Well, isn't this fun?

I came home early today. Why, you ask? Because I have "prep" to do! And for what am I preparing?

Well, kids, tomorrow morning, I have to present myself at 6:30 for my 7:30am colonoscopy! Oh, goodie!

Honestly, I wanted to get it done. There's plenty of cancer history in my family. If I can take some steps to try to protect myself, then that makes sense. In the meantime, this provided a reason to have a couple of other tests done.

This will be the first time I've ever been anesthetized. I've had minor surgery before, and I've had pain killers on occasion, but this will be the first time I receive drugs that render me unconscious. With that in mind, I've been a difficult patient--something I recommend that you always do. Speak up for yourself and question everything they're going to do. Granted, since Marc and I both work in hospitals, it's a bit easier (I had tests done at my hospital and will have the colonoscopy at his.) So this being my first time to be put under, it triggered my getting an EKG and an echocardiogram this week, the results of which have been forwarded for the review of the doctor doing the colonoscopy and the anesthesiologist who will be putting me under.

The good news is that I already know everything came back normal. In fact, the doctor who wrote the orders told me that my "ejection fraction" (which is a measure of how much of the blood gets driven out of my left ventricle with each contraction of the chamber) is very good. Being me, I had to go do a little research. I found that a normal, healthy man's ejection fraction is around 55% (the higher the better). If your ejection fraction gets down into the mid-30s, it's cause for concern. My ejection fraction was 65%.

So it would seem that a life of sedentary obesity may be healthier than previously thought! ;) Okay, yes, I'm continuing my dieting, but it's good to know that my heart remains strong!

Now I just hope the rest of today's preparation isn't too harsh! And, of course, that the actual colonoscopy tomorrow goes well. I'll be glad when it's done!