Colonoscopy - all done, all fine
December 21, 2007 | When one hits the half-century mark, it is recommended to get a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer and other ailments. I'm 51, so I was overdue. This is the wrong way. I opted instead for a more standard colonoscopy, which I had done this morning. It turns out that the actual procedure only takes 15 minutes. It's the before and after that requires one to allocate some time. The prep day: I was told to eat no solid food the day prior, and to drink only clear liquids. This was pretty easy, really. Some years back, Shirley and I used to do a juice fast on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week. We'd drink just fruit and vegetable juices and water, and then break the fast on Friday when we'd meet for a salad. So one day was easy. AND black coffee was allowed, so no worries. The more interesting part was the procedure to empty out one's insides. At 11am I took the prescribed 4 pills. The packaging made them look huge, but as the second pic below shows, the pills were actually quite small - very easy to swallow: |
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| The next step was to add some warm water to the HalfLytely powder, cap and shake the container to mix the solution, and put it in the fridge to cool. Then it was back to juice and coffee for the next 4 hours. Starting at 3pm, as per instructions, every 15 minutes I drank 8 ounces of the HalfLytely mix. It's sort of like a slightly gelatinous, somewhat salty Gatorade ...with a mild lemon-lime flavor. Given that I don't care for salt, it was a little unpleasant, but not bad. It takes about 8 doses (1 every 15 minutes) to get all the solution consumed. And trust me, it works! I'd not heard nor read much about this, so I figure I'll let the curious know ...after about 5 doses I took up residence in the bathroom. It was like a firehose. That sounds funny and disgusting and it is quite accurate. After a few hours (and finishing the other doses of the solution) I knew that the doc would have a very clear view of my innards. Picture day: Today was picture day, the day for the doc to take a video of my colon and check for any issues. I'd been told to stop drinking even water after midnight, so I was a tad thirsty. Oh well. After signing in at the hospital (and waiting around for the required time that one must always wait it seems), I was given a lovely gown to wear (the kind that's open in the back :). A needle (for IV) was positioned in my right arm (they wanted to use the back of my hand, but it was so frickin' cold there that my veins had wisely retreated for warmer parts). I was led to the procedure room, chatted a little with the doc - and asked if he might supply me with some pics of my innards - and they started the anesthesia. The next thing I knew I was lying on a bed in a little recovery area and Shirley was seated in a chair next to me. Somewhere along the way I remember the doc saying that I'd done a good prep (I so knew that already). Everything looked good inside, which means I'll go back for another movie day in 5 years. And the good doctor was kind enough to supply me with pics, so that you, dear reader, may now know me inside and out. With no further ado, here are pics, in order, of the inside of a human colon (mine) as the instrument travelled along: |
It's now 5pm, and even though the procedure was done at 8:30am this morning, I'm still feeling very slightly foggy. So it makes sense that they warn patients to not drive, to not work (and probably should not blog) for 24 hours after the colonoscopy. Oh well. The End. |
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Reader Comments (7)
I recall the anesthesia as being fairly pleasant, and the staff doing their best to support the illusion that you are not simply just another asshole to them. That calls for real professionalism.
Trust me this was a lot better than the sigmoidoscopy that I underwent several years ago. Can you say PRESSURE?
Congrats on the clean bill of health.
Mad
Trust me this was a lot better than the sigmoidoscopy that I underwent several years ago. Can you say PRESSURE?
Congrats on the clean bill of health.
Mad
I came down with pneumonia a couple after the colonoscopy. Coincidence? or did something with the colonoscopy have anything to do with it?
Bob
@Mad: I'd never even *heard* of 'sigmoidoscopy' until your comment!
@Bob: I cannot imagine how the colonoscopy could have resulted in pneumonia ...I think you're just getting really old ;-)
@Adi: WOW! Grant does have my sympathies. I really didn't think the prep/procedure was that bad. But for me it was just the routine recommended procedure for a 50-yr-old. I would think it a lot more stressful when one's family has a history. Tho' it's also good that there is a procedure to help one identify issues early on. 'Colon Channel' ...LOL ...that's awesome :)
LOL
you are WAY too much man. ;-)