Milestone

I told myself if I hit the next milestone of page views then I would post a funny picture of me taken in the hospital, obviously I didn't think I would ever hit that! Thank you everyone who is reading this, I hope its useful to you in some way even if its just to laugh at how cringe it is (thanks Elliot!) This picture is right after I had my first Colonoscopy, I'd been fasting for over 24 hours and was so hungry all I could think about was the ready salted crisps I'd bought with me (its all I want to eat in hospital!). This picture was taken literally just as Dad told me I couldn't eat them, I was so upset! Luckily he was joking and I got the crisps but this photo makes me laugh as I was still very under the influence of the sedative they gave. It reminds me that sometimes it's not all that bad, these are things I have to get used to now and they remind me of how strong I am. I'm not saying I would like another Colonoscopy but I know eventually I will need one and that's fine, I can handle it. 

Back to hospital!

So I spent this weekend preparing for a Colonoscopy on Sunday afternoon. The last time I was in hospital I had a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy which is sightly different as it doesn't go as far round. I also didn't do anything to prepare I was just taken straight up in the morning. When the letter came through the post for the Colonoscopy it was very confusing, I must have read it hundreds of times and seemed to get different information each go! That's when I decided to have a look online... 

For anyone who is getting ready to have a procedure that they are a bit worried about I really would not suggest you look on forums, there are some complete horror stories on there! Most people said how awful the laxatives were and that the whole experience was really awful. Luckily I found it fine and I wish I hadn't looked before! I hope that if anyone is searching online they find this instead so they can see its really not bad at all! 

The laxatives I had to take were 10 tablets on Thursday and Friday which had no effect at all and then a sachet on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I expected the sachet to taste disgusting after it fizzed in the bowl but it was just a strong lemon flavour. The worst part of the weekend was not being able to eat after 1pm on Saturday, that evening I was so hungry but the clear soup we made just didn't sit right on my stomach! Sunday wasn't so bad as I felt a bit nauseous anyway so i didn't think much about food. Other than going to the toilet a bit more than usual it was fine, I would recommend having a hot water bottle though to ease your stomach as you can feel it bubbling!

The trip to the hospital went really well. We went into the endoscopy unit which I recognised from before. They spoke through everything with me and then it was about an hour before I changed into my gown and was taken into the room. The nurses were lovely and the doctor was much more friendly than before! A cannula was inserted in my arm which was the worst pain but even that doesn't hurt much now. I was then given the sedative through it and told to enjoy the drugs! I was expecting to have a long nap but I actually stayed awake the whole time. I could feel it but it didn't hurt it was just uncomfortable when the camera went round corners. The whole procedure only took about 20 minutes and then I was wheeled back to the ward. I couldn't wait to get out so I got dressed and the nurse took my needle out, I left the hospital within half an hour complete with pictures of my insides!