Home colonoscopy

Hi,

I enjoy large and deep enemas and rectal exams. I have a nice rigid sigmoidoscope (combined with a very inexpensive USB camera with a light source) with I use to look inside my rectum.

However, I would like to go further and be able to look beyond the sigma, in the descending and possibly into the traverse colon. Does anyone has a suggestion on how to do this with simple and inexpensive equipment? Has anyone done this?

Thanks to everyone!

I have purchased both colonoscopes and sigmoidoscopes on eBay, along with the light source and air pump to make them work. Getting them in solo was a bit of a challenge, but with a partner fairly easy. The older scopes with no camera can be purchased cheaply.

Now there are some inexpensive devices that can be purchased for your smart phone that could be placed in a silicone colon tube that might work well.

As with anything inserted deeply in the colon, caution is advised. The medical devices are stiff enough that the could do some damage.

Even the old Davol colon tubes seem a lot more risky than the newer silicone nozzles.

Sounds a little dangerous to me.

When I had a colonoscopy at the hospital, it was quite uncomfortable and I needed gas and air.

The reason I want to use a colon snake to mount the camera is exactly to reduce risks. In this way it won't be more dangerous than using a colon snake.

Goodness, don't get hurt...

seriously, you're dealing with an extremely sensitive, vulnerable part of your body.

If you want the experience, and the safety to go along with it, go to your doctor, and explain to him/her that you have a family history of rectal cancer. I can almost guarantee you that they will order a minimum of a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. I've had both, the latter being done with conscious sedation. Making just one error could be, at the very least, cause a major sepsis issue, and progress to something deadly. Would like to hear from you.

This is a really bad idea. Ask yourself "Do I know what to look for?"

Just consider: The lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. This is worse.

Don’t be stupid.

Antonio, you wrote:

"The reason I want to use a colon snake to mount the camera is exactly to reduce risks. In this way it won't be more dangerous than using a colon snake."

WRONG. VERY WRONG.

PLEASE READ AND LISTEN. WE ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU.

I am a retired physician who has seen, given anesthesia for, and had done to me, many, many colonoscopies. Even highly experienced gastroenterologists and surgeons have a noticeable, NONZERO RISK of PERFORATING the colon, even using normal highly technical and evolved colonoscopy equipment. Perforation can mean very serious infection and fairly rapid (hours to days) death.

Do not attempt to do anything like a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy on yourself with homemade equipment. It may sound like fun, but it won't be fun if you have a complication.

Please do not do this on yourself. Find another safer way to enjoy yourself.

Eric

Alas, no word from OP'er since 2 days after the OP, in 12/2017. He seems to still at least be alive with a last account use ~2 weeks ago. I hope his colon/rectum are doing well.

Eric

Find a doctor who will do a colonoscopy without anesthesia. That would be a lot safer. The last colonoscopy I had done I was totally awake. It was a very interesting experience. I was able to feel everything and watch everything the dr could see inside me.

As someone who has had several colonoscopies, all without any sedation, I can tell you from personal experience it is NOT erotic fun.

If you like really, really like being MADE to poo and poo, the prep is a trip, but not the procedure. You feel little but being inflated like a balloon and farting a lot. And there is little to actually see beyond the inside of a pink, irregular tune.

Its really not hard to build a camera probe with todays HQ technology, if your a good tinker you can easily exceed the current scope technology in use today add a oled 55 inch screen to view your new found inner wonder land!

The issue is that colonoscopes and other endoscopes are "drivable" in that you can move the end. You also have a person driving them who knows what they're doing. It's much harder for yourself - I know I have tried to get colon tubes up and usually give up after 9-15 inches because it just isn't going and you DON'T want to force it. You won't know what you're looking for (unless it is super evident) and you won't have the inflation capability.

In case you have thought of a harbor freight video inspection camera, don't even think about it. I'm using one to fish through parts of an automobile, I've also used it to look a foot or two down sewer pipes. Mine has a fixed focus cheap lens, a wide angle lens, but you can't focus any closer than about three inches. It has a light source, but even for what I use it for, a poor piece of equipment. I might also mention, the edges do not feel sharp to the hand, but way to sharp to be inserted into any organic orifice. Even if you slipped a rubber over it, you wouldn't be able to see anything as you also need an air space and a clear window, guess that's why they inflate you.

the hoseman1

Hey, when you're done with the do it yourself colonoscopy, I'm selling do it yourself appendectomy kits.. Fun for the whole family!

Tongue firmly in cheekrichly,

Doc

The diy vasectomy is next. chain or recip saw?

The diy vasectomy is next. chain or recip saw?

There's a possibility that that one might be safer. You'd need anaesthetic and an assistant and you'd have to figure out exactly what you're doing, but access would be easier.

I'd recommend going with the classic surgical tools though.

I can see this now , Well Doc , it kind of happened like this , my insurance went sky high and i saw this garden hose in the garage doing nothing and well i got to thinking ....

Nice fantasy, but dumb beyond dumb!

You're kidding us, right??? That's the worst idea I've heard in a long time. I'm scheduled for my 45th colonoscopy in about a week.....maybe I'll ask my GI & see what he thinks about it 😮 Septic shock is a 10 out of 10 on the Suck-O-Meter! I had it from salmonella poisoning. I was at deaths door for more than a week. 16 days in hospital, 14 of those days in ICU. In addition to all the diarrhea from the salmonella, It happened at a time when I was having bad Crohn's disease flare ups. I was so weak, I couldn't get out of bed, I had to use a bed pan......10 to 15 times a day. So weak I could barely move. I couldn't get on the bed pan myself, so a nurse & and orderly had to help me. So weak, on day three in ICU I got a sponge bath from the sweetest, drop dead gorgeous RN & didn't even get a twitch down there & I was in my 20's! Does it sound like fun yet??? Oh, wait......I forgot about catheter in my left subclavian vein. I couldn't take anything PO......It would go down & come right back up. The only way to get nourishment was through Parenteral nutrition. A long catheter, through the chest wall & into the subclavian vein. The cocktail they fed me had LOTS of Dextrose, Electrolytes, Amino Acid, Fatty Acids, Vitamins & minerals. I had that for 11 days. It put just shy of 10 lbs on me. I had to go home in a pair of hospital scrubs because my pants didn't fit anymore. And........one last thing. A urinary catheter that had to be changed once during my ICU stay.

Lucky for me, I was a LOT younger & stronger when this happened. The day before I was discharged, I saw my GI and Infectious Disease Doc. They both told me that early on, they did not think I would survive.

Like others wrote, find a GOOD GI guy, tell him about family history & let him know you want twilight sedation (Propofol is best, great buzz, no post procedure hangover) and You will get to watch the whole thing on a big screen HD TV.

BE SMART! DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Best,

Vapor

Yeah, Vapor. Sounds like real fun .....

The Drs I've talked with around here all won't do a colonoscopy without anesthesia no matter that I don't want it, so I have never had one. I searched for a scope but they're either very expensive or look unusable for me to do solo. I would sure like to try that after cleaning myself out. Anyone know where to find an inexpensive but good one?

Does not sound like a good idea. Most are pretty pricey. The following disclaimer is on the ebay site.

The sale of this item may be subject to regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state and local regulatory agencies. If so, do not bid on this item unless you are an authorized purchaser. If this item is subject to FDA regulation, I will verify your status as an authorized purchaser of this item before shipping the item."

@Fivequarts

Even if you spent thousands and bought a colonoscope, did the correct prep, and did a self exam, do you have even the slightest idea what to look for? What is normal and what is of concern?

Find another way to get your jollies.

No way in hell would I try that on myself. Beyond not knowing what to look for (and no, a book wouldn't really help, a lot of that is just experience) you would also be putting yourself at a high risk for perforating your intestine. I'm with you on the "no way are they drugging me," but if you can't get someone who knows enough to do it safely and effectively do it go with one of the other screening options.

No way in hell would I try that on myself. Beyond not knowing what to look for (and no, a book wouldn't really help, a lot of that is just experience) you would also be putting yourself at a high risk for perforating your intestine. I'm with you on the "no way are they drugging me," but if you can't get someone who knows enough to do it safely and effectively do it go with one of the other screening options.

Retired anesthesiologist as well as enema lover here, and I completely agree with moliere. In addition to being at high risk of a colon perforation leading to peritonitis, surgery, long recovery, possible colostomy and/or DEATH, your insurance company might give you a serious challenge to paying for it if it was so absurdly self-inflicted.

Eric

Well, some very funny replies posted here - thanks all, needed the laughs!

DO NOT try doing this yourself!!! I think enough other people have told you the consequenses.

@Fivequarts said,

The Drs I've talked with around here all won't do a colonoscopy without anesthesia no matter that I don't want it, so I have never had one.

I had a colonoscopy a number of years ago. During my first appointment, when I was given the prep instructions, I told the Nurse no drugs or IV. She replied, “that’s not a problem. You do understand, it could be very uncomfortable.” To which I replied, “I won’t have an issue with it.” I never told her I like doing enemas.

I did the perp as instructed the day before, which wasn’t to bad. Didn’t do any enemas during the prep, but with twenty twenty hindsight, I should have. On the morning of the colonoscopy, before the Doctor started, he ask me, “are you sure you don’t want anesthesia.” I told him, “my grandmother was an RN in the thirties and she cleaned me out a few times.” He laughed and said, “now I understand why it won’t bother you.” At that, he started the colonoscopy, as I watched it go up my colon then back down on the color monitor. Once it was over, he told me, “now your a member of the two percent club. Few people can do it, like you did.” I replied, “I don’t understand why, that was nothing.” He said, “I know all too well, how nurses of your grandmothers era, cleaned people out. I’ve been on the receiving end a few times myself. That’s why I understand, when you say, “that was nothing.” Compared to those clean out enemas we both received, the Colonoscopy was nothing.”

Before I left his office to return home, he told me, “it’s to bad enemas have fallen out of favor, they are still useful today.” I replied, “I totally agree, I prefer enemas for constipation over a laxative any day. Enemas work when you take it, laxatives don’t, your lucky if they work within twenty four hours.” At that he told me, “when you get home, take a warm two quart salt and baking soda enema. Hold it 10 or 15 minutes before expelling, it’ll help remove leftover gas and calm your colon down. Wait a couple of hours and repeat it.”