I am Woman, Hear Me Roar
The colonoscopy was a breeze. Are you ready for this? I did it with no sedation! I didn't even know that was an option until today, did you? I have lots to do today including setting up for the weekend craft show so I asked, "I don't know if it works like this, but could I have as little sedation as reasonable?" They said absolutely, and that some people go without sedation at all. Really?? I said that's definitely what I want - let's go!
(I also said, "If you had wireless access here, this would make a great Facebook or Twitter update!" The nurse looked at me like I was more weird than funny (duh) but said, "We do have wireless..." My iTouch was in my purse but that idea seemed ridiculous, even to me. Though Gretchen and I got a lot of mileage out of the possibilities, including a photo of my colon.)
They said I could ask for sedation during the procedure if I wanted it. But if you think about it, there's really no pain involved. I felt a little pressure from the gas they inflate your colon with but that ain't nothin'. I watched the entire procedure on the screen, even the snipping of a tiny polyp. I could not take my eyes of the screen. It was fascinating!
I remembered later that I had my last dental scaling done without Novocaine. It was very do-able. I think I'm on to something here. I actually kind of dread the pain of Novocaine shots or the drowsiness of sedation way more than the procedure. I'm more like, let's do it and move on. Sweet!
Hint of the day: Blueberry Pomegranate G2 (like Gatorade) tastes great, even with the prep powder in it. Super sweet, even for me.
Yesterday, the day of clear liquids, I sent this email to Steve at lunch time, titled, "It's so not fair."
(I also said, "If you had wireless access here, this would make a great Facebook or Twitter update!" The nurse looked at me like I was more weird than funny (duh) but said, "We do have wireless..." My iTouch was in my purse but that idea seemed ridiculous, even to me. Though Gretchen and I got a lot of mileage out of the possibilities, including a photo of my colon.)
They said I could ask for sedation during the procedure if I wanted it. But if you think about it, there's really no pain involved. I felt a little pressure from the gas they inflate your colon with but that ain't nothin'. I watched the entire procedure on the screen, even the snipping of a tiny polyp. I could not take my eyes of the screen. It was fascinating!
I remembered later that I had my last dental scaling done without Novocaine. It was very do-able. I think I'm on to something here. I actually kind of dread the pain of Novocaine shots or the drowsiness of sedation way more than the procedure. I'm more like, let's do it and move on. Sweet!
Hint of the day: Blueberry Pomegranate G2 (like Gatorade) tastes great, even with the prep powder in it. Super sweet, even for me.
Yesterday, the day of clear liquids, I sent this email to Steve at lunch time, titled, "It's so not fair."
The vent on my
Good thing I brought 3 green Jell-Os - my least favorite flavor ever.
All for a good cause - I'm not complaining much.
He didn't reply right away so I figured he was out of the office doing something fun for lunch, but I never expected this:
Then, I won’t bore you with the details on the Bushnell’s Basin Pub Roast Beef on Kimmelwick rolls that Lisa provided for our all-day manager’s meeting. In addition, Lisa baked a cake for my birthday. Also, during our all-day meeting, I got called to my office for an important meeting…which turned out to be my team surprising me with Apple Pie & Apple Crisp.
But, because you are in Pre-Colonoscopy-Mode, I won't bore you with those details.
But, because you are in Pre-Colonoscopy-Mode, I won't bore you with those details.
But I treated Gretchen and myself to breakfast at the Tip Top Diner after the procedure. By the way, the look on Gretchen's face when I walked into the waiting room, ready to go, was priceless! She had barely started her Starbucks coffee. She had just booted up her Netbook. She thought they could not do the procedure for some reason. Nope, I'm done - let's go eat! Even the other people in the waiting room were asking me about having no sedation.
Yeah, life is good.
~ ~ ~
I had a rude awakening when I went back to work on Tuesday. I asked my friend Jen, who runs HR, if I could change the previous Thursday and Friday from Paid Time Off to bereavement days. She said, "No, I'm sorry you can't. Those are for family and you're not family."
Now Jen is my good friend and I know she didn't mean it the way it came out. But it did hurt my feelings because you know how everything is personal with me. Also I was very embarrassed that I'd asked because I should have known better. Honestly, I think I forgot that Steve and I aren't married. I know, that's weird, right?
Then I started thinking this is how gay couples feel. You know how Brad & Angelina (reportedly) say they won't get married until everyone can get married? So now my stance is that until all gay couples and domestic partners have rights equal to those with a piece of paper, I don't want no stinkin' bereavement days. Ha! Guess I showed them, didn't I??
Now Jen is my good friend and I know she didn't mean it the way it came out. But it did hurt my feelings because you know how everything is personal with me. Also I was very embarrassed that I'd asked because I should have known better. Honestly, I think I forgot that Steve and I aren't married. I know, that's weird, right?
Then I started thinking this is how gay couples feel. You know how Brad & Angelina (reportedly) say they won't get married until everyone can get married? So now my stance is that until all gay couples and domestic partners have rights equal to those with a piece of paper, I don't want no stinkin' bereavement days. Ha! Guess I showed them, didn't I??
I'm just being silly but it really did bring the point home for me. I'm strongly in favor of allowing gay couples to marry. Not sure what the criteria would be for "domestic partners". Prove you live together, no matter how long? Food for thought.
Saturday, October 17, 10:00-6:00
Sunday, October 18, 10:00-5:00
Junior League of Rochester Holiday Market
The Fair & Expo Center, 2695 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14467
Labels: Life Update
posted by Stefani at 10:58 AM
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8 Comments:
Hmmmm...if you've been together that long, it could qualify for common-law marriage. Not sure what the NYS laws are but the IRS recognizes it from what I understand.
Actually only a handful of states currently recognize common-law marriage and NY isn't one of them. I just looked it up again to confirm my memory of what I'd read some time ago, just out of curiosity.
I found some other interesting criteria which I'll blog about tomorrow.
I didn't know you could have a colonoscopy without sedation but did you get any paid medication? I got the pain stuff first which made me dizzy and then the sedative. Sometimes I was awake enough to see the screen but not much and it does take me a while to recover from the anesthesia. I would like to try it without but didn't know that was an option.
You're a braver woman than I am! Good for you!
I, too, was going to mention common-law marriage. Too bad - in the states where it is in force, you are legally married after the requisite number of years. I know people who went through divorce after a common-law marriage. Sticky.
I have had the colonoscopy w/o drugs, so I'll make sure to ask for it that way again. I hate having to have someone drop me off and pick me up.
Mom, there's really no pain - so the only "medication" I had was a saline IV.
I was aware the cable/probe thing was, well, "there" the whole time but if you can ignore that, I think it's so worth it.
I thought the sedation was to keep you from moving during the procedure. Oh wait, maybe that was for cataract surgery.
Shame on your company for not giving you the time off as bereavement leave. Our district let one of my co-worker's use family illness days when her partner was going for chemo.
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