Freakin' Fecal Test - Warning, Rant Ahead

[HaddocksEyes 205]

Uggg...they just shared with me yesterday that they require a fecal test. If it comes back positive, then they will order a colonoscopy. Never had one before...not going to get one now. They sprung this one on me at the last minute, since (I thought!) I have fulfilled all of my pre-requisites.

Yes, I know they are doing it to make sure I am healthy and they want to know what's what, but sorry, I just can't do it. The presence of blood could be due to other factors, and not just cancer or polyps. For women not yet in menopause or for those who have hemorrhoids, you know what I mean.

If I were older, getting a bypass and/or had a family history of colon cancer or polyps, I don't think I could make this argument. But hell, I'm not, so I am. I've jumped through every hoop they've asked me to. I'm drawing the line here - (insert Trek reference here.."the line must be drawn here..this far and no farther!..").

Anyways, emotional, non-rational rant over.

Edited July 17, 2014 by HaddocksEyes

[Kindle 8,667]

What are they testing for?

[Jersrose43 837]

I think you've had surgery. So better safe than sorry?

[BitterSweet* 835]

Is it just an FOBT (fecal occult blood test) or something else? If you are old enough to have had a Pap smear, I hate to break it to you, but you've already had one of those. It's done while your doctor or practitioner is palpating (feeling your abdomen for unusual masses) and they stick a gloved, lubricated finger up your @ss. Happens to every female. That finger is then smeared on top of the FOBT card and it's sent off to the lab. If that is not the test you are speaking of, it's highly unusual that they want to do anything more than that......unless something else is going on and they want to rule everything out. Best wishes to you.

[BitterSweet* 835]

Btw, if the FOBT is what you're speaking of, they'll give you the card / slide to take home. After you wipe your butt, just use a piece of tissue and LIGHTLY rub a TINY, TINY amount on the card. Close it and mail it as instructed.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

What's the big deal? I mean that not to be flip, but with all sincerity. You are willing to have half of your stomach cut out but not willing to donate a bit of poo to make sure you are healthy?

I can tell you with 100% certainty that it's worth it. I'd let the doc give me the jelly finger once a week if I had to to feel as good as I do 106 pounds lighter than I was a year ago. Fo' sho'!

[fat_free 463]

It is worth it. Seven years ago my sister was sent for a colonoscopy as she had turned fifty and it was one of her doctors standard 50yr old check up tests. Well, they found a large tumour in her colon and removed 18 inches and she went through chemo and is now in remission but has to have a colonoscopy every year. Needless to say we were all told to go get checked - turns out I too had exactly the same types of tumours growing - villainous adenomas (sp?). They are long and flat -zero symptoms and take about ten years to mature and become cancerous and could eventually kill you. So I went yearly until I had no new ones and now go every 3 years. So the long and the short of this is - I never would have known with out the preventative scope and I likely wouldn't be able to enjoy my new found life as a post op sleeve patient. I would do it monthly if I had too. It's not fun, I don't look forward to it by any means BUT it may save your life.

Now this is really only my experience but I wanted to share with you why I would do it in a heart beat.

Take care

[snowkitten 371]

Is it just an FOBT (fecal occult blood test) or something else? If you are old enough to have had a Pap smear, I hate to break it to you, but you've already had one of those. It's done while your doctor or practitioner is palpating (feeling your abdomen for unusual masses) and they stick a gloved, lubricated finger up your @ss. Happens to every female. That finger is then smeared on top of the FOBT card and it's sent off to the lab. If that is not the test you are speaking of, it's highly unusual that they want to do anything more than that......unless something else is going on and they want to rule everything out. Best wishes to you.

Whoa you get this done at every pap test? I've never had that done, thank god!

[snowkitten 371]

Uggg...they just shared with me yesterday that they require a fecal test. If it comes back positive, then they will order a colonoscopy. Never had one before...not going to get one now. They sprung this one on me at the last minute, since (I thought!) I have fulfilled all of my pre-requisites.

Yes, I know they are doing it to make sure I am healthy and they want to know what's what, but sorry, I just can't do it. The presence of blood could be due to other factors, and not just cancer or polyps. For women not yet in menopause or for those who have hemorrhoids, you know what I mean.

If I were older, getting a bypass and/or had a family history of colon cancer or polyps, I don't think I could make this argument. But hell, I'm not, so I am. I've jumped through every hoop they've asked me to. I'm drawing the line here - (insert Trek reference here.."the line must be drawn here..this far and no farther!..").

Anyways, emotional, non-rational rant over.

What prompted them to have you do a fecal test? I had to do this to check for hpylori since my blood test came back positive . My Dr said that the blood test is too unreliable since it will show positive if you've EVER had it. I havnt received my test result yet but I'm assuming no news is good news

I'm sorry this is delaying your surgery but that's great their being careful.

[#9grammy 274]

A colonoscopy is when they put you to sleep on your side and put a tube with a camera up your rectum. They go all the way up inside to through the large and small intestines. Can't remember if they can see the bottom of stomach or not. But it is a test that when your 50 years they want you to do this. I waited till 55 just because I didn't want it done, thank goodness they didn't find anything. The other you get at your Pap smear is occult blood test, they are looking for blood in your (poop). Do hope this explanation helps everyone to understand. Oh the scope they are looking for abnormalities, cancer included.

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

I'm with Lipstick Lady on this one.

So what?

It could save your life.

Woman-up, Sista. There are worse things in life than having to smear a bit of poop on a piece of cardboard, a finger or camera tube, close to the dimensions of a Ford F-150XLT shoved up your jaxsie if it saves your life.

If it's required, it is the gateway to you getting your surgery. No brainer as far as I'm concerned.

[Jersrose43 837]

I did not need a colonoscopy before my sleeve. However when talking to doc after EGD he felt with my uncle having died of colon issues, dad regularly has polyps, and my grandmother had issues as well. Better safe than sorry and certainly eyes wide open pre life altering surgery.

Had a clean bill of health back in 3 years and will keep doing regularly.

If they want a swab on whatever sign me up!

[par1959 470]

Getting snaked isnt the bad part of a colonoscopy. It the turbo lax you drink the night before thats bad.

[Jersrose43 837]

Getting snaked isnt the bad part of a colonoscopy. It the turbo lax you drink the night before thats bad.

Agree. But getting snaked really??

I mean damn I know it's plumbing. But lol

[HaddocksEyes 205]

I think you've had surgery. So better safe than sorry?

Nope, I'm pre-op