colonoscopy...what?!

I never thought that at 36 years old I would be getting a colonoscopy, however for the last year of my life (maybe 2 years) I have been having some issues with my bowels and tummy.

I went to the doctor about 3 weeks ago to talk to him about my issues.  When I arrived this was the 1st time I was in this office meeting this doctor.  I was hoping he would be old and ugly...nope, I would be talking POOP with a kid that was 2 years younger then me and a nice looking young man!  Figures!

Dr. Atlas is the man!  If you know me you know I am a worry wart and when we were talking he said "colonoscopy" and I immediately thought the worse and tears started coming down my face.  He was very comforting and reassuring so I scheduled it and prepared myself for a crazy ride.

I went on vacation with my family and really didn't think much about the procedure while I was there!  My mom, dad, 2 aunts, my uncle, and my grandma have all had one and they all told me the procedure was not bad at all.  It was the prep that I was worried about!  So this past Wednesday I picked up my large paper bag (you know the ones we used to hide our 40s in) and had it ready to go in the morning.

Thursday morning came and I mixed my first 32 oz of my cocktail.  I smelled it and it didn't smell so bad at all.  Kind of like sprite with a little lemon smell.  So I stuck it in the fridge to get it nice and cold for my 3 o'clock date at the colonoscopy bar!  At 3, I took my first sip and I threw up!  No JOKE!  I called the nurse at the doctor's office and was like what the heck...she told me to take a sprite chaser...ok!  The cocktail already tasted like a sprite with a gallon of salt poured into it and you want me to chase it with a sprite...Whatever!  So I did and I also chased it with some Gatorade!  I did it and got the 1st 32 oz. down, but wait...I only had an hour to recover and had to get the 2nd 32 oz. down.  Put a fork in me I am done!

So, I prepared my other drink and put it in the fridge to cool (knowing it really didn't matter), however I thought cold would be better then warm.  When my hour was up, I started taking down gulps of the cocktail with my many different chasers.  Was it better this time around...NO!  I was plugging my nose, sipping my cocktail, rocking it out, and got to the last 4 oz!  I was so grateful to be almost done.  I quickly took down the last 4 oz. and as fast as I took it down it came back up!  Lovely right!?  I was done...To be honest with you - The drinking part was the worst...I didn't even mind the pooping!

The next day I dropped the kids off at my friends house and my hubby and I took off to the hospital.  Everyone there was so nice.  They were really busy and I had several nurses helping me out!  The cute anesthesiologist came in, talked to me about what was going to happen, put the iv in me, and they wheeled me to the procedure room!  That is when Dr. Atlas got called up to another floor to do something so I had to wait.  Thank goodness I had the best nurse in Miss Donna who was willing to explain everything to me and tell me that she was going to be in the room with me and that I was her only concern!  I loved her!  She sang while she worked!  Then the anesthesiologist came in the gave me something to relax me (which made me silly) and all of the sudden I was out and done!

Dr. Atlas said I look fine...some inflammation that they are looking at but nothing big!  A little gastritis because they also had to scope my throat but over all - my colon (which is 5 feet long, can you believe that) looks pretty!