It was colonoscopy week and I received multiple requests to share all the details of the process and preparation. That’s why I shared a lot of details on Instagram for those interested!
(I have had colonoscopy and endoscopy to determine the cause of my chronic anemia.)
I did a low residue (no fiber) diet three days before and I would definitely do this again as I think it made the preparation easier! That’s possible see here an example of what I ate during this diet.
The hardest part of the whole process was the 36 hour clear, liquid diet. I didn’t expect to be THIS hungry – like I couldn’t function, had to lie down, hungry for brain fog. In retrospect, if I had known I would feel so starved, I would have had more jello, hard candies, gummy bears, and Italian ice! See more what I “ate” here on my clear liquid diet.
(And I kept thinking about people who always have to eat a liquid diet, who have a feeding tube, or who experience true hunger and starvation, and it gave me a new appreciation for so much that I normally take for granted.)
I took 4 Dulcolax to start the preparation and it worked very effectively and quickly – and I was nauseous and uncomfortable for an hour and then I was fine.
And then I had it lots of Miralax mixed with Gatorade to make sure I was completely cleaned up. This part was very easy and I took it easy, staying close to the bathroom and watching When Calls the Heart.
I ended up sleeping most of the night (preparing myself for the fact that I might be up all night and feeling miserable) and then started another round of Miralax and Gatorade in the morning from 5:30 am
I’m getting ready to go back for my endoscopy and colonoscopy. This man has been so amazing this past week – he always takes such good care of me!
He ran two errands to pick up all my colonoscopy supplies and then went to get me tea with extra honey, Jello, and Italian ice when I was so hungry on my clear liquid diet.
He then did all the school drop-offs and pick-ups for two days and took care of the kids while I was in the Gatorade/Miralax prep area 🙃 and then drove me to the procedure and stayed there with me.
Marriage is often not made up of grand, grand gestures, but of small acts and sacrifices that say:
“I love you.”
We actually didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day together this year because Jesse is out of town (he and Silas are on a ski trip in Utah), but we try to celebrate it every day of the year with small gestures and acts of kindness. And I feel like that’s the most important thing.
10 things that surprised me about my first colonoscopy/endoscopy…
1) The preparation was much easier than I expected, but…
2) The 24+ hour clear liquid diet was much harder than I expected – I was so hungry and had a lot of brain fog and felt so weak. (I was so happy that I planned not to work much that day!)
3) By mixing the MiraLAX & Gatorade and then dividing it into smaller bottles and refrigerating it, it actually tasted pretty good (or maybe I was just so hungry that it didn’t taste bad!)
4) I experienced very little discomfort during the preparation, apart from an hour of nausea after taking the Dulcolax.
5) I was only expecting mild anesthesia for the procedure, so I was really surprised when they put in an IV and gave me oxygen.
6) I was afraid it would take a while to fall asleep. But within literally two seconds of the anesthesiologist telling me he was starting the meds, I was gone.
7) I don’t remember anything until an hour later when they were talking loudly and telling me to wake up. (I think it took several tries to wake me up, Jesse said.)
8) My first thought after they woke me up was, “Please let me go back to sleep. Don’t wake me up!”
9) I had no pain or discomfort whatsoever, except in my esophagus where they did some biopsies.
10) It took me a few hours to think clearly. I couldn’t seem to remember any words when I tried to talk, and when Kathrynne called to tell me about her day, I couldn’t follow what she was saying. I understood the words, but I understood what it meant. It was the weirdest thing. 🫣
Overall it was a really good experience! The colonoscopy and endoscopy looked good – nothing alarming and everything looked normal and healthy internally. They have done biopsies and we are waiting for the results of those + I have another test next week and then I may need another scope depending on the results of that. We hope to get some answers from that, but we’ll see!
I was SO excited to eat some non-liquid foods… but since I had had the endoscopy and multiple biopsies, they recommended only soft foods, so I had mashed potatoes and mac & cheese and it felt like the BEST mac & cheese and mashed potatoes I had ever eaten! 🙂
Jesse and Silas went to Target and came back with these tulips for me. I think Micah saw them and insisted they buy these for me for Valentine’s Day. It was the sweetest gesture from my boys.
Kierstyn and Micah had History Week all week at their small classical school. They studied about Germany, Switzerland and Austria. On the last day they got to dress up, so Kierstyn wore this dress… and as soon as she put it on, she suddenly looked SO grown up!
Book I finished this week
Don’t burn down your own house — This book inspired me in so many practical ways to make Jesse more of a priority and to notice many small and large areas where I could improve so that he would feel more loved, supported, and seen. I loved how honest the author was, but also how practical and tangible it was. I definitely recommend it if you’re struggling in your marriage or just hoping to build a deeper connection. Listen to the podcast episode I made with the author here.
What I’m looking at
The Olympic Games of course, just like last week. I’ve also seen quite a few episodes of When Calls the Heart. (I’m on season 8 now!)
Psst! If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch the Olympics for free by signing up for a Walmart+ free trial!
In case you missed it: this week’s posts
How to Find Walmart Hidden Clearance and Save Big! – If you like to save money and/or get Walmart deals, there’s a secret scavenger hunt waiting for you: Walmart Hidden Clearance Items!
Whole Wheat Pancakes ($10 idea for a family dinner) – These whole wheat chocolate pancakes are easy and healthy And they taste great. Add some chicken breakfast sausage and scrambled eggs and you have an easy family meal for under $10!
Make the Most of Amazon Subscribe & Save Deals: Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Savings – In this post I go into more detail explaining what Amazon Subscribe & Save is, how it works, how it can save you money, what to do if the price changes, and how to change or cancel your Amazon Subscribe & Save subscriptions.
This week’s podcast episode
Continue this week The Crystal Paine ShowI want to talk about something that unexpectedly changed my life this year – what I jokingly call my “grandma hobby era.” When I first shared that phrase online, it stirred up more feelings than I ever expected. Some people really loved it, but some people were really bothered by it. For me, it’s a playful way to describe something deeply meaningful: choosing activities that slow me down, calm my body, and help me feel present again!
If I had heard myself talking excitedly about puzzles, watercolor painting or crocheting a scarf two years ago, I probably would have thought something had gone very wrong. Back then, my life was full of adrenaline, constant urgency, and endless to-do lists. I didn’t realize how tightly I was living until I started loosening my grip, and with the encouragement of my functional medicine doctor, I started intentionally creating space – working fewer hours, building in white space, and letting go of the need to always be “on,” and in that space I found myself drawn to simple, creative things that required nothing from me other than just my attention.
In this episode, listen as Jesse and I share honestly what it’s been like to step out of fight mode and learn to rest, how scary it felt to cut my hours as CEO of a company, the fear it engendered, and how it revealed an idol of control I hadn’t even realized I had. I also share the surprising ways God met me in that place—financially, emotionally, and spiritually—when I finally chose to trust over hustle.
Jesse and I also talk about what it feels like when your calendar finally gets some breathing room, when your to-do list doesn’t fill the page, and when people start craving opportunities instead of interruptions. We laugh about puzzles, sourdough, and my very flexible approach to recipes, but more than that, we talk about what it means to live from a calmer place and show up more fully for the people and work we love!
Tune in this week, especially if you’re tired, running on adrenaline, or longing for a slower, richer way of life. Maybe it’s time to find your own version of a “grandma hobby.” I hope this conversation encourages you, and as always I’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to reach out!
Tell me about your week! Is something interesting happening? Have you read any good books, seen any good shows or tackled any projects?
#Week #week #read #watch