!Hello Book Dragons. I just wanted to give you all a heads up about something that MUST be changed for all health purposes. This may get TMI, but to be honest, what I experienced after the procedure is not something I want anyone else to suffer through. I’m still human, so this a human interest story.
Since I was little, I’ve had gastronomic issues. It finally got to the point where the issues became too extreme for me because no matter what medicine I took, they became worse. So, I talked to a gastroenterologist last year, and it was advised that have both an endoscopy and colonoscopy procedure on the same day. That was yesterday: July 14, 2026.
The endoscopy doesn’t require anything special. However, colonoscopy prep requires 3 days prior to eat a special diet (mostly white), and 1 day prior a full liquid diet, along with a special medicinal drink that you either receive in a ‘gallon’ sized, or the one I had. Mine was called “Suprep”, and it came with two 6oz. of medicinal drinks that I had to pour into a 16oz. cup and dilute it with water up to the line. This had to be followed up with two 16oz. water within the next hour. To put it bluntly, imagine having to drink a cherry flavored 16oz. Tussin medicine, followed with a very strange aftertaste. I took several sips at a time as advised so the medicine doesn’t cause a lot of side effects. It made me very ill and nauseated. However, it did its job. I took the second dosage about 6hrs later. It made me so nauseated I couldn’t finish the last little bit. The whole point is to clean out the colon in its entirety until your bowels are CLEAR. Otherwise, the colonoscopy can’t be proceed.
TIP: If you’re getting this procedure, don’t plan anything the day prior because you’ll be using the bathroom consistently. Take off of work for at least 3-4 days. Everyone is different.
My father took me down to the medical center, and I got prepped. Unfortunately, I now a pinched nerve that’s affecting my entire left arm. For this procedure, they make you lay down on your left side, so they were very careful not to cause me more pain. They placed the mouth guard inside my mouth, and put in oxygen mask over me. They then injected me with the medicine. Within a few seconds, everything became blurry, and I passed out.
This ‘cat nap’ seemed longer than usual. But, the procedure went without a hitch. The specialist came to me and said its a good I came in. In the summary, they found 4 polyps in the stomach, and 4 in the colon. A polyp is like a cyst: they could be benign or they could be cancerous. They ‘clipped’ one polyp, almost half an inch in size, and sent it off for pathology. They don’t usually cauterize it unless there’s excessive bleeding. Then, then gave me after-care instructions, and what to watch out for.
**WARNING: One of the side effects is ‘excessive bleeding, black tarry stools, and blood clots’.
I got home, and was required to eat light for the rest of the day. After that I should be fine. I went to the bathroom, and I felt something slip out. I looked down, and I saw a stream of blood. I started freaking out. I called the physician’s office, and I was informed they’d call me later for a follow up. I went a second time. This time, I felt something more slip, and looked down. It was a BLOODBATH! My mother came in, and I was hysterical. I haven’t seen that much blood since my last ‘mensie’ in 2022 before I had a partial hysterectomy. The very sight of blood retraumatizes me every time. I called the doctor’s office, and I demanded they expedite the message to get a hold of the doctor. He called me a few minutes later, we discussed the symptoms. He didn’t cauterize the polyp because they usually heal on their own. But, there could be a cut from clipping it, or it could be caused by rectal hemorrhoids. I had two inner ones, but they’re so small, they shouldn’t cause that excessive bleeding. He said if it continues to happen, then there’s a problem, and I need to go to the ER for evaluation, and it may require another colonoscopy so they can see and cauterize whatever’s causing the issue. We’d keep each posted, but this book dragon was STEAMING! WHY DON’T THEY CAUTERIZE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE????
About 2hrs later, I went to the bathroom again, and this time, I saw 3 blood clots emerge, but nothing excessive. So, mom took a picture of it, and so far, I haven’t a had to go the bathroom. I’ve taken this week off for any side effects, and will go to the ER if I see it again. Pray I don’t!
**WHAT YOU NEED TO YOU TELL THE PHYSICIAN: CAUTERIZE THE AREA IF THEY CLIP THE POLYP(S). I DON’T CARE HOW SMALL OR BIG THE POLYP IT! YOU DON’T WANT EXCESSIVE BLEEDING SO YOU WON’T END UP IN THE ER! DEMAND IT OR WALK AWAY!
I will keep you all posted!
Becca B. | The Book Dragon 