And then throughout that family time, I was sick one day (so sick- loose five pounds I throw up so much sick), and then the last full day my parents were in town*, I was prepping for a colonoscopy. Wait- you might ask- am I reading an old lady's blog... only old people have those...
Nope friends, not just old people (though my Dad who is 63 and I had our first ones a month apart!) have colonoscopies. When I was 24, I went to the ER with horrible pain right under my ribs.... a hospital admittance, Red Cross message (my husband was deployed), a colonoscopy, and 4 days in a small room, I left the hospital with a polyp removed, that was pre-cancerous. That doesn't sound like such a big deal, except most 24 year olds don't have that particular procedure done... it usually starts at 50.... and any polyp will eventually turn into cancer... so had I waited 26 years for my first scan... well- things just wouldn't have added up.
My scan was fine (though the prep sucked...), but this doctor wants me back in another year. I was doped up on so much stuff, I couldn't remember the conversation**, however when my husband told me about it again about 8 pm last night, it resulted in HYSTARICAL tears... I hate the prep... It sucks...
However, a good friend reminded me that though it's not so fun, it's my way of fighting back against cancer. For those of you that know me personally, this is a small passion of mine. Ever spring, my husband looses me for about a month as we prep for Relay For Life, the American Cancer Societies flagship fundraiser. For those of you that don't know about Relay For Life, or what the American Cancer Society, click the links to find out more!
* Yes, on the last day they were in town, I got to eat breakfast, then was on a clear liquid diet (as they went out to lunch at a yummy pizza place, toured a chocolate factory (complete with samples and chocolate cupcakes), AND went out to Zio's (one of my favorite restaurants).... and I got to drink sweet tea, sprite and chicken broth...)
**So, they didn't knock me all the way out, it was an 'unconscious procedure' or something like that. The used versed, which I guess makes you not remember... the procedure... or getting dressed... or the ride home... or the voice mails (from numbers you didn't know) you deleted (so you don't know who called you and left those voice mails)... or the emails you sent... or the TWELVE people you called...
The first thing you remember is waking up in your bed that evening, with a waterbottle, and a plate with gummie bears and M&M's on it (WTF?).
It sounds like Unconscious You knows how to party!
ReplyDeleteI had one at 29 or 30 thanks to an odd abdominal pain which strangely enough went away after I stopped eating frosted mini-wheats for breakfast. Apparently, trying to up my fiber intake was worse for me than eating unhealthily. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteOf course, my husband had a endoscopy (down the throat) the day of our first date. Guess he really liked me!
Good luck with the prep - it's too bad that the weight you lose during these things (and stomach issues) always seems to return as quickly as it went. (no pun intended)
Poor you. Still next time use it as an excuse to call all the people who have been pissing you off, give them an earful and claim ignorance of it afterwards.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, as the recipient of two colonoscopies I feel you on the prep. It is the absolute worst thing invented. I feel like I have one of those diseases on the Oregon Trail game. I wish that I could be unconscious for the prep part too! Ugh. Glad you got to spend time with family though!
ReplyDeleteSorry for your procedure! I had a partial one, or something like that, where you still have to prep (lovely) but you stay conscious. Love having problems with the intestines before age 30:-( Big hugs!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I talked to my husband about the question you asked on my blog. Sorry if it seemed like I ignored it! I was just thinking about it a lot. As for preparing your marriage for adoption, we felt like the only thing unique to it was making sure that you are both on the same page, both with the kind of adoption and how to pay for it. Everything else we could come up with was just parenting preparation that any other parent has to do. That was our experience, anyway.
I had my first one at 25. So lame. The prep is definitely the worst part! I've also had 2 endoscopies. GI troubles are the worst!
ReplyDeleteVersed also made me very, very bizarre!