Another colonoscopy experience post (w/timeline) from someone with medical anxiety

I found posts like these helpful in the weeks before my scope (no matter how many I read), so I figured I would create one. I am a 46M with lifelong medical anxiety, hypochondria, catastrophizing, and a history of avoiding preventative care. The TL;DR is there was nothing to be worried about here, and I’m grateful that we have such an easy method for preventing a massive health problem.

Prep Timeline:

Day before @ 6pm: Started first dose of generic Suprep

6:10: Finished first bottle (kept chilled, poured over ice, chased each gulp with Gatorade - made it super doable)

6:25: Finished 32 Oz of follow-up water

6:45: First trip to restroom (stomach was making crazy gurgling sounds to let me know)

6:45 - 9:00: Trips continued every 10-15ish minutes (never had explosive/super urgent episodes. Just knew I needed to go. Did not trust farts. Watched Nirvanna the band the show the movie while doing the work)

9:15: Went to bed

3:30: Woke up, visited restroom, and started round 2

3:45: Finished second bottle of suprep (second was marginally harder but still less awful than expected)

4:00: Finished 32 Oz follow-up water

4:15: Back to the toilet (went more often and for longer this time)

5:30: Movements started looking like urine

6:00: Had last drink of fluids (ginger ale)

6:30: Movements started looking basically clear

7:20: Things start slowing down

7:50: Everything is chill enough that I felt good about taking a shower

8:15: Left for surgery center

Procedure Timeline:

8:35: Arrival/checkin

8:40: Nurse took me back (visited restroom for last time, got changed, got IV in)

8:55: Wife came back and we shot the shit, watching stupid YouTube videos

9:25: Anaesthesiologist came and talked to me

10:05: Wheeled to OR

10:10: Last time I remember looking at the clock before propofol knocked me out, mid sentence

10:35: Came to like nothing had happened. Felt a little groggy but basically awesome.

10:40: Nurse said two small polyps were removed (she didn’t know sizes), but the surgeon didn’t think anything looked suspicious and didn’t need to talk to me. Said I’d probably be back in 5 years.

10:55: Headed to the car to go get the best breakfast burrito I’ve ever eaten in my life.

12:30: Naptime

2:15: Woke up feeling totally normal. Got on with my life.

Observations/Reflections:

This ended up being one of the easiest procedures I’ve ever had.

No part of it was especially pleasant, but it wasn’t anywhere near how awful/scary I had built it up to be.

Prep was gross, but keeping it cold, breathing through my mouth, and using a Gatorade or ginger ale chaser basically negated the yuck factor.

Your butt will get irritated by the end. Buy some flushable wipes.

I was a ninny that asked a lot of questions about complications (e.g. colon perforation). My nurse said she has worked there for 10 years, doing 30 per day and seen one bowel perforation (with a frail, elderly woman who was probably too old for the procedure to begin with). The surgeon’s exact words to me were “You have more risk driving to the procedure than you do undergoing it.”

Seriously, I’m SO ANXIOUS when it comes to medical stuff, and I always assume worst case scenario, and I’m telling you this is no big deal. If it’s this easy to prevent cancer, there’s no reason not to do it. You’ve got this!