Yes, dear friends - it has been five years and Colonoscopy time is here again! Don't bother going back to my blog in 2010 - I'll summarize: "we won't be doing this again!" LOL. Well, yes we are.

Some things have changed over the last five years: Bruce has developed Type 2 Diabetes and his latest blood work shows he has anemia. Not iron related but he is possibly bleeding from some where. It could be his diet - I try to keep him mostly vegetarian, it could be a lab error but in any case, has to be investigated.

Bruce's friend in CA advised that they do a simple specimen every five years and if it comes back negative, no colonoscopy. Well, I tried - LOL. But no go for Bruce - his last colonoscopy had one pre-cancerous polyp and now the anemia.

I don't like this Doctor. He tries to be funny and I just don't get it. Also he has no regard for the work this puts on me. He sees GI - not stroke.

There is no going home for another 24 hours of prep and clear liquids because Bruce did not "clear." He is diabetic. I had to remind Doctor of the fiasco five years ago and told him that won't happen again. But - and here is the real special part - because we don't know where Bruce is bleeding from, he will have an Endoscopy the same day!! Bruce just won the lottery!

Fortunately I have my Julie to guide me through this. Larry has had several Endoscopies and between Larry and Julie, they were able to advise me through the Endoscopy and the after effects.

Because Bruce has lower motility (just a gift from stroke), prep will actually start 8 days before the procedure. The 24 hour prep is the same. This medication will get things going, which means we have to stay close to home. I don't have trouble with that, but this comes at a time where I am supposed to be working on more independence for Bruce and "socialization" for Bruce, without me. Well that will be put off.

The good news is Bruce moves so much better now. His transfers are pretty much independent. But as all of us know, the BR is not a safe place, so I still have to spot him. I will have to uncover the commode and bed pan, certainly. And we have plenty of bed pads since I purchased extra for our New Mexico trip.

I am thinking jigsaw puzzles and lots of books. Plus I think I will try to get him back in the kitchen - maybe some cookies and soups/stews put up for the winter.

Stay tuned - updates to follow! Debbie