Okay- it’s the grand Colonsoscopy finale! Wahooo!
Well… to be completely honest I was somewhat less enthusiastic about it at the time. But it’s done now, and I am thrilled. In case you are just now joining me, you may want to check out the two earlier posts that answered two questions you may be asking yourself right about now…
What is a Colonoscopy? And why did I get one?
What is the Prep for a Colonoscopy? Do I have any tips?
Colonoscopy Day:
I got to the clinic in the morning, checked in and was issued a really stylish hospital gown. I’m telling you, they were all the rage. Everyone I saw was wearing them. 😉 Next, I was hooked up to an IV with saline in it. I was told that was to be sure I was not dehydrated. That made me laugh because as I told you in my last post I was up at 3:30 am drinking the colon prep – and about a million cups of water. So I was pretty sure based on my need to pee every 10 seconds that dehydration was probably not a huge concern for me!
After a very short wait, a nurse and anesthesiologist came in to see me. I asked some questions because I was concerned I would be “out” but maybe still feel pain. The anesthesiologist assured me that he would take great care of me – and I would not feel a thing. Shortly after he left two nurses came to wheel my gurney back to the procedure room. One must have been new, because she almost wheeled me into the storage room full of supplies and boxes. I found that hilarious, and I joked that for a minute I thought maybe we were all going to go shop at the Container store. Everyone laughed and we all agreed that would be somewhat more fun than a colonoscopy. The laughing really helped me not freak out at this point as well, so that was a great distraction. Anyone else a nervous laugher? Next my doctor came in and said hello, asked if I had any questions. I just asked him to be gentle:)
The Actual Procedure:
The anesthesiologist had me roll onto my side and got my head in a comfy position on a pillow, and then started the propofol that was being used to put me to sleep. It was really interesting. I felt suddenly like I was very drunk maybe for 3 seconds, the next thing I knew I was in recovery and a nurse was saying I did great, and she would bring my husband back to me! It felt like the whole thing happened in the literal blink of an eye! DONE!
Recovery:
In order for the doctor to move the scope through your colon looking for any sign of problems, they pump air through your colon to keep it open and spacious. In recovery your job is basically to toot it all back out. I was kind of paranoid about this part because I was sure it would be SO embarrassing. But you have two things on your side. One, you are still a little drugged so you really aren’t likely to be embarrassed easily. Two, the only people around you are nurses and doctors who know that it’s just plain air you are passing (after all they are the ones that put it in you!) and frankly they are around this all day everyday. You would only stand out to them, if you didn’t pass the air back out. So don’t let this detail freak you out.
After about an hour I was cleared to leave. No heavy lifting, operating machinery or making any big life decisions. You may feel fine – but you are still a bit drugged up. I can attest to that, for the first couple hours after the procedure my sense of time was way off. And I also had trouble remembering who I had seen, and what was said.
(Waiting room where my husband was. He only had time to write two emails before they said I was done!)
Bottom Line: (Pun Intended!)
I got pretty pictures of my colon (that I will not be posting here…lol) and everything looked great. The doctor did find one small polyp, that he removed. It will be sent to the lab and in the unlikely event that it was pre-cancerous I will get a colonoscopy every 3 years, instead of the planned upon 5. The great thing about the colonoscopy is that the doctor can remove any polyps he sees while he is in your bowel, as he sees them! So he can stop any cancer that could have grown before it even has a chance!
You guys, Colon Cancer is a curable disease. You just have to find it early. And the colonoscopy is painless!
Isn’t your life worth it? You bet your bottom it is 😉
*This colonoscopy was brought to you in loving memory of Patricia Noonan Molloy
About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.
I’ve enjoyed reading about your journey. I think it is fabulous that you are willing to share. So many people are fearful, but it can save your life! I did the same with my first mamogram last fall. I had so many friends email me after that post who had been fearful. I’m sure you’ve had the same.
Enjoy your weekend!
~Laurie
@Laurie of Lulu and Daisy, Thank so much Laurie! I was really scared to get the colonoscopy to begin with because it just sounded so scary! I really hope this series of posts will leave other people feeling a teeny bit braver about doing it! Speaking of which…I will have to find your mammogram post! I haven’t done that yet, and I’d love to hear your thought son it:)
Wow Shannon! What a journey! I am sure you must be so relieved to have that over with. I think it’s awesome that you shared all of the nitty gritty details on here because it is an important procedure (that does make me quite nervous– more so the prep part). I don’t know all of my family history since my dad was adopted so I will probably have to get checked earlier.
Hope that you feel better now and your body will get back to regular. 🙂
@Angela, You are so welcome Angela!
And actually – I feel great now! Not just because it isn’t hanging over my head anymore…but actually you feel pretty normal as soon as the anesthesia wears off!
So glad it’s in your plans to get checked early! Go you! Thanks for reading:)
Wow! Thank you for sharing… My husband has one scheduled in about two weeks. I didn’t know you were out during the procedure – I guess that is WAY better than being aware for sure. I am thining it is probably time for me to think about getting one. I have done the mamogram thing for the last few years. I am all about prevention – knowing how easy it is makes me want to schedule one as soon as I can. Thanks again for sharing something as important as this.
@Jennifer, Oh my goodness- I am so GLAD I was out during the procedure, I would have been freaking out otherwise. But I did hear they used to do them when the person was awake…and I am just thankful they changed that in time for mine! lol. Thanks for being a reader Jennifer!
Hello I have one on the 30 of October I’m very nervous scared my first colonoscopy but reading your story and many more I want to get it over with I’m 41
hahahah I had totally forgotten about the passing gas part! that is the bestest!! haha
@Danielle, It was the bestest? You are a crazy woman;)
LOL.
So awesome and courageous of you to get this done and to share your experience! Stef has to get one next week and she was really nervous about it. I told her to go to your blog to read about the experience so she wouldn’t be scared! ps it is pretty amazing how they can remove polyps. Martin had this done and had some removed. Its also really cool that the liquid you drink before cleans out your intestines – its like getting a high colonic!
A colonoscopy does NOT bullet-proof you from CRC (indeed, we lack controlled studies proving efficacy because it would unethical to withhold the “standard of care” from the control group). Fast-moving CRC and CRC that originates from mucosal lining (doesn’t follow polyp model) defeat the colonoscopy screen.
Wow, Shannon. How brave of you to share. What an awesome way to bring awareness to colon cancer prevention!
I googled “34 years old first colonoscopy” and came upon your blog post. I have to say that although you are a stranger, it was so very comforting hearing what you went through. Thank you for the details and the honesty. My father passed from colon cancer, his sister the year before, and now I am having colon issues and every dr. I see wants me to have a colonoscopy. I am nervous and scared and do not want to make an appointment. After reading your post, I will. Thank you.
I’m glad I found your blog, too. I’m a little less nervous now, though I hadn’t considered that the prep might give me nausea. Isn’t that a llittle self-defeating, when you’re wanting the other end to be the one that gets flushed out? Maybe my prep will be a minty apple cider flavor. Anyway, I’m still not looking forward to this.
Thank you for sharing your story. I have my colonoscopy scheduled this week.
Wish I read this prior ro my procedure!
Hi Shannon,
Thanks for this blog, I’m planned to get a colonoscopy myself soon and I was that close to cancel it, but reading through your blog made me change my mind.
Have a great day
Thank you for your posts. My first colonoscopy is in 2 days and tomorrow is prep day. You made me feel much more at ease about what’s coming up and I appreciate it!
Thank you for posting this! I have my first colonoscopy a week from Friday, and I am so scared! I feel better prepared for the prep work now having read your post! Good not to be caught off guard! I am just so worried I will feel something or be awake and scared! But I do feel much better, having read all of this! Thank you for making me smile!
happy to know everything went well. The prep really is the worst part for most people. Hugs!
I am almost 82 and have just been told that arrangements are being made for to have a colonoscopy. I have read all the replies – and I do have a heart condition; I do get depressed, I have HBP – the details all tie up with what is happening to me. I am SO glad that I used Google to check the name – I am also VERY glad that I won’t be feeling the operation. Not keen on the before and after situation, but now I am prepared. THANK YOU ALL so much. Pam N.Z.
Shannon,
Thank you for providing your experience. This should help others who are considering having the procedure and wanting an honest explanation of what they can reasonably expect. Sorry that you lost your Mom so young, but glad that your test came out fine.
I posted on WordPress about my experience with colonoscopies too. I broke up into four parts because of the length. It covers 6 exams over a 16 year period.