As I type this piece, I’m feeling bloated, raw and nauseated from a day on a liquid diet, and the prep necessary for a colonoscopy. I’m praying the next twelve hours rush forward in a blur; I don’t want to be present. At this point in the process I’m wondering why I’m putting myself through such agony. Tonight’s article is written as a personal reminder and as an educational piece to maintain good colon health.
It’s recommended you experience your first colonoscopy at the age of fifty as long as you or your family doesn’t have a history of colon cancer or digestive issues. I’ve had such history so I keep trudging through this process.
The National Disease Information Clearing House (on-line) offers information regarding this procedure. Their website communicates, “A colonoscopy is a procedure used to see inside the colon and rectum. A colonoscopy can detect inflamed tissue, ulcers, and abnormal growths. The procedure is used to look for early signs of colorectal cancer and can help doctors diagnose unexplained changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, bleeding from the anus, and weight loss.
During the bowel prep process, all solids must be emptied from the gastrointestinal tract by following a clear liquid diet for 1-3 days before. During the colonoscopy, patients lie on their left side on an examination table. A light sedative, and pain medication, helps keep patients relaxed. Deeper sedation may be required. The doctor and medical staff monitor vital signs. The doctor inserts a long, flexible, lighted tube called a colonoscope into the anus and slowly guides it through the rectum and into the colon. The scope inflates the large intestine with carbon dioxide gas to give the doctor a better view. A small camera transmits an image from inside the large intestine to a computer screen, allowing the doctor to carefully examine the intestinal lining. Bleeding and puncture of the large intestine are possible but uncommon.”
Colon cancer can be caught and diverted through routine colonoscopies. The American Cancer Society states approximately 1 out of 20, in a lifetime, risk developing rectal/colon cancer. This year over 140,000 cases exist.
Considering this, the prep/procedure discomfort is minimal. Take these stats seriously and consider this detox process as a step towards a healthier you.
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