Yesterday I spent the whole day at Mayo Clinic.  It gets so tiresome when I have to do that.  I was there at 8am for my CT scan, they are checking to make sure that I don't haven tumors elsewhere.  If they do find tumors that the are going to be benign and won't be removed because they will grow back.  I have never had a CT scan before and I hope to God that I never have to have another one again!  It sucked because I had to drink three containers of a barium solution and also an IV iodine-based dye that had the weirdest feeling ever.  With that dye it sends a very hot flash through your body and it feels like you peed on yourself.  The hot sensation was so bad for me that I felt as though I was on fire.  Not fun and like I said I never want to do it again.

Also, as I was drinking the liquid I was also having diarrhea and a very nauseous feeling.  That liquid tasted like crap and was just not a good day.  Afterwards they tell me to eat and drink a lot and I tried but didn't succeed in drinking enough and spent the whole day in pain, gassy and overall feeling like crap.  It got worse as the day progressed and I had to stay there and wait for my genetic counselor meeting which was very informative.

I now know where in my DNA my genetic mutation occurred and since that is known, the kids can now go in and get their genetics looked at.  If at that line on chromosome 5 is normal, my kids will be normal.  If their chromosome is not normal then "O" will have to go in for a CT Scan to check her liver because F.A.P. can cause tumors else where and if caught before they turn 5 years old that the spot on the liver can be removed and the liver will grow back.  the kids have a 50/50 chance of having it.  If they have F.A.P. then it's also recommended that their colon be removed sometime in their 20's.  Hopefully as time progresses that when the kids (if they have this mutation) turn 20 that they won't have to have their colon removed.  I just pray that this has skipped the kids because I really would feel badly giving this to them.

From what I've also been told is that we (my brother and I) have had these polyps since our late teens early 20's.  So I am very lucky I went in when I did because I have had this for so long that no one knows when it could turn into cancer.  I think it not only depends on your genetics but also your diet.  The healthier you eat, the longer you can hold it off.  If you know that you have a family history of either FAP or Colon Cancer, go now and get it checked because you never know when it will turn from FAP into Cancer. 

The colonoscopy isn't as bad as people say.  It sucks because you have to watch what color you drink, you can't really eat, you have to drink a mix that makes you spend a good amount of time in the bathroom.  But remember that you are knocked out during the procedure and you have an excuse to sleep all day and nothing can be said about it.   I was actually looking forward to having more colonoscopies but now I get to look forward to getting my Upper GI done yearly.  It's easier having the upper GI done because you just have to stop eating at midnight and stop drinking 4 hours before the procedure which you'll be knocked out for as well.  

I am having a very hard time dealing with the decisions that have to be made but I know that I have to do this because I choose to be here for my kids.  I need to be a positive role model through this so they can see it's hard but once it's found and you deal with it, you have the rest of your life to do whatever you want.  I am a very lucky person because I found out before this turned out to be cancer and once my colon is out, I don't have to worry about colon cancer ever again.  I now can sleep easier every night knowing that and that I will be here for my kids as they grow up. 

Even if you don't have a history of colon cancer or FAP, you still should get checked because you never know.  FAP is still in the early stages of research but hopefully they will be picking up on it and doing for research so it can be prevented.  So please, just go in to your doctor and ask to be referred to a gastroenterologist and just have it done.  It's not bad and then you'll have the peace of mind.  Or you can also have a genetic test done, I was lucky that mine was found because of how far down the marker was.