I Had My First Colonoscopy Today

I wasn't expecting to have one recommended for a few more years because I'm not even 50 yet but they apparently changed the guidelines and recommend them sooner so any possible cancer indicators can be caught earlier. Plus, my attempt to avoid one by first going with Cologuard resulted in a positive result so I reluctantly agreed to do it.

Some quick background - I'm 49 and have (knock on wood) never needed any sort of major surgery or hospital stay. As a result, I was more than a little apprehensive, but it ended up not being all that bad.

Well, I won't say it wasn't all bad. The prep work leading up to the exam wasn't very pleasant. I wasn't allowed to have nuts, berries or popcorn for the week leading up to it (the last of those is a go-to snack for me). 

Then, yesterday, it was clear liquids only all day with a "cleanse" involving a whole lot of laxatives. That part wasn't overly enjoyable, and I ended up in bed by 8 just from exhaustion. 

The preparation was easily the worst of it, however. Today was mostly just showing up to the hospital, going through three different consultations (overview with the nurse, discussion with the surgeon and then with the anesthesiologist) before being wheeled into the operating room and then knocked unconscious. I woke up with no memory of the procedure. Frankly, the most difficult part of the day was trying to tie that stupid gown.

The biggest inconvenience afterwards is I'm not allowed to drive anywhere until tomorrow because of the anesthesia. However, I don't seem to have any ill effects. I was hungry by the time I got home and felt even better when I was finally able to eat solid food for the first time since Tuesday.

In case you're curious, the test came back mostly clean. They found a couple polyps that were removed and will get tested to be safe, but the surgeon said they don't look cancerous (and in any case, they are already out of my body). The only bad news is I'll be recommended to have one every five years rather than every 10 as a result of that. Other than the prep part of it I mentioned, I'm not as disappointed by that as I would have been a day ago.

I guess the lesson here is, if you're over 45, don't be afraid to schedule a routine colonoscopy. If I can make it through one, you can. And you never know, it might just save your life.