I'm 52 and having my first colonoscopy Saturday. Tell me anything.

[IrishAyes]

48. The procedure itself is a breeze. You won't be awake for it.

As for the prep, here's what I did: 4th day out, I ate a ton of oatmeal. 3rd day out, I started on an extremely low fibre diet. The day before actual prep, I lived on broth. That way by prep day I was already pretty well cleaned out. Crystal light is far better than gatorade.

When you've had the modern procedure once, you'll blush to think of all the needless stress you suffered. So spread the word!

I was bad to avoid yearly mammograms because of extreme aversion to pain. But when our county hospital finally modernized enough to go digital, I found they don't really hurt that bad anymore. Got in a big online argument with a professed radiologist who insisted the amount of pressure's the same, but that still doesn't change the FACT that it hurt far, far less.

Of course a leftover prescription pain pill I'd squirreled away for just such an occasion helped too! Took it an hour ahead and never felt the slightest urge to bite the technician.