u/lemonchrysoprase

Hi all! Here to share my success story!

Background: I’ve been posting in here for like 5 weeks now with extreme anxiety about the procedure. I have terrible health anxiety and I’m really afraid of medical procedures. I’m 39 and this was my first IV, first sedation, and first colonoscopy.

Prep: I did the low residue diet for 2 days first and then the prep day, so I was already passing mostly liquid by like the third BM on prep day, and that made it moderately easier. The Dulcolax I took first made me VERY nauseated, but I had already asked for some Zofran and they approved 3 doses for my prep day so I took one as soon as the nausea hit, and I didn’t need to use any more of them.

The MiraLAX was intense, but no nausea or cramping with it, just dozens of bathroom trips (I live in a tiny apartment, so couch to bathroom was mostly manageable each time). One time I was a little late and leaked a lot, but I’d been saving some absolutely destroyed ancient underwear for this occasion so I could just toss them 😂

My cat was very concerned with how often I was bolting to the toilet. I suspect she thought her primary source of food was dying. (/s)

Procedure: I was SO SCARED. SO TERRIFIED. I told everyone: nurse, tech, check-in lady, doc, student nurse who was just there to stock things. Everyone knew and I feel embarrassed about that now but they also were incredibly kind and VERY helpful. They had to stick me 3 times to get the IV and I was shaking by the end of that, so they covered me in several warm blankets and I felt a lot better. Told them I had a terrible headache by then so they got me some saline and it helped (and TIL I’m one of the people who can taste saline when it’s given in an IV, gross!).

Finally they wheeled me back for the procedure and explained it all again. Doc put on some soothing music. I’m not religious but I was doing a sort of half-prayer mentally like “please let me be okay” and then I remember thinking “please let my hands be warm. wait what? sorry Jesus or whoever I guess my meds are working now” and that was my last thought before I knocked out 😆 I did wake up once with a jolt from some pain, heard the doc say “a little more versed” an I was back out. Woke up in recovery with my partner laughing and telling me I was snoring and drooling. Got a gingerale and came home!

Results: No polyps!! They did a couple biopsies to check for ulcerative colitis as my dad has that. I’m currently eating a burger and milkshake and feeling proud of myself!

I’m still SO SCARED about the sedation; I’ve been scared for weeks and this week leading up to the procedure has been really awful for anxiety. But, my procedure is at 8am tomorrow and I’m doing it scared! (I’m 39, this is my first one.)

I’ve started step one of the prep, the 4 stool softeners. Haven’t gotten to the Mirilax(sp?) yet, that’s in 2 more hours. Already pooping my brains out so that should be “fun” 😅

Worst part for me right now is the nausea, but they gave me a couple zofran to get me through this since I have a history of being nauseated over basically everything lol, so the zofran is at least taking the edge off.

Anybody else prepping with me today??