Colonoscopy....why does it hurt sooo much?!
Posted , 7 users are following.
I've had a second colonoscopy today. Agony. I had one 6 years ago which had to be abandoned because of the pain I was in & the struggle the Dr was having to go round. I have turned down 2 because of the trauma, but because of symptoms I had to have today's. Staff were brilliant, phoned me twice to talk to me about it. I'm so traumatised even to talk about it makes me shake & cry. Staff reassured me even though I broke down again. They gave me sedation, but this seems to have no effect on me. Once again I was in agony & Dr gave up having only looked at first part. So really a sigmoidoscopy. They found diverticula in this bit, but why is it so painful. I do have a high pain threshold but they now say I am unsuitable to have one. Why can't we have a general like in France & Australia etc. never again, nothing has ever traumatised me like this.
2 likes, 18 replies
steve28677 Scotmaz1
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My friends back in New Jersey were horrified that it was done without general sedation. The only conclusion I've come to is it's way cheaper to offer minimal sedation only.
BTW I had the stomach scope done at the same time. Excellent doctors and nurses just government and management cutting costs at our expense!
Scotmaz1 steve28677
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M0ncanard Scotmaz1
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I had an operation (anterior resection) in October and am doing well. To get to the point I have read that over the next few years I will have to undergo varous follow-up routines - blood tests and further colonoscopies. That word - colonoscopy - fills me with dread and real fear. I know that if this procedure runs along the same lines as the first I will be unable to tolerate the pain and then what happens?
I have an appointment in March with the consultant/surgeon following on from a CEA blood test and I intend to take that opportunity to discuss with him in depth the whole colonoscopy business. If he hasn't read the comments on this site I will direct him to it. I know many contributors find having a colonoscopy a breeze. Lucky them. For those that experience pain something has to be done. I will reiterate what I said in my previous posting - this is the 21st Century for goodness sake. I will finish here because I am getting angry. My thoughts are with you Scotmaz1.
Scotmaz1 M0ncanard
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Scotmaz1 M0ncanard
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Scotmaz1 M0ncanard
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adam98194 Scotmaz1
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joe10258 Scotmaz1
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I can empathize. I suffered from a sigmoidoscopy long ago, and worked in health care (but not gastroenterology), and I can see how that pain can happen as the colonoscopy device is foreign to the colon.
In this universe of colonoscopies and the like, it seems that there is no normal. You feel what you feel.
mel64317 Scotmaz1
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Really so sorry to hear of your experience.....when my Colonoscopy two weeks ago was so positive and pain free.....It becomes apparent ( hope I'm not jinxing myself here as have yet to have my follow up appointment) that the procedure is fine.....if you have a relatively healthy bowel ? Diverticuli I know from friends can be VERY painful as they form pockets and spend a lot of the time infected....and certain other problems cause narrowing of the bowel which would, of course be extraordinarily painful when blown up with air as they do, to see what they're doing during this procedure....
Perhaps that's the conversation we should all be having with our consultants ?? I personally would always plump for mild sedation rather that a " general" where possible as the drugs are so toxic....and it's a longer recovery.....but hey that's me ! There should be a choice ?! And for those who are distressed or have more complex issues......definitely full sedation should be available...
All the best to you....hope you have a positive outcome.
Scotmaz1 mel64317
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joe10258 mel64317
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mel64317 Scotmaz1
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raffie Scotmaz1
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Diverticulitis or any other bowl disease could cause the test to be painful.
Other reasons why I feel this barbaric test is so painful are;
1. Size of the scope used. I know some doctors here in the States, have stopped using the adult version of the scope in favor of the smaller pediatric version whereby making the test more tollerable for their adult patients.
2. The level of experience of the tester. How many times have they done this? Have they ever done sedationless scopes before.
Their level of expertise really shows when they start negoiating the turns in the colon. Someone who's done this enough times will be able to get their patient thru the turns and the test with minimum discomfort.
Here in the states, many facilities have replaced the standard Versed/Fentanyl drug cocktail for the test with Propofol.
I would like to find a place here in the states that offers the patient colonoscopy shorts to wear for the test, uses the smaller pediatric scope, and offers no sedation just pain mitigation as needed for the test.
Requirements hard to come by here in the States.
christianL raffie
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Here in the northest U.S., in my case Boston, Propodol sed. is
standard. However, you can turn it down, like I did, and just opt
for a fentanyl dose if needed during the scope. I, unfortunately turned it all down, and made the doc stop 1/3 of the way. I had all the options( except Co2 for insulfation), but my fear of
sedation and narcotics stopped the procedure.
christianL
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raffie christianL
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I don't want to be sedated for the test so I'm looking at a drug called Remifentanil which is a potent, short-acting synthetic opioid for pain mitigation.
Because next month is colorectal cancer awareness month, I'm going to a colonoscopy seminar and will inquire as to why remifentanil isn't used more.
Regards,
Raffie
christianL raffie
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I have also read good things about remifentanil. My team was
great about having the fentanyl ready, but I just totally
'chickened out'. and stopped the procedure. I agree that the right
doctor and nurses could probably get anyone through it unsedated, unless of course the colon is inflamed, diseased, etc.. I truly
thought I could do it without any sed.or opiate, but again, I think I
just let the fear get to me. I at least got the equivalent of a
sigmoidoscopy and my FOBT was negative. I may go for a
virtual CT colonoscopy, but my ins. will not pay for it. That would be $500 out of my pocket. And, if the CT found a big (6mm+) a
regular scope would be needed anyway. Thank goodness I have never had GI issues, and my scope was my 50 yr. screening.
If I ever need a full
scope again, I will bite the bullet with propofol, again, just my
opinion. With the scientific advances being made, one would
hope technology could provide a totally pain free, unsedated
colonoscopy! Until then, Good luck to you, take care.
joe10258 raffie
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But fentanyl is a "purer" drug in my opinion, as demerol has a noticeable adverse effect of nausea for some that fentanyl has not demonstrated when I gave it. I worked for over 20 years as an RN, much of that in surgical ICUs.
Again, medication has very individual effects on everybody, so you never know. But frankly, I would just request fentanyl, and say that I am allergic to demerol which usually gives you that extra arguement.