Colonoscopy

Today was my first experience with a colonoscopy. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. As everyone says the night before is always the worst because of the fluids you have to drink... boy were they ever right! I had to trade my schedule with Sammie on Sunday, because if I didn't I would have had to call in, which would have caused a strain on detention because we were short staffed the entire weekend. I ended up having to work a turnaround, which means I got off at midnight the night before and had to be back to work by 8AM. I got about two hours of sleep the night before, so I was definitely exhausted.

When I got off work, I had to start my Electrol solution that would help cleanse my colon for the colonoscopy the next day. The solution was extremely disgusting. I had a hard time keeping it down at times, but once I got used to it, I thought I would have no problems. As the night progressed and camping out on the toilet seemed to become ritual, I started feeling nauseous. After I while, I ended up projectile vomiting most of the liquid. The vomiting was so intense, I threw up all over Eyeris. After that, I went to bed.

Today, I woke up and had to drink the other half of the solution. I thought for sure I'd be used to it by now and have no problems. As I got to the bottom of the gallon container, I started feeling nauseous again. As what happened last night, I projectile vomited. I have never vomited with such intensity in my life.

I got to the endoscopy department near the hospital and checked in. The registration desk told me my doctor had been called to the hospital for an emergency and was running nearly two hours late. While I was filling out my paperwork with an admissions nurse, my friend Mary who was in the waiting room was asked by another guy waiting for his mother to be done with her procedure if I was her son. I found this rather hilarious as she is a month younger than I am and definitely doesn't look old enough to be my mother.

After a while, I was finally taken back to an admitting room where an IV was started and I would wait with my friend Mary until I was taken back to the procedure room. I have to say that when the IV was put in, it was the least amount of pain I had ever experienced with having an IV put in.

A little while after I was brought into the admitting room, I was taken back by a nurse to the procedure room. Dr. Mangum introduced himself and explained what was going to happen. He made note that my heart rate was very high. I looked at the monitor and it said it was in the 120's. I told him I had an anxiety disorder. Soon after, the nurse started the sedation medicine. I was afraid I would be awake, because I had been told I would be having conscious sedation, which means I am awake, but out of it for the most part. After the medicine was injected, I quickly became lightheaded and sleepy. The doctor came over and asked if I was asleep. I told him no, and he told the nurse to give me more sedation medicine. That is the last thing I remember.

After the procedure, I remember bits and pieces of what happened, but for the most part, the amnesic medicine was still in full force. My friend, Mary told me that I kept asking her the same questions over and over again. She said I was able to do things by myself, but I was just quiet and very out of it otherwise for the most part. Mary said when I was changing back into my clothes, I started laughing because I couldn't put my pants on.

Mary, her fiance Tim, one of his friends and I all went to Old Chicago for dinner. The medicine was still in full effect then as I was still feeling rather loopy and looking back I don't remember a lot of things. I know I somehow ordered a rootbeer, which goes against my no dark soda policy I created for myself a month ago. Dinner was delicious as always, and I was very careful not to stuff my face full of food.

After dinner, Mary and I went to Wal-Mart. I was really starting to come out of the effects of the medicine, so I started asking Mary questions I had already asked, but couldn't remember. She said the doctor had found a possible perforation in my colon which was caused by my chronic diarrhea. This was the cause of my bloodly stool, cramps and abdominal pain. She said if I have any abdominal pain or any cramping at all to take Tylenol. I'm not sure how they intend to fix the problem or if it will be fixed on its own. I guess once the results get back to my normal doctor, he may call me and things will be clearer for me.

I'm glad things went well. I am hoping the perforation will be fixed quickly, and all symptoms I have been experiencing will go away.