I am now challenging my inner and outer microbiome – or clearly trying to get rid of most of it. My innards have been flushed with 1 gallon (4 liters) of electrolytes. Yesterday was a day with only clear liquids to “eat” so I was on a tea, no pulp orange juice and electrolyte diet. The most unpleasant thing was surprisingly enough not the coming out part, but the drinking part. Oh my that electrolyte solution tastes foul. And who on earth though it was a good idea to add pineapple flavor to it?

In parallel with the interior flushing I need to wash my body thoroughly three times with clorehexidine as preparation for the surgery tomorrow. I will do the last one before going to bed. I have of course not gotten rid of all the bacteria inside and out, but it is definitely a lot less of them than yesterday. I have never been cleaner. And I tested negative for COVID-19 again – for the third time.

Only liquids today as well and soon I have to stop drinking for the day. (Yes, I’m already dreaming of food.) I’m heading down after noon to get my colonoscopy. Due to potential kinks and a more difficult procedure since I have scar tissue inside, they want to sedate me completely. My third one in less than six months. The fourth one tomorrow.

An unexpected way to spend our 10 year anniversary today but we had a small celebration on the beach by UCSB on Saturday. Benjamin will move into a house with some friends soon. We drove up to drop off some furniture, TV, and kitchen stuff – and mapped out what size bed he can have. He is very much looking forward to moving up there in about five or six weeks. Since we have chosen to stay away from restaurants and also take-outs we brought dinner to the beach instead. We also brought our camping stove and heated up a chili that Benjamin made the day before. A nice small celebration with the two most important people in my life – and the most important dog.