crowdog66

I'm back home after the flexible sigmoidoscopy, which was actually pushed back two hours because the physician scheduled to do it got delayed on his hospital rounds. I'm still quite sore and crampy, but that's getting better as the air they pumped in continues to make its exit.

( Cut for medical information )

So, the upshot: my sigmoid colon is clear and healthy. It wasn't a day at the spa, that's for sure, but I'm glad I had it done because now I have peace of mind.

First up, some really cute photos from http://icanhascheezburger.com :

( Cats and chickens, oh my! )

And now the results of today's consultation:

( Cut for medical details )

There are risks to the procedure. In some cases the sigmoidoscopy can provoke uncontrolled bleeding of the bowel, and in roughly 1 in 2000 cases the procedure actually perforates the bowel, which means an immediate trip to the nearest hospital (which is literally five minutes away from the clinic) and surgery to close the tear. Naturally this has made me somewhat nervous, but to a degree that I find surprising. Perhaps my emotional reaction is being amplified by the fact that the clinic that the doctor's office is part of is one where I used to go with my mother, and being there made me feel both sad and regretful.

Oh, and on the way home from the clinic I stopped at the Bay to pick up some Folgers coffee, since we are right out. It's a hard brand to find around here and I was glad to see it on the shelf. The bad news: it cost me $8.99 for one kilogram, and that hurt a lot more than the doctor's finger, although I was left with roughly the same feeling.

I'm not sure what I'll do with the rest of the day since I'm having a very hard time concentrating, but I'll try to get some work done regardless.