#3 Jun 25^th

9 a.m. and my tummy feels so empty, and I’m really quite nervous about this.   Mike is supportive, but he doesn’t know what he can do for me, if anything.  I get dressed in the sexy open back gown and lay down on the appointed stretcher.  The staff here are kind-spoken, which helps a lot, and I receive an I.V. for the promised sedative.  Tick, tick, tick, it seems like a lot of waiting, but finally it’s my turn.  They wheel me into the procedure room, and there’s that overhead monitor again!

An I.V. is started, the tube is inserted and this time navigated by yet another tech.  A nice, pristine white colon is on screen.  Good job Judith!  Inch by inch they proceed and then they inject some air.  Ooops, I felt that.  In goes more sedative; aahh, that’s better.  Take a picture here, stop and examine something else there - this is a breeze!  I feel no pressure with the drugs in my veins, so I say, “Have at it, no issues with me!  I’m feeling fine.”

We go past the mutant polyp then up across the top of the intestine and down the other side.  Nothing much to see, just lots of folds and wrinkles.  Now the fun begins.  They backtrack to the site of interest and take more pictures.  Then this little metal loop comes out of the end of the rubber tube and lassoes that wiggling, jiggling mass.  Next thing I know the errant polyp is being removed from my body and imprisoned in a little labelled jar.  We go on to the next one.  It’s a bit smaller and not at all colourful, but they snare it as well and into the jar it goes.  This continues a couple of times more on small white bumps of interest.  Did I mention how thankful I am that the colon has no pain receptors?  The metal loop actually uses electricity to burn off the tissue and cauterize the wound.  Now that is really kind of neat!  A few minutes later I get dressed. Done!