Prepping for a Colonoscopy!
9:00 AM-I just woke up.
I tried to sleep as long as possible.
However, I had the worst headache ever.
I over indulged the day before. I
was eating like it was my last meal before an execution. How was I going to make it a whole day
without eating? I thought about lying in
the bed all day, but my headache got me up.
9:30 AM-I made a cup of coffee to help with my headache. The coffee helped a little, but it made me
hungry. I contemplated what I could
drink next. Should I drink my broth
now? Maybe I should go to the store and
get some Jell-O. I am afraid to move
around too much. I feel that it will
just make me hungrier.
10:20 AM-Still sitting here figuring out what to do. Should I go get some Jell-O or should I make
some broth? Actually, the broth does not
sound that appealing to me right now. It
is already 90 degrees outside. Maybe I
should try some Gatorade? I think I will
shop on the Internet or awhile and think about it.
1:30 AM- I went to the store to get my citrate. I got the lemon/lime flavor, like that will
help. The lady at the pharmacy told me
it might help to chill it first (yay, right). I also stopped by the store and bought some
Italian ice and Jell-O. The Jell-O part
was difficult. The instructions say no red
or purple food coloring. Some websites
even warn against orange. That doesn’t
leave very many flavors to choose from.
I had to go to the isle where you purchase Jell-O in a box. The only refrigerated flavor was
strawberry. The only colors left were
yellow and green. I already purchased
the lemon Italian ice, so I didn’t want to over kill the lemon thing. Therefore, I purchased the lime Jell-O. I have 4 hours to wait on that one. When I got home I heated up some broth. It really needed something, like salt or
pepper. I didn’t add anything though, I
didn’t want to mess anything up. I
didn’t want to have to o go through this again any time soon. I had the Italian ice for dessert. The Italian ice was the best part of my day
so far. Just over an hour to my first dulcolax pills, ugh!!
3:00 PM-Time for the dulcolax.
What have I been doing for the last hour and a half? Laundry and cleaned kitchen. I feel a little weak though and my headache
is coming back. My headache must be stress.
I am still drinking caffeine.
3:35 PM-Feel kind of numb.
I just want to eat, I guess. So
ready for this to be over. Hopefully,
this feeling will pass soon. My daughter
will be here in a couple of hours. Maybe
this will take my mind off how crappy I feel.
3:45 PM-I got a glass of Gatorade. Face feels numb all over. Feeling weak. Maybe I over did it by cleaning, maybe I need
more liquids. I will keep you updated.
5:30 PM- I had another cup of broth and I ate a whole bowl of Jell-O. I was really hungry and eating the Jell-O was
almost like eating real food. I wanted
to go ahead and enjoy it since I knew my citrate was coming at 6:00. I saw
online where someone suggested a straw.
This did not work for me. I
decided the best route would be to just chug it. The taste was like salty dirty feet. If you could have seen my face it would have
been priceless. I thought I was going to
die. It took about 6 chugs and 20
minutes to get it all down. Alter the
last sip, I bent my head down and did not lift it up for a good five minutes. I felt bad for all the people who will have
to experience this in their life. I kept
thinking of new advancements that could possibly make this easier for people in
the future. I personally would just
prefer a good old enema. I do think the
suggestion to chill the citrate was a good one.
I probably would have thrown up, if the solution was not chilled.
10:00 PM-Increased my water intake. It seems to help speed things through
11:00 PM-More water.
Started to get chills. Too much
cold water I guess. I am going to set my
alarm for 4:00.
4:00 AM-Woke up to take my last bottle of citrate. I can’t drink water with this one. I am dreading this. I tried to gulp it down. I left a little in the bottom of the
bottle. I couldn’t drink anymore. I laid in bed for an hour and went back to
sleep.
7:00 AM- I work up to head to my procedure. I went to the bathroom, but it was not a lot.
8:00 AM-Arrive for appointment.
My daughter dropped me off.
8:40 AM-When they called me back, my daughter was not
there. They would not do the procedure
unless she was there. I had to call my
mother in law.
9:10 AM- My mother in law arrives.
9:40 AM-I have been sitting in the waiting room crying. I just want this to be over. I thought about cancelling, but I didn’t want
to do the prep again.
9:45 AM-They finally call me back. They put me in a room and make me strip waist
down. I have to go to the bathroom again. This is the fourth time since I have been
here. I told the nurse I was still going
to the bathroom. She told me not to
worry, they would vacuum everything out.
10:00 AM- the doctor and anesthesiologist come in to talk to me. They both were very nice.
10:10 AM-they wheel me to another room. They make me lay on my side and administer
the propofol. I only` remember only a
few seconds before I was out. The next
thing I remember, I was up. The doctor
came by and talked to me. No polyps, but
diverticulitis. I already knew this from
a CT scan last year. He told me to
increase fiber and water. The odd thing
is that I eat a high fiber diet. I think
an increase of water would help.
? AM- I don’t know what time they finished. The propofol is some good stuff.
They hold my arm as II walk out. Feeling
the best I have in two days.
? AM- My mother in law takes me to me I-Hop. My daughter meets us there. I am still a little high on the propofol. I drink three cups of coffee, a glass of water,
two eggs and bacon. I have some gas and
grumbling, but it is not too bad.
12:00 PM-I arrive home from my ordeal. I have to say that I am glad it will be
another 10 years before I have to do this again. However, my father in law had colon cancer
and I know the importance of this test.
It may not be the most pleasant experience in your life, but if it can
save your life it is worth it.
I think I will take a little nap now!
Advice-Drink plenty of water during your prep, try not to stress as much as I did and do not eat as much the day before your prep. It just makes it harder to eliminate everything.
