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Burning Questions

The Last Gas

Dr. Paul Nassif explains the importance of colonoscopies and why he was so full of hot air.

January 23, 2012

On this week's episode, as many of you know, I got a colonoscopy. The American Cancer Society recommends that once you're past 50, you should schedule procedures like this regularly or risk something far more serious. I'm not past 50 yet, but I'm close enough -- and I was in the office for an upper endoscopy due to reflux anyway. So what you saw was the aftermath of me trying to be proactive and responsible.

And yes, it was a little funny to watch.

I'm lucky to know Dr. Marc Edelstein, who is not only a friend but also a great physician. He tells me that that colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening, and that screening allows doctors to find and remove any problem polyps. Since colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., it's key to catch any potential issues early.

Which brings us to the procedure.

There's not much that's pleasant about a colonoscopy. The preparation includes a liquid fast and colon cleansing beforehand (that’s the worst part) so the doctor can have a clean slate. I had to have the enema because I couldn’t finish the medicine that makes you empty your colon. Next, the anesthesiologist sedates you for the procedure. Take it from someone who's been on both sides of that mask: I prefer to be supervising the anesthesiologist rather than the other way around! It's routine for doctors to introduce air into your colon, which helps them with visibility. This air, once the procedure is completed, has to escape. Which is what you heard on Monday's episode.

So, if Adrienne says I'm full of hot air, I reply (with all due respect) that it's in the name of early detection and good health.

For more info, check out my websites RhinoplastySpecialist.com and SpaldingPlasticSurgery.com.

Comments

86 Comments

Glad that you are in great health! Your such a good spirited fellow and bring a lightness to the show! Wish you and Adrienne all the Best!

Thank you Paul for showing this...that was great of you...there are way too few shows about such things....Perhaps it could also bring some comfort to those who are seriously ill and have to undergo nasty treatments, that a show like this takes time to show it (even if the purpose of course wasn´t this). And I especially liked that it was in the same episode as the wedding! That was great! LOL! I LOVE contrasts, and here we really got one!!

Your farts were just 'ok', Paul. It's not like your ripped the seat of your pants!

Paul, I'm so glad your procedure found you as clean as a whistle (no pun intended). You and Adrienne are my favorites to watch together. You act like you've been married 60 years (and that's a GREAT thing).

I love your self-deprecating sense of humor and how well that works for your wife, friends, patients and countless faceless viewers.

I cannot imagine having a camera around me for months at a time. All the guys were good sports, and really lightened up some of the abject sorrow of this season. God bless!

PAUL,

SO DID NOT ENJOY WATCHING YOUR BUTT CHECK ON RHOBH, MAYBE ANOTHER SHOW WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE.

You are sooo funny! Most men don't bat an eye when passing gas in a clinical setting, but you were so concerned with being offensive! I laughed so hard. Now lets see Adrienne match the challenge!

I was wondering why you had to do the enema so glad you explained it. I have lost both my parents to colon cancer so obviously, colonoscopies will always be in the picture for me.

WTG Paul! My sister died 18.5 yrs ago (in fact she would've been 62 yesterday) at the very young age of 43 from colon cancer. She was my mentor and one of my very best friends. One more thing...it was nice to see you & Adrienne having warm & tender moments in Hawaii. I am born & raised in Hawaii and I'd like you to reassure Adrienne we have no snakes in the "wild"...LOL. They are illegal here. We cannot own them, raise them, bring them in, nada. I say "wild", because there are those who have them illegally. Not many, but some people just have to push the envelope. Aloha!

Just love you! I must say your personality makes you very attractive to me too;)

Love you, Paul! You are so genuine and funny without even trying. Hats off to you for taking care of your health.

I love Paul! One of the funniest things I have seen on TV! Great message with a great delivery! Even my husband who was passing by stopped to watch and started "cracking" up! Hahaha

Paul, I wish you was on the show more and maybe Adrienne a little less. You are my favorite BH husband!!!

Paul, you are the nicest house husband, and Adrienne is so lucky to have you..You are so patient, funny, and quick witted... Our entire family loves you the best...The ladies can be so mean, but you are so wonderful...

LOVE PAUL!!!!

You're a funny dude! Just wish you would romance your lovely misses a little bit more. I know she's a tough cookie ;) but you need to take her out of her comfort zone more and do sweet things for her. Maybe you do, they just don't show it on tv. Much love to you both!

My sister in law died from colon cancer at age 47. Thank you for educating the viewers, and entertaining us at the same time :)

You almost always make me laugh and the colonoscopy episode was no exception. You are hilarious even when you're coming off anesthesia. On a more serious note, I appreciate your advise on this matter and when the time comes, I will make my appointment for a colonoscopy as well.

Paul, I am overdue for a colonoscopy, so was happy to see you reminding people how important it is. I'm getting an appointment tomorrow.

Love you Paul. You are so funny without trying. You "get it" meaning that you don't take all of these frivolous people so seriously. You seem like a real decent family man who has his priorities in order. ok enough praise!! This scene of you after the colonoscopy captured you at a most vulnerable moment. I have watched this scene over and over and still laugh uncontrolably. I hope A appreciates the terrific guy that you. All good wishes.

Thank you for sharing your experience of having a colonoscopy in this episode! My mother is a colon cancer survivor, and we truly owe her life to this procedure finding a cancerous polyp back in 2006. Having a colonoscopy certainly may not be pleasant, but it really can be a matter of life and death when it comes down to it.

On a lighter note, it was hysterical to watch you recovering after the procedure - the relationship between you and Adrienne is so light-hearted and fun, and you two always crack me up! Love watching you both! :)

Dr. Paul,
Please advise, Is is possible for one to pop their dislocated jaw, (related to physical abuse) back into place using a toilet? Please clarify how a D.O can be considered/referred to as a Psychiatrist/write prescriptions if they haven't gone to medical school? thanks!

Dr. Paul,
Please advise, Is is possible for one to pop their dislocated jaw, (related to physical abuse) back into place using a toilet? Please clarify how a D.O can be considered/referred to as a Psychiatrist/write prescriptions if they haven't gone to medical school? thanks!

Paul,
I think you are very sexy and Adrienne knows it. I laugh and laugh after your procedure and continued to watch it. You told it like it was.

That was wonderful of you Dr. Paul:) to educate & to possibly squash the fear/questions on having a colonoscopy! Great idea! Now know what to expect. Thank you for sharing!

PS Plus, you were hysterical!:)

Hi Paul,
You are correct in the importance of the colonscopy. I had one in my 60's they found a huge polyp attached to my colon wall, I had to have surgery to remove part of my intestine and the polyp was not cancer, but if I waited too much longer it could have turned cancerous. As far as the prep is concerned I found a product called MoviPrep was the better product, it was better tasting and consisted of 2 smaller containers of which the first one cleans you out pretty well, the second jug is taken as back up, but your pretty cleaned out by the first jug and don't need one. My girlfriend Loree works with a guy who at 47 had colon cancer. He is fine, but it can strike at any age. Glad you are doing well. Best wishes, Larry and Loree

Paul,

Thank you for sharing your colonoscopy. Im having one very soon and Im nervous. Im almost 45, this is my first. Im terrified of meds but we got do what we gota do. You made me feel more at ease though.
Thanks again You & Adrienne are the cutest !

Paul, you are the BEST Beverly Hills husband. Mauricio pales in comparison to you. Adrienne is truly lucky!

OK..have to admit..didn't see this episode coming...it was a gas! I used to work in Pediatric Gastro and would occasionally help in the adult dept. I have heard everything under the sun when men have this done.It was refreshing to see you put this out there.Recently I made a deal with a surgeon friend of mine...you see, he's 55 and has never had a colonoscopy and I am a 22 yr veteran of the healthcare field (age 44) and a smoker..why is it doctor's and healthcare workers are the worst patients and a lot of us are smokers?...I made a deal if I quit smoking for one year he had to do the test..we set it up with our Gastro guy who monitored our progress..I am happy to say that due to my good behavior my friend will soon be getting the test! I am ecstatic, him not so much!

Paul, YOU ROCK!!! You are the reason i keep watching the show! Everyone loves your adoreble personality! Adrienne better be a little nicer to you because any woman would give anything to have such a fun loving husband!

You and Adrianne are so funny and cute together.

Paul you are the best!

I turned 50 last month and I planned to have a colonoscopy this year as a rite of passage. I am so glad I know in advance that I will be “out gassing” after the procedure

Thank you for sharing your gastro-intimate moments with the world. I've had quite a few of these procedures done and I tell people they are easy. It is refreshing to see a Doctor being a patient and that the transition isn't always easy. Hopefully because of you, more people will get checked.

On a lighter note.. gotta love Adrienne when you asked her to help you and she walked lol.

Thanks for bringing to light the importance of colonoscopies! Such an important and procedure that I think people are afraid to talk about.

My favorite episode of the entire season! You and Adrienne are too cute together and I loved her response when you asked her to help you with the enema!!!

You and your wife are wonderful to watch!! You guys are the sunshine of the show.

OK Paul, thanks for explaining why you had to have the enema right before the procedure!!!! I'm an African-American woman & chose to have my 1st 1 @ age 46 due to the high rate of colon cancer in my ethnic group. But I know so many, who put this necessary screening-off well into their late 50's & 60's, which is very irresponsible & frightening. Thanks for bringing more awareness to this important health screening!!!!!

Dear Dr. Paul,
My husband is almost 50, & I can't wait to show him this clip of you getting a colonoscopy! You are AWESOME! I am making an appointment for he & I because of you showing what happens, along with your good sense of humor!
I have always liked you from day one, season one! You are very handsome, funny & smart!
At the white party you were the hero of the night. I have been in a similar situation, & it's just not right for someone to take litigating lightly.
You always gave us a break with some comedy, & I thought your night of beauty for the ladies was so generous & every woman's dream, along with the caterer going around offering snacks to the ladies! That's the kind of drama I want to watch during your show! You are a rock star all the way!
Love, a true Paul fan!

Thank you for sharing your experience with the colonoscopy. It is important for all of us to see the lighter side of medical care.

I just wanted to say how much I respect you for letting them film your colonoscopy. Having lost my mother to colon cancer when she was 51 (I was 13), and more recently a friend who was 52, I know the importance of early detection. I have had the procedure twice (I'm 45 now) and although it's not fun, the alternative is much worse. I hope you're back next season! Please continue being delightfully funny and adorable.

Paul I was hysterical laughing watching this episode because you were making such a joke about passing the air, but I have to commend you for allowing that to be filmed. It not only shows that a renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon is not only a real down to earth guy with a great sense of humor, but also the importance of having this procedure done. Kudos to you! I myself being over the age of 50 can't seem to muster up the courage to have it done (that damn prep just scares the "s__t" out of me)! You and Adrienne are by far my favorite couple on any of the RHW shows! Stay true to who you are!
Janet

Ironically I was scheduled for my colonoscopy the following day after this episode aired. I watched you and Adrienne and it gave me such a laugh while I was drinking that awful prep. I had several polyps removed so lucky me gets to do it again next year. And I truly mean lucky me!

Thanks for sharing. This easy procedure for the patient saves lives!

you know what we all have to get them in our life and i think you for sharing your experience with us....i must say i have never laughed so hard on the passing air and uh oh's.............it totally made my day getting a belly laugh as we have all been there......
and asking her to help with the enima...classic really

Paul, You were hilarious the way you kept saying "Oh no!". It was so cute. Even my husband who almost never cracks a smile got a kick out of it.

This was by far the FUNNIEST moment in Housewives History! Even my husband enjoyed this episode! Adrienne reacted the way I would have and I had tears of laughter during that entire segment!
Glad it all 'came out' okay and that you are healthy!! It's been a gas this season!

Paul you are the best one on the show. What a super hero you are to have a colonoscopy on the show and let others know there is nothing to fear. But just know that your beautiful wife Adrienne may be a touch of class....not ass (yours). This part of the show was so funny. I had to get my husband to watch the rerun with me. He has refused to have a colonoscopy but now has promised to schedule one. Thank you Paul.

You and Katie Couric have probably saved thousands of lives. Thank you for reminding us that this procedure, while not especially fun, is very necessary. Well done!

Will be missing you for a while. Hope you will be back for Season 3!

We love you Paul, and my husband is scheduling his colonoscopy. He is overdue and had told me he had one earlier. Well, thanks for the heads up not to have my 11 year old son around since everything funny has to do with passing gas for him-gee when does that humor quit ! I also enjoy seeing you laugh with Brandi, we love you !

You are the cutest thing! You always make me laugh.

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