Colonoscopy...done!

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.

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