HI Everyone
This is an interesting conversation. I had the scope down the stomach and found it not as bad as it sounds. I was sedated, went to sleep, but woke up at the end and was rectching. I have an extremely sensitive gag reflec, so I doubt if that is a standard reaction. The doctors seemed surprised by it.
I have also had a big problem with swallowing for years and the thought of swallowing that camera makes me feel like choking. I saw that on tv and it seemed like a biiig item to swallow
I dont mind the though of the colonoscopy although I can think of things I would rather do.
I am two weeks out of my sinus op. It was nasty but not as unpleasant as expected. I seemed to have some relief then it has swollen again, but it takes about six weeks for full recovery so watch this space.
I had a wierd experience with my rheumy telling me to stop taking oral metho as my nausea levels had gone very high.
She sent me of with a script to my gp for weekly injections. The gp reacted with horror and rang the rheumy to get more info.
Seems that he does not want to inject a toxic substance, wierd I say.
The nursed made me take it home as they did not want it in their fridge.
It is sealed in a glass bottle so I am not sure what that fuss is about.
So I have not had any metho for a month.
thinking...thinking...
I also had a horror dentist visit this week, huge amounts of drilling and the pain injection not working properly as they were drilling deeply.
Well, I think I will put off the colonscopy, got to get through two separate mri's, knee and wrist but for some reason they can't do them at the same time.
Wierd again
Keep your chins up everybody
Hi, Wonderwoman,
Have you ever had a colonoscopy, or would this be your first one...???,,,,,,,,,,,when you can fit it into your way-too-busy medical schedule, that is!
What is up with your GP? That is just plain STRANGE. I get some of the same vibes from my PCP, though. I think she is afraid to touch me. She looks at the list of meds I am on and practically freaks out in front of me. She needs to educate herself about RA. Maybe that is my job...???
So, is there a reason you can't inject the MTX yourself? I've been told it doesn't burn like Humira does. Would you have trouble using the syringe?
Some day we should write a SharePost about our experiences with medical professionals who shy away from RAers as though they had the plague. It is quite disheartening. At least my RD isn't afraid to touch me! Sort of makes me self concious, but I try not to think about it.
Sorry you had such a weird day, and had to deal with all that nonsense about MTX. Good grief, Charlie Brown.
Peace,
V
Hi V
We are alien beings from another planet. The self injection option is not available in oz for some reason, I did ask.
Colonoscopy is right down the list of my activities at present. I am just barely coping with all the other procedures, anxiety about possible drug reactions etc etc.
Think I might have to change docs, it is a shame as he is very nice and has generally been helpful. Part of his reaction seemed to be anger that rheumy had not written to him about it, but that too seems strange. This is the same doc that got offended because another doc diagnosed my bronchitis.
hmmmm
you had an interesting time of it lately, haven't you? I'm glad the sinus operation is over and hopefully the dental nightmare is, too.
Your GP is a loony.when our son methotrexate (2002-2004ish) we weren't allowed to injecting ourselves because it is a toxic substance. I had to go to my doctor (GP) to get it done. this is what doctors are for. I sincerely recommend you dump that guy as soon as possible.
thanks for the reassurance on the upper endoscopy. Good to know it's not always a nightmare.
Hi Lene
Interesting is the word for sure. Dental is still going, I have a temporary crown and have to go back for the permanent, still some teeth to get done as well.
At present I am not taking the metho at all, so confused, I will make an appointment with another doc at the same practice I think as they at least have my history there.
The good thing is I have no nausea for the first time in four years. yay
Onwards and upwards I say.
Yep! My GP kind of looks at me strangely. Seems to be some mixture of wonderment and fear. Ugh. I may need to find a doc who isn't afraid to touch me. My first RD didn't touch me either, unless you call poking my wrist once with his index finger. He was Mr Crazy Pants for sure! So, how does one go about finding a GP who isn't afraid of them. Maybe I should find a GP in Columbia where my RD is located. Columbia is a college town, and there is they have the Univ of Mo Med center there. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Food for thought.
I have several relatives that had stomach cancer plus I have IBS. So, I had to have a scope several years ago for that reason. My first scope they found pholps. Had to go back in three years to check it again. Nothing wrong with the test just getting prepared for it. Drinking all that awfull stuff. No pholps this time. I had also asked him to do the scope in the mouth. I had been having trouble swallowing plus few other things. He stretched my esophagus. I did fill some problems when that was happening. But it was okay not like the RA pain we have. Only thing later people that had it done said my throat would close back up. Hate that.
I did not know MTX did all of that. I have taken meds for my acid reflux and heartburn since my early 20's. The heartburn is so much worst now. What do you all think age 55, just getting older or could it be the MTX doing it?
Thank you, Nanamom
it could definitely be methotrexate that's contributing to your heartburn and acid reflux. Check out my post on managing side effects for tips on reducing this experience. Are you taking methotrexate in tablet form or injectable? If you're taking it as pills, talk to your doctor about the injectable methotrexate - it's much easier on the stomach and may help your symptoms.
Thanks for replying Lene. I could not take the pills they made me throw them up. I have been on the injection since the 2nd week of taking them. Which has been about 5 years now. I take Humira,also. Just starting in June. Very expensive. I do have the $5.00 card that lasts a year for people with high insurance. It would cost me $200.00 a month if I didn't have that. My insurance is not liking me taking it. They have called several times asking me if it is helping me. I really can't answer that I don't know. The MTX is making me very anemic. The rheummy wanted me to take a little less on my next shot and do follow ups with my gp. These docs are making me so angry. They tell me I have to have blood work every 3 months and chest x ray every year. Buth then none of them follow up with asking me if I have do that.
Again thanks for replying, I enjoy your post.
Nana
Y'know... I no longer rely on doctors to keep track of when what is due. I wish they would, but as an empowered patient who is in charge of my own health, it's something that I view as my responsibility. It would be great if doctors had a thing on their computer that would track when it has been the designated time since your last checkup/test/wahtever - a simple thing that could really improve health care for many, but they don't. In a way, I am more comfortable being in charge of it myself. I'm not fond of giving over control of my life to anyone else. I'm lucky that I have a great doctor, but there are a lot of doctors who need to be discouraged from taking over, so this sort of helps. 
Both methotrexate and Humira can cause issues with your stomach. If you're already taking prescription medication for this, you may want to talk to your GP about alternatives that might help better. As well, trying some of the tips in the post on managing side effects I linked to previously may also help - I find that acidophilus is particularly helpful.
Yes, I wish doctors would be more caring. The doctors now in MS have to put everything on computers and they hate it. I am trying to get SSDI. I have found out that none of my doctors will write letters and help in anyway. I can get my medical records and pay for each page. Which I did with one but it does not help any. In most of them he saids this is a white female with well oriented and healthy looking. Of course, I look healthy my first doctor that retired on me got to me in time to stop any of my fingers turning like my dads and brother did. When I was referred to the first rheummy I was told he had no bedside manner. Which I don't care I just want have to doctor me. I loved that man. He was not my friend but he was a great doctor. He fussed if I gained weight he just seemed to care a little about me as a patient.
Take care,
Nana
I can't believe that your doctors will write a letter for SSD! That's insane!
Check out my post on working and RA. It has links to a great website that can answer all your questions about SSD, as well as put you in touch with advocates in individual states that can help you with the process and reduce your risk of getting rejected. SSD seems to have a built-in automatic rejection on the first try, unless get help from an advocate or lawyer who knows exactly which documents needs to be filed when. That website I linked to a in my post on working and RA might also be able to put you in touch with doctors in your area who will write you the necessary documentation
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Hi, Lene,
Good article. My PCP has been after me for three years about getting a coloscopy. I will be 58 next month. Sigh. Guess I will fit it in around April or so. I don't know why I am so resistant to the very idea of it. Lots of others have gone thru this and survived! LOL
V
it is comfortable, but survivable. However, as I mentioned in the post, I'd recommend that you make arrangements to get an appointment with the specialist before the procedure to discuss how your RA might impact colonoscopy. This is one of those tests where you need to put on your Big Girl Pants and just do it. Look at it this way - you could use it as fodder for a SharePost. You'd be serving the community!
Alrighty, then! It will be good for me, and I guess it would make a good SharePost...hopefully not TOO entertaining, though. Ugh.
So, can one take pain meds and all the other "stuff" we take the day of the Colonoscopy? What about the risk of infections if they remove a polyp or whatever. Geez. Guess I will make my own appointment and discuss this with the doc.
So, have you had one of these tests, fearless leader?
V
you have to be off any medication that can be potentially blood thinning for a certain amount of time before the procedure (and don't know the specific timeline (. These types of medications can include aspirin, naproxen, potentially other anti-inflammatories. I would recommend that you not only talk to a specialist who is doing the test, but also double check with your rheumatologist.
And no. I haven't had them done. An upper endoscopy is my personal nightmare medical test that I will do almost anything to avoid (in this respect, I am very much fearful leader
). It was a great relief to hear that there are options. I should have a colonoscopy, but the prep is a real barrier. I can't transfer from my wheelchair to the toilet without assistance, for one and the amount of times you end up going to the washroom would also be difficult because of my rather high pain levels. However, writing this post made me realize I want to ask my family doctor to refer me to a specialist so I can at least start having the conversation.
I have had an endoscopy, Lene. Piece of cake! What I don't want to do is be off my RA meds for very long. I am just barely controlled...well, not really controlled yet, but getting there. I still have a too high CRP, and if I miss one med, I pay for it big time. So........I will tt my RD about it in March and then make an appointment for the dreaded roto rooter treatment in April or May.
I want to clarify which meds I can and cannot take, etc. I think I would just rather swallow that little camera, but I guess that probably costs a mint, or two, or three.
Peace,
V
roto rooter! Snort!!