Anonymous
12/17/2025 20:37
Subject: Re:Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The people not getting colonoscopies, you are flat out dumb.
Colon cancer is very common and also so preventable. It's the second leading cancer killer.
They should make the screening easier. I need to do it but I am deterred by the prep and the need for general anesthesia.
You're being a baby. Is this all because it's about butts?
The prep is nbd. Moderate your diet the day before, drink the powder mixed with Gatorade, have a couple liquid BMs and that's it.
General anesthesia is never used. It's twilight sedation or, if you want, something lighter. Or you can choose to be fully aware like Katie Couric.
My colonoscopy was under propofol, which is deep sedation. I had no memory of it whatsoever. No breathing tube and not general anasthesia, but most people are not conscious.
It is the combination of the sedation along with it being "about butts" that stresses people out. It is scary to have someone scoping your body in general, doing it in a sensitive/personal area makes it feel worse, being sedated means loss of control. It can be hard to overcome the psychology of that.
Your approach of calling people babies and saying it's no big deal is not the effective inducement to get them done you think it is. That kind of aggressive pitch will turn off people who are already afraid. People refuse needed surgeries for the same reasons, you think a little bullying will get them to do a preventative screening?
Mammograms and Pap smears are a much easier sell because mammograms aren't invasive and you're standing up and have some control. Paps are more invasive and vulnerable, but it's done by your regular gyno generally, someone you likely have a decent relationship with (hopefully). Also more gynos are women, which a lot of women feel more comfortable with. Gastro is male dominated and that can stress people out further.
What I would say as an incentive for getting it done (I was also very uncomfortable and really didn't want to do it) is that it's much easier/better than you imagine. The doctor is a total pro, your body will be dressed in a way that actually preserves some modesty, and people at the hospital know how to set people at ease and ensure professionalism. I can't say if deep sedation or something lighter is preferable. I think it's nice to have no memory but it might have contributed to embarrassment? Maybe being more awake would normalize it and reduce that. Ultimately I went with deep sedation because I thought it would be easier to pull the trigger on doing it if I could remind myself I'd be knocked out. Next time I do it I might make another choice.
The biggest reason to do it is that when you are done, you have a great feeling of relief and satisfaction because it's over, you don't have to do it again for years, and you can feel more confident in your gastro health. I find ultimately it's more stressful to postpone this sort of screening than to do it, because when you postpone it just creates this obligation in the back of your head. Once it's done, it's over and you don't have to think about it again for a long time.
Sure I get this and also I cannot grasp how people would avoid literal life saving procedures because they’re anxious. No one likes them. We do it. I don’t need to induce anyone or cajole anyone personally unless it’s a family member at which point I would plead and cajole. It’s everyone’s personal choice and it’s a clear cut stupid one to avoid these things. Just call it what it is.
It’s just hard to stomach it when many have seen people suffer and die because of these stupid decisions which affects many more people than the person who avoids preventive medicine. It ruins lives.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 20:32
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Are you going to the dentist every 6 months? Yes
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? No
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Not anymore used to get one yearly.
Mammograms every year (if 40 +) Not anymore.
Colonoscopies starting at 45 No
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes.
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? No
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Not anymore used to get one yearly.
Mammograms every year (if 40 +) Not anymore.
Colonoscopies starting at 45 No
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 20:22
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Yes- I do all these things except my colonoscopies started at age 30 of my personal history and a family history. I had a huge scare and I don’t mess around with health. I have 2 kids and I’m in healthcare (part time).
Anonymous
12/17/2025 20:15
Subject: Re:Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Surprisingly yes, I do all of the things. I have two elementary aged kids and a full time job. One of my kids has a few medical conditions so she has appointments about twice per month. I do approximately 80% of them and DH also does approximately 80% of them. We like to both go if possible.
Today I went to work late because of one sick kid and left early because the other kid got injured. Obviously it wasn’t ideal.
Today I went to work late because of one sick kid and left early because the other kid got injured. Obviously it wasn’t ideal.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 19:31
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
46 yo working mom of two- 10 & 13
Are you going to the dentist every 6 months? Usually but our dentist dropped our insurance and I haven’t put effort into getting a new one.
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? Yes
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Yes
Mammograms every year (if 40 +) Yes
Colonoscopies starting at 45: Yes and I actually enjoyed the actual procedure (the warm bed and the twilight sleep). The prep was not fun but not as terrible as I thought.
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes- mostly running and heavy lifting
Are you going to the dentist every 6 months? Usually but our dentist dropped our insurance and I haven’t put effort into getting a new one.
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? Yes
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Yes
Mammograms every year (if 40 +) Yes
Colonoscopies starting at 45: Yes and I actually enjoyed the actual procedure (the warm bed and the twilight sleep). The prep was not fun but not as terrible as I thought.
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes- mostly running and heavy lifting
Anonymous
12/17/2025 19:02
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
I wanted to be sedated but not asleep my first colonoscopy. I was intrigued by the fiber optics and wanted to see the image on the screen. When they "turned the corner" iykuk I said Ok that's enough and they put me under. It was interesting though.
Now I get deep sedation, I love the glimmer as it hits.
Now I get deep sedation, I love the glimmer as it hits.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 18:54
Subject: Re:Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The people not getting colonoscopies, you are flat out dumb.
Colon cancer is very common and also so preventable. It's the second leading cancer killer.
They should make the screening easier. I need to do it but I am deterred by the prep and the need for general anesthesia.
You're being a baby. Is this all because it's about butts?
The prep is nbd. Moderate your diet the day before, drink the powder mixed with Gatorade, have a couple liquid BMs and that's it.
General anesthesia is never used. It's twilight sedation or, if you want, something lighter. Or you can choose to be fully aware like Katie Couric.
My colonoscopy was under propofol, which is deep sedation. I had no memory of it whatsoever. No breathing tube and not general anasthesia, but most people are not conscious.
It is the combination of the sedation along with it being "about butts" that stresses people out. It is scary to have someone scoping your body in general, doing it in a sensitive/personal area makes it feel worse, being sedated means loss of control. It can be hard to overcome the psychology of that.
Your approach of calling people babies and saying it's no big deal is not the effective inducement to get them done you think it is. That kind of aggressive pitch will turn off people who are already afraid. People refuse needed surgeries for the same reasons, you think a little bullying will get them to do a preventative screening?
Mammograms and Pap smears are a much easier sell because mammograms aren't invasive and you're standing up and have some control. Paps are more invasive and vulnerable, but it's done by your regular gyno generally, someone you likely have a decent relationship with (hopefully). Also more gynos are women, which a lot of women feel more comfortable with. Gastro is male dominated and that can stress people out further.
What I would say as an incentive for getting it done (I was also very uncomfortable and really didn't want to do it) is that it's much easier/better than you imagine. The doctor is a total pro, your body will be dressed in a way that actually preserves some modesty, and people at the hospital know how to set people at ease and ensure professionalism. I can't say if deep sedation or something lighter is preferable. I think it's nice to have no memory but it might have contributed to embarrassment? Maybe being more awake would normalize it and reduce that. Ultimately I went with deep sedation because I thought it would be easier to pull the trigger on doing it if I could remind myself I'd be knocked out. Next time I do it I might make another choice.
The biggest reason to do it is that when you are done, you have a great feeling of relief and satisfaction because it's over, you don't have to do it again for years, and you can feel more confident in your gastro health. I find ultimately it's more stressful to postpone this sort of screening than to do it, because when you postpone it just creates this obligation in the back of your head. Once it's done, it's over and you don't have to think about it again for a long time.
NP, but I really appreciate this. I have a lot of medical anxiety and avoidance/postponement. I appreciate how you framed it and how it makes you feel when you're done (I've experienced this myself when I do actually drag myself to do one of these dreaded appointments/procedures - though not yet the colonoscopy because I just became old enough).
Anonymous
12/17/2025 18:50
Subject: Re:Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Yes, I do all the medical things (plus more! Dermatologist, eye doctor, specialists, et ).
I walk daily but failing on cardio front.
I am a SAHM
I walk daily but failing on cardio front.
I am a SAHM
Anonymous
12/17/2025 18:46
Subject: Re:Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The people not getting colonoscopies, you are flat out dumb.
Colon cancer is very common and also so preventable. It's the second leading cancer killer.
They should make the screening easier. I need to do it but I am deterred by the prep and the need for general anesthesia.
You're being a baby. Is this all because it's about butts?
The prep is nbd. Moderate your diet the day before, drink the powder mixed with Gatorade, have a couple liquid BMs and that's it.
General anesthesia is never used. It's twilight sedation or, if you want, something lighter. Or you can choose to be fully aware like Katie Couric.
My colonoscopy was under propofol, which is deep sedation. I had no memory of it whatsoever. No breathing tube and not general anasthesia, but most people are not conscious.
It is the combination of the sedation along with it being "about butts" that stresses people out. It is scary to have someone scoping your body in general, doing it in a sensitive/personal area makes it feel worse, being sedated means loss of control. It can be hard to overcome the psychology of that.
Your approach of calling people babies and saying it's no big deal is not the effective inducement to get them done you think it is. That kind of aggressive pitch will turn off people who are already afraid. People refuse needed surgeries for the same reasons, you think a little bullying will get them to do a preventative screening?
Mammograms and Pap smears are a much easier sell because mammograms aren't invasive and you're standing up and have some control. Paps are more invasive and vulnerable, but it's done by your regular gyno generally, someone you likely have a decent relationship with (hopefully). Also more gynos are women, which a lot of women feel more comfortable with. Gastro is male dominated and that can stress people out further.
What I would say as an incentive for getting it done (I was also very uncomfortable and really didn't want to do it) is that it's much easier/better than you imagine. The doctor is a total pro, your body will be dressed in a way that actually preserves some modesty, and people at the hospital know how to set people at ease and ensure professionalism. I can't say if deep sedation or something lighter is preferable. I think it's nice to have no memory but it might have contributed to embarrassment? Maybe being more awake would normalize it and reduce that. Ultimately I went with deep sedation because I thought it would be easier to pull the trigger on doing it if I could remind myself I'd be knocked out. Next time I do it I might make another choice.
The biggest reason to do it is that when you are done, you have a great feeling of relief and satisfaction because it's over, you don't have to do it again for years, and you can feel more confident in your gastro health. I find ultimately it's more stressful to postpone this sort of screening than to do it, because when you postpone it just creates this obligation in the back of your head. Once it's done, it's over and you don't have to think about it again for a long time.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 18:28
Subject: Re:Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The people not getting colonoscopies, you are flat out dumb.
Colon cancer is very common and also so preventable. It's the second leading cancer killer.
They should make the screening easier. I need to do it but I am deterred by the prep and the need for general anesthesia.
You're being a baby. Is this all because it's about butts?
The prep is nbd. Moderate your diet the day before, drink the powder mixed with Gatorade, have a couple liquid BMs and that's it.
General anesthesia is never used. It's twilight sedation or, if you want, something lighter. Or you can choose to be fully aware like Katie Couric.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 17:44
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Anonymous wrote:I do all of these things except the colonscopy. But on the time management front, I see the dentist more than twice a year. Unfortunately. To me, the real issue is working out because that requires a medium amount of time on several days. How I have done that has changed over time.
I understand avoiding scheduling doctor's appointments because they are an annoying hassle but the truth is that in the grand scheme of life it is not that difficult - we're talking 3-4 appointments a year.
51, law firm partner, 2 kids. it's gotten easier over time, but also in fairness, my own health has become more important to me.
It's 3-4 appointments a year if you have no other issues.
I see a neurologist twice a year. I see a rheumatologist once a year. I see an ortho most years. Dermatologist once a year for skin checks.
I go to the doctor once or twice a month. Add in the dermatologist and PT when I have to have PT, and it's a lot.
I have never had a mammogram or colonoscopy. 48.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 17:43
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Are you going to the dentist every 6 months? - yes, not a big deal because I schedule at the appointment.
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? Yes, I get annual check ups. I have Afib so I see my cardiologist regularly
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Yes
Mammograms every year (if 40 +) Yes
Colonoscopies starting at 45, started at 40 due to family history
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes, walk or bike an hour, 5 days a week, strength training 2-3 times a week.
I’m in my late 50’s and have seen too many family members/friends struggle with aging because they didn’t take care of themselves. Not going to be me.
I’m in management consulting and have 1 high schooler. Another reason I focus on health is because I have an only child. I don’t want them to be burdened with taking care of me later in life.
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? Yes, I get annual check ups. I have Afib so I see my cardiologist regularly
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Yes
Mammograms every year (if 40 +) Yes
Colonoscopies starting at 45, started at 40 due to family history
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes, walk or bike an hour, 5 days a week, strength training 2-3 times a week.
I’m in my late 50’s and have seen too many family members/friends struggle with aging because they didn’t take care of themselves. Not going to be me.
I’m in management consulting and have 1 high schooler. Another reason I focus on health is because I have an only child. I don’t want them to be burdened with taking care of me later in life.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 17:41
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Anonymous wrote:I do some and not others. These are just blanket US recommendations. For instance colonoscopy is not something recommended without symptoms in every country. Many say stool test and then colonoscopy only if symptoms or positive test or high risk. Same for mammograms which are often over 50, every two or three years…but I have them more plus ultrasounds and did younger bc of specific concerns.
+1, I do paps more often than OP suggests and do mammograms less often, on the advice of care providers.
Anonymous
12/17/2025 17:34
Subject: Re:Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Are you going to the dentist every 6 months? Yes
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? Yes, and also the gyn
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Yes
Mammograms every year (if 40 +)? Yes. I was 4 months late for it this year because life got in the way, and lo and behold, they found a tumor. Just had to go through all the biopsy-ing, MRI, and then a single mastectomy and will have radiation. Please do NOT delay in getting your annual mammograms. If you have dense breast tissue, please request follow up imaging via u/s. Trust me, the discomfort of the mammogram is nothing compared to cancer. And as rough as a cancer diagnosis is, many kinds of breast cancer can be treated very well and thoroughly if detected early. Also, if you have any ability to do so, schedule your annual mammograms for Jan-April. I've discovered that this time of year (November and December) are really busy for all of these appointments (biopsies, MRIs, consults) b/c many people postpone routine care until close to the end of the year and then insurance, etc. issues pop up where everyone is trying to get seen. Plus the holidays. And if you have an issue, you want to be able to be seen and get scheduled asap.
Colonoscopies starting at 45? Yes, one so far, it was clear
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes (less intensive, walking, weights, yoga)
Mom of 3 tweens and teens, SAHM
Seeing your PCP at least once a year? Yes, and also the gyn
Pap smears every 3-5 years ? Yes
Mammograms every year (if 40 +)? Yes. I was 4 months late for it this year because life got in the way, and lo and behold, they found a tumor. Just had to go through all the biopsy-ing, MRI, and then a single mastectomy and will have radiation. Please do NOT delay in getting your annual mammograms. If you have dense breast tissue, please request follow up imaging via u/s. Trust me, the discomfort of the mammogram is nothing compared to cancer. And as rough as a cancer diagnosis is, many kinds of breast cancer can be treated very well and thoroughly if detected early. Also, if you have any ability to do so, schedule your annual mammograms for Jan-April. I've discovered that this time of year (November and December) are really busy for all of these appointments (biopsies, MRIs, consults) b/c many people postpone routine care until close to the end of the year and then insurance, etc. issues pop up where everyone is trying to get seen. Plus the holidays. And if you have an issue, you want to be able to be seen and get scheduled asap.
Colonoscopies starting at 45? Yes, one so far, it was clear
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ? Yes (less intensive, walking, weights, yoga)
Mom of 3 tweens and teens, SAHM
Anonymous
12/17/2025 17:18
Subject: Moms are you doing all these health maintenance things?
Anonymous wrote:Moms-
Are you going to the dentist every 6 months?
Seeing your PCP at least once a year?
Pap smears every 3-5 years ?
Mammograms every year (if 40 +)
Colonoscopies starting at 45
Exercising at least 75 (intensive) - 150 mins (less intensive) a week ?
All these are health maintenance things we should be doing.
If you are doing all of these things, what job do you do? How many kids do you have?
I was quite late on the colonoscopy and don't exercise enough. Do the rest.