Me: there isn’t a have to overshare each a part of your life.
Additionally me: wish 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 folks don’t typically 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 wish to gatekeep it. So right here I’m, writing about my colonoscopy on the web.
My Colonoscopy at 40
Let’s again up for a minute. Why did I select to do that? A number of causes, truly. First, the age of a advisable colonoscopy was 50, after which in 2021 the US Preventative Process Power lowered the advisable age to 45 in response to the development of rising circumstances 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 taking place and one thing to concentrate to, particularly as a result of a colonoscopy can catch points early and fully get rid of them.
I’ve some household historical past of polyps discovered earlier than age 50. It wasn’t something severe, however I nonetheless had it behind my thoughts. After which whereas studying Outlive (learn my Outlive guide 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 seek out out in the event that they coated an early screening. I realized that they do, however had completely different copays primarily based on the place you go, and a few locations they didn’t cowl in any respect. I obtained that record and cross-referenced it with an inventory of advisable 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 sincere dialog and the outcome was that I used to be handed a prescription for Suprep and scheduled for a 2:00PM process a couple of weeks out.
Colonoscopy Prep
Yesterday was my process, however the prep began 48 hours earlier than that. They’ve very particular directions about what you may and might’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 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 might be to comply with 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 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 ingesting the total quantity (16 oz), plus 32 extra ounces of water, in an hour is loads. It took a couple of hours for it to take impact. I slept OK that night time after which awoke with starvation as my essential criticism. I repeated the identical prep steps at 9:00 AM with the second bottle of Suprep, which was simply as arduous, if not more durable to get down. Nevertheless, it did its job of clearing my system (which was not painful, however you simply wish to ensure you’re dwelling) and my solely actual criticism was feeling flat (no vitality) and hungry.
It’s important 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 workers had been all SO pleasant and defined all the pieces so nicely. 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 advised me to choose a contented dream and administered the propofol. I used to be amazed at how I used to be asleep earlier than I might rely to a few. 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 pieces, and inspired you to move the fuel to forestall discomfort. It was barely embarrassing, however I’m not one to decide on bodily discomfort over embarrassment.
20 minutes late I used to be moving into the truck with David feeling superb, simply barely woozy. He advised me to choose 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 might solely eat about half of it and it may 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 nicely, and awoke feeling pretty much as good as new this morning!
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 had been simply in a position to 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’ll wait and see what pathology says. As of proper now, my subsequent colonoscopy must be scheduled for five years out.
The takeaway: I’m so glad I had this baseline colonoscopy achieved. I do what I can to remain wholesome however am removed from excellent. Staying proactive in caring for my well being not solely offers me peace of thoughts, however it additional motivates me to recollect how necessary my well being is to me. I wish to deal with me so I can deal with David, my children, my prolonged household, and pals. I wish to really feel my greatest so I’m in a position to extract all the enjoyment I can out of this lovely blessing referred to as life.
When you’ve got any questions in regards to the prep, process, outcomes, or thought course of behind me selecting to do that, ask away. I’m completely happy to be an open guide about an space of well being that may really feel squeamish, however can be so necessary.
