Here's a post not related to breast cancer but health related anyway. Ever since I had my hospital stay in 2013 my bowels have been giving me trouble. Right after I got out of the hospital I had continuous diarrhea. I started taking Imodium and that subsided but then I started getting constipated so I started taking Metamucil. Last year it was under control but in December I started having rectal bleeding so when I came back from my vacation I scheduled an appointment with my General doctor and he referred me to a Gastroenterologist.

Today I saw the Gastro and he ordered a colonoscopy. I've known that I probably needed one for a while now but having heard all kinds of horror stories I had been avoiding it. This time I fully intent to go through with it. After I came back from the doctor's office I started searching the internet for tips. Everyone who commented on the subject agrees that the worst part is the bowel "preparation" or "prep" namely bowel cleansing. The taste of the "prep" liquid is said to be awful and is recommended to chase it with Crystal light to help with the taste and to use a straw and a glass with a lid.

The day before the procedure I am to start on a "clear" liquid diet starting in the morning. This diet includes black coffee, Jello and carbonated soda so that's not too bad. Starting at 3 pm I am to start drinking the "prep" mixture taking 240 ml every 15 minutes, which will take 4 hours to finish the bottle. About an hour after I take the first dose I will have to start making trips to the restroom and will continue so until the waste is clear. Oh joy! This all sounds so incredibly good!

Then there is the procedure, according to what I read they will be putting a "twilight" sedative and pain killers (The nurse at the clinic mentioned the sedative but not the pain killers so I'll make sure to ask for pain medicine because the twilight usually doesn't work for me). The clinic I went to did not mention an IV but their brochure did and now I am trying to contact them to see if it would be possible for them to use my "port" to put in the sedative and the pain killers otherwise it is going to be painful since I can only use my left arm because I have lymphedema on the right arm an my veins are poor. According to the comments if I can get well sedated I won't feel a thing, I can only hope.

Having said all that in the end I will do it and go through whatever I have to go through so I can be screened for colon cancer, I am sure they will find polyps I just hope they are not cancerous. Please God don't let them be cancerous.

Aurora