Me: there isn’t a have to 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 necessary 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 individuals don’t usually speak about that maybe we must 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 Process Pressure lowered the really helpful age to 45 in response to the development of rising instances of colorectal most cancers amongst younger adults. Why is that this a rising development? 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 fully remove them.
I’ve some household historical past of polyps discovered earlier than age 50. It wasn’t something severe, however I nonetheless had it at the back of my thoughts. After which whereas studying Outlive (learn my Outlive e book assessment 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 search out out in the event that they lined an early screening. I discovered that they do, however had totally different copays based mostly on the place you go, and a few locations they didn’t cowl in any respect. I acquired that listing and cross-referenced it with an inventory of really helpful gastroenterologists I requested from my main care physician. I needed to get a referral from my main 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 trustworthy dialog and the consequence was that I used to be handed a prescription for Suprep and scheduled for a 2:00PM process a number of 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 possibly can and might’t eat within the days main as much as process. I unintentionally ate a tomato the day earlier than starting my liquid quick and referred to 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’re to comply with an all liquid weight loss program. 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 all the time heard prep is the worst half and I agree, it isn’t nice. It’s not horrible, however the liquid tastes fairly gnarly and consuming the total quantity (16 oz), plus 32 extra ounces of water, in an hour is loads. It took a number of hours for it to take impact. I slept OK that evening after which awoke with starvation as my foremost criticism. I repeated the identical prep steps at 9:00 AM with the second bottle of Suprep, which was simply as onerous, 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 criticism was feeling flat (no power) and hungry.
You must 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 had been all SO pleasant and defined every part so properly. I used to be put right into a robe on a hospital mattress and so they began an IV. They wheeled me into the room the place I chatted with the physician earlier than the nurse anesthetist instructed me to select a cheerful dream and administered the propofol. I used to be amazed at how I used to be asleep earlier than I might depend to a few. The subsequent 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,” brought on by the air they insert in the course of the process to higher see every part, and inspired you to go the gasoline 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 instructed me to select a meals to quench my starvation and whereas a sensible girl would have chosen a easy soup, I went with a buffalo hen wrap. I might solely eat about half of it and it may need triggered 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 properly, and awoke feeling nearly as good as new this morning!
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The outcomes. I acquired the outcomes instantly, full with photos, which was appreciated. They did discover two small flat sessile polyps, each of which they had been simply in a position to take away and ship to pathology in the course of 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 executed. 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, however it additional motivates me to recollect how necessary my well being is to me. I need to handle me so I can handle David, my youngsters, my prolonged household, and pals. I need to really feel my finest so I’m in a position to extract all the enjoyment I can out of this stunning blessing referred to as life.
You probably have any questions concerning the prep, process, outcomes, or thought course of behind me selecting to do that, ask away. I’m joyful to be an open e book about an space of well being that may really feel squeamish, however can be so necessary.
