MSGID: 1:153/716.0 f0526e46
REPLY: 192.survivor@1:218/700 23672f0d
CHRS: IBMPC 2
 AH>  Hi & welcome, Kurt!  I recognized your name from other
 AH>  echoes but don't recall seeing it here before.

 KW>  I think this was my first post here,


           Ah.  So I'm not losing my mind... or at least not completely.  :-Q



 KW>  been on Fidonet since 1991. :)


           1988 in Dallas's case, 1990 in mine.  We started this echo in 1990
while our daughter was in treatment for leukemia & I noticed many people were
returning home from the hospital to small communities where they had a lot of
well-wishers who crowded the local airport to welcome them back, but where it
might be difficult to find anybody with related knowledge or experience.  Our
focus changes as various people bring up various issues.  IMHO SURVIVOR is an
attitude inspired by the work of an oncologist, not a medical diagnosis.  :-)



 AH>  I didn't find the stuff tasted too bad if it was well
 AH>  chilled beforehand, but it took me 5 1/2 hours to get
 AH>  through 4 litres (about a gallon in US measurements)
 AH>  of it.

 KW>  Argh - yes. The older prep, which apparently had some
 KW>  bad side effects was much easier - I think it was 32 oz?


           IOW, about 1/4 of the amount.  I imagine that may be what a friend
was using when she told me she'd spent three days on the toilet & said "Never
again!"  She had a second colonoscopy a few months ago, however, and reported
that the newer prep was a considerable improvement....  :-)



 KW>  I don't recall apple juice being on the recommended
 KW>  list where I went. The prohibited foods were mostly
 KW>  anything dark or red.


           In my case the instructions from the hospital were rather sketchy,
but Uncle Google provided further details.  ;-)



 KW>  I'll need to try apple juice, as I'm about due for
 KW>  another one.


           I found it very helpful when... roughly 3/4 of the way through the
prep... I began shaking uncontrollably.  My self-diagnosis of low blood sugar
was confirmed within minutes after Dallas brought me some apple juice.

           Another thing which both Dallas & I found helpful, although he was
using a split dose & I wasn't, was decanting the prep into empty soda bottles
... appropriately labelled, of course.  That way it's easier to fit the stuff
into the fridge & to keep the next installment cold....  :-)



 KW>  I recover well from the anaesthesia, so always
 KW>  look forward to the first meal afterwards. Last
 KW>  was a San Francisco-style Carne Asada burrito.


           Because I was aware that a person may need to start slowly after a
long fast &/or an anesthetic, and because I was released from the hospital at
lunch time, I cautiously ingested more apple juice & half of a tuna sandwich.
When all seemed to be well I took advantage of the special on halibut & chips
... French fries, to our neighbours who live south of the 49th parallel... at
one of our local restaurants.  Although I love halibut the season is limited,
and although the fries could easily have been replaced by a salad I had a yen
for them.  The fat content was risky... but I'm alive to tell the tale.  :-))



 KW>  Gotta have something to look forward to...


           Yes, I think it is quite important.  I noticed that when my father
was in hospital he couldn't wait to get out of the place & go home.  I'm much
the same way in that regard & I encouraged our daughter to follow suit.  Each
time we visited the outpatient clinic, e.g., we'd also visit a nearby park on
the way back so she could feed the ducks.  If you believe life is still worth
living despite your medical problems I reckon we're on the same page....  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)
SEEN-BY: 1/123 15/0 2 19/36 90/1 104/115 106/201 114/224 702 705 706
SEEN-BY: 114/709 116/18 120/340 601 123/131 140 128/2 73 187 253 138/146
SEEN-BY: 153/250 757 7715 218/700 222/2 226/30 227/114 702 229/101
SEEN-BY: 229/424 426 664 1014 230/150 152 240/5832 249/206 307 317
SEEN-BY: 250/1 261/38 100 266/512 267/155 275/100 282/1031 1056 291/100
SEEN-BY: 291/111 298/25 305/1 3 310/2 312/2 317/3 320/119 219 322/757
SEEN-BY: 340/400 341/66 342/200 396/45 640/1321 712/848 801/161 189
SEEN-BY: 2320/105 3005/1 3634/12 5020/715 1042
PATH: 153/7715 261/38 15/0 317/3 229/426