Anonymous wrote:I’m wondering about all these people saying “I have leave for appointments”—I can take whatever leave I want but I still have the same work. So if I take 2 hours off for a medical appointment, that just means 2 hours less sleep sometime that week.
And the kids do have so many more appointments hecause they are injury prone and illness prone — someone breaks something and that’s like a million follow up appointments. And braces! God the appointments for braces!

The fact that most doctors offices don’t answer calls during lunch is also challenging. I do need to be better about taking advantage of online scheduling since the only free time I have is usually 9-12.

FWIW, I don’t think it’s a mom thing because my husband is way worse that I am. I at least intend to get a colonoscopy— I don’t think he ever will.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If you can't understand it, you are probably not well equipped to do anything about it. Understanding why people get anxious and avoidant is the only way you'll ever change behaviors. Shaming and blaming people tends to just lead people to avoid you and the subject that makes them feel shamed and embarrassed. It does not convince anyone to make an appointment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 42 and have 3 young kids (ages 5, 9 and 11). I haven’t had any of the following:

Mammogram
Colonoscopy
Yearly dental cleaning
Yearly pap
Yearly eye check
Yearly physical

I think I got a physical maybe 3 years ago? I got an eye check 2 years and just ordered 2 years worth of contacts so I didn’t have to go back.

I just don’t have time to go. I work full time and solo parent 75% of the time.

Similar story here. It’s hard to find time for my own check-ups. Work and kids always come first.

I did take a day of leave a few months ago for a colonoscopy, but I went to work on the prep day. I had no choice.

Anonymous wrote:I am 42 and have 3 young kids (ages 5, 9 and 11). I haven’t had any of the following:

Mammogram
Colonoscopy
Yearly dental cleaning
Yearly pap
Yearly eye check
Yearly physical

I think I got a physical maybe 3 years ago? I got an eye check 2 years and just ordered 2 years worth of contacts so I didn’t have to go back.

I just don’t have time to go. I work full time and solo parent 75% of the time.

Anonymous wrote:

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 wrote:

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.

Honestly, yeah, I think telling people to cut the BS is often successful. And I think having to hear yourself say "I won't do cancer screening because butts are embarrassing" is a useful exercise.

At minimum, they need to stop repeating misinformation, e.g. that general anesthesia is needed. Not only is propofol not GA, as you note, but you can raw dog it with no drugs if you want to or you can choose a midpoint with conscious sedation. So sedation is not a reason not to do this.

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.