“I would like to envisage that taking my advice could help save your life.”
Republic of Ireland and Burnely footballer Jonathan Walters has taken to Twitter to share his experience of undergoing a colonoscopy.
Walters, whose mother died of bowel cancer at 40 years of age, was encouraged to regularly check for any abnormalities, for that reason.
In a detailed Twitter thread, Walters described exactly how he went about getting the procedure.
It obviously didn’t affect his sense of humour, as the Twitter thread proves…
He says that the Burnley club doctor explained the procedure to him, but it all went “in one ear and out the other, mainly because all I heard was how he was going to stick a tube, 12000ft up my backside…”
He then described the procedure in great detail, and let’s just say he didn’t exactly beat around the bush.
…The day before the colonoscopy I followed the instructions explaining what I should and shouldn’t eat, but all I could think about was the 12000ft tube that was looming the next day. I stopped eating at 9pm and mentally prepared for what was coming…
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
…MoviPrep is a laxative so you are advised to “stay near a toilet” To be more accurate it should tell you to stay on the toilet as you will experience what can only be described as a nuclear bomb going off in your stomach…
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
…Now that I was 10kg lighter, I had the small issue of a 45 minute drive to the hospital in Manchester. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem but I’ve now had 2 litres of nuclear laxative and I’m struggling to walk 12 yards to the toilet…
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
…We managed to complete the journey without any incidents and went through to the ward to prepare for the tube and film crew who were going to have a look up my backside. Once the hospital gown was on I was ready to go…
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
…Did he find my head up there as I’ve been told on many occasions that’s where it’s at? Thankfully it was the easiest of procedures and my bowels are completely clear of any polyps and I have no worries whatsoever…
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
And as difficult as this all sounds, Walters explains why it’s an extremely necessary precaution to take.
…I’ve shared this with you for a reason! Colonoscopies aren’t a joke and neither is bowel cancer. It’s vile disease that can be prevented with some education and awareness on early signs of the disease. There’s no shame in doing what I’ve done…
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
He finished the thread with a touching message, urging people to ensure that they are not at risk, saying: “It was 23 years ago that my Mum passed away. With the advances in medicine since then, I would like to envisage that taking my advice could help save your life.”
Fair play Jon, we hope to see you back on the football pitch soon enough.
