Thursday, June 23, 2011

Ensure A Successful Probe

Hogan, Bend Over Or Get Sent To The Cooler
Each year more than 145,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, often referred to as colon cancer, in the U.S. and almost 50,000 people die from it annually. The disease, however, is largely preventable with regular screening and is treatable with early detection.

But, a recent study reports that colonoscopies done with suboptimal bowel preparation are associated with relatively high adenoma miss rates, suggesting that suboptimal bowel preparation substantially decreases colonoscopy effectiveness and may mandate an early follow-up examination.

In English, this means you're putting yourself at unnecessary risk by not taking your bowel-prep medications correctly or by not following the doctor's directions to fully clean out your system "before" the examination.

The effectiveness of any colorectal cancer screening program is critically dependent on adequate bowel preparation. Adequate preparation ensures that the colon is thoroughly cleaned before the exam so that the physician can clearly see the entire colon to look for abnormalities, such as colon polyps, during the procedure.

Cleansing the colon before a colonoscopy is called bowel preparation, or "prep." It involves taking medication that causes diarrhea, emptying the colon and making it easier to find cancerous polyps. While you may find it difficult or burdensome to take your medications as directed, your life may depend upon it.

Quit being a pussy. It's difficult enough to see through the shit of everyday life, let alone what you're leaving in your colon. Buck up and do what your health care providers tell you. They're not doing it just to seem important, they're doing it to ensure success.

Image Source: Linglie at Worth1000.com

Monday, June 20, 2011

VAMC Inpatient Formulary

I've heard that this has been added to the local VAMC formulary.
Can anyone confirm this rumor?

Inject Responsibly
Source: carlosnumbertwo at Worth 10000.com

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Patience is a Virtue

Don't Bitch at the Pharmacist!
I keep a bottle of these at the drop off window. Make sure to breath deeply and help yourself to one capsule before you start talking to me.

Didn't your momma tell you that patience is a virtue, or that good things come to those who wait? What I do is not an inconvenience.

I don't care if your husband is a cardiologist. I don't care if you have a cab waiting, are late for an appointment, need to catch a flight, or any other bullshit reason why I should rush your prescription. It's going to take as long as I tell you it will take to fill it correctly.

Believe me, I know that you'll be the first one to call the news station and hang my ass out to dry if I fill your prescription wrong.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Schedule Your Colonoscopy ASAP

There are some things in life you should be anal about.


CCS - Anal from Patrick Hachey on Vimeo.

The risk of getting colon or rectal cancer in your lifetime is 1 in 18.

This risk seems to be decreasing slightly as time passes. However, colon cancer is a risk for every individual. The risk of males and females is about equal. Similarly, the risk does not vary substantially among different ethnic groups in the United States. The risk of this disease does vary around the world, and it is felt that this is most likely due to difference in life style and, to some degree, genetic pre-dispositions. When foreign groups move to the United States, the life style and dietary changes tend to make the risks similar to that of other ethnic groups in the United States.

The greatest risk for developing cancer is after the age of 60. However, about 5% of colon and rectal cancers occur under the age of 40. Twenty percent of patients who develop colon and rectal cancer will have a family history of colon cancer. About 1% have an identified predisposition to colon cancer called familial polyposis or chronic ulcerative colitis.

The chance that a person will die of a colon and rectal cancer is about 1/3 the chance of getting the cancer. Increasingly, as tumors are identified at an earlier stage and phase, then we are able to cure these cancers. Colon cancer is the cause of death in about 3% of individuals who die each year in the United States. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Stay Out Of The System

You've abused your body or you've poisoned your mind beyond repair, or both.

All those years of overeating, couch surfing, smoking, drinking, drug abuse, laziness and stupidity have taken it's toll on you. Your life has now become FUBAR.

You didn't listen to those who told you how to live a long and fruitful life. So let me repeat it.

The first rule of longevity is to never become part of any "system". But you didn't think that rule applied to you and have now foolishly gotten yourself incorporated into the "healthcare" system, and now you can't escape!

So, now you come to me looking for help and advice.

Well, if you want it, you'd better appreciate it. The second rule of longevity is - I'm not your burger-flipping flunky acting upon your every whim. I'll be glad to help you through what little good life you have left if you show me some respect and consideration. Sit down, shut up, take your head out of your ass, and LISTEN UP.

Follow rule number two, and you won't have to experience rule number three.