So March was Colon Cancer Awareness Month and it's coming to an end. Did you get your colonoscopy? You know who you are. This is such an easy procedure that so many are scared or embarrassed to do. It can catch cancer before it spreads making remission possible. So to help alleviate all of you fears I'm going to share with you my general experience.
Some of you may have heard that the prep is the worst part, and it is. It is not THAT bad though. The day before you will be asked to have only clear liquids and nothing red or purple. This means jello, broth, apple juice, popcicles, water ice, and coffee or tea (no milk). I like to make lime jello with sprite. The little bubbles created with the soda just add a special zing that the clear liquid diet lacks. You may also be asked to take a stool softener in the morning and afternoon and possibly a potassium pill. I've had to take them on some preps, but not all.
The evening and night before you will start the lovely "prep". The most common is Go-Lytely, but really they should have named it Go-Morely. That is what you will be doing. You get to mix the liquid with a drink of your choice. I prefer to mix it with something that I don't drink often. There is an after taste to the prep that is not good. My go to choice was PowerAde Blue. I can never drink it again because it always reminds me of the prep. You will need to drink A LOT of liquid to get all the prep and stay hydrated. Be prepared to drink, drink, and drink some more. FYI, there have been occassions that I have thrown up from both too much liquid in my stomach and the taste of the drink. Be aware, you may get nauseous.
Now the prep is done. Some people have to wait for the action to start, but I never did. Usually I was still drinking the blue drink when the pooping began. Be prepared to poop like you've never pooped before. In fact, just set up a make shift bed on the toilet. By morning you should be pooping clear fluids or maybe tinged from the blue drink. This is a good sign. You are ready to go to the procedure.
First things first, you will have to put on the lovely gown that your rear sticks out of. You will get hooked up to an IV where they will give you some fluids to make up for everything you lost. If you have a headache from the fluid loss this will help. Next comes the anesthesiologist to go over some background. Then off you go to the procedure room. You will be hooked up to a few monitors, then asked to roll over on your left side. The anesthesiologist will give you the milky juice to put you to sleep and that is the last thing you will remember.
The colonoscopy is over. You wake up, slightly confused, back in your recovery room. You will be given something to drink. If you're used to caffeine in the morning, ask for some coke to help with caffeine withdrawl headache. After a few minutes, the doc will come in. If everything is fine (which it should be if you're not me), he will say, "See you back in 5 years for your next scope". Then I suggest you get dressed and hurry on out. Don't forget to grap your driver on the way out so you're not walking to the nearest fast food place to grab some real food because now you can return to eating and drinking and living your life like before.
So if you haven't done it yet, schedule your colonoscopy. It's quick and easy and a HUGE life saver!
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