Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is one of the most common procedures for diagnosing and evaluating Crohn's Disease. Anyone with any kind of intestinal disorder will be more than familiar with it. I for one insist on being knocked out for the procedure, but I know other people who like to be awake to watch the monitor as the camera snakes it's way through their large bowel. I know of others who've been given a DVD of the procedure, which I find both intriguing and weird.

So today I decided to see if I could find some footage of the colonoscopy. I know, I seriously need to get a hobby.

Explanation of a Colonoscopy


CSIRO Colonoscopy Simulation Rendering

This is obviously not real. I can pretty much guarantee my intestines aren't that pristine.

Actual Colonoscopy

This is what a healthy colon looks like.

There are plenty more but most of them are pretty disgusting, so I'll let you trawl through YouTube for colonoscopy's to your hearts content.

Drink this please...

I wonder what kind of kid says "when I grow up I want to be a gastroenterologist. I want to immerse myself in the malfunctioning bowel, the deseased digestive system, the inflamed intestine. I'll be up to my elbows in it, it'll be sweeeet." I don't know why they do it, but I am glad they do it. I appreciate the efforts of my doctors, and despite my recent whining, I do feel I'm in good hands. I know there are people out there who really are "up to their elbows in it" looking for a cure, finding better treatments and genuinely helping the cause and to them I say Harrah!

But...

For the last 10 days I have been in hospital. I have been poked and prodded in every which way imaginable. Why is it that every single investigative procedure for Crohn's involves drinking large amounts of something incredibly vile and abstaining from using the bathroom whilst lying perfectly still inside a loud, uncomfortable machine? Seriously, a small salad makes me run to the toilet in pain, that's kind of why I'm here, What do you expect the effects of 3 litres of a laxative laced contrast will be? One of the research fellows who had the pleasure of explaining the colonoscopy procedure said "You shouldn't feel to much discomfort..." Um Houston...we have a problem.

So, for all those people out there wasting time on bullshit research like Are Fish Stupid? Is chocolate better than kissing? and Is Michael Jackson Troubled? put that rubbish aside immediately and start making this scenario a reality:

"Welcome. We really need to do some tests to establish the severity of the disease activity in your illiem. Now, I wont lie to you, during these tests you will be terribly comfortable. We will ask you to drink a small amount of this scrumptious liquid while we give you some drugs that will make you feel heavenly. The test will be brief and afterwards you can expect to feel a little prolonged euthymia"

Ok that might be pushing it a little, but what about making the glycoprep for colonoscopies taste a little less...vile, and do we really need to injest 3 liters of it? How about a cushion on the concrete slab of the MRI and a oxycodone for when we get home and the fun really begins? oh and yes, I want total anastesia during the colonoscopy thanks.