My Colonoscopy at 40

What can I say, modesty has by no means been all that necessary to me. In all seriousness although, I’m actually pushed to share this as a result of I really feel prefer it’s one of many issues that individuals don’t typically speak about that maybe we must always. Like annual dermatology visits or month-to-month breast exams, if there’s something I’m doing to watch or higher my well being, I don’t need to gatekeep it. So right here I’m, writing about my colonoscopy on the web.

My Colonoscopy at 40

Let’s again up for a minute. Why did I select to do that? Multiple causes, truly. First, the age of a really helpful colonoscopy was once 50, after which in 2021 the US Preventative Task Force lowered the really helpful age to 45 in response to the pattern of rising circumstances of colorectal most cancers amongst younger adults. Why is that this a rising pattern? I don’t know, however in discussions with my gastroenterologist we mentioned extremely processed meals and environmental toxins amongst different issues. At the top of the day, regardless of the motive for the rise, it’s occurring and one thing to concentrate to, particularly as a result of a colonoscopy can catch points early and utterly get rid of them.

I’ve some household historical past of polyps discovered earlier than age 50. It wasn’t something severe, however I nonetheless had it behind my thoughts. And then whereas studying Outlive (learn my Outlive guide overview right here) I used to be propelled into motion. The info clearly state that early detection saves lives.

This took me down the street of scheduling the process. It started with contacting my insurance coverage firm to seek out out in the event that they coated an early screening. I discovered that they do, however had completely different copays based mostly on the place you go, and a few locations they didn’t cowl in any respect. I received that record and cross-referenced it with an inventory of really helpful gastroenterologists I requested from my major care physician. I needed to get a referral from my major care physician despatched to the gastroenterologist, who spent 10 days reviewing it earlier than calling me in for an appointment to get approval. The appointment was an open and sincere dialog and the end result was that I used to be handed a prescription for Suprep and scheduled for a 2:00PM process a couple of weeks out.

Colonoscopy Prep

Yesterday was my process, however the prep began 48 hours earlier than that. They have very particular directions about what you may and might’t eat within the days main as much as process. I by chance ate a tomato the day earlier than starting my liquid quick and known as the workplace in a panic to make sure it wouldn’t mess me up (they assured me it wouldn’t).

The day earlier than the process you’re to comply with an all liquid weight loss plan. I had two cartons of bone broth and two apple juices. At 6:00 PM on the dot, as directed, I drank my first Suprep bottle. I’ve all the time heard prep is the worst half and I agree, it isn’t nice. It’s not horrible, however the liquid tastes fairly gnarly and ingesting the complete quantity (16 oz), plus 32 extra ounces of water, in an hour is lots. It took a couple of hours for it to take impact. I slept OK that night time after which wakened with starvation as my predominant criticism. I repeated the identical prep steps at 9:00 AM with the second bottle of Suprep, which was simply as laborious, if not tougher to get down. However, it did its job of clearing my system (which was not painful, however you simply need to ensure you’re dwelling) and my solely actual criticism was feeling flat (no vitality) and hungry.

You need to have a experience to and from the process, so David drove me over at 2:00 PM for the three:00 process. The workplace employees had been all SO pleasant and defined every thing so nicely. I used to be put right into a robe on a hospital mattress and so they began an IV. They wheeled me into the room the place I chatted with the physician earlier than the nurse anesthetist instructed me to select a contented dream and administered the propofol. I used to be amazed at how I used to be asleep earlier than I may depend to a few. The subsequent factor I knew I used to be waking up; it felt like I had had a very good nap. Easy peasy.

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They warn you about post-op “colonoscopy toots,” brought on by the air they insert in the course of the process to raised see every thing, and inspired you to cross the gasoline to stop discomfort. It was barely embarrassing, however I’m not one to decide on bodily discomfort over embarrassment.

20 minutes late I used to be stepping into the truck with David feeling advantageous, simply barely woozy. He instructed me to select a meals to quench my starvation and whereas a wise girl would have chosen a easy soup, I went with a buffalo hen wrap. I may solely eat about half of it and it might need prompted additional bloating, however I’ve no regrets. It tasted so good! That night I rested with a heating pad (to assist with the bloating), slept nicely, and wakened feeling nearly as good as new this morning!

The Results

I received the outcomes instantly, full with footage, which was appreciated. They did discover two small flat sessile polyps, each of which they had been simply in a position to take away and ship to pathology in the course of the process. According the the physician and my google analysis, each are unlikely to be of any concern, however we are going to wait and see what pathology says. As of proper now, my subsequent colonoscopy ought to be scheduled for five years out.

The takeaway: I’m so glad I had this baseline colonoscopy achieved. I do what I can to remain wholesome however am removed from excellent. Staying proactive in caring for my well being not solely provides me peace of thoughts, nevertheless it additional motivates me to recollect how necessary my well being is to me. I need to deal with me so I can deal with David, my youngsters, my prolonged household, and buddies. I need to really feel my greatest so I’m in a position to extract all the enjoyment I can out of this lovely blessing known as life.

If you’ve gotten any questions concerning the prep, process, outcomes, or thought course of behind me selecting to do that, ask away. I’m completely satisfied to be an open guide about an space of well being that may really feel squeamish, however can be so necessary.