I was 21 when I had my first colonoscopy. It was a wake-up call that I needed to change my lifestyle.

• Gabriella Parker, 25, has knowledgeable digestive wellness issues since childhood.
• When she was 21, she had a colonoscopy for nan first time.
• Having a colonoscopy served arsenic nan wake-up telephone she needed to make manner changes to amended her health.

This as-told-to effort is based connected a speech pinch Gabriella Parker. It has been edited for magnitude and clarity.

The American Cancer Society recommends adults pinch an mean consequence for colorectal crab statesman having regular colonoscopies astatine 45. I had my first colonoscopy erstwhile I was only 21.

I've struggled pinch constipation and bleeding pinch bowel movements since childhood. I would person a bowel activity possibly erstwhile a week, increasing up. At superior attraction checkups, doctors would show my parents, "Give her Metamucil" and different supplements. My parents said they'd effort things but ne'er changed my diet. My parents some worked and had different priorities to manage. Growing up, my fare consisted of highly processed foods, for illustration accelerated foods, and a high-fat diet.

When I was 16, I decided to go vegan, but I was still eating a high-processed vegan diet, truthful nan alteration didn't thief my digestive issues. Even astatine 5'9 and surviving an progressive lifestyle, I did not usage nan restroom regularly. Feeling sluggish and bloated felt normal to me. The bleeding pinch bowel movements continued connected and disconnected done adulthood but sewage continuously worse pinch age.

I was heard by doctors erstwhile my symptoms sewage worse

When I had conscionable turned 21, I went to my superior attraction expert and said, "Nothing is working. I'm bleeding each clip I usage nan restroom. Something's wrong." Thankfully, my expert heard my concerns, and I was referred to a gastroenterologist who sent maine for a colonoscopy.

The prep for a colonoscopy is worse than nan process because you're flushing your full strategy out. I retrieve drinking nan larger-size MiraLAX and a small spot of Milk of Magnesia. I chugged each of that and utilized nan restroom prior. A fewer of nan nurses commented that I was too young to person a colonoscopy and asked astir my symptoms.

I was frightened going into nan process because I didn't cognize what to expect, but everyone made maine consciousness truthful comfortable. I had a chance to meet everyone who would beryllium successful nan room. The process itself is very brief, and there's nary symptom arsenic you're nether anesthesia. When I woke up, they fto maine remainder arsenic agelong arsenic I needed to and provided fluids. It was decidedly a whole-day event.

They didn't observe immoderate underlying wellness issues, but they did observe polyps and terrible hemorrhoids, which they treated. The expert said nan hemorrhoids could person been playing a immense domiciled successful nan bleeding.

The acquisition kick-started my manner changes

When I was vegan, I ate a high-carb, highly processed diet. I've since changed my eating habits. I'm nary longer vegan and attraction connected having a much well-rounded diet. I prioritize high-protein meals pinch tons of fruits, vegetables, and fiber. I don't restrict immoderate foods, but I'm mindful of eating processed and sugary foods because I cognize my assemblage doesn't consciousness awesome erstwhile I do.

I utilized to do a batch of strength training workouts, which put a batch of accent connected nan body. I've recovered that erstwhile my cortisol and accent levels are elevated, I don't usage nan restroom arsenic frequently, truthful I effort to prioritize a slower lifestyle. I now do each sorts of movements, for illustration swimming and walking.

I besides prioritized my affectional wellness post-colonoscopy. I realized I was ever stressed retired arsenic a kid, and I deliberation that played a domiciled successful my symptoms. I started therapy, I near my stressful firm job, and I near a toxic relationship.

After nan colonoscopy and manner changes, now astatine 25, I acquisition bleeding aliases symptom pinch bowel movements possibly erstwhile a year. When it does happen, I tin link it backmost to a bad diet aliases emotion ace stressed out.

Physical, emotional, and intelligence wellness are intimately related to digestive health and really nan assemblage responds to you.

Have an absorbing individual communicative astir your wellness aliases wellness? Get successful touch pinch cgriffin@businessinsider.com.