Thursday, August 8, 2013

Writer's Block

Yo.

Yup, I'm still here. Still alive.

The Chemo Tunnel last week was about the same, but of course as I was emerging from it this thing had one more obstacle to throw at me.

Serious and unrelenting constipation. As in 10 days' worth. To the point that by Saturday my stomach was so compressed it was a challenge even to put a few milliliters of liquid medicine in it.

The doctors kept escalating the laxatives until I was up to magnesium citrate, which is one step short of colonoscopy prep.

Nada. No result.

Well, some burbling noises. But that was it.

Since I could barely get in medicines, I clearly couldn't get in food. So I hadn't fed since Saturday.

I was getting desperate. And very unhappy.

Finally the team decided to go the full colonoscopy prep route and my gut had made enough room that I was able to get it in over an hour or so.

If you're not old enough to have had the pleasure of a colonoscopy yet, the prep involves drinking a gallon of solution containing a high concentration of salt. The salt draws tons of moisture to your colon from the rest of your body. The result is a completely washed out colon. Gives the gastroenterologist the clearest view.

There's no cramping, which was always my biggest fear. Only the weird sensation of peeing out your butt.

[Public Service Announcement: If you are over 50 and haven't had a colonoscopy yet - DO IT! NOW! It is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be, and it is the only test you can have where afterward the doctor can say "I guarantee you do not have colon cancer and will not have it for at least 5-10 years."]

Anyway, that worked.

Halleluja!

Now I'm trying to regain strength. I've lost 18 pounds since treatment began, but half of that was in the past few days while not feeding.

When I regain more strength I'll get back to writing. Hopefully tomorrow.

Oh, by the way: today was my last day of treatment.

1 comment:

  1. Glad to hear from you again. My favorite title!

    ReplyDelete