Colonoscopy

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Colon cancer is one of the top cancer diseases in Singapore citizens.  Reasons include insufficient intake of fiber (fruits and vegetable), plus other unhealthy habits.  Those above the age of 50 are encouraged to go for screening/colonoscopy.  Briefly list the process here for your info.

Few days prior to procedure (colonoscopy) : Bowel preparation starts.  Follow the diet given by the doctor.  This is to ensure the colon is clean for the doctor to scan.

Evening before procedure (my procedure was 10.30 am next day): Take a few types of medicine for the purging of the colon.  No more food allowed after 7.00 pm.  Needed to dilute the three packets of FORTRANS in 3L of water and drink 250ml every 15 minutes.  The taste was salty but bearable. No more drinks allowed after midnight.

7.30 - 11.30 pm : Need to keep going to the toilet every 15 minutes or so.  Hence, do not go out after drinking those medicine. Let the colon purge until we do not see any more solid particles in what comes out.  The liquid should be clear yellowish about 1 hour after your last intake of the medicine.

11.30 pm to 6.30 am next morning : Have a good sleep.

6.30 - 8.00 am : Purged two more times.  Showered.

8.30 am : Admission registration at hospital

10.00 am : Changed into hospital gown

10.15 am : Wheeled to waiting area and then to procedure room

10.32 am : Anesthesiologist spoke with me.  Put the peripheral venous catheter onto my hand.  Colonoscopy Doctor came in soon after. Spoke with me too.  

10.35 am : Anesthesiologist started to pump sedation medicine into the catheter. There was pain at the inlet area and he said it is normal and kept stroking my hand.  I asked him whether the medicine is continuous and he replied yes.  He asked me to count from 1 to 100.  I remember counting up to about 8, and blanked out after that.

11.40 am (approx) : When I woke up, I was on my bed being wheeled to the observation area.  I was quite awake and alert very fast actually.  (Once the sedation is removed, patient will wake up after 5-10 minutes.)

12.10 pm (approx) : Wheeled back to my room.  Nurse spoke with me, and checked my blood pressure and temperature.

12.30 pm : Lunch came.  I chose simple toasted bread with Milo.

12.50 pm : Got out of bed, went to the toilet.  Took my phone out of the locker after that, and took this picture (see pic).

1.05 pm : Doctor came, spoke with me.  Told me I can be discharged, and to see him for review the following week.

1.25 pm : Nurse came, again spoke with me, and then removed the catheter.

1.35 pm : Discharged

2.00 pm : Home Sweet Home.

Information on Colonoscopy (Do note that the bowel preparation, diet and procedure may differ slightly from doctor to doctor)

Moral of the story : Eat sufficient fruits and vegetable to have good colon health.

By the way, my colon is clean.  Doctor advised me to get the colon checked again in 5 years' time.




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