Colonoscopy: More information

I completed my routine colonoscopy yesterday, the results were good.

I learned more about the procedure yesterday and thought I'd share that in case someone else was as confused by the description as I was.

The prep directions call for you to take some form of liquid or pills to stimulate your bowls to void the colon of everything. You have to fast for a day so you aren't adding to the task. I think that process is completely understood.

What confused me was the term "clear." The term clear is used in describing the output from your colon as you use the laxative cleansers. To me clear means water clear, I mean that you can see through, like from a tap. Not so. clear to the medical community means tan, light brown but free from suspended solids, water like. Well now that I have a better understanding I should be able in the future to better control the outcome of my part of the process.

Yesterday my output was like water, but it was dark brown in color and I could see what I would call suspended solids in the fluid. However it was running close to the time of the procedure and I was afraid to take anymore because my system gets unhappy with the laxative and will extend the time immeasurably. As a result the GI Guy rated my prep as poor. He knows what I've gone through and he went ahead an back flushed a lot and took longer than normal to get a good look. He was able to see all the way to the cecum and everything was normal. He did take a biopsy of the anastomosis (surgery resection joint) just to be sure because that is where the tumor recurred two and half years ago. I was grateful for his time and his attention to detail.

In the future however, I shall begin earlier so the night before I can take the third dose. The normal procedure calls for two doses, but I don't tolerate the bulk of material I have to ingest and get violently sick to my stomach. By reducing the dose but extending the time I made it without any ill effects but did not really get a good prep. Next time I'll have a plan for better carrying off my part of the procedure.