My First Colonoscopy

[kybearfuzz]

Today was the first time in my life I've ever worn a hospital gown.

My first colonoscopy was today. Given the loss of my older brothers in the last couple of years to cancer, my doctor wanted a precautionary look-see to make sure things were [edit: NOT] going wrong inside.

Yesterday's prep was not fun. You never miss eating solid food until you're told you can't have it. So after a day long diet of beef broth, popsicles, and apple juice, I started drinking the "GoLytley" solution -- 8 oz every 15 minutes for four hours. It doesn't necessarily taste bad, but it has an odd viscosity and a weird after-taste. You get sick of it quickly. The effects are fairly immediate, but not as bad as I had been told. I expected needing a toilet with seat belts and a roll bar, but I managed without them. By the end of the night, I'd evacuated everything I'd eaten since 1973 and my colon was pretty much back to its showroom specifications.

This morning, Brian (cincycub) picked me up and drove me to the doctor's office. After some paperwork, the nurses took me to the back to change and get my IV put in. After 20 minutes, they wheeled me back to the exam room. It wasn't as technical as I expected, but I admit I freaked a bit when I saw the long tube with graduated lines on it -- it was six feet long. I didn't ask because I figured I knew where THAT was going.

The nurse put me on my side, injected something into the IV and I was out in seconds. I woke up in what felt like five minutes. All done. I remember asking a few questions, but I don't recall what they were. I don't remember being wheeled back into the staging area, but I remember being there and having the hiccups (one of the other side-effects of the medication). I don't recall getting dressed. I do remember being told that things were fine, nothing unusual found. I don't recall walking out of the building, but remember getting into Brian's car. I have a hazy memory of us driving to T.G.I.Friday's for lunch and from there my memory seems pretty solid.

The drug they use is called Versed, which is a sedative with a side-effect of some memory loss. I got home and took a nap, then woke up and ate cheesecake.

The best news is that nothing was wrong. And the cheesecake was fantastic. Big hugs to Brian, I really appreciate everything. :)

Comments

[texwriterbear.livejournal.com]

What? No pizza? Lol
Glad everything went well.

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

Pizza!!

Congrats on a clean bill of health!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL... I'll have pizza this weekend! Thanks guys!

[qbear.livejournal.com]

Good boy!! Congrats on getting it done, and for the great report. The worst part of it all is the prep. I was actually slightly conscious during the procedure, and remember seeing what looked like a roller-coaster video on the screen. It felt like about 10 seconds but the doctor said it was more like twenty minutes.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

As strange as it may sound, I kinda wanted to watch it on the monitor. How often do you get to see your insides??? However, she dosed me good and I was out!

[putzmeisterbear.livejournal.com]

Wonderful news! The outcome, not the process. I'm glad you made it through it without too much difficulty. Big congratulatory hugs!

[notdefined.livejournal.com]

Got my first last year. Remember nothing but the anesthesia tech whom I would have loved to put a lip lock on. Every 10 years for folks that do not have HIV, less than that for those that do. Colon cancer is just one thing to watch out for. Prostate cancer and leukemia are among the others. Regular whole body checkups are a good thing.

[markgarciachris.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear all is well! I'm not looking forward to my first one of those...

[barak.livejournal.com]

Oh, it sounds like you had lots of fun! Glad you had a more fun day than I did!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Ouch... sorry to hear about your accident! I hope you're okay, that looked like a nasty slam job in the photo!

[martini-tim.livejournal.com]

Congrats, Mark! You are good to go for another 100,000 miles.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

100,000 miles? Is that what they mean by "rode hard?"

At least I have another five years before I need my next oil change.

[spatts5.livejournal.com]

I told you they give you good drugs. Glad to hear everything is good!!! Especially glad to hear the cheesecake was fantastic.

[ironranger1.livejournal.com]

I was so hungry when it was over, I had Justin pull into the nearest fast food place and ordered way too much food! Glad things are good, Mark.

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

Ah, the memories, the memories...

So glad to hear that you had a clean bill of health. The prep for my last colonoscopy was by far the worst part. After a while I just couldn't chug it down without becoming nauseous. But it does work VERY well.

And it's time for another check. Color me less than enthused! Now where's that cheesecake...

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Cheesecake was the best part :)

[epinoid.livejournal.com]

Yay!!! I forgot about the memory loss part.

I did remember the CoLyte and I was crying as I was trying to get down the last 16oz. I didn't like the weird almost sulfurish saltiness and the viscosity reminded me of snail slime. I am very glad you didn't find it quite as intolerable as I did.

[spikejrt.livejournal.com]

Glad it went well for you.

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that the ol pooper is OK!

I do not look forward to my first one in 2.5 years. (and counting)

The no solid food is gonna kill me. Kill me.

[pudgybloke.livejournal.com]

I have my first one in a few weeks, I figured the prep would be the worst part. Glad you got a clean bill of health!