Me: there is no such thing as a must overshare each a part of your life.
Additionally me: need to hear about my colonoscopy??
What can I say, modesty has by no means been all that vital to me. In all seriousness although, I’m really pushed to share this as a result of I really feel prefer it’s one of many issues that folks don’t typically discuss that maybe we should always. Like annual dermatology visits or month-to-month breast exams, if there’s something I’m doing to observe or higher my well being, I don’t need to gatekeep it. So right here I’m, writing about my colonoscopy on the web.
Let’s again up for a minute. Why did I select to do that? A number of causes, really. First, the age of a really helpful colonoscopy was 50, after which in 2021 the US Preventative Job Pressure lowered the really helpful age to 45 in response to the pattern of rising instances of colorectal most cancers amongst younger adults. Why is that this a rising pattern? I don’t know, however in discussions with my gastroenterologist we mentioned extremely processed meals and environmental toxins amongst different issues. On the finish of the day, regardless of the cause for the rise, it’s occurring and one thing to concentrate to, particularly as a result of a colonoscopy can catch points early and utterly eradicate them.
I’ve some household historical past of polyps discovered earlier than age 50. It wasn’t something critical, however I nonetheless had it at the back of my thoughts. After which whereas studying Outlive (learn my Outlive ebook evaluation right here) I used to be propelled into motion. The details clearly state that early detection saves lives.
This took me down the highway of scheduling the process. It started with contacting my insurance coverage firm to seek out out in the event that they coated an early screening. I discovered that they do, however had completely different copays based mostly on the place you go, and a few locations they didn’t cowl in any respect. I obtained that checklist and cross-referenced it with a listing of really helpful gastroenterologists I requested from my major care physician. I needed to get a referral from my major care physician despatched to the gastroenterologist, who spent 10 days reviewing it earlier than calling me in for an appointment to get approval. The appointment was an open and sincere dialog and the outcome was that I used to be handed a prescription for Suprep and scheduled for a 2:00PM process just a few weeks out.
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Yesterday was my process, however the prep began 48 hours earlier than that. They’ve very particular directions about what you may and may’t eat within the days main as much as process. I by accident ate a tomato the day earlier than starting my liquid quick and known as the workplace in a panic to make sure it wouldn’t mess me up (they assured me it wouldn’t).
The day earlier than the process you might be to observe an all liquid eating regimen. I had two cartons of bone broth and two apple juices. At 6:00 PM on the dot, as directed, I drank my first Suprep bottle. I’ve at all times heard prep is the worst half and I agree, it isn’t nice. It’s not horrible, however the liquid tastes fairly gnarly and ingesting the complete quantity (16 oz), plus 32 extra ounces of water, in an hour is loads. It took just a few hours for it to take impact. I slept OK that night time after which awoke with starvation as my foremost grievance. I repeated the identical prep steps at 9:00 AM with the second bottle of Suprep, which was simply as arduous, if not tougher to get down. Nonetheless, it did its job of clearing my system (which was not painful, however you simply need to ensure you’re dwelling) and my solely actual grievance was feeling flat (no power) and hungry.
It’s a must to have a experience to and from the process, so David drove me over at 2:00 PM for the three:00 process. The workplace employees have been all SO pleasant and defined all the things so effectively. I used to be put right into a robe on a hospital mattress they usually began an IV. They wheeled me into the room the place I chatted with the physician earlier than the nurse anesthetist informed me to select a contented dream and administered the propofol. I used to be amazed at how I used to be asleep earlier than I may depend to 3. The following factor I knew I used to be waking up; it felt like I had had an excellent nap. Straightforward peasy.
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They warn you about post-op “colonoscopy toots,” attributable to the air they insert throughout the process to higher see all the things, and inspired you to move the fuel to stop discomfort. It was barely embarrassing, however I’m not one to decide on bodily discomfort over embarrassment.
20 minutes late I used to be entering into the truck with David feeling superb, simply barely woozy. He informed me to select a meals to quench my starvation and whereas a sensible lady would have chosen a easy soup, I went with a buffalo hen wrap. I may solely eat about half of it and it might need brought about additional bloating, however I’ve no regrets. It tasted so good! That night I rested with a heating pad (to assist with the bloating), slept effectively, and awoke feeling pretty much as good as new this morning!
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The outcomes. I obtained the outcomes instantly, full with photos, which was appreciated. They did discover two small flat sessile polyps, each of which they have been simply capable of take away and ship to pathology throughout the process. In accordance the the physician and my google analysis, each are unlikely to be of any concern, however we are going to wait and see what pathology says. As of proper now, my subsequent colonoscopy ought to be scheduled for five years out.
The takeaway: I’m so glad I had this baseline colonoscopy performed. I do what I can to remain wholesome however am removed from good. Staying proactive in caring for my well being not solely provides me peace of thoughts, but it surely additional motivates me to recollect how vital my well being is to me. I need to maintain me so I can maintain David, my children, my prolonged household, and associates. I need to really feel my finest so I’m capable of extract all the enjoyment I can out of this lovely blessing known as life.
You probably have any questions in regards to the prep, process, outcomes, or thought course of behind me selecting to do that, ask away. I’m completely satisfied to be an open ebook about an space of well being that may really feel squeamish, however can also be so vital.