Progress Pics

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Colonoscopy disaster




Ok-- before I launch into explaining this disaster, let me say that I am a believer in biochemical individuality (or whatever you want to call it) because I KNOW there are many ways that my body is different from other people's. In some ways this is positive and helpful and in others ways it is not.

One "good" way that I am different is that my body MOST of the time resists any illness based on "germs" that get passed around. I have only had the flu twice in my whole life. I get maybe one cold a year, at most.

You can count on one hand how many times in my life I have vomited. When vomiting/diarrhea things are going around I may get an upset stomach for a day and some "loose stools" and that's about it. I always end up taking care of everyone else who is sick and I somehow don't catch it 90% of the time.

Now, when I went to my initial appointment with the gastroenterologist (to schedule a colonoscopy) I warned him about two things: One, drugs that knock other people out don't work on me and, two, constipation is my natural state and always has been. It has been a source of jokes between me and my husband for years.

When they gave me the solution I was supposed to drink to clean out my system before the procedure, I told him, (seriously) that it might not be enough to work on me. And I also told him that I doubted whatever he gave other people to knock them out would work on me. I guess he thought I was joking.

Ok, so Sunday I fasted all day and at 4:30 in the afternoon I mixed the Nulytely they gave me and started drinking it. I consumed the whole gallon within two hours. I got so full and bloated and I felt like puking...........yet the hours ticked by and I did not go to the bathroom.

To spare you the literally "crappy" details, suffice it to say that I did not "go" for the first time until after 9pm, almost FIVE HOURS after drinking the stuff. (It is supposed to start working within an hour). I was up half the night going but I could tell when we arrived at the hospital the next day at NOON that some of that stuff was still in my system. I was STILL visiting the restroom and what was coming out was not "clear" as it should have been.

Ok, fast forward to the procedure, I'm in the procedure room and they give a shot into the IV of whatever the hell they give you to put you to sleep. I continued to talk with a nurse about my diet and weight loss. I felt buzzed, like I had too much to drink, but I was still very awake.

The doc told the nurse to give me another shot. Then I fell asleep but woke up several times. At one point, I heard the doc tell the nurse that they could not give me any more of the drug they were using to try to make me sleep. I heard him tell her to give me a shot of benadryl to help keep me out for a few minutes and he was going to wrap things up.

Later, he told me that the prep was not good and that I have to do it again with a different prep that lasts for two days. He also said he wants me to have general anesthesia so that I stay asleep. He said that every time I woke up I tried to sit up and that is not good with what they are trying to do.

In spite of the "bad prep" he found two polyps and removed them. They have been sent for biopsy. One really WEIRD thing is that he told my husband while I was in the recovery room that he couldn't see certain areas and there seemed to be something like corn blocking his view. I DON'T EAT CORN often and haven't had any for months. Corn? I have to wonder what the f*ck was he seeing.

I don't have a medical background so have no idea what he could have seen that looked like corn. Yikes. Something about it is creepy to me.

So I called this morning to reschedule and I am waiting for the nurse to call me back with the date for my next procedure and instructions for the prep. They also said that our insurance company is not going to want to pay for the second procedure nor for the general anesthesia, so he is writing them a letter explaining why. Even so, at the end I may end up having to pay for all or part of this. YIKES!

Today, I feel sort of "detached," probably some residual affect of all of the drugs they had to give me to try and keep me down. But I got up early and kept my appointment for my mammography. That is done! They said they will mail me the results.

When I was leaving the building, I noticed another medical building next door that was an OB/GYN. Since I haven't had a pap smear in 15 years and my doc is bugging out about it, I thought I'd get that over with too. So I walked right over and made an appointment before I chickened out.

So I have an appointment there for the end of the month. My doc will be thrilled!

I'm having an intense and totally irrational craving for TACOS, of all things. Ortega makes whole grain taco shells that are about 55 calories each and have a lot of fiber. Although I don't do well with a lot of grains, I am going to indulge myself and make tacos for dinner tonight.

I stopped at the market on the way home from the mammography to get the ingredients then I came home and got everything ready for tonight. I cut up some lettuce, onion, tomato, avocado and black olives to have on the tacos, and I am going to use fat-free greek yogurt for the sour cream. I arranged everything all pretty-like on a platter. I also put a salad together. YUMMY! Everything is pre-prepared so it will be a breeze getting dinner on the table tonight.

Anyway, I am not really "with it" so I'm going to go lay down for awhile. Have a great day everyone! And I appreciate everyone who checked up on me. Online friends are real friends-- so many have proven it to me again and again! You guys are the best!

ADDED LATER: Forgot to say that when they took my "vital signs" at the hospital, my body temp was only 96.6, probably because of the thyroid issues.

34 comments:

  1. Wow! It stinks you have to go through that again. I hope your insurance covers it! Good for you for getting all of your doctors appts taken care of. You are doing a good job of taking care of yourself.

    Those tacos sound yummy. We had taco salad for dinner Sunday. It was good! :-D

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  2. Good job on getting everything done, even if you have to get the colonscopy done again.

    FWIW, when I got mine done, I was still not all "cleaned out." I don't know what else they expected me to do. I had the 4PM drink that worked at 9PM too.

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  3. Why don't doctors listen to their patients? Makes you wonder doesn't it? Obviously, you know your own body better than anybody else. So, I'm sorry that you will now have to endure another prep procedure and the whole colonoscopy yet again! Take care, rest, and enjoy those tacos. Sounds like you deserve it.

    Margie writes at:
    www.myhealthylivingthruweightcontrol.blogspot.com

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  4. I am like you on drugs only opposite. I am a super cheap date when it comes to pills... last summer I had an MRI and I have claustraphobic issues so they gave me a valium and I slept so deep I awoke to two people sitting me up and shaking me putting a cold wet rag on the back of my neck. I was drooling and laughed it off to them as my "mom nap" and liken my time to a spa visit away from the munchlettes.

    Hope you feel better soon and tacos sound great, when is dinner? :)

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  5. I've had my share of scopes. Hope it's all "behind" you soon! A little scope humor there.

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  6. For crying out loud! Let me just say this isn't making me want to have a colonoscopy any time soon.

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  7. It's probably not corn but chewing gum you swallowed when you were a little kid. My mother always warned me about that...

    Mmm, tacos sound good but nachos sound even better! I think I will make some for Super Bowl Sunday.

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  8. Hi Lori-Ann. Well I don't think it was a complete disaster, although it by no means went smoothly. It was productive to the extent that 2 polyps were removed for testing.

    I think if I were you I would definitely investigate the possibility of genetic testing rather than face this procedure regularly without knowing if you are particularly at risk.

    But you're very brave to face all this testing in one go.

    Hope you have a restful day and recover quickly.

    Bearfriend xx

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  9. I had the procedure years ago but they do the two day cleanse thing here so I was good to go. I'm so sorry you have to go though that process again. Maybe being constipated so much you haven't gotten rid of the corn from months ago-haha-just joking.

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  10. At least you got all that yucky stuff out of the way. I guess your doctor will believe you next time!

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  11. What an unfortunate ordeal! Sorry it was so wrought with issues, but hopefully you'll get the next one over with fast. After all, you did try to tell the doc about your unique system regarding "going" and getting knocked out. Good for you for getting the girls photographed, and setting up the Gyn exam. All the fun stuff in a single month!

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  12. I have been thinking about you and am glad you posted an update. It sounds like it was not fun at all. I wish dr's would listen better. I am going to keep you in my prayers and I am very proud of you for scheduling the OB/Gyn appt. It will be good to get this all out of the way and get a good baseline. Enjoy your tacos - they sound yummy!

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  13. Well at least it is over for now. Sorry it didn't go too well. I have never been asleep during mine. I don't think the drugs work that well on me either. I just think happy thoughts and BREATHE.

    Good luck with the next one. Great job getting the mammogram done and scheduling the pap.

    Enjoy the tacos and get some rest!

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  14. Sorry you have to go through that again. Hope it goes without disaster next time.

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  15. Yay, that sounded like a TON of fun.

    My body temperature on average is only about 96.5 degrees. My doctor was worried when I was younger and had me average my body temperature for two months. Turns out, I run a little cooler than most people. Then again, the 98.6 is an average in itself.

    Whenever I go to a new doctor and they take my temp, they look at me funny and take it again. Then I have to tell them it's normal. It sucks when I get sick though. A 99 degree fever for me is a lot more serious than a 99 degree fever for the "average" person. That's always fun explaining.

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  16. What a frustrating procedure!!! I can't believe they didn't listen to you, and now it could end up costing you money. UUUGH! Big hugs, and I hope everything turns out well.

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  17. wow, good job on getting to the doctor.
    Sorry about the redo.
    Hope you feel better, enjoy the tacos...
    I love tacos.

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  18. What an ordeal! I have that same issue with pain meds at the dentist etc. They always undermedicate me. I have my fingers crossed that all comes out well. Good luck with the pap! Its not that bad!

    I hope they weren't....CORN tortillas!!! ;)

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  19. Sorry about your experiences with the colonoscopy... It's weird how we differ with out reactions to drugs!

    Hope all goes well with the pap test (I'm not keen on having these done, although I do...)

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  20. I've had my fair share of intestinal testing & they still don't know what my deal is (they've chalked it up to IBS, so far), and I am sorry to hear you had to go through this, and good for you for doing it and also for sharing this! Also, glad to hear you scheduled a pap (so important).

    Interesting regarding one of the other commenters with a lower than average body temp - I am the same. In Chinese medicine, a lot of digestive health stuff is related to this. I've recently started incorporating ginger, licorice, red pepper, & garlic, which are supposed to increase body heat and fight infection and also help IBS.

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  21. I am so sorry you had to go through that. I am always awed by people who can down all the prep. That was one of the nastiest nights of my life. I think I prefer being in labor. Re "corn," you do eat a lot of fibrous material, right? There's probably something else that you're trying to digest. How awful to keep waking up. I hear there are pill preps that are hard on your kidneys but I, personally, could not face that liquid stuff again.

    The pap should be *much* easier :)

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  22. Yowsa.

    Have you ever looked at the Geno Type book? If you have not...and are curious...email me and I bet I can help you figure out your geno type via email without you having to buy it. Every body is different...like you said...and what works for one does not always work for another. I'd be curious to know your geno type and how you feel if you follow his recommendations for a couple weeks....esp in the constipation department. Whole high fiber grains make me constipated....which is SO bizarre...even if my fiber is 30-50 grams a day...if it mostly comes from whole grains I am doomed. But when I eat meat, eggs, fruit veggies (my geno type recommendation) with around 20 grams of fiber a day...all is fine and dandy and daily...if you know what I mean.

    Anyway..I'd be curious to know where you fall among the 6 types and if following it made any difference for you.

    YES..on the temp thing and the thyroid. My temp is rarely over 97.2 or so...if it is 98.6 it usually means I have a virus or something. Aaaaah..thyroids......bleaaah.

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  23. Wow, sucks you have to go through that again. I'm with Helen, I'm not looking forward to getting mine done anytime soon. My Dr. did mention during my last visit that I was soon approaching that requirement.

    I monitored my body temperature for a week when I first woke up and my temps were all low - 95-96. I've had my thyroid tested but the tests always come back fine. My Biofeedback lady thinks I have a borderline thyroid issue so I'm on some herbal supplements to help me out. I need to retake my temps again to see if it helping.
    I hope test #2 goes better.

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  24. I am so sorry everything was such a nightmare. I'll be thinking of you and hope you feel better soon!

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  25. Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Doctors just don't think that we know ANYTHING about our bodies! It's so frustrating!

    Drink lots and lots of water. Maybe it will help a little. Sending healing thoughts!

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  26. I hope your doing OK, haven't seen any new blogs in a week and your usually a regular poster!

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  27. Hey, I'm getting worried about ya! Are you okay????

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  28. Hiya... Hope all is ok with you... :o)

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  29. Lori-Ann, for some reason this post never came through on my reader. It has been a while - is everything okay?

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  30. Hugs and prayers - we miss you. Hope all is well.

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  31. Hey there Lori-Ann - hope all is well!
    Bunch of us are getting worried because you've been gone awhile.

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  32. Hi Lori-Ann,

    Haven't seen a new post for awhile. Hope all is well with you and yours.

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  33. Okay, lady! Where are you? I hope all is well there.

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