Thanks, Big Al.

Glad you survived the prep and procedure. I mean, it's not the most fun thing in the world to do but it's also not that bad.

Polyps are really common. I have a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years and they're always removing polyps.

Thanks, wtg.

Why do you go every 3 to 5 years if I might ask?

My dad, his mother, and her brother all had colon cancer; my dad and his mother both died of it. My mother and her brother both developed colon cancer later in life (mom was 91 and uncle was 78) but in both cases the cancer was very early stage and removed. They both died of other causes.

Since I'm the poster child for genetic risk (multiple people on both maternal and paternal sides), I had my first colonoscopy at age 49 and had an adenomatous polyp removed at that time. That type of polyp is much more likely to become malignant over the course of ten or fifteen years and my GI doc said at the time I probably would have been stage 4 cancer at about the age my Dad was diagnosed, his mid-60s.

There are other polyps that are kind of nothing burgers that they always take out but that only rarely become cancerous.

There are protocols that GI docs follow that tell them, based on how many and what kind of polyps were removed, when you should have a repeat screening. Otherwise, if there are no polyps or other issues you can go 10 years between screenings.

The Cologuard stool test is not an option for me because I'm not average risk. Plus I almost always have polyps, and you have to have a colonoscopy to deal with those so I never do the stool tests.

Got the scopes done.

Good for you.

I missed one procedure because RM told me he wasn't taking me 12 hours before my appointment.

Then I had to reschedule.

Then the place that does the CT scan (radioactive fluid sugar drink will be breakfast) and 2 x rays doesn't have an opening until Aug. 12.

Missed procedure must be rescheduled again.

Wrap up appointment must be rescheduled. Well, I hope this appointment will be the last for a long time.

I don't have cancer. I called to get my lab results. She said no and if I did they would have called me immediately.

I still have a battery of tests and the wrap up appointment but I'm moving them to September.

Glad to hear that your tests are moving along and that no serious issues have come up.

(insert thumbs up emoji here)

Thanks!

What a saga although of course it could be worse.

Thanks (thumbs up goes here)

Yesterday I had X-rays of my abdomen and pelvis and CT imaging with and without contrast. I don't know what they put in the liquid you drink but I've been sick for two days. The same thing happened last time. This time they injected something into my veins too. I'm glad this got checked off my list.

Urgent care doctor said my ear drum is not punctured and didn't say I had an infection. But he was very good. He gave me antibiotics and steroid ear drops. I pick them up tomorrow.

One more test- manometry next week and finally the follow up appointment in October.

I have to get routine blood work done and see my PCP (he's great, I got lucky, and I've been seeing him for 5 years) within 30 days after tomorrow. I see get blood work and see him every 3 months. I have some leeway but I take Ativan (the 1 controlled substance I take) and then I have none. State law says I have to see him in person even though it's Schedule IV.

I have to get labs and see my PCP within 30 days. I'm scheduling these today and rescheduling my remaining specialist appointments. It's a good thing my ear was hurting because I'm on amoxicillin for 10 days. I developed a rash on my stomach. I'm hoping it will kill my ear infection if I have one, my skin rash, and any cellulitis I might have in my right big toe (I had to go to urgent care for this sic months ago, it doesn't seem totally healed, and I think I have a mild ingrown toe and/or a minor infection in my left toe).

Getting older is a double edge sword. I never thought my health would become this consuming. There are few things I regret. One of them is not taking good care of my health when I was young.

Listen to me, children! You'll be glad you did.

Oh, it's been 7 months since I've had a cleaning and my gums are bleeding again. I might try to fit this in the next 30 day while I'm procrastinating finishing the specialists' process.

Did I mention I need prescription glasses?

It never ends!

s/b specialist's

I cleaned my calendar for my prerequisite lab work and my 3 month PCP visit

The dentist had nothing until December.

I moved the specialist' test and the wrap up appointment out a month.

Boy was she pissed!

She said this is a lot of rescheduling and you you can't reschedule again!

Okay.