Well, that was fun.
Had my colonoscopy this morning. This was a routine check-in, since it had been over 10 years since my last (thankfully having been in remission for nearly the entire time). I went into it resigned but not particularly stressed; sure it's not exactly FUN, but it's never been more than a hassle, honestly.
I've had a number of different prep methods - pills, liquids of varying quantities, and disgustingness, etc. I think I actually only did the pills once or twice and then they fell out of favor. But I don't remember the liquid being this plentiful or disgusting since my very first one. It's a gallon (~4L) jug with the powder already in it; you add the water and a teensy "flavor packet" (which is nearly useless) and refrigerate the stuff, then take a glassful every 10-15 mins the night before until it's gone or you're cleaned out, whichever happens first. And while that's never fun, I honestly don't remember having THAT much trouble with it. But this time, I really struggled to down the stuff. It makes water ... thicker, plus the weird flavor, and the combined effect was just nauseating. I managed to keep to the schedule for over an hour (and it takes more than that for it to even *start* having an effect) but then I started slipping because I just couldn't do it anymore. I deliberately keep to a light diet for a couple of days before this point (plus the day of clear liquids right before) because the less that's in your system to begin with, the faster the cleanout goes and the sooner you can stop taking the horrible prep stuff. But it didn't seem to be working as well as it could - I mean, not to be TMI, but I was in the bathroom, but I never seemed to get to the point of complete clean-out, and I confess I eventually gave up because I just couldn't stomach any more of the prep solution (also, by then it was after 11p and nothing is allowed after midnight).
But, ok, I went in, hoped for the best. Alas, when I came out of anaesthesia, I was told that it wasn't cleared enough, they could only see half the colon, and I get to do this again next year! The nurse said that there's a 2-day prep process I could do which ... all I can say is, I hope they give me a different prep solution to try because I really do not think I could stomach that again. I've managed just fine before with whatever vile substances they've given me, but this was just one step too vile.
Also, to make this process even less of a picnic, I'm STILL experiencing effects from the prep stuff, which has never happened before in terms of post-procedure. I'm still so full of pumped-in air, I'm only barely hungry, and just ... I'm annoyed. This was my 6th colonoscopy, and for all of the other 5, I came out of it going, *shrug* That honestly wasn't so bad. And this time was different. I don't know why. But I'm ticked.
AND, to top it all off. I got my period on Sunday.
Moving on.
I've been collecting a number of links in the past week, so in no particular order:
Double chocolate banana bread. This is the second time I've made this, and it's just as amazing as the first time. *snarfs entire loaf*
Butterbeer marshmallows. Damn, they're expensive, but I'm sooooo tempted. (Oh, man, they also have Kaluha coffee marshmallows, Nutella marshmallows and, for the Dr Mcoy fans out there: bourbon marshmallows.)
And speaking of HP Pottery Barn has a new Harry Potter collection. Some cute stuff there.
Really cool Targaryen family tree, created by a DeviantArtist.
In other news ... there really hasn't been a lot of news. Still getting back into the swing of school, which is to say we're all permanently exhausted as we readjust to getting up at the ass-crack of dawn again. I did attend the high school's Back to School night last week, which was good. Will wasn't able to attend, as he was helping his younger brother/wife finally (FINALLY) get their tons of crap out of the basement. But that also meant I was free to take all the front-row desks that none of the other parents (nor my own husband) want to sit in. The teachers get all of 8 minutes to talk, so it's a bit of a rush, but I did get the gist of all MiniPlu's classes and introduced myself to all her teachers. I liked them all (including the lone teacher MiniPlu hasn't met yet - next term's US History Honors teacher), although the Chem situation is ... interesting.
This is the lone class where MiniPlu has two teachers; a main teacher and an assistant. I'm not even sure any of the other chem teachers have an assistant, but this guy does. (MiniPlu says they don't like each other, but they've worked together for years so ... I dunno.) And you couldn't find two men more different if you tried. Well, except for the fact that both of them are interested in chemistry and both worked in more "applied" fields for quite some time before switching to teaching. The main teacher, Mr K, was a chem engineer for 35 years, and the assistant, Mr R, did the chemistry behind his family's baking company. Or something like that? Anyway, Mr K somehow reminded me of the Millionaire from Gilligan's Island: navy sport coat, striped button-down, khaki pants, your basic stuffed shirt attitude. Mr R looks like one of the boys from Grease 40 years down the road: lean, weathered build, subdued Greaser pompadour, long sideburns, untucked shirt, casual pants, Jersey accent. It was like looking at the Odd Couple come to life. MiniPlu says whenever Mr K heads to the back of the room or steps out to work on something else, leaving Mr R to review in his absence, Mr R is always giving out hints as to how to cope with oddly-worded questions, or topics they must absolutely review or ways to phrase things to satisfy Mr K's pickiness or something, and he's apparently hilarious in the process.
But, seriously, they're like the Odd Couple of Chemistry.
I always feel a little weird when I introduce myself to the teachers; I hate describing MiniPlu as "the Asian girl" but I figure that since these teachers see a million kids per day and school's only been in session 8 days (as of Back to School night), it's a quick way for them to bring up an image of my kid, since there are hardly any Asians at the school (and obviously, divided by 4 grades, even fewer per grade). The Chem teacher still managed to get MiniPlu mixed up with someone else, because after I introduced myself he said something about how she had emailed him to ask for some document that he'd refused to provide, and I had no idea what he was talking about. And neither did MiniPlu. I think there's another [MiniPlu's name] in her year, and even if that one isn't in her block class, it's possible maybe he mentally switched them? (I don't think I mentioned the Asian thing when I shook his hand - he jumped to the "document" remark before I could get in another word.)
Ugh, still feel like an over-inflated balloon. Going to walk the dog and see if I can get it to shift. Stupid Crohn's, stupid colonoscopies.
I've had a number of different prep methods - pills, liquids of varying quantities, and disgustingness, etc. I think I actually only did the pills once or twice and then they fell out of favor. But I don't remember the liquid being this plentiful or disgusting since my very first one. It's a gallon (~4L) jug with the powder already in it; you add the water and a teensy "flavor packet" (which is nearly useless) and refrigerate the stuff, then take a glassful every 10-15 mins the night before until it's gone or you're cleaned out, whichever happens first. And while that's never fun, I honestly don't remember having THAT much trouble with it. But this time, I really struggled to down the stuff. It makes water ... thicker, plus the weird flavor, and the combined effect was just nauseating. I managed to keep to the schedule for over an hour (and it takes more than that for it to even *start* having an effect) but then I started slipping because I just couldn't do it anymore. I deliberately keep to a light diet for a couple of days before this point (plus the day of clear liquids right before) because the less that's in your system to begin with, the faster the cleanout goes and the sooner you can stop taking the horrible prep stuff. But it didn't seem to be working as well as it could - I mean, not to be TMI, but I was in the bathroom, but I never seemed to get to the point of complete clean-out, and I confess I eventually gave up because I just couldn't stomach any more of the prep solution (also, by then it was after 11p and nothing is allowed after midnight).
But, ok, I went in, hoped for the best. Alas, when I came out of anaesthesia, I was told that it wasn't cleared enough, they could only see half the colon, and I get to do this again next year! The nurse said that there's a 2-day prep process I could do which ... all I can say is, I hope they give me a different prep solution to try because I really do not think I could stomach that again. I've managed just fine before with whatever vile substances they've given me, but this was just one step too vile.
Also, to make this process even less of a picnic, I'm STILL experiencing effects from the prep stuff, which has never happened before in terms of post-procedure. I'm still so full of pumped-in air, I'm only barely hungry, and just ... I'm annoyed. This was my 6th colonoscopy, and for all of the other 5, I came out of it going, *shrug* That honestly wasn't so bad. And this time was different. I don't know why. But I'm ticked.
AND, to top it all off. I got my period on Sunday.
Moving on.
I've been collecting a number of links in the past week, so in no particular order:
Double chocolate banana bread. This is the second time I've made this, and it's just as amazing as the first time. *snarfs entire loaf*
Butterbeer marshmallows. Damn, they're expensive, but I'm sooooo tempted. (Oh, man, they also have Kaluha coffee marshmallows, Nutella marshmallows and, for the Dr Mcoy fans out there: bourbon marshmallows.)
And speaking of HP Pottery Barn has a new Harry Potter collection. Some cute stuff there.
Really cool Targaryen family tree, created by a DeviantArtist.
In other news ... there really hasn't been a lot of news. Still getting back into the swing of school, which is to say we're all permanently exhausted as we readjust to getting up at the ass-crack of dawn again. I did attend the high school's Back to School night last week, which was good. Will wasn't able to attend, as he was helping his younger brother/wife finally (FINALLY) get their tons of crap out of the basement. But that also meant I was free to take all the front-row desks that none of the other parents (nor my own husband) want to sit in. The teachers get all of 8 minutes to talk, so it's a bit of a rush, but I did get the gist of all MiniPlu's classes and introduced myself to all her teachers. I liked them all (including the lone teacher MiniPlu hasn't met yet - next term's US History Honors teacher), although the Chem situation is ... interesting.
This is the lone class where MiniPlu has two teachers; a main teacher and an assistant. I'm not even sure any of the other chem teachers have an assistant, but this guy does. (MiniPlu says they don't like each other, but they've worked together for years so ... I dunno.) And you couldn't find two men more different if you tried. Well, except for the fact that both of them are interested in chemistry and both worked in more "applied" fields for quite some time before switching to teaching. The main teacher, Mr K, was a chem engineer for 35 years, and the assistant, Mr R, did the chemistry behind his family's baking company. Or something like that? Anyway, Mr K somehow reminded me of the Millionaire from Gilligan's Island: navy sport coat, striped button-down, khaki pants, your basic stuffed shirt attitude. Mr R looks like one of the boys from Grease 40 years down the road: lean, weathered build, subdued Greaser pompadour, long sideburns, untucked shirt, casual pants, Jersey accent. It was like looking at the Odd Couple come to life. MiniPlu says whenever Mr K heads to the back of the room or steps out to work on something else, leaving Mr R to review in his absence, Mr R is always giving out hints as to how to cope with oddly-worded questions, or topics they must absolutely review or ways to phrase things to satisfy Mr K's pickiness or something, and he's apparently hilarious in the process.
But, seriously, they're like the Odd Couple of Chemistry.
I always feel a little weird when I introduce myself to the teachers; I hate describing MiniPlu as "the Asian girl" but I figure that since these teachers see a million kids per day and school's only been in session 8 days (as of Back to School night), it's a quick way for them to bring up an image of my kid, since there are hardly any Asians at the school (and obviously, divided by 4 grades, even fewer per grade). The Chem teacher still managed to get MiniPlu mixed up with someone else, because after I introduced myself he said something about how she had emailed him to ask for some document that he'd refused to provide, and I had no idea what he was talking about. And neither did MiniPlu. I think there's another [MiniPlu's name] in her year, and even if that one isn't in her block class, it's possible maybe he mentally switched them? (I don't think I mentioned the Asian thing when I shook his hand - he jumped to the "document" remark before I could get in another word.)
Ugh, still feel like an over-inflated balloon. Going to walk the dog and see if I can get it to shift. Stupid Crohn's, stupid colonoscopies.