So the time has come for another colonosocopy. A real look inside my insides if you like. It’s one of those tests that I think most people dread. For the most part you wouldn’t need to do it until you hit 50 years old, but in my case I will probably have one yearly for a while.
It is actually a little easier for me because I have the ostomy so access is easier and there is less colon to check out. File that under ‘silver lining’ of ostomy surgery.
Kidding aside, the colonoscopy is a great tool to help prevent colon cancer. The thing is during a colonscopy they are looking for polyps in the colon. It usually takes a polyp 10 to 15 years to become cancerous. By screening they can be found before they turn into cancer and be removed.
Removing a polyp is done during the colonoscopy so you only have the one procedure. A new test has been created called the virtual colonoscopy or CT colonography. It might be a good option for those people a bit squeamish about, you know, having a camera inserted into their colon. No sedative is needed because everything is done externally. The disadvantage is that if a polyp is found, another procedure will have to be done to remove it. The majority of colonoscopies are clear so the odds are in your favor. The risk of complications from a traditional colonoscopy are eliminated. You will still need to have air injected into the colon to get a clear image of the insides.
In either case you need to prep for the test which means you need to take some heavy duty laxative the day before to flush out your system. It is probably the most unpleasant part of the who procedure. Billy Connolly had something to say about it.
Regardless, you should not fear the colonoscopy. In the end it could protect you from having to deal with cancer and I can tell you it would be so worth it!