This is what I've been looking forward to writing...

... since my last visit with my consultant on 23 December. She was pleased with the rate of my recovery from my second surgery in September although she warned that my blood-pressure is still on the low side. She was happy so long as I am eating well and not anaemic. My last hurdle to clear before I am certified fit to go back to work was the much dreaded colonoscopy; which was scheduled for 4 February. Senna and Picolax - can you guess what they do?  If you have picked up the "lax" at the end of the word then you are right!  The gruesome preparation for a colonoscopy here in the UK starts 3 days before (versus only 24 hours in Asia) the procedure. In fact, the Patient Information handbook urge patients to "follow each step of the preparation carefully" to avoid an unsuccessful procedure, which most likely leads to the scheduling of "another attempt of the procedure"! I'll bet this last sentence was enough to instill obedience in every patient of all ages to follow suit these steps:

1) week up to procedure - stop taking any iron tablets or medications to control diarrhoea till after procedure

2) 3 days before - avoid all high-fibre foods, fruits and vegetables till after procedure

3) 2 days before - stop intake of solid food at 2PM till after procedure (this one was particularly hard when my mum told me about all the yummy food they've been enjoying). Drink 50ml of Senna liquid (tastes like liquorice)

4) 1 day before - drink one packet of Picolax dissolved in a glass of water each at 8am and 4pm "you should experience bowel action within 2-3 hours"

5) Day of procedure - continue to drink only clear fluids up to 2 hours before the procedure, and remain nil by mouth till after the procedure

For the above three house-bound days, Brian borrowed the whole four series of Jeeves & Wooster on DVD from the local library. I nearly developed square eyes from watching them back to back on my computer - as the study is only next to the W.C. vs having to dash downstairs if I watched it on TV in the living room.

During the colonoscopy, I was taken on a guided tour of the inside of what's left of my colon; which was pink and full of bubbles (that explains the frequent farting). A rather fascinating experience to be looking at your own inside and chatting about it. I was glad I had adhered to the stringent preparation, or else we would have encountered a lot of poo along the guided tour! The report from the colorectal surgeon was positive: "Mrs Hitchcock's remaining colon is healthy and the anastomosis widely patent". I AM CLEAR (at least for now).

Thank you for praying with me and for cheering me on in the past 12 months. Your prayers and encouragement in the form of telephone calls, cards, emails, and "survival packs" all contributed to my experience with cancer. I am very grateful for your audience, and I hope that I will have the discipline to organise and compile my thoughts and experience in the near future. You will no doubt hear about it soon enough. I go back to the job I left exactly a year ago on 15 February :)