't realize is that the guidance on when to get a colonoscopy has changed. It used to be that you should get one at age 50. A few years ago they pushed it up to age 45. If I'd known, I would have gotten mine sooner.

https://lookinside.kaiserpermanente.org/blog/2025/03/18/45-is-the-new-50-with-colorectal-cancer-screening/

45 is the new 50 for colorectal cancer screening - Kaiser Permanente Look insideKP Northern California

Theodore R Levin, MD, Kaiser Permanente clinical leader for colorectal cancer screening and a researcher, talks about screening and common misconceptions.

Kaiser Permanente Look insideKP Northern California
Show threadNomdebMar 20
@jalefkowit @Holberg AND prep is so much better nowadays. My gastro does a 2 day prep. Meaning you start the afternoon before and then finish the morning of. And it was SO much better and the stuff to drink was much less nasty. The procedure itself, indeed is meh. NBD at all. BUT (TMI WARNING) Aquaphor and a bidet are preferable parts of the prep to regular old TP. :)
Show threadJason LefkowitzMar 20
@nomdeb @Holberg Yeah, I'd heard horror stories about the prep so I was surprised by how not terrible it was. I forget which one they gave me, but it was fairly drinkable! You wouldn't trade a nice IPA for it, but still 😆
Show threadNomdebMar 20
@jalefkowit @Holberg @Desertdragon This is an older article, but one I share with many. Dave Barry on colonoscopies: https://www.miamiherald.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/dave-barry/article1928847.html #colonoscopy
Show threadJason LefkowitzMar 20
@nomdeb @Holberg @Desertdragon Oh my god, I am now berating myself for not thinking of spiking the prep solution
Show threadMats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸Mar 20
@nomdeb @jalefkowit Haha
Show threadMats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸Mar 20
@jalefkowit Yes! The prep sucks! No question haha.
Show threadUrzlMar 20

@jalefkowit @Holberg They changed it to 45 when I turned 45.

I assume when I turn 50 they'll change it back to 50 because that's just my luck.

Show threadVissMar 20
@Holberg and itll be the best sleep youve had in years
Show threadclewMar 20

Also, putting the patient completely under is a cultural choice because it embarrasses us so much. You can decline if that’s what scares you. I came to once mid procedure and it was fine — it’s SO medical and routine.

(Last time I was in the patient in the next room was formally declining full anesthesia because he did not want to spend that long unable to care for his spouse. They were both eighty-ish so this was heartwarming and also heartbreaking.)

@Holberg

Show threadbookworks 💙Mar 20
@clew @Holberg I, too, woke up during my first one. I was looking at the image on the screen, all shiny and pink. Someone noticed I guess and said “ oops, back to sleep for you”. Worst is absolutely the prep and I concur it got better over the decade between. Really, have yours if it is at all indicated.
Show threadclewMar 20

ha, yes, if anyone was embarassed it was the anesthesiologist

So shiny, so pink! Marble halls!

@bookworks @Holberg

Show threadUrzlMar 20

@Holberg The prep bites, no way around that part but it cracked me up at check in when I had to do another "consent to treat".

I did the hard part. Day-of, I take a little nap and then go out for the most highly anticipated meal of the year.

After I already did the prep, I'm finishing this thing even if the building is on fire.

Show threadLenoraMar 20
@Holberg they have a blood test you can do now
Show threadDonald Ham Mar 20

@Holberg
Hoping this might be helpful to someone.

I've had a bunch of colonoscopies and even more endoscopies. The low-grade anesthesia they use has been what they call "dream sleep." They've warned me I might be partially aware, but I never have been.

You just are groggy for a bit when you wake up, then after a little fruit juice and half an hour, you walk out under your own power (you do need to be driven home.) It's easy, painless, virtually no side effects.

Show threadEDVARDSMar 20

@Holberg

Watch the movie "Ghost Town". You might die... a little... and get a chance to help some dead people 😁