Survivors who had chemo etc and are into Complementary medicine
Comments
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About colonocopies - I've found the prep is MUCH easier if I eat very, very "lightly", easy to digest foods for the 2 days before. Scrambed eggs, toast, just easy, easy to digest foods. LOTS OF LIQUIDS. And you will be told, nothing with "seeds" - no poppy seeds, no strawberries, no caroway seeds, that kind of stuff. Good luck. expect you've also been told, it doesn't hurt at all.
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Ruth, I used ground turkey (free range). YUM!
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Gobble, gooble
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my sis said.. i don't know what it is, but that is one excellent drug that they give you.
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My surgeon who is scheduled to remove my port next month does the removal in the OR and said they will give me something to make me sleepy and something else 'so that I don't hate him when it's over'. I thought that was funny. Probably the same stuff as for the colonoscopy.
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Hi ladies, had to chime in on the colonoscopy prep. My husband had his a few months back. After it was over we asked the nurse why no nuts and seeds a few days before. She said it is because the equipment they use can get some of these things in it while exploring and it is hard to fix once this happens. So it is not for our benefit it is for their equipment .
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I bought turkey too.Sounds so good!!!
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Lots of terrific information on this thread!
If you haven't seen our "new" section yet, you may want to take a look. Has some good ideas.
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The drug that makes you "not hate the doctor" is probably Versed, as hillck said. I was given Demerol and Versed for my colonoscopy 3 years ago. Demerol is a narcotic-type analgesic (painkiller); and Versed is a benzodiazapine, like Valium. When I googled "colonoscopy x anesthesia" just now, I found there were other combinations that used Versed with Fentanyl or Versed with Propofol. It's unusual for someone in the U.S. to have a colonoscopy without any anesthesia; but in what I read, some people claimed it's standard practice to not use anesthesia in other countries. Anyone know if that's true?
Here in the U.S., it's pretty typical for the doc to want the patient just lightly anesthetized for a colonoscopy. Sometimes it's called "twilight anesthesia." If you're just barely under anesthesia, pain and "discomfort" will be blocked and you will be relaxed, but you can still respond (sluggishly) to voice commands (like, "We need you to roll over on your back now"). One of the effects of the Versed is to cause amnesia, so you don't remember anything (and, consequently, you won't hate your doctor!). Personally, I'd rather not remember anything during a procedure like that.
Here's some info on types of sedation used for colonoscopies: http://www.coloncancerresource.com/colonoscopy-sedation.html
otter
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Omaz,
I think the relief of having your port removed will overcome ANY anxiety about the process. What an exciting milestone! Congratulations. How do you plan to celebrate?
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In Canada it depends on where you go. The clinic I go to puts you right out. But others have told me that they are very aware during the test.
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Mods: thanks for the links. I was a little surpised that the Organic Living pages are sponsored by Stonyfield. I have mixed feelings about that.
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Sorry to be slow but what is wrong with Stonyfield?
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I don't have a problem with Stonyfield itself (I really don't know much about them), but I don't like the idea that because of their sponsorship, they presumbably get to vet content and of course will promote their products.
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oh dear.
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I was awake during my last colonoscopy, though high as a kite.
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I got a call from my DR. the other day asking when I had my lastcolonoscopy, like never. It seems the insurance was checking to see. Anyway I'm sure when I go in for my next exam I'll be getting one as well.
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Used my Le Creuset last evening. Lovin' it!
Ruthbru, thanks for the name of that stress reduction cd. I will check it out...
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the CD Ruthbru recommended 'Reduce Stress and Tension' by Frederick Winters is also available on Amazon.
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I am a big advocate for everyone getting "their butt checked"! ( I am a stage 3 colon cancer survivor.) The colonoscopy itself is an easy procedure. I get fentanyl and versed and I stay awake for the whole thing, but many people say they fall asleep or don't remember it. I remember the test (I like to watch it on the screen), but I forgot about a conversation I had with the dr. after! When it was time to go I said I was still waiting for the dr. to come in. The nurse and my dh just looked at me and told me he had already come in to talk to me! Later that day, I did remember the conversation, but that was a weird feeling!
I usually have some cramping after as air gets trapped. I have to be careful what I eat the rest of the day--nothing heavy or greasy. Others can go out for a big breakfast after and not have any trouble.
The prep is the worst part, like many people say. You usually have to eat low fiber foods for a few days, then clear liquids the day before. No reds--it might look like blood in the colon. During my first one I asked the doc "Is that green jello?" (in my doped up state). He laughed and said yes, they see that all the time. So pick your favorite-- and you might see some floating around
Good luck to those that will be getting scoped in the near future! Feel free to pm me with any questions!
Thank you all for the great recipes and healthy eating ideas--really helps motivate me to do better!
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I have had three colonoscopies since BC, one with nothing , one with a lite anethesia and one where I was out...I liked the middle one where I could watch and see what they were doing...
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Many of you may have heard that Dr. Servan-Schreiber, author of the book 'Anti-cancer, A New Way of Life' just died. A lady on another thread posted the following exert from his book. Great 'rules' for everyone!
FOOD RULES
1. Go retro:Your main course should be 80 percent vegetables, 20 percent animal protein, like it was in the old days. Opt for the opposite of the quarter pounder topped with a token leaf of iceberg lettuce and an anemic tomato slice. Meat should be used sparingly for taste, as when it used to be scarce, and should not be the focus of the meal.
2. Mix and match your vegetables: Vary the vegetables you eat from one meal to the next, or mix them together -- broccoli is an effective anticancer food, and is even more effective when combined with tomato sauce, onions or garlic. Get in the habit of adding onions, garlic or leeks to all your dishes as you cook.
3. Go organic: Choose organic foods whenever possible, but remember it's always better to eat broccoli that's been exposed to pesticide than to not eat broccoli at all (the same applies to any other anticancer vegetable).
4. Spice it up: Add turmeric (with black pepper) when cooking (delicious in salad dressings!). This yellow spice is the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory agent. Remember to add Mediterranean herbs to your food: thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, marjoram, mint, etc. They don't just add flavor, they can also help reduce the growth of cancer cells.
5. Skip the potato: Potatoes raise blood sugar, which can feed inflammation and cancer growth. They also contain high levels of pesticide residue (to the point that most potato farmers I know don't eat their own grown potatoes).
6. Go fish:Eat fish two or three times a week - sardines, mackerel, and anchovies have less mercury and PCBs than bigger fish like tuna. Avoid swordfish and shark, which the FDA says pregnant women should not eat because they contain a high concentration of contaminants.
7. Remember not all eggs are created equal: Choose only omega-3 eggs, or don't eat the yolks. Hens are now fed on mostly corn and soybeans, and their eggs contain 20 times more pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids than cell-growth regulating omega-3s.
8. Change your oil: Use only olive and canola oil in cooking and salad dressings. Go through your kitchen cabinets and throw out your soybean, corn and sunflower oils. (And no, you can't give them to your neighbors or your relatives... They're much too rich in omega-6 fatty acids!)
9. Say "Brown is beautiful":Eat your grains whole and mixed (wheat with oats, barley, spelt, flax, etc.) and favor organic whole grains when possible since pesticides tend to accumulate on whole grains. Avoid refined, white flour (used in bagels, muffins, sandwich bread, buns, etc.) whenever possible, and eat white pasta only al dente.
10. Keep sweets down to fruits: Cut down on sugar by avoiding sweetened sodas and fruit juices, and skipping dessert or replacing it with fruit (especially stone fruits and berries) after most meals. Read the labels carefully, and steer clear of products that list any type of sugar (including brown sugar, corn syrup, etc.) in the first three ingredients. If you have an incorrigible sweet tooth, try a few squares of dark chocolate containing more than 70% cocoa.
11. Go green: Instead of coffee or black tea, drink three cups of green tea per day. Use decaffeinated green tea if it gets you too wired. Regular consumption of green tea has been linked to a significant reduction in the risk for developing cancer.
12. Make room for exceptions. What matters is what you do on a daily basis, not the occasional treat.
NON-FOOD RULES
1. Get physical: Make time to exercise, be it walking, dancing or running. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week. This can be as easy as just walking part of the way to the office, or the grocery store. A dog is often a better walking partner than an exercise buddy. Choose an activity you enjoy; if you're having fun, you're more likely to stick with it.
2. Let the sun shine in: Try to get at least 20 minutes of daily sun exposure (torso, arms and legs) without sunscreen, preferably at noon in the summer (but take care to avoid sunburns!). This will boost your body's natural production of Vitamin D. As an alternative: discuss the option of taking a Vitamin D3 supplement with your doctor.
3. Banish bad chemicals:Avoid exposure to common household contaminants. You should air our your dry-cleaning for two hours before storing or wearing it; use organic cleaning products (or wear gloves); don't heat liquids or food in hard plastics; avoid cosmetics with parabens and phthalates; don't use chemical pesticides in your house or garden; replace your scratched Teflon pans; filter your tap water (or used bottled water) if you live in a contaminated area; don't keep your cell phone close to you when it is turned on.
4. Reach out (and touch someone!):Reach out to at least two friends for support (logistical and emotional) during times of stress, even if it's through the internet. But if they're within arms reach, go ahead and hug them, often!
5. Remember to breathe: Learn a basic breathing relaxation technique to let out some steam whenever you start to feel stressed.
6. Get involved: Find out how you can best give something back to your local community, then give it.
7. Cultivate happiness like a garden: Make sure you do one thing you love for yourself on most days (it doesn't have to take long!).0 -
I agree on all except eggs. Yolks are the best part, and I get mine from a place where I get to meet the chickens. Anything else isn't worth eating.
Just had some Trader Joe's butternut squash ravioli from Italy. Has amaretti in it so the filling tastes like chestnuts. Beyond yum. Plus good white wine and a salad.
Disagree on potatoes too. But not the industrial ones. We have ones here in WA state that are bright orange....Skagit Gold. I haven't seen them recently, but beyond delish. I use a few at a time and they are wonderful.
I am wondering if the late Dr Servan-Schreiber ever saw real potatoes. Or real eggs. Just so delish.
I would add take time to savor the wonder that is around us. - Claire
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I like potatoes too. Especially baby potatoes right out of the garden, boiled in their skins....with pepper and butter.....maybe that can go with his Rule 12, 'Make room for exceptions'!
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Oh Ruth -- baby new potatoes are THE BEST! And pepper and butter are all you need -- such a summer treat - better than any dessert!
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TMarina, LOL about forgetting that the doctor had already talked to you!
After surviving my own 1st colonoscopy 3 years ago, I convinced my husband he ought to have one. His prep was different from mine but seemed just as awful. Everything went smoothly on the day of the procedure, though. I was allowed to wait in the dressing/pre-op cubicle the whole time, and a nurse stopped by occasionally to keep me updated. When she came in to tell me it was finished and my husband was "in recovery," she said the doctor would be coming by to tell me what he had found (or not found, in this case), "...because if he tells your husband, your husband won't remember the conversation."
I prefer sweet potatoes to Irish potatoes (except those Yukon Gold spuds sure are tasty). Even though they're called "sweet", it's my understanding that sweet potatoes have fewer calories and fewer carbs; and the carbs they do have are the "low glycemic index"-type compared to Irish potatoes. Baked, boiled, microwaved, casseroled, sliced-and-broiled, ... any way they're fixed, they are so much better. Plus, they add a fantastic color if we're doing that multi-color thing with our veggies.
otter
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I love sweet potatoes too, and they are very healthy.....of course, I love all food with the exception of Brussels Sprouts.
Here is something interesting; I have gotten a couple spray-on tans this summer. I asked the technician what was in the spray. The main ingredient is BEET JUICE. I looked at the ingredients and they are all natural, vitamins, aloe, caffeine(!) etc. She said when she was learning how to do this, the instructor commented that, although they don't recommend it, you could actually drink the spray and it wouldn't harm you!
Having a nice tan with no sun damage definitely fits into the complementary/holistic category for me!
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no offense to anyone who is sweet.. but I can hardly eat sweet potatoes. I force them down because they are so good for you. Because I eat them, my kids and husband do too and love them.. yay. They always ask for sweet potatoes and then I buy them..
Mealtime is a circle of conspiracy against me...
egg yolks Claire? We would get along.. you eat the yolks and I'll eat the whites.
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What if they were baked with pork chops in a sour cream/golden mushroom soup gravy?
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Oh ruthbru you're making my mouth water. I love pork chops in a mushroom sauce. I will eat sweet potatoes any way I can get them except with marshmallows.
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