Ann, you will do fine. I have had three colonoscopies, and I am almost your age. The prep as you may have figured is the worst. The solutions taste salty and awful, and the patient has to drink large quantities. Some taste better than others, and Medicare doesn’t pay for the preferable prep solution. Whatever instructions your doctor has given you, follow them strictly. You only want to go through this once. If you are not cleaned out completely, the procedure is canceled. The doctor needs to be looking at a completely empty colon.

Basically, you will be confined to the bathroom or within a quick several feet away. Your entire system will be flushed out. It’s highly desirable that you rinse your bottom with water after every bathroom experience. This will save your skin which may take a beating. I should add that after your first or second bathroom trip, you will be passing liquids—not solid poops. Great a great experience, but you know the preps are working.

Have some magazines on hand to read in the bathroom. You probably will not get a lot of quality sleep that night. However, the MD will give you sedation, and you will not recall anything about the experience. Many people come out of that feeling like they had a great night’s sleep.

You mentioned you live alone, but I assume you have someone bringing you to the place where the procedure will be done. Many medical centers insist that someone be waiting for you, so you can be discharged to them.

As long as you have an experienced, Board-certified physician who does a large volume of these procedures, you are in good hands. Let us know how it went for you, OK?