I will be admitting myself to the Veteran Administration Hospital in Philadelphia to undergo a procedure in order to avoid the excruciating pain I suffered before from similar undertakings.
Yeah, it’s time for me to get another colonoscopy, but this time I am going to get a tranquillizer. I underwent this procedure several times before without taking any type of sedative. And it hurt, man, it really hurt!
But I told the hospital staff back then that I was a Vietnam War veteran who could take a hit and undergo a little hurt to save my life. And that is exactly what happened to me when I had gotten colon cancer years ago and was cured within weeks of the diagnosis and the surgery.
Sedatives not Administered Without a Companion
You can’t get a sedative for a colonoscopy at the hospital unless you have someone accompanying you to the facility. They have to sign in with you and give their word to stay long enough to accompany you back home.
Here are the rules verbatim sent to me by the VA:
1. You must have a responsible adult escort on the day of the procedure.
2. You cannot drive, take a bus, taxi, or ride-share service alone.
3. Your escort must check in with you and stay on-site during the procedure.
4. If you arrive without an escort, your procedure with sedation will be canceled.
I could never get a family member, friend or a neighbor to help me, so I did without the medication that would alter some of my senses and relieve the pain from someone about to deepen into you know where. This time, I will be getting a hospital companion. That is, someone who actually works at the facility who will escort me from the operating room to a bedroom and show me how to turn on the television and order food.
Yes, I will be getting two free meals out of the deal! I’ll get dinner shortly after my procedure and breakfast the morning after. Did I tell you both will be offered for free? I will also get a free ride to and from the hospital with Uber that provides a service for disabled veterans, (See previous post on Uber.)
Excruciating Diet Demanded Before the Procedure
Keep in mind that you have to engage in a special diet several days before the procedure and take no solid foods 24-hours before it. No red Grape Juice and only Lime or Lemon Jell-O tabs permitted that last day.
My son will feed the cats after I leave home, and he’ll dish out the Fancy Feast the morning after. I just gotta remember to take my evening and morning medications to the hospital in order to stay healthy.
I actually think it’s gonna be a lot of fun!
Contoveros 
My heart goes out to you, I will have you in prayers for A very easy test. 🙏
I discovered having a cola soda after the test helped me release the gas pressure which helped the horrific cramps I had after the first test, I did both with no sedatives, a glutton for punishment 🤗
I bet the kitty cats will be missing you, we have 4 and they are all so very smart.
Cyber Hugs 🫂
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Thanks for the tip about cola soda! I’ll pack a can to take with me because I don’t think the hospital will have them available.
So, you too have suffered the pain of no sedatives for a colonoscopy. I wonder how many more of us are out there. We’re all the gluttons for punishment.
The three cats of mine will be okay as long as my son feeds them on time. They can be rather picky if you’re late in dishing out their food.
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I am so glad I mentioned the cola soda, It sure helped, my Mom suggested it because cola will help with burping when the stomach is bloated.
I have a saying everything happens for a reason, I believe the reason I had a cola which really helped many years ago was so I could mention it to you, I sure hope it helps you as it did me,
Yes no sedatives were torture, I thought “Gee how bad can it be? I was always a toughie little girl haha, I found out it was very painful.
Poor cats will have you on their ignore list when you come home just for leaving them, I sure hope your son isn’t late getting them food , I had a cat many years ago her name was Cheetah a very dark brown girl, if I told her she had enough treats she would get mad at me , sit on the back of the couch and look at the wall, If I laughed she would press her nose against the wall. She would ignore me the rest of the day, she was punishing me hahaha.
She learned how to say the word “No” and “Yea, she knew the difference, she lived to be 19, she was so very special.
Please keep us updated how you are doing, Cyber Hugs and Love with prayers 🫂 🤗 🙏
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Yes, I totally agree with the statement “Everything Happens for A Reason” I a spiritual quote of sorts and can be used in Christianity, Judaism as well as the Islamic faith.
It suggests that life events, even painful ones, are not random but part of a larger, often divine, plan or purpose. Some might even say that suffering leads to future good. (I ain’t too sure about that one!)
While reading your comments I was wondering if you write often and whether you thought about creating your own Blog Post. I kind of resonated with what you had to say, and I bet others would also.
WordPress.com offers a free membership, and you’d be amazed at some of the comments you could get about something as painful as a colonoscopy without sedatives.
Let’s not forget about the cats. Below is a post I wrote about our favorite feline companions:
https://contoveros.com/2010/03/17/cats-meow-thank-you-i-love-you-too/
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Good afternoon Michael,
I sure appreciate your insight on my mention of a favorite quote of mine 🤗
I don’t write often , several people have mentioned I should as my comments have been very interesting and they could tell from the heart as if I was talking to them in person,
Time to give you a chuckle, many moons ago , 1982, prior to cell phones , computers and social media, I had moved to Tennessee, unable to find a job I returned to California, I stayed in trough with several of the people I met , Sheila is my BFF of 43 years and I kept in touch with actual letters we hand wrote and mailed by snail express and talked in the phone , we limited our calls to once a month for each of us, we were so excited when unlimited long distance became available.
I left California in 1988 after experiencing the Whittier Narrows Quake the previous October 1, 1987 , a 6.2 earthquake a jolting one so very scary, I was at work on the second floor, ceilings falling , my supervisor and I holding onto thee cubicle supports, nope we were so scared we didn’t think to get under the desks 😅
The jolting lasted 17 seconds and felt like hours, we got outside , the parking lot was huge no overhead wires, we watched cars bouncing off the pavement from the aftershocks.
Sheila called me May of 1988, mentioned a new business was opening near her house, she thought I could get a job, , wanted me to live at her house until I could get established , short story I gave notice, moved back, went for the job interview for office manager, I was working in accounting at Denny’s corporate in CA.
Interview was at Dennco Sportswear , I loved it , I was thee worlds worst sewing person, I cook and bake from scratch, my sewing is another funny story.
I remember Sarah Nance came in my office about 2 weeks after we opened, she said ” Gloria I have worked in shirt factories all my life over 50 years, I never met anyone like you ”
I laughed , ” Sarah I understand what you mean, You may not be able to do my job , but if you want to see a real mess have me try and work on the floor, I will create a disaster with a sewing machine”
I told her when I was 15 we all lied about our ages to get summer work , I got a job on a flatlock machine, she laughed , I said yes it was hilarious, I was sewing men’s underwear, I was so proud , the floor lady came over with a bundle, she was smiling so I thought she was going to congratulate me on a job well done, she handed me a pair of underwear, asked me to look at them, I did , she started laughing, said ” Gloria How is he gonna get it out? ” I had sewed the opening shut 😅
She really liked me, I was put at a table turning t-shirts right side out, I was very good at that 🤗
I said that’s why I work in an office because I am dangerous around sewing machines. , That became the joke at lunch that day as she asked if I would tell the girls what I had done , of course I enjoyed it , we laughed so much!
Michael, I must stop there real world namely my house is calling me to do a few cleaning chores,
Please take care , I will seriously think about a Blog Post. I really appreciate your help
Sending Cyber Hugs for you and the kitties.
Gloria and my 4 current furballs and the one who passed away 09/08/2025
In memory of my Orangie he was my friend aka OJ 😸
Thomas Jefferson aka Mr. Dignified
Little Bit aka The Princess
Brown Girl aka Ms. Thing
Kitty-Kitty Tiger aka The Queen
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You got at least 10 Blog posts you can write about with the materials you provided in your message.
How many people ever suffer through an earthquake? What’s it like to work in accounting?
Worst sewing person in the world – what about Betsy Ross who came up with the crazy idea of stars and stripes?
Lying about your age to get a job? Cool. I forged draft cards at my high school in order to show I was 21 years old to get drinks in a bar.
I’d rather not talk about Men’s underwear. You never know what might be popping up with too much female attention.
Go for it girl! You got a lot of life to share with everyone. My only advice is to keep your posts to 500 to 600 words and Google photos that are free to use. (Like asking for a “free image” of a man in a hospital bed – which I used for my latest post.
Look forward to hearing more about your adventures and maybe a few misadventures!
Michael J Contos blogging as Contoveros
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The following are messages exchanged on Facebook:
Patricia Muronoff Kalafut
Hoping for a great outcome for you!
Michael J Contos
Anything would be better than going through the same procedure without the juice to put me under a little bit!
Patricia Muronoff Kalafut
I don’t know how you did it. That had to be horrible.
Michael J Contos
Yes, but I figured I could take a little pain for no more than 30 minutes.
————
Jacquelyn Smith
(Three hands uplifted!!!
Michael J Contos
Thanks for your show of hands which suggests you are hoping for a good outcome. I could certainly use it.
————-
Mary Trzeciak
Hats off to the VA!!! I’ve never had a colonoscopy without sedation! I always considered the prep worse than the procedure.
Michael J Contos
The prep can really drive you crazy. I have already begun to purchase items for the restricted diet I’ll be facing. That includes white grape juice, orange juice and a lemon citrus soda from an Aldi store after seeing Target charge almost half as much more for a 12-pack of Sprite!
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I am gobsmacked that you did this before without sedation. Good lord. Wishing you a “relaxing” visit to the hospital. Good luck.
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I kinda got used to taking some pain after trying 10 jury trials in the span of only nine weeks while working at the Philadelphia Public Defender’s Office. I had to deal with Judge Angelo Guarino, who was removed from the bench in a mid-trial proceeding by a Pennsylvania Supreme Court official for the judge’ continuous bad behavior.
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Good luck? Not what I was expecting with my morning coffee, but I hope it goes easily. 😊
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Instead of dreading another colonoscopy with no sedatives, I chose what I believe is the easier path. Stay overnight at the hospital after being tranquilized and later put to bed to rest up.
Let’s hope the food I’ll be given will be to my taste!
Thanks Carmen.
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A nurse at the hospital told me if you mention you are allergic to a food you don’t like they will not give you that, It works I told them chicken made me have an upset stomach 🤗, I am seriously allergic to fresh water fish, thankfully I never cared for it only a couple times a year I enjoyed high quality farm raised catfish.
I am able to eat all salt water or shell fish, I only like flounder, cod , Pollock , fried clams very well done, I am a budget eater hahaha
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I’m starting to get a little hungry just thinking about what I can order through the nurse when my visit occurs.
Thanks!
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