Colonoscopy...done!
Posted , 8 users are following.
I was very nervous about this procedure and had read of other people's experiences here, many had suffered a painful colonoscopy. This is an honest report of my procedure and
I hope it helps anyone else worrying about having it done. At my pre-assessment appointment I
was advised to have sedation due to my high anxiety (BP was 197/94) and I am glad I decided on this option. On the day of the colonoscopy: after going through the paperwork then changing into my gown, a nurse walked with me into the procedure room and I was asked to lie on the bed, the consultant put a cannula for the IV into my arm, the anesthetist put the BP cuff on my other arm
and a pulse monitor on my finger, the nurse was waiting to put an oxygen mask on my face, the
consultant then administered the drugs (3mg Midazolam, 25mg Pethidine). I recall saying to the nurse that I could feel a taste coming up into my throat (the drugs) and from that moment nothing more. The only recollection I have was hearing myself groaning in pain a few times and I'm sure I heard the consultant say 'sedation'. In recovery later I was told by the nurse that the pain was the camera going round the bends. My report says 'The scope was retroflexed in the rectum, I have
looked up this terminology and it states that "Extreme care should be used when performing
such a manoeuvre and it should be stopped if there are any signs of resistance or discomfort to the patient ". I am glad I chose sedation despite the fact I did suffer some pain, also glad I went
through with the procedure. Thankfully, my rectal bleeding has been diagnosed as internal
haemorrhoids. I would tell anyone having worries about this procedure that it is not as bad as the horror stories make it out to be.
0 likes, 17 replies
Tom_Peters
Posted
" I would tell anyone having worries about this procedure that it is not as bad as the horror stories make it out to be."
That wouldn't be true, would it? Many patients here have had a nightmare experience. It would take a lot to persuade me to have another one. The doctors need to sort this out.....bad experiences are clearly very common and on occasions the treatment by doctors and nurses is unacceptable.
Jacel
Posted
I do not dismiss those patients who describe their experience as a nightmare, my experience certainly
was unpleasant due to the pain. In some ways I feel cheated because I watched the Lynn Faulds video,
she said it was uncomfortable but not painful, the consultant on her video also said it should not be
painful, therefore I felt less anxious. An experienced gastroenterologist consultant did my procedure and I
certainly had pain. I don't understand those who say they had little or even no pain, how can that
be? Why give sedation, particularly Pethidine, during colonoscopy if it does not alleviate the pain? To
make it easier for the doctor by rendering the patient less difficult due their semi-conscious state? It is
called conscious sedation but I was completely unaware of my surroundings and anything that was
happening after the drugs were administered and only came to when I heard myself groaning with pain. Makes me wonder how Lynn Faulds managed to hold a conversation during her procedure if she had been given sedation?
Jacel
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Tom_Peters
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joe10258 Tom_Peters
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hel5zt
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derek76
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I must have been fairly lightly sedated as I was aware of everything going on. I had two only two brief occasions when I felt what could be called pain.
If you read any of the cataract comments there are some who experienced great pain during them.. Again I felt nothing. One time I had an anaesthetic injection into the brow the next time just anaesthetic drops into the eye.
Everyone is different.
ellie3
Posted
The procedure I had was endoscopy and colonoscopy.
The endo was traumatic just because there was so much going on- oxygen in my nose, mouth hard, endoscope etc that I panicked and freaked out but the nurses wee excellent and calmed me down.
The colonoscopy was fine at first bit I experienced sever pain through out, mainly die to the fact my intestines are very twisty and long I was told, so I was crying and yelling ow a lot, again the staff were great and have it a rest for a bit then some more painkiller then started again, the consultant was also good at trying different positions to make it more comfortable. I had sedation but it didn't work on me so was wide awake, the nurse was great and held my hand and did deep breathing with me.
It was not a nice experience but now it's all over I feel fine, and if it can detect something like cancer then I would go through it again as obviously in the long run a short period of pain is worth it to find out if there is a serious illness.
ellie3
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hel5zt
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derek76
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you do of course need to take the laxative in the usual way.
They won't tell you about and it is around £900 if done privately.
hel5zt
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jenifer6
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whilst watching the video. I might have resisted, but shortly afterwood. I found that I did not
have full control of my bowel.
for months after the procedure, I had bowel leakage. my sphincter muscle was slightly dysfunctional.
this gave me a loss of confidence when going out.
now that is better, but I still have stomach aches.
jenifer6
Posted
After 3 gastro opinions,[ and Israel has an extremely high reputation in the medical field], tThey blamed this on the birth of my 1st child.
I,d had forceps......but, that was 25 years previously!
I ha ve had an MRI, that showed a weakness in a sphyncter muscle.
Going to sue,.. well like in the UK, 1 doc will never go against
another.
I had the exersizes.....
I think when I saw the intsroment coming towards me,[ on video]
I screamed in fear,. and fought it, but I was awake all through it!
Nothing has upset me so much, I am still nervous to boo a whole day out!.....Keep in touch.
george95507
Posted
Just returned from having a colonoscopy at UHB. I have to say I am somewhat amazed to read some of the horror stories relayed here. I cant speak for others, but, my experience is just the opposite. I had the procedure with Entonox (gas and air), yes it was a little uncomfortable, but certainly not painful. The doctor who carried out the procedure was excellent, as were the nurses and aftercare. I was able to walk out and drive home within 30 minutes of the procedure ending.
Please done be afraid, it may save your life