My Colonoscopy Experience

Yesterday I had my first colonoscopy. It's not something I ever wanted to do, but my doctor had been suggesting it ever since I hit the big 5-0. As posted earlier, I finally caved in after knowledge of my niece's cancer, and my visit with Alice. I don't know the results yet, other than I did have polyps. I go for a follow-up visit in about a week. My husband told me that if they found polyps, they'd recommend another colonoscopy in 3 years, vs 5. CRAPPOLA!!
It's not that the procedure itself was bad, it was drinking the make you poop solution. First of all, you can't have anything to eat the day before, which is a challenge for us 50+ non-fit group. I actually played in the dirt to keep my mind off eating, and if you follow my blog, you know how much I enjoy that. At noon, you take 2 pills that are supposed to make you have a movement from 1-6 hours later. Therefore, you don't dare go anywhere just in case you're a member of the 1 hour later group. Then at 6:00 PM you have to start drinking a liquid solution that you can flavor with your choice of cherry, orange, pineapple, or lemon-lime. You have to drink the entire jug - which I'm guessing was 1/2 gallon, but felt like a gallon. The flavor didn't help much, as it was just a hint. I think next time I'll divide the solution and change out the flavor, as I got pretty tired of a hint of my choice - pineapple.
My movement didn't start until 7:15PM - right at the start of American Idol. It was a challenge timing those bathroom trips during commercials! The trips lasted until 10:15 when I decided to go to bed and hope I awakened for the next movement, as I had no "Depends" in the house. I made it through the night with maybe one or two more movements, and yes, I made it to the bathroom. I still was "moving" in the morning, when I was scheduled for the procedure at 8:30AM, and could SO relate to Dave Barry's commentary on a colonoscopy when he referred to flowers not being enough to compensate for the possibility of squirting on his doctor, who happened to be his friend :-)
I had to be there an hour early to register and take care of vitals such as blood pressure, temp, and insertion of an IV. Yikes! I didn't know this! I had a horrendous experience with insertion of an IV during my challenge child's birth and I've hated the thought ever since. But it went okay - the nurse was nice and listened while I revisited my bad experience. She paid attention and utilized an extremely small needle to find an appropriate vein. And then I waited as I was #6 in line for the procedure. I flipped through 3 magazines: 2 Southern Living and 1 Rachel Ray - all containing wonderful food recipes. Talk about torture!! The least they could do is supply you with losing weight magazines, don't you think?
Finally, my turn came and went. It's that quick, once they put you under. Amazing. I came home, expecting to continue as usual. But I took a nap, not something I ever do. It was weird, but I wasn't allowed to drive and didn't feel like doing anything else. It must have been needed.