Colonoscopy and Colon Hydrotherapy for those with Autism?

I had my colonoscopy today.  All went well, and I had only minor side effects (knock on wood). I am still a bit groggy from the sedation and probably am still a little thinking-impaired....what a wonderful time to write one more post on the subject of trying to help a 50-something man through the prep and events I just underwent.

I still think it is going to be a big problem getting Bil "prepped" (i.e. "cleaned out") .  From the time I took the noontime pill then started the "vile liquid prep" (I tolerate it OK, but I've never had a problem in gulping mass quantities of liquid at one time) it was about 10 hours total, and, not to be too indelicate here, the later bit of the process is a bit....explosive. (the humor writer Dave Barry has explored this topic in a very funny way-I could never equal him and won't try to.)  I did find Pull-Ups wipes (flushable) to be a good alternative to toilet paper, for what it is worth.

By the way, my mother in law has never discussed Bil's digestion with us.  We are well aware many people with autism suffer from digestive problems.  It does seem to me that Bil seems to have a lot of stomachaches but Mil has never sat down with us - I fear this will be another "surprise" once we are responsible for taking care of his needs.  But back to the discussion at hand:

I want to make it clear here that the colonoscopy Bil's doctor has suggested is for screening purposes, not due to any medical condition.  But at the same time, a former neighbor of mine was diagnosed with colon cancer when in her mid 30's, she is in remission but let's put it this way:  if someone has to choose between colon cancer and a colonoscopy, the choice is clear.

So the thought of denying Bil this valuable screening test because we dread trying to walk him through it is pretty selfish.  Still, it doesn't seem there is any material on this subject online and I truly wish there was someone I could talk to who had been through it and had some suggestions on how to prepare Bil for it.

My mother in law hasn't mentioned the colonoscopy recently.  But Bil's next physical should be in late March and - I'm sure the doctor will mention it again.  So, there really has to be some "better way" to prep him. In thinking of stuff today (having time to think!) I remembered something I had read some months ago about Colon Hydrotherapy.  Something "jiggled" in my mind and I remembered something about this service being offered in Scranton, which is about an hour from where we live and maybe 2 hours from where Bil lives at this practice.

This isn't an enema but is a complete cleaning out of the colon using warm and cool water, lasting about 45 minutes to an hour.  Of course, I'd probably have to undergo this myself first to be able to prep him for it.

I don't know if my mother in law would even consider something like that (assuming there is something closer to her home, and I have to believe that, as close to NYC as she lives, that there is.)  I hope I can remember this if and when the subject comes up again.

More on a Possible Colonoscopy

I have started the "chemical" part of my prep - while I wait for it to "kick in" its giving me a chance to think about this vs. Bil.

As anyone who has undergone one of these (it's my second) knows,there are several steps.  Some of this was different from the first time.

The early part, the food prep, I think Bil could handle.  The way my doctor is doing it, two days before (meaning yesterday) I could not have any fruits or vegetables.  I could have meat (surprisingly, he didn't say white meat), bread and rice, pasta.  Bil would not have a problem with that.  He only eats fruits or vegetables if they are put in front of him.  His preferred meat is chicken, so he wouldn't miss red meat.

The "day before" prep is going to be a real problem.

First, there is the "no solid food" rule.  But we could probably explain that one.  The harder thing will be trying to prepare Bil for the chemical part:  the cramping, the uncertainty of when it will kick in, and so forth.  And most of all, the vile nature of the liquid you have to drink. 

It's going to be a big challenge. 

I've read about virtual colonscopies and I don't think they would be the answer-even though I've read that new types are going to be rolled out later this year that Medicare may pay for.  The patient still has to undergo the prep, and the sedation (which the new virtual type will avoid) is actually something that Bil would probably need no matter how the exam is done.

So the question becomes:  do we try to do this?  Or do we deny Bil this valuable exam?

Autism and Colonoscopy

I am going to be undergoing a colonoscopy next week.  This brings to mind the fact that Bil's doctor wants Bil to have a colonscopy.  I blogged about this several months ago.

My 83 year old mother in law wants no part of this (wants us to help him through the prep, I should say) and I don't blame her.

I've been through the colonoscopy type prep twice now, and anyone who has done it knows it is no fun, especially the last 12 or so hours.

I've got to wonder, how the heck do you make a man with autism understand the importance of this test?  And that he is going to have to drink some kind of vile liquid, (in mass quantities) and live on the toilet (to put it delicately) for many hours?  If he can't understand "why" would he even give his consent?

But, I may be making too much of this.  With the prevalence of digestive problems among people with autism, there must have been enough people with autism that have had this test.  (this is a screening colonoscopy, not because anything is suspected, I should note.)  So there has to be a way. 

Is there a place that can do a different type of prep?  I don't want to get graphic here, but are there alternatives?  Has someone out there been through this?

So far we've been putting it off, and my mother in law hasn't pressed us about it, but sooner or later...you know this brings up other issues when you think about it, such as the availability of health care.

Will his insurance, such as it is, even pay for the exam?

"Enquiring" loved ones want to know.

Colonoscopy?

I promised I would not talk about Bil's medical problems.  What I'm about to write about is not due to a medical problem, unless you consider aging into your 50's as a medical problem.  For some of us, it is!

Monday, husband and I went with my mother in law and Bil for his annual checkup.  First off:  his medicare doesn't cover annual physicals so she had to write out a check for nearly $200.

My husband went in when the doctor announced the results of the exam.  I stayed outside.

Last year, Bil's doctor (also my mother in law's doctor) wanted a colonoscopy done on Bil.  After all, he had reached 50, and that is what the guidelines say.  My mother in law decided not to do it.  But this year the doctor is more insistent.

My husband has had 2 colonoscopies.  I've had one.  So we can both attest that the prep is not fun.  In fact, the actual exam is a piece of cake (no pun intended) in comparison.

So how is a 50-something man with autism going to react?  Is he going to be cooperative?  Is he going to freak out in the middle?  Plus he was so anxious before this exam-how anxious is this whole event going to make him?

My mother in law decided she wanted my husband (noting here we live 150 miles away) around for the night of the, shall we say, big event, if she does agree to sign Bil up for this.

And I don't know if she will.  With her current physical condition, this is going to be tough on her even if we are there. 

I just don't know about this.

We'll see.

My instincts are to research something like this.  But every one with autism is different-that is why it is a "spectrum" disorder - and other people's experience may not help us much. 

As they used to say:  "Stay tuned".