The Colonoscopy Prep - The Day Before (Eating Allowed)

Yesterday I posted about the colonoscopy prep instructions - who could remember them all?

Today I can eat a breakfast, big lunch and light dinner the procedure doesn't start until 1:30 PM tomorrow. The fun starts at 6 PM when I get to drink salt water for an hour and then suffer the consequences. Something to look forward to.

I then get to repeat the salt water routine tomorrow morning. All righty then!

The point today is to make sure I stay hydrated. That means endless trips to the powder room all day.

I prepared jello for tonight. I think that's a real pacifier. Sorta solid food but not really solid food.

Busy day prepping. Gotta get started.

The Ongoing Saga Of The Rhoid Rage - The Colonoscopy Prep

OK, so I did the unthinkable - I listened to the gastro surgeon, started on the Metamusil, and scheduled the dreaded colonoscopy.

A couple of things you should know - the surgeon was correct. The rhoids (that's hemorhoids) have responded to increased fiber intake (see my last few posts) and are slowly shrinking. The pain has subsided. But I'm headed for a colonoscopy in a few days. Oh Joy!

Just as an aside, I have a family history of colon cancer. A few years after my father died of liver cancer (which started as colon cancer), I had my first procedure. That was 12 years ago. At the time, the doc found a polyp and instructed me to have another procedure in 5 years. I procrastinated, citing the high cost (at the time, not covered by insurance).

Now that I have Medicare, the cost factor has disappeared. Let me tell you, I'm still wishing I did not have to do this. But now, I have no choice if I want to eliminate the rhoids.

The Prep Is Worse Than The Last Time (Mostly)
In 12 years, the restrictions have increased when it comes to food - no nuts, popcorn, supplements, aspirin for a week before the day of the procedure.

I still have to drink a lot of salt water (to the tune of $75 for the script). 

But, this doctor allows (somewhat) normal eating up to 21 hours before the colonoscopy. 

The instructions cover several pages and were explained in great detail by the doctor's staff.

The Next Few Days
Today is the last day of regular meals and tomorrow is the day before the procedure. Can't wait!

A Surprising Prescription For A Common, Painful, Embarrassing Condition (And A Helpful Side Effect For Weight Loss)

I procrastinated writing this particular post because it covers a painful and embarrassing topic. But I learned some surprising information worth sharing because it will help a whole lot of people who suffer from hemorrhoids.

Quite frankly, I've put up with this ailment since I was pregnant more than 35 years ago.

Recently, I was driving for 5 and 6 hours a day. For some reason, they flared up to the point where sitting or standing became impossible. Plain and simple, I had a big pain in the butt. 

I ended up seeing a gastro surgeon. If you've never had kids or never had a butt exam, it is probably the single most embarrassing examination you'll ever have. That being said, this doc was real clear what I had to do as follows:

1. Take a tablespoon of Metamusil orange powder in a big glass of water every day forever.Why? Almost everyone in this world is constipated and that's the reason you have this condition.
2. Get a colonoscopy.
3. Make another appointment (with the gastro guy) after the colonoscopy. Surgery may be required.

Aside from the fact that step 2 is about as appealing as chinese water torture, this doctor has a major point - Americans do not have enough fiber in their diet. 

And there is an interesting side benefit to adding fiber to your diet (besides stopping the hemorrhoid pain) - 
it'll help you lose weight. 

The fact that fiber is an important element in your diet is one of the reasons that Dr. Mark Hyman includes a fiber powder (other than Metamusil) in his 10-day detox diet. The pieces of the puzzle are coming together!

So now I'm into investigating the role of fiber in the American diet . . .