Are you scared or worried about a Colonoscopy ?

As I did not have any polys removed or biopsies taken I cannot comment on that part

The sedative is supposed to make you forget the experience even it was painfull.

Perhaps your consultant is not that good at it?

That is YOUR body.  Not everybody is built with the blueprint unfortunately.  To tell someone it doesn't hurt when it obviously does is called being callous.

I had a screening sigmoidoscopy 15 years ago.  I went in not feeling anxious whatsoever.  I just told myself that people have them all the time, and they know what they are doing and will make sure I am comfortable.

Well, I learned my lesson.  On the one hand, it is not good to scare people.

But, on the other hand, if people are not given straightforward information, then the trust of people will BE LOST, and probably FOREVER for some. 

For me that is the case.  I've never gone back for a screening colonoscopy.  And since I have no family history of any cancer (except that related to smoking, which isn't my issue), then why should I trust those medical "professionals" to do such a highly invasive procedure on me?

Somehow I don't think I would have any peace of mind receiving unprotected anal penetration with a medical device that has been shown to be impossible to clean reliably.  Plus the other risks of perforation (1/1200), possible excessive hemorrhaging from biopses taken (of which only 5% of polyps actually become cancerous), and also adverse reactions to the medications used.  All those adverse effects equal about 5/1000 that should be balanced by people against the risk of cancer.

I promised myself I would post reassurance on one of these boards when I was done my colonoscopy and endoscopy...and I'm done! I did it!! And I was extremely scared. Like, for two months, scared. Ruined my summer worrying about it. 

As someone with an anxiety disorder and a tendency to obsess, all I could think about was what they were going to do to me, and that I wouldn't be in control while I was "under". I had the procedures completely sedated with propofol (sp?).

The weeks leading up to it were the worst, and I thougth about backing out. My advice to anyone going through that kind of anxious hell is to take occasional anti-anxiety medication to get you throught the worst 'spells' and break the obsessive loop. Make yourself as comfortable as possible leading up to the procedure so you don't cancel. I used the odd .25 or .50 of xanax, or .25 or .50 of clonazapam (klonapin) to help me get through. And gravol to help me sleep (sometimes together). By the time the actual day rolled around I was quite calm -- as usual with anxiety, the anticipation is worse than the event.

Anyway, my prep went really well - not nearly as bad as some people seem to say. I thought I would be cramped over and nauseated from the laxative and it would bring back all the symptoms I was trying to cure. Instead, the release was just a steady stream of liquid that turned on and off for a few hours. Nothing that even aggravated my hemerroids (another worry). I sucked on a Ricola cough drop while a drank the glasses of well chilled drink through a straw. I only had to finish about 2/3 of the mixture because about half way through I was just expelling clear/yellowish liquid. Oh, and the night before I was told to take 3 laxative pills (I only took 2), so that had already cleaned me out some. Again, no violent cramping or anything.

I was told to start the prep/fasting 2 days before the appointment. I wouldn't do that the next time. One day was enough to do the job. The first day I ended up eating 2 scrambled eggs because my empty stomach was grinding on itself. The second day I had eggs for breakfast, too, and then did the juice/broth/jello/water fast the rest of the day before starting the laxative drink at 4pm.

So, that's my story. And I was so scared I was ready to quit. It turned out fine, and next time I'll do it differently and not be nearly so afraid. Please, if you're that anxioius, take something to help yourself relax. And if I did it, I swear ANYBODY can!!! Focus on how you will feel when you're done, and pick out some reward for yourself to think about instead of the fear. You can do it!! : )

I hope this post helps someone as much as some other posts helped me.