My day off Monday was dedicated to this medical screening long overdue.  My digestive system cleaned out and a designated driver set, I entered Billings Clinic downtown to get this completed.  First challenge was simply finding the endoscopy department.

Thought that as long as I'm going through this, might as well share the experience.  So a nice nurse used my smartphone and got some photos.

Now at this point, Dear Reader, if your stomach may not handle this, I suggest Rob Carroll's Honest Truth about Cost of Halloween Candy as a diversion.  You can also scroll through to Ashley Warren's great gallery on Montana hot springs.

Here I am with the clinic staff in what looked like an operating room, my bare bottom exposed to the world.

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Photo: DanFlake, Getty Images, TSM Photo Center
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Here's the probe thingy going into my bodily orifice.

Portrait of group of kittens
Photo: Martin Poole, TSM Media Center
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And here's the inside of my colon, all cleaned out, a glossy, fleshy pink and orange.

Photo: Roksolana Zasiadko, UnSplash
Photo: Roksolana Zasiadko, UnSplash
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Dang company photo guidelines...

Billings Clinic Staff were Great

They took care of me and the colonoscopy with high efficiency.  The nurse inserted an IV expertly so that I barely felt the needle.  Anesthesiologist explained what I would be given and what could happen when I went under.  Another nurse wheeled me down the halls to the operation room, giving me a nicely exciting ride while I lay in bed.  In three or four deep breaths on an oxygen mask with the anesthesia I was completely out.

The Feeling is Weird

It's like a sudden scene change.  I remember breathing deeply in the oxygen mask, then I was back in the room where I had changed into a gown.  Have no memory of falling unconscious or feeling sleepy.  It's like I gently and seamlessly teleported back to where I started.

The nurses cared for me wonderfully and the doctor checked up on me and gave me the news.  Because others were in the pipeline to the same procedure, I dressed and another staff gave me the customary wheelchair ride to my car with my driver ready.

Once home, I slept the rest of the afternoon.

Oh the result?  Clean as can be, not a single polyp.  I'm good there for another ten years.  Overall a worthwhile long weekend.

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