Ok what is with this entry -- colonoscopies? That seems a bit gross?? Well the fact is-- blogs are supposed to be where you can share what is happening in your life and people can gain an insight of who you are and what is important to you. Here is one of my core values -- Never go anywhere without a clean and clear colon!!!
In 2002, I came down with a weird infection which attached itself to the outer wall of my colon. The net-net of that infection is that 18 inches of my colon had to be removed. God graciously brought me through the experience and in October 2002 I had a follow up colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is a procedure where a gastronrologist uses a camera (on the end of a long, flexible tube) to examine the inside of your colon looking for any abnormalities, especially cancerous polyps. Lets be mature...but the harsh reality about a colonoscopy is that the doctor send the camera via your butt!!! Ok I said it!!! Get over it! I know all the jokes... "all my problems are behind me!"
No matter how gross it maybe, the fact is colonoscopies save people's lives! 56,000 people in 2006 were spared from greater and fatal cancer issues because of early detection. The worst part of the procedure is the preparation when you have to drink 64 ounces of Gatoraid laced with a laxative! The aftermath is explosive -- it gets you in the end (sorry one of those jokes). But once you are cleaned out the actual advasive procedure is a piece of cake.
In my case, I stayed awake and watched on a TV screen what was happening. Dr. Rosenberg found two polyps and I watched him removed them! I will get the results in a week or two, but he is confident they are benign! However the rest of the colon is clean and clear! Praise the Lord. Just the way I like it!
Listen, our bodies are the "temple of the Holy Spirit" and when we can do something to avoid fatal outcomes we should take advantage of every medical opportunity. The really harsh fact is that colon cancer is a killer! You get it -- you die! Yet what is really sobering is that colon cancer is one of the ffew forms of cancer that can be avoided -- but it takes a colonoscopy.
If you are over 45..... your family has a history of cancer.... or you have had digestive tract problems.... you need to get a colonoscopy. Thanks Dr. R...your a life saver. See you in three years for a follow up -- hope you guys can invent an easier way to "clean out the premisies" -- if you know what I mean. But a little discomfort, leads to a boat load of peace.