OK.  I hadn’t planned on blogging about my first colonoscopy, as I put it in the TMI category (too much information!).  However, after it was over, I put aside any potential embarrassment, and wanted to share my positive experience with you.  My intention is to help dispel a few of the myths about this being a horrific, dreaded procedure, and, for those of you out there who are avoiding a colonoscopy, maybe even help save a few lives.

First off, I want to thank my amazing hydro therapist and dear friend for suggesting an alternative to the standard, harsh laxative (magnesium citrate) recommended for the night before this procedure.  The instructions the hospital gave me said “Be sure to have easy access to a bathroom.”  You may have heard horror stories, as I did, from your friend who ended up napping on the floor of the bathroom all night in between the urgent need for “access”, and was exhausted and suffering from severe cramps the next morning.  Others I spoke to didn’t seem to have been all that challenged by the laxative, but I didn’t want to take any chances.  As I am already a big fan of the many benefits of colonics, it made more sense to me to go this route.

So now it is the day before my examination.  In big letters on the instructions sheet it says “NO SOLID FOODS.”  Again, my hydro therapist came to the rescue, as she agreed with me that “green smoothies” would be OK to have, along with water and herbal tea.  She was the one who introduced me to green smoothies 2 years ago and to my beloved VitaMix blender which liquefies whole, fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens that taste great and make me feel fantastic.  My favorite recipe; 1 apple, 1 cup of grapes, 1 leaf of Swiss chard, 1 leaf of collard greens, 1 leaf of kale, 1 tablespoon of flax seed, and 1 tablespoon of Mila.  No, really.  It does taste great, and it works well to help fast without getting the hungry horrors.  That afternoon was colonic #1 to start the cleansing process, lots of water, and another green smoothie.  I also used Herbal Fiberblend, starting several days before, in the morning and before I went to bed each night.

The next morning before the examination, was colonic #2 to complete the cleanse.  In combination with the fasting, I was feeling quite euphoric after that.  My sister dropped me off at the hospital GI Unit, and I was calm, relaxed and oh-so-clean.  The waiting room had a great sign at the reception desk, “Please respect the people who are fasting.  Do not bring food or drinks into this area.”  After a day and a half without solid food and three hours without liquids, this was much appreciated!  They called my name and a cheerful nurse led me into the procedure room.  I changed into a “lovely” hospital gown.  She returned, explained what was going to happen, and put an IV into a vein in my hand.  The doctor came in, introduced himself, put his hand on my shoulder and was sincerely reassuring.  The nurse started the sedation IV for a drug induced sleep, which, according to the documentation I had been given, was Demerol or Fentanyl for discomfort and Versed for anxiety.  The next thing I remember is waking up in a recovery room, with another cheerful nurse giving me apple juice and graham crackers, and aside from some definite spaciness and minor gaseous discomfort, I felt fine.  My sister picked me up, took me home, and served me a delicious lunch, and, after a nice nap, that was it.  The test I had put off, fretted over, and imagined into this huge and difficult thing was over!  Nothing to it.  Easy breezy…

With love and relief,

Coach Cecily

colonics · colonoscopy · green smoothies