Dads Health: The Colonoscopy

Learn the latest on Mens health topics and tips for Dads between the ages of 35 and up. Fitness for Dads articles focus on Mens Health, Diet and Exercise programs that will help keep Dads in the best shape of their lives. This month, our editor shares his Colonoscopy experience. Read more.

Dads Health: The Colonoscopy

Learn the latest on men’s health topics and tips for Dads
between the ages of 35 and up. Fitness for Dads articles focus on Men’s Health,
Diet and Exercise programs that will help keep Dads in the best shape of their
lives. This month, our editor shares his Colonoscopy experience. Read more.

Dads Health: The
Colonoscopy

No matter what age you are, every man has that point in
their health where their doctor will prescribe a colonoscopy. As I approached
my annual physical, I had that moment with my doctor and I wanted to share my
experience with every Dad out there in hopes of making a positive difference in
our Dad Health.

The following paragraphs outline the steps I took before,
during, and after my colonoscopy and
I am here alive and well to encourage every Dad out there to make the
effort and get your colonoscopy scheduled with your doctor.

Step 1: The Prep Time

After my initial visit to my doctor, you would think there
were very few things to think about or to remember, right? Well. I am here to
tell you that there are a lot of things to think about when planning your
colonoscopy. First stage is making sure you have made adequate time in your
schedule. My doctor made me aware that I needed to be driven home after the
procedure and I could not go back to work or operate a motor vehicle for
24-hours. Translation: skip your afternoon going back to work and plan on
working from home the next day.

This procedure requires anesthesia and you will be a bit
groggy, sore and bloated in your mid section so plan on spending the rest of
the day at home blaming your dog for all the gas you will be farting. Now, I am
not a doctor; but as a patient, my experience was that I had a tube in my body
that is designed to probe and that tube created enough air to keep me gassy for
the rest of the day.

A Couple things to know about your "prep time"

• Schedule your procedure on a Monday. Why?
  Because you want to get this done at the beginning of the week and not
  interfere with the rest of your workweek. It’s already hard enough to take a
  day off so make sure you get a someone to drop you off and pick you up after
  your procedure.
• Read the directions given to you about your diet
  TWO DAYS BEFORE your procedure. It is very specific to the types of foods, and
  the food colors on what you can
  and cannot eat. There is a required FASTING period for 24-hours before your
  scheduled procedure and I strongly recommend to follow your doctor’s orders and
  do not vary from the instructions given.
• Get plenty of TP and wipes for your toilet time.
  You are going to spend at least a majority of the day-before your procedure in
  the bathroom

Key Equipment:

• Generous supply of Toilet Paper
• Cottenelle Wipes (I will explain later)

Step 2: The First 24-
Hours

Your doctor will prescribe to you a powder that will help
"clean out" your bowels. The product I used was called, "Movie Prep" and it was
like a laxative reaction on steroids.
In my doctor’s handout, they recommended to combine this powdered mixture
with lemonade flavored, Crystal-Lite. The powder mixed right in and I was
required to drink the first half of 2-litres of this combination within a
required time of 45-minutes.

During my first dosage, I could hear my stomach "grumbling"
in a way that I can tell that the "storm" was rolling in soon. No more than
15-minutes after my first consumption of "Movie Prep" my body was ready to
release… And Release I did!

The second half, (another 1-liter consumption) of the Movie
Prep was much easier because there was very little left in me. In fact, do not
be alarmed if the only thing coming out of you is clear to slightly yellow
liquid. I called it, "Pooping Pee" because that was exactly the color leaving
my body.

Despite the rules of having no solid foods for 24-hours
prior to my procedure, I don’t think I missed much because I was too busy
staying close to my bathroom. The key to my success was keeping myself hydrated
and using Cottenelle Wipes as a toilet paper substitute. There comes a time
during the first 24-hours that even the softest toilet paper feels like
sandpaper. I used the Cottenelle wipes and I know it made a huge difference in
my level of comfort.

Step 3: Day of
Procedure

Just as I recommended, I had an early procedure Monday
morning. I had my wife drop me off and pick me up after my procedure. The
actual medical treatment was but a blur. The Physicians Assistant greeted me
and went over all the items that were handed to me the week before. I confirmed
that I had followed all required steps and was wheeled into the OR.

Lying on my side in a "bicycle position" I was greeted by
two lovely women, one of them was my anesthesiologist who gave me the run down
on what to expect over the course of an hour and a half. I smiled and pretended
that I was listening and started my counting backwards as instructed; " 10, 9,
8…. " I never got to seven.

I woke up in a room, was greeted by my doctor who handed me
a group of color photos of my colon and said, "Thank you for making my morning;
you had the best results thus far today. You have no pallups, your colon is in
great shape, I don’t need to see you for another 10-years unless you discover
any signs of problems… take care."

Got a Question about Your Dad Health, Diet or Fitness?

If you have a
suggestion or question about your Dad Health, Fitness or Diet; please send us
an email to: Rj@SingeDad.com Your name and
privacy will be protected and we may offer to post your particular topic on
FitnessForDads