Butt Report

Okay, I'm back, still mildly sedated, feeling fine.  I've eaten.  I've been instructed to pass gas with abandon. 

I asked to stay awake during the procedure, because I wanted to watch it on the video screen.  I told the doctor, "I'm never going to have the chance to see something like this again."  He said, "You don't intend to make it to 50?"  I said, "By the time I'm fifty there's going to be a way way way better technology for this."  You're probably right, he said.  "How's your pain threshhold?"  I said, I don't like the sound of that question.  But I guess it's pretty high.  You can always give me more drugs if it's too uncomfortable, right?  Right.

So I was awake, but goofy.  They gave me this drug, I don't know what it was, and immediately I could feel myself get goofy.  I had to concentrate to talk.  I could follow what was going on on the video screens but I had to struggle to ask question, and to comprehend the answers.  I think I was talking but I'm not sure if I was making any sense, and I can't remember our conversation.  There were a few moments of ouch-yeesh-ouch but they were brief and passed quickly.  Meanwhile we did a tour of my colon.  The camera was great -- the colors were true, the resolution was good.

The diagnosis: proctitis, which is inflammation of the colon at the very bottom end.  The walls were obviously inflamed and bleed at the slightest touch.  It's an immune response gone awry, apparently.  It's possible that I picked up a bacterial infection in Mexico last fall that triggered it.  Sometimes it can get worse and take over the whole colon.  The doc took some tissue samples, which might explain the cause of the inflammation, and gave me a prescription for meds that should take care of it.  I'll go back to see him in a month. He didn't find any polyps or anything scary.  No cancer.  Phew. 

My mom took me out for a big meal afterwards.  Fasting was hardest yesterday morning and got easier as the day went on; by today I hardly noticed being hungry.  But the meal tasted great, and I have a pleasantly full tummy now. 

Thanks for the well-wishes, from everywhere.  I can't describe how comforting it is to feel like I have friends rooting for me when I'm scared and feel like things are falling apart.  It's like I won the lottery, with a jackpot of kindness. 

Comments

[Tim]

Whew. Out of the various alternatives, that's a pretty good diagnosis. I'm happy to hear it's not something more dangerous, and I'll be hoping that the meds take care of it or the samples provide some other clue to reduce or cure it.

[Denise]

YAY!!! I'm so glad to hear you're well!

Fart away!

[ogged]

Glad to hear it's nothing serious. Can't believe you wrote "the colors were true."

[2L]

Very odd to say this, but: Yay! Proctitis!!

:)

[Hal O'Brien]

I am so very glad to hear the news is good.

[Milton]

Million to one shot, Doc, million to one.

;-)

glad to hear it all worked out ok.

[ms]

that is great news. well done!