The Dreaded Colonoscopy
When my husband Geoff and I started to ask around our Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) universe about colonoscopies, we were surprised by how few of our SCI friends had actually gone through the process. To say we know many folks in the SCI universe is an understatement. Now, I have a friend, Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, a leading Colorectal Cancer Specialist located at Dana Farber in Boston, MA, who had convinced me on ONE single chairlift ride that 45 was the new 50, and I booked my colonoscopy the following day. She also convinced me that the “easier” or “less invasive” process of sending away a sample of one’s poop would not do.
As Geoff’s colonoscopy grew closer, my anxiety reached all-new heights. What would the day before his procedure actually be like? Would both of us survive “THE PREP?” And to be honest, not only did very few of our friends have colonoscopies, but we could not find a whole lot online in our own research. We learned that until a few years ago, the prep was often done while admitted to the hospital. However, most regular insurance companies don’t want to pay for that anymore. So, I’m curious as to whether an entire population of those of us in our 40s, 50s, and 60s are avoiding the procedure altogether because when you can’t feel when you are going to poop (or, more specifically, diarrhea), I can understand the fear and panic of the dreaded prep.
I waffled between covering our whole home in sheets of plastic or just our bathroom. You should laugh at this image because we certainly laughed a lot in the weeks leading up to the big day. Several years ago, Geoff contracted a parasite, and it was by far the worst (nonlife or death) medical challenge we had faced as a married couple. He literally pooped every time he transferred for three straight days, and then it took another three before the medication really kicked in. Due to my poop-induced trauma (and attempt to avoid a repeat at all costs), I decided it was worth reaching out to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and Nurse Linda, especially as she is someone whose column we have followed closely over the years.
A senior Information Specialist named Donna Lovitch responded in a very timely fashion with the following links because we are encouraging you to get a colonoscopy if you are 45 years old and have not done so yet. Colonoscopies save lives, and your life matters to the many people who love you. They will support you through the “crappy” part of this experience.
Join Our Movement
What started as an idea has become a national movement. With your support, we can influence policy and inspire lasting change.
Become an Advocate
Even as a regular contributor for the Reeve Foundation for eight years now, there is always more we can learn and, more importantly, more we can share with the SCI community. Honestly, I’m here to tell you that it wasn’t that bad. We were armed with information and plenty of pee pads and plastic sheets, most of which were not needed at all. While everyone’s situation is different, we are happy to share what worked for us. He took the over-the-counter laxatives as prescribed. After two hours, he got on the toilet for about 30 minutes. In another hour he got back on the toilet. This continued through the other part of the prep, drinking the Miralax and Gatorade, etc. He had one tiny accident while sleeping, but it was truly not a big deal. We arrived at the hospital bright and early the next morning, and his team of doctors and nurses was excellent. And the good news was that he showed no signs of cancer or polyps of any kind. They recommended another one in 10 years.
Who knows where we will be by then in terms of medical technology? Now, go get your colonoscopy!