When I was growing up, the family doctor suggested I start to get colonoscopy screenings when I turn 21 because my family history is so strong (my Dad passed of colon cancer when he was 30 years old.) Why it took me 7 years after I turned 21 to get my first colonoscopy, I do not know! Perhaps I didn't totally get it? Maybe I was ignorant? Maybe because I didn't have any signs or symptoms? Maybe because it was all on "me" and I didn't have anyone really forcing me to go? Maybe I was scared? And probably the biggest reason - I didn't know how - where do I go - who do I see, etc?
Life is so fragile and you never know what will happen, but I always assumed I would get to this point (my late 20s). The point of being 28 and truly understanding the age my Dad was when he was dying of colon cancer. I feel like I have so many cool things going on in my life - I am surrounded by terrific people, and I thrive on the many opportunities out there. Being 28 should be exciting - there is so much to look forward to! However, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about what my Dad had to go through at this age. The outlook would be different - counting down the days, saying your last goodbyes, wondering what if. The last several months I have been thinking a lot about all this stuff, trying to figure out my take on it, and I realized now is the time to really start taking care of myself. So I did it - I made an appointment at Fox Chase Cancer Center to get my first colonoscopy.
One of the reasons I want to write about this is to stress the importance of prevention screenings and also that these colonoscopies are really not that bad! I must have read over the "day before prep" instructions about a hundred times so I didn't screw anything up! Last thing I wanted was to get there and they can't do the test because I messed something up! I was most worried for the day before prep because I couldn't eat any solid foods after 10 or 11am. I love to eat (solid food) and I am always hungry!! But anyway, I picked up two half gallons of yellow gatorade, a big thing of MiriLax powder, and one bisacodyl tablet. I split the Mirilax powder in half - mixed one half of the powder with one of the half gallons of gatorade and the other half of powder with the other half gallon of gatorade.
At 6pm I was supposed to drink the first half gallon within 3 to 4 hours. I ended up drinking it in about 2 and a half hours! I had some stomach cramps after drinking it, but just hung out on the couch and watched tv. Probably around 9:30pm it "started to work." At 10pm I started drinking the second half of the prep. Once I started that half, I'd try to take naps (because I was tired), drink the prep, and get up and "go" about every 45-60 minutes. Next thing I knew it was 6:00am, I was tired and hungry, but I made it!! Everything seemed clear and now my attention turned to hoping the test comes out okay.
I have never had anesthesia, and I was a bit nervous about getting it - how would I feel coming out of it and how would I feel later in the day? So I get my hospital gown on and climb up into the bed. They had a few people working on me, taking vitals, asking me questions, etc. Every person that worked there who had contact with me said the same thing, "wow, you look so young, what are you doing here today?" And that is when I had to go into the story about my Dad's history. When asked that question multiple times within an hour, it REALLY started to hit me - 'My Dad was so young when he went through all of this.' I almost didn't want to think about it, but it was very hard not to.
I was wheeled into the procedure room, the anesthesia was progressive and it wasn't all that bad. Next thing I know I am woken up and I said, "Did I do the prep right?" The Doc comes out and he tells me I did the prep right and everything came out ok. He told me to come back every 2 years for a screening and he gave me a brochure for their risk assessment/genetic counseling program and suggested I contact them.
I felt ok leaving the hospital except for a bit of dizziness (but not nauseous). They were pretty persistent on telling me not to drive at all the rest of the day. So I listened. The rest of the day I spent lounging around, watching tv, catching up on some emails. I feel very fortunate that my test came out ok, but of course I still think about the other side of things and possibly having to go through what my Dad went through - I'm certainly dedicated to continuing my work with HCM and I hope we can continue to help families in all situations, but now going through this colonoscopy I really want to stress the importance of prevention!!
So please keep up to date with your medical appointments, whether it is a colonoscopy, mammogram, or other types of screenings! Don't let these things go! TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH NOW AND LIVE LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS!
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