Associations

Do y'all have any certain smells or tastes that just take you back to a time or situation? I don't have many, but a strong one hit me this week.

One of my favorite smell associations is actually from Vegas. When my girlfriends and I went a few years ago for spring break, we stayed at the MGM Signature Grand. It is a non-gaming, non-smoking hotel that is located just behind the MGM Grand. It was amazing ... and even more amazing because we got our room upgraded to a penthouse suite thanks to a certain someones blond hair and big boobs (I can assure you ... it wasn't me). Anyways, our hotel smelled like a rich man ... seriously ... it always smelled of this strong manly scent that just reeked of money. And ever since, whenever I smell a strong manly cologne, it brings me back to Vegas.

That's not the strong association I've had this week. That one's a little more pleasant.

My taste association comes from Gatorade. And it reminds me of having colonoscopies. Cool.

I know a lot of Crohn's patients have a hard time drinking Sprite, or eating Jello, or with chicken broth. There are a lot of times that we're too sick to eat anything else, and GI doctors are really big fans of the clear liquid diet in order to give your gut some rest. None of that stuff really bothers me, and I still drink Ensure on a pretty regular basis just because I actually like it. Weird, I know .....

Last week, though, I bought some Gatorade to drink while training because it seems like the "runner" thing to do. I'm good at conforming. On my group run this past weekend, I mixed this orange/strawberry flavor with some water and carried it during my run. It brought me right back to my first colonoscopy ... and really grossed me out.

See, I don't know how many of y'all have had colonoscopies .... probably no one unless you're old. It's a nearly annual routine for Crohn's and Colitis patients, and I've found that the anesthesiologists really love to say "Wow, you're the youngest patient I've had all week for a colonosopy." Again ... cool .... it's not like I sign up for these things just because it's really fun.

The scope itself isn't bad actually. Once you're at the hospital they just give you an IV and some drugs and you're out. And when you wake up they show you some cool (and gross) pictures of your intestines. It's just the prep that's bad .... obviously ... I don't have to explain it.

For my first colonoscopy, they made me mix a bottle of Gatorade with a bottle of Miralax. In theory I think it's supposed to dissolve nicely, but mine sure didn't, and so when I took my first swig it was like I was drinking sand. It was disgusting, and I think I'll forever associate Gatorade with colonoscopy prep.

My second colon prep routine was different, but just as bad. I had to drink a whole gallon of this baking-soda-tasting liquid. They gave you different flavor packets, and I tried several of them and it was still disgusting. I even tried mixing the pineapple flavor up with the liquid in the blender .... you know ... like a pina colada and it was among the worst things I've ever drank. I usually end up vomiting during the prep and then I just stop because it's so traumatic .... but luckily I don't have much of a problem with getting cleaned out :)

Anyways .... while those adults with Crohn's and Colitis still dread routine colonoscopies, we survive because we know it's necessary in order to keep an eye on the disease. BUT .... could you imagine having to make your child -- a 6, 10, or even 15 year old -- do a colonoscopy prep?! There's no way to make it easy and there's no easy way to explain to a child that they HAVE to drink some nasty liquid that will put them in the bathroom for 5 hours straight ... only to be followed the next day by going to the hospital and going under anesthesia. Think about these kids with Crohn's and Colitis ...... this is why we need a cure!