BajaNomad - Colonoscopy in La Paz

Colonoscopy in La Paz

Juanita - 6-5-2010 at 07:13 PM

I have just had not just one, but two colonoscopys in La Paz, and am, of course, an expert now. I learned a lot going in by reading the posts here on the Nomad board. I had postponed having a colonoscopy because of the grand excitement of coming to live in Baja seven years ago, which gave my polyp a chance to grow and become cancerous. Now it is out and I feel fine.

A friend had recommended to me the 'Fiedepaz' hospital, Centro Especialidades Medicos in La Paz, and Doctora Chiapa, so I had some confidence going in. My experience with her, the anaestheologist and the clinic itself was all completely positive. The first cononoscopy cost about $600 dollars and showed a large polyp in a delicate place up by the stomach, so she didn't take it out then. Lab work showed cancer.

The second colonoscopy cost $1,150 dollars and involved readiness to go directly to surgery if a tear in the intestine wall developed, or if she couldn't get the polyp raised up enough to cut it out safely. A surgeon stood by to do this surgery, fortunately not needed.

My daughter had recently had a colonoscopy in California and two elements of my experience In La Paz were better than hers. The liquid I drank for the cleansing was entirely palatable and easy to get down, and I was under a sedative only for the procedure and could peek when I wanted to see the progress of the probe and the interior of my colon on the monitor very clearly. My daughter had one small polyp, which was removed immediately, and now can have confidence for years to come. I sure do recommend each of you buckle down and devote two days to this. And thank you very much for the information going in.

Paula - 6-5-2010 at 07:39 PM

Hi Juanita!

I'm so glad to hear this went well for you, and that you are cancer free! Thank you for sharing your experience, it is always reassuring to hear of the good medical care available down here.

I hope we get to stop in to say hello when we go north in July~~ it's been too long!

Russ - 6-5-2010 at 07:45 PM

Good for you! Glad all went well. I just had the VA do one on me the stuff they gave me to drink was horrible! They recommended I add Crystal Light to it and I barely got it down. I was more fortunate than you and there were no polyps.

DianaT - 6-5-2010 at 09:02 PM

Hi Juanita,

Thank you for telling your story and I sure am happy all went well with you. Your story should REALLY encourage any one who has not had it done to get it done. We were both lucky and told to come back in 10 years.

Hope to see you again soon---well when the weather cools down we will be back in San Ignacio. Our son really thanks you for selling him that book. He had been looking for a long time --- was good that you had more than one copy.

Do take care of yourself and keep a close eye on everything.

Diane

[Edited on 6-6-2010 by DianaT]

Bajame - 6-5-2010 at 10:56 PM

Thanks Jaunita,
Thanks for giving us this update and so glad everything turned out OK. Will be back in July for the San Ignacio Festival.

Bob and Susan - 6-6-2010 at 05:54 AM

i wonder....

what is the average age of the people here talking about a Colonoscopy :lol:

i never sit around the campfire talking about this :lol:

what a way to wake up

DianaT - 6-6-2010 at 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
i wonder....

what is the average age of the people here talking about a Colonoscopy :lol:

i never sit around the campfire talking about this :lol:

what a way to wake up

Doctor recommended it when we turned 50 or sooner if there was a family history of same.

So I would guess average age of ones talking about it is 51 +/-
:lol:

So since you are only 39, you have a while before you should be talking about it around the campfire, or with your morning coffee.

Ken Bondy - 6-6-2010 at 07:47 AM

What a great story. Wonderful to hear that you are well Juanita. As vulnerable as they are to campfire jokes, colonoscopies are one of the most powerful diagnostic tools available. I lost a good friend last year at 65 to colon cancer. He scoffed at colonoscopies and most other invasive medical procedures. He, of course, was bulletproof and didn't want anybody sticking any hose up his butt. By the time they found the tumor it had spread everywhere and after the surgery he lasted only a few months. I have had a colonoscopy every five years since I was 50 and have had several polyps removed. I strongly encourage everyone to start having them when you hit the big five oh.

[Edited on 6-6-2010 by Ken Bondy]

Pescador - 6-6-2010 at 08:09 AM

Where did you get the second Colonoscopy done? Was that at the same place?

toneart - 6-6-2010 at 08:17 AM

This is always good advice for those who want to be well informed and healthy. Colon Cancer is a huge killer! Anytime one can get the word out to a large number of people, such as on the BajaNomad Board, you are quite possibly saving someone's life. I have lost friends to Colon Cancer.Thank you, Juanita.

I remember when Katie Curic lost her husband to colon cancer while she was host of the Today Show. She had one done and showed the video on the show. I am sure she saved lots of lives.

I have one every five years and last November was my latest,in Northern California. I did have one polyp which was removed...benign. The worst part of it was the prep, a nasty tasting (sort of masked by a citrus taste) liquid that you mix from a powder. The one they seem to order now is called Moviprep. It was really hard for me to choke down that much liquid, but you must do it. I can tell you it really does what it is supposed to do.

The procedure is painless. They put you into a "waking sleep" and you are out for the short period of the Colonoscopy.

Bob H - 6-6-2010 at 09:35 AM

Great advice Juanita! Also, very happy to hear your successful story. I've had this procedure done every five years at UCSD Med Center since I turned 50. Had a couple of small polyps taken out. Will be up for my third one this year. The procedure is a piece of cake if you ask me.

As for drinking the fluids beforehand. I just mix it up, pour it into a coffee cup and drink it cup by cup until it's gone. It seems much easier to get it all down, cup by cup.

Bob H

wessongroup - 6-6-2010 at 09:41 AM

Really good advice ..... and information.. thanks..

Ken Bondy - 6-6-2010 at 09:43 AM

The colonoscopy procedure is easy, over before you know it. Drinking the cleanout fluid is uncomfortable but not the worst thing that can happen to you. The whole thing is so much easier than the lovely "sigmoidoscopy" procedure that the internist does to you in the office, with no anesthesia. Anybody remember that delightful little few moments of agony?

Bob and Susan - 6-6-2010 at 09:53 AM

i'm really glad you're all fine...
but...

i think you're all "brainwashed"

some need it...some don't
come-on everyone over 50...

doctors don't make money unless you're sick
they really don't want ANYONE healthy
they'd be on welfare

kinda like a dentist
no drilling...no new car

diana...remember jack benny :saint:

bacquito - 6-6-2010 at 09:55 AM

I had a colonoscopy done and it turns out my colon is too larger for my body cavity and was therefore twisted. The procedure went well in that no polyps were found but the doctor was not comfortable with the study in that he felt he could not get a complete study due to the twist that were present and so he ordered a "virtual colonoscopy" using catscan. The results were the same-no polyps. In five years I repeat the procedure.
Yes, it is important to have this study done after 50 regardless of family history. My cousin had a study done and it turns of he had a large, cancerous polyp and underwent extensive surgey to remove it.

DianaT - 6-6-2010 at 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
i'm really glad you're all fine...
but...

i think you're all "brainwashed"

some need it...some don't
come-on everyone over 50...

doctors don't make money unless you're sick
they really don't want ANYONE healthy
they'd be on welfare

kinda like a dentist
no drilling...no new car

diana...remember jack benny :saint:

Bob,
Yes EVERYONE over 50 should have this procedure. Colon Cancer is a major cancer killer, I believe number 2 or 3, and it is a silent killer.

By the time there are any signs that there might be a problem, it is often too late---like others, I knew people who died from this.

If there is a family history of colon cancer, this procedure should be done at even a younger age. It is such a great screening procedure, just like a woman having a pap smear----it saves lives.

I really do not believe this has anything to do with money for the doctors ---- they make a whole lot more money treating people with cancer.

And after having had it done, it was sure A LOT easier than the thoughts about having it done.

There is no way to know if someone has the dangerous polyps without this procedure. They are easy to remove before they become malignant.

I think that some doctors are test happy and order too much, but not in this case.

Remember, it is called the silent killer for a reason----symptons of trouble often come only in the later stages of the disease. So I hope you will think about it and when you are old enough,
have it done.

Now, this Jack Benny guy---I am way too young to remember who he was? :lol:

On edit---if that sounded like I was preaching----YES, I was preaching-----in fact after all of the dreams and building of your dream home on the bay, ----GET IT DONE!

[Edited on 6-7-2010 by DianaT]

wessongroup - 6-6-2010 at 12:11 PM

DianaT .... absolutely !!

Bob H - 6-7-2010 at 02:34 AM

Quote:

Bob, I had my first one at 50 and they found two small polyps - early stages.... they cut them off and pulled them out right on the spot.

I highly recommend this procedure for anyone 50+

Bob H