So you are going to have a Colonoscopy?

On Monday I am off to have my 5th Colonoscopy as a check up from last years hospitalization related to my latest “major” Crohns flareup so why not write a few words on the procedure and it nothing else put some peoples minds to ease.  For Crohn’s sufferers, 5 Coloncopies is certinally not a record but for a guy that has yet to hit 40, it is still ahead of the curve.

So what is a Colonoscopy?

 Borrowed from eMedicieHealth.com a Colonoscopy is:

 a test to look at the inside of your colon. The colon is the large intestine and the last part of your digestive system. Its job is to dry, process, and eliminate the waste left after the small intestine has absorbed the nutrients in food. The colon is about 3-5 feet long. It travels from the lower right corner of your abdomen (where the small intestine ends) up to your liver, across your body to the spleen in the upper left corner and then down to form your rectum and anus.

The doctor will use an instrument called the colonoscope to perform a colonoscopy. It is a long (about 3 ft), thin (about 1 in), flexible fiberoptic camera that allows the doctor to visualize your entire colon.

I actually found a fun video on YouTube of a healthy Colon as viewed through the colonoscope that you can take a look at:

Preparing for the Colonscopy

I think most people would agree, that the preparation for the scope is far worse then the procedure itself.  Every Gastrointerologist is a bit different on the preparation procedure, but in short, your doctor needs as clean of colon as you can give him.  What that basically comes down to is cleaning or emptying the bowel with the help of over the counter medications and a mild laxative to get your body rolling.  Each of the procedures I have had (with two different doctors, and both were generally the same) involvedbeing under a mild sedative, so basically you sleep through the procedure  and wake up in the recovery room, overall pretty simple.   As they fill your bowels with air to get a better view, you may feel a little “bloated” afterwords but otherwise generally painless.

• Step 1 – Mild Laxative (2 days before procedure) at 5 PM
• Step 2 – Only clear fluids the day before the procedure; and through to the procedure
• Step 3 – An aggressive flush of the bowels of the bowels starting at 5 PM the day before the procedure. 

Drinking plenty of clear liquids is important to ensure you do not get dehydrated, and I would highly recommend liquids high in elecrolights such as those found in many sports drinks.  Unfortunatly beer does not qualify as a clear liquid.

My 5th Colonscopy Procedure

Well I a not sure how to keep this section up to date but will give it a try to keep tabs on the “preparation” with a bunch of edits to the post:

Saturday June 11, 2011

• Afternoon - Well made my trip to the pharmacy to pick up my bag of goodies – one box Dulcolax (Stimulant Laxative) and a box of Purg-oDan (Oral Purgative)
• 5 PM – Took two Dulcolax, now let the fun begin.  Also had a nice steak dinner with BBQ vegatables to tied me through the next 48 hours.
• Evening – Feel a little crampy and bloated.  Once I  get the kids to bed I can relax a little.
• 2 Bowel movements by bed time

Sunday June 12, 2011

• Hardest part with today was making breakfast for everyone and not being able to eat it.
• Consistent feeling of slight nausaua and very bloated stomach
• Overall, bowels have been quiet; just waiting until 5 pm when I need to start taking the Purg-oDan.  I am not looking forward to that one as it is always a challenge for me to keep it down.  One thinkg I have learned over the past few scopes, “Follow the Instructions”.  As terrible as the stuff taste, it is NOT better to dilute it with more water.  Use the 125 ml that it recommends and simply “get-er-done”.  Otherwise is is just pure torture.
• 5:45 PM – A little late but otherwise on track however the verdict is in, this stuff “Purg-oDan” is pure torture and definatly examplifies why the preperation is the worse part of the entire procedure.
• 6:30 PM – Similar to breakfast, it is hard to make dinner without eating or nibbling.  The BBQ Chicken turned out great – figures!
• 9:00 PM – Still pretty quiet, but a general unwell feeling.  I thought I remembered the “Purg” taking a little less time to do it cleanse.  Just wasted a bit of time on the PS3.
• 10:00 PM – Ok, three tips to the bathroom in 10 minutes.  Just in time for my second does of   “Purg-oDan”
• 11:00 PM – Second does down, but certinally worse then the first — had to hold back a few sips from coming right back out.

Monday June 13, 2011

• 3:25 AM – A night wakening and rush to the bathroom.  Some how I managened NOT to step on the black dog sleeping on our floor as I rushed across the room.
• 6:00 AM – Time to get up and start the day.  My procedure had been posposed frm 9:30 to this afternoon so the bigest decision of the day is if I am going to go into work for the morning
• 6:30 AM – Three more trips to the bathroom this morning; think the office is out of the question.  It is amazing, not much left in my body as “things” are looking pretty clear.
• 7:30 AM – Feeling a little dehydrated — remember, be sure to drink plenty of liquids.
• 9:42 AM – Teleconference finished, time to get settle for the day.
• 11:40 AM – Showered and dressed and just waiting for my ride to get here.  One thing to remember, you will be given a sedative for the procedure so you will need to arragne a ride and someone to accompany you home.
• 12:55 PM – Arrived at the hospital and checked in.  Waited a few minutes in the lounge before a nurse called my name and brought me to a change room.  Shores, socks and two hospital gowns (one opened to the back and a second as a make-shift housecoat).
• 1:05 PM – Interview with the nurse, medical history, medications, blood pressure (think my first one was 200 over 96; other arm much better at 120 orver 80  didnt think I was that nervous about today).
• 1:15 PM – Intervenous time (piece of cake, even with my little veins).
• 2:05 PM – Esourted to the procedure room.  After a few introductions the nurse affixted a blood pressure cuff and some oxygen and my dotor gave me a needle.  Then seconds later ……….
• 3:00 PM – Woke up in the recovery room to a smiling nurse and offered a jucie and cookies.  On previous occassions my doctor was around to give you a quick rundown, today was simply a note to make a follow up appointment with his office. 
• 4:15 PM – The drive home was a little uncofortable, with a consistent escape of air — the only comfort was that I knew my bowels were empty so it could only be air.  Once I arrived back at home I literally stumbled straight to bed and slept until dinner. 
• 8:25 PM – As I sit here at my desk, I think I probably over did it with dinner but it was good to have food back into my body.  Total weight loss ~ 5 LBS but I am sure that will be back on by the weekend. 

Now for Some Fun

A quick overview on  the ligher side is certinally needed.  Check out this last little video by commedian Billy Connolly on his recent experiences with a Colonoscopy: