This aging stuff gets tricky sometimes.
Yesterday it was a colonoscopy, the third one in my life. I am on a more frequent rotation because of a history of polyps, and even though my doc told me yesterday everything looked fine, I should schedule another one in three years.
As anyone who has experienced this procedure knows, it's not the procedure itself that is burdensome (other than the inconvenience of taking a day off work to go to the surgery center, and assuming everything turns out well) but, rather, it's the preparation that is unpleasant. But it's necessary so you arrive for your procedure, uh, "cleaned out," if you will.
For my first one, about 15 years ago, I took pills for the preparation. Not bad, and they did the job.
For the second one, pills had fallen out of favor, and I was prescribed some nasty, chalky liquid. Yuck.
For the one yesterday, everything was over the counter, mixed with Gatorade, and it wasn't bad at all. I hope this is still the preferred method when I have my next colonoscopy.
Typically for me, there were three polyps, but the doc seemed unconcerned. Guess I'll see him again in three years.
I suppose yesterday, getting an IV and being briefly anesthetized, was the warmup for the big act, which will be June 19th when I have knee replacement surgery. This has been coming for a while, and although I don't look forward to the surgery, I do look forward to being on the other side of it.
My knees have been deteriorating for years, and both seemed to get significantly worse a couple years ago, which led me visit an orthopedic surgeon. He initially prescribed physical therapy. That, along with riding a stationary bike and getting really good steroid injections, helped considerably and the pain level is better than it was. But I am bone-on-bone, and at some point, the benefit of the exercises and steroids will diminish.
So, I am starting with the right knee in June. If it goes well, I will eventually have the other one done. I have a lot of walking to do.
And while we're on the subject of medicine and surgery, I will update you on my son-in-law. His surgery was February 27th and, not unexpectedly, his recovery has been rough. Slowly but surely, however, he is getting better and has recently returned to work.
We will be holding our collective breath as he continues to have scans and lab work, fervently hoping and praying this awful cancer is gone for good. Any prayers in that direction are greatly appreciated.
