Monday, June 25, 2007

I have to get to the bottom of this

I'm having a colonoscopy tomorrow -- yay! Actually, no, it sucks. I have been fearing this day for months. I've rescheduled the appointment twice.

I've been having stomach problems for about a year. They've done blood tests and checked me for worms, but haven't found anything, so this is the next step.

The worst part of having this procedure is the preparation. You have to take laxatives and drink a gallon of this nasty stuff. Half of it has to be consumed 4 hours before the appointment. That means I have to wake up at 4:30 in the morning. Ugg.

And then there's the fast. The fasting started midnight (last night) and continues until after my appointment tomorrow morning. Arrgh.

I've heard that the actual procedure isn't that bad because they knock you out a little, so at least that's something.

Fun, fun, fun. : (

14 comments:

Candace said...

Well, as you know by now, the worst part is overwith. Hope they find out what's causing the problems.

Anonymous said...

Wish you would have gone through with it! Hopefully there is another way to find out what is going on.
Laura

Jim Marquis said...

Good luck tomorrow. I've heard the procedure isn't bad at all.

Lizzy said...

Thanks for the well wishes but, I couldn't drink the gallon of nasty saline solution. It made me gag.

I have to cancel my appointment in the morning.

Hopefully there is another way they can find out what's wrong with me. Maybe it's something simple like lactose intolerance. My brother has that.

LET'S TALK said...

Lizzy, I've put this same procedure off for the past two years.

I'm now waiting for my appointment to have it done... I have not heard any good things about the procedure.

It's something that must be done and I guess this time I want make any excuses.

I wish you luck on this also.

Lizzy said...

After I cancelled my appointment this morning, my gastroenterologist's office called. They are going to set up a flexible sigmoidoscopy instead. That procedure isn't as thorough, but the prep is much easier.

Candace said...

Hey, Lizzy, I was coming back to check on you and found that you're having a different procedure done. I really hope that will be all they need to do and that they can figure out what the deal is.

The thing about the colonoscopy is, yeah, the prep is really awful; the procedure itself is great because you're asleep during the whole thing, and the test is extremely thorough and WORTHWHILE. Colon cancer is mucho preventable because of this test! If they find polyps during the procedure, they go ahead and remove them right then and there. You won't feel a thing because you're asleep. The polyps will be biopsied. If they are found to be the kind that become cancerous, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you just prevented yourself from going through a painful death by having the damned things removed in time. I know; I had one removed like that. When you look at it that way, it's worth going through the prep. End of sermon. :)

Snave said...

Good luck, I hope everything looks normal! I haven't had one of those procedures, but I'm turning 50 in a few days... it's probably getting to be that time.

On a less serious note, you may really need good luck. The person in the illustration looks suspiciously like Paris Hilton!
8-)>

Lizzy said...

I couldn't drink the stuff, so I had to cancel the appointment. I'm scheduled for a flexible sigmoidoscopy at the end of August.

How did you get that stuff down, Candace?

Snave, Yes, it is getting to be that time.

Jim Marquis said...

Lactose intolerance is definitely a possiblity. My wife developed it in her late forties.

Tom Harper said...

Good luck. That prep period of fasting and taking laxatives really sucks.

Who Hijacked Our Country

LET'S TALK said...

Hi Lizzy, I'm sorry you could not play the Comedy Central video on my site.

I've been going from YouTube to Google videos to upload. I try to stay away from others.

If you have the time, could you go to my other site and let me know if the video about Ann Coulter plays on your computer. It's was uploaded to Google video.

Other site is Let's Talk About It.

Lizzy said...

Let's Talk, I didn't have a problem playing the Jon Stewart video on your site. That was pissed off patricia.

LET'S TALK said...

I'm sorry Lizzy, Thanks for stopping by.