February 25, 2026
After my recent scare that I might be having a heartattack (I wasn’t.), the hospital doctor who looked after me, set up various appointments with other doctors.
Since I had a local Gastroenterologist, I went to see him on Wednesday (February 18). The doctor discussed medical routes we could try. I chose to have an endoscopy and a colonoscopy at the same time. There was concern that the stomach acid could have caused problems with my lower GI and that was the reason for the pain in my side. The doctor did believe the pain in my side was more likely to be from the gallbladder, but wanted to be sure.
The doctor’s office was able to get me scheduled for the procedures on Tuesday (February 24).
I got the test results the same day as the procedures. Everything looked good, so no damage was done during the stomach acid eruption.
Now, if you don’t want to read commentary and jokes about the prep for a colonoscopy, do not read past the image below.
The story of Reiko’s poopocalypes from Reiko’s Journey hit very close to home, except in a more controlled way.
I could at least sit on the toilet while having my very own poolocalypes.
The day before the procedure (Monday), I drank half the laxative mixture at 5:00 pm. I woke up at 3:30 am with the start of the poop cascades. I had to start drinking the rest of the laxative mixture at 4:00 am.
Oh, the joy of having to drink 8 ounces of the laxative mixture every 15 minutes between dashes to the toilet. I considered taking the laxative mixture into the bathroom and sitting in the toilet while sipping it. In the end, that seemed too gross to actually do, even if it would’ve made things easier. A couple of times, I was afraid I might experience the poopocalypes the same way Reiko did.
Oh, the relief when I finished drinking the rest of the laxative mixture. No more desperately trying to make it to the toilet! I could just sit on the throne and let the poop cascades roll out in waves.
While my current instructions didn’t mention taking a shower before my procedures, in the past, the instructions did.
I thought the clearing out was complete and got into the shower. I was soaped up, only to have my system let me know I was not done.
Soap and all, I barely made it to the toilet. Oh, the flood that poured out!
This caused me to worry that I might have an issue on the way to the procedures. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
On the way home from the procedures, I was not feeling well and about five minutes from the house, I had Bruce pull over. I got out and threw up. Somehow, this triggered my lower system as well. I was mortified. I decided to add that experience to the misery of the whole process.
I was relieved to get home, get cleaned up, and get changed. I was able to sleep for a bit, then woke to an urgent need for the toilet. This continued through the day.
I did not sleep much on Tuesday night as I was afraid each gas passing might include an extra gift. I was right to be afraid, very afraid.
It felt like I went through an entire roll of toilet paper during this experience.
After 2:00 am, my system settled down and I was able to get some sleep.
No more poop cascades!
Blackberry Homestead 
Oh my gosh, I’m surprised that your body had anything left in it to bother you on the way home!
The happy news is that you are healthy and didn’t suffer any harm from incident with the acid. I’m grateful for that.
(Once, when discovering a food allergy, I went through a whole roll of TP in on night. You have my sympathy! 😂)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sorry you had to go through such an ordeal.
So was I. When I had colonoscopies before, I didn’t have that problem. I did read on the internet on one of the actual medical sites, that it can take 12 to 24 hours for your system to recover after the end of prep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! You went through the wringer and then some! What an awful experience!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was! I’ve had colonoscopies before and never had such problems afterwards.
LikeLike
Yikes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sums it up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, how I can relate. As a colorectal cancer survivor, colonoscopies are, and will always be, a way of life and you know what? The experience never improves. Practice, in this instance, does NOT make perfect. What makes it worse is that everybody thinks it’s hilarious when it’s someone else’s turn. Just try to get some sympathy and make it through without a single joke, I dare you. The only good part is the drugs they give before the procedure. Nothing like a little taste of Versed and Fentanyl or Propofol for a really good nap. My fave experience was being a smart aleck as I got on the table for the ‘scope and the nurse asked if I was fully aware of why I was there. I said yes but it all seemed a bit extreme for a simple teeth whitening. The doctor never missed a beat as he replied, “Don’t worry, we can easily get to there from here.” Then my lights went out. I feel your pain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are correct, there is very little sympathy for having a colonoscopy. You have to be able to laugh along with them. After all, they’ve had one as well.
Your story of Reiko inspired me to write that crude, silly bit.
Bruce is also a survivor of colon cancer, he was diagnosed right before his 42nd birthday. He claimed it was the worst birthday present ever. It took nine months for the medical system to diagnose a tumour that was completely blocking his colon. That tumour blockage alone could have killed him. Once they found it, he had to get surgery right away. Colonoscopies are a way of life for him as well.
LikeLike
Oh, wow! This is quite the ordeal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, it was. My last colonoscopy was not this bad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad that this is all over and they did not find anything wrong (although that did not help finding what caused your earlier pain incident). I have a terrible time drinking all the nasty tasting liquid for the colonoscopy prep (it tastes so bad and it is tooo much liquid), including the ginormous amounts of gatorade. The last two times I had colonoscopies I threw up about 1/2 of it. And I have had the poo disasters also. Not fun and always a relief to be done with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Drinking so much liquid is so hard. I felt so sick and I kept thinking I was going to throw up during the first round. I got a ginger ale after about an hour and even though it was more liquid, it took care of the nausea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you powered through the poopocalypes. There’s nothing more humbling than a colonoscopy. The before (drinking all that vile prep drink) as well as the after (which you kindly described in detail). At the Kaiser location in Denver where I did mine, they cheer when people farted and encourage each and every one of the patients to ‘let ‘er ripe.’
P. S. Thank you for swinging by the Ranch and for the follow. We 💙 visitors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My first colonoscopy was in Red Rocks Surgery Center in Golden, Colorado. They did the same there.
I look forward to following you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, you’re too kind. We look forward to your adventures.
LikeLiked by 1 person