Painful colonoscopy

tiff9 -- So sorry you went through that. I think it's an outrage that patients are not warned. I'm not medical so I don't know whether the problem is cost-cutting, sloppy work or just 'that's the way the cookie crumbles'. Commonsense tells us that it could be done under a general anaesthetic painlessly but GAs are not without risk and are of course hugely more expensive on staff, time, etc.

It's a bit like horsemeat in your burgers. The horsemeat per se isn't a big deal for most of us but if they lie on the ingredients, what else is there in there? Same with these doctors....if they are not up-front about the pain and risks, what are they not telling us?

Tiff 9 - I am also sorry that you suffered similar to me. GAs are not really recommended as there is risk involved with them, but certainly there are drugs that will work in a similar way. I had laser treatment and a cone biopsy to my cervix 30 years ago. I felt nothing at all and was free to go home about 3 hours afterwards.

I also had my shoulder manipulated under anaesthetic - again, no pain, almost no memory of the procedure.

What you and I have endured is not necessary and it goes to show that there are many of us who have suffered the same excruciating pain due to bad procedures.

If you can remember the investigation, the doctor didn't give you enough hyoscine. Ask for a hefty dose next time and you won't remember a thing.

I hope this goes well. As far as I know hyoscine hyrdrobromide is a cheap drug so cost should not be an issue. If you remember the procedure at all then you weren't given enough. As one obstetrician who used it on his patients put it "My patients want to have babies; they just don't want to be there at the time".

I had my appointment with my consultant yesterday who appologised for what had happened and promised to make sure I was cared for and made as comfortable as possible when he does the next procedure.He said the other doctor had given me enough stuff to knock a horse out but this he read on the report,he was not a witness as to what I was actually given,if I'd had that much meds why was I awake within 4 minutes and why the amount of pain--I was never topped up as he suggested only with the Buscapan. My cons did say the procedure would be more painful if I had diverticular disease and I also have an unconnected problem that may have contributed to the pain.

This is the 4th day after my colonoscopy, it has taken me this long to be able to even read anything about this procedure. I am a 52 year old, 7 stone female who had one 30 years ago without painkillers or sedation and who went straight out shopping afterwards so I headed to the procedure on Friday with no trepidation or concern however I am nothing short of traumatised after the event. I took the usual pre med liquid- horrid but necessary- 5 litres on Thursday evening and a night on the bathroom floor- no great pain but discomfort. I arrived at the hospital and was taken to theatre at 12:40 where a tap was put in my arm and two ampules were given- I have no idea what they were- I wasnt told but was told that whatever happened I would instantly forget- similar to childbirth ? what a statement to make ! but that the likelhood would be I wouldnt remeber it. The Doctor- I assume he was a Doctor sat down and proceeded to insert the scope and I fell asleep- I checked the clock it was 12:45, I became conscious and can only describe the next 15 minutes as the worst of my life. I have experienced breaking my spine in 3 places, I have severe bone disease, broke 9 bones at one go, had my shoulder dislocated 4 times and have had spinal taps and invasive procedures and consider myself to be a cooperative patient but nothing that I have endured compared to this. The pain was simply unbearable, some of the pain was like severe colic due to the gas which is expected but the other pain I simply cant describe. I pleaded for them to let me catch my breath only to be held down forceably while an oxgyen mask was put on. He continued to prod and push the scope as I sobbed, he identified 2 growths which he kept saying would 'have to come out' but said he was unable to get round a bend- probably a kink ! at this point the nurse informed him I was becoming distressed and my heart rate had rapidly increased to 141. He still carried on, he wanted to tattoo the growths- I can still hear him saying this. He proceeded to do this and I actually thought I was going to pass out when the nurse told him forceably he would need to stop. He withdrew the scope and I passed out. I woke up at 1:10 so was barely out for 5/6 minutes and woke up in the ward. I called a ward nurse and asked what happened and explained everything I heard - and told her they didnt even do the biopsies which was the reason I was having it done, she was astounded and went to get someone from theartre . The nurse who stopped it explained I had become too distressed and they couldnt complete the procedure so I would have to meet with a consultant, have a barium x ray, a further colonoscopy and removal of the growths and a liver biopsy. I explained that although I was embaressed I wasnt uptight going in and couldnt undertsand why this had happend - she simply said some people have funny bowels- well I certainly wasnt laughing. She told me they couldnt identify the growths- I was thinking polyps and that I certainly have to have the rest of these tests, I told her I could see no way that I would be able to go through that again- she suggested I would forget it in a few days- well 4 days later and I havent forgot it ! She did say mext time they would probably review the meds I am sorry for such a long post but I just had to try and establish if it was just me or had others experienced a similar event and I thank god I came on this site. On recieving the typed note from the hospital as I was leaving at 1:30- less than an hour after the 'meds' I was struck dumb when I read 'the patient withdrew consent' while listing all these other tests and finishing by saying it was stopped due to patient distress. I know there is a school of thought which believes its best to go through this for 30 mins than leave it and end up with perhaps the dreaded cancer but I honestly do not think I could go through that again. I have a high threshold of pain and this broke it. I got home and was ill for 3 days, the pain in my back, upper chest and left side was bad but controllable, my arm and buttock has finger bruises on them which must have been them trying to hold me down. But I am absolutely emotionally shattered as part of me is blaming me yet my rationale side knows it wasnt me who prevented this important procedure from being completed. Thanks guys for taking the time to read this and for sharing your own stories, it has gone a long way to making me feel better and perhaps not entirely a whimp or an ' uncooperative patient' as I am sure will be their view.

Maggie - I thought mine was bad, as I started out only on Entonox gas and then the inline drugs, still to no availa. Please, please put your experience on Patient Opinion - here https://www.patientopinion.org.uk/youropinion

I received a letter of apology from the surgeon and the suggestion that if I had it again it should be under general anaesthetic.

Jean

I had a lower bowel examination done in which they found a polyp and removed. It was uncomfortable and because they had found a Polyp I had to go back for a Colonoscopy. They said they did give pain relief but generally it was not needed as it was more just a bit of discomfort. I opted for pain relief which was given on the table and it did not touch the sides. I was in absolute agony and it had to be stopped. Because of this I then had to go back to have a Barium. I got a phone call today from the Doctors secretary to say it has been three years since my last check up and I was penciled in for another Colonoscopy. I have asked to see the Doctor prior as she said I could discuss on the day about pain relief! I don't think so! At the time I felt it was me being a wimp but after reading the discussions here tonight I know now its not just me. I have had a Hysterectomy and because they left one Ovary I also have had a Ovarian Cyst. Which I am still having problems with. I know it's important for me to get re checked but I'm afraid I will be palmed off about pain relief and end up going round in circles again.

Stick with it angie 26, make sure as much as possible about sedation. The first time all went well, the second was very painfull and nurse told doctor to stop twice...after that I was forgot about. Found out a very tiny one was removed. Hope all goes well with you and pain relief discussion.

I was admitted as day patient to have a endoscopy & colonoscopy on 30th April @ North Tees .I was quite nervous about the procedure but felt reassured after reading the information letter regarding what would happen.

Unfortunately what was to follow has left me feeling tearful and traumatised.

The information letter I received prior to my appointment states I would have a nurse staying with me to make sure I was comfortable.I don't feel I was given this. The following are some things that happened.

+I made it very very clear that I wanted the maximum pain relief as possible.

+I felt that they rushed the procedure from as soon as I entered the room. There was lack of communication & care.

+A first attempt to give me a sedative in my left arm failed then they put another quickly into right arm whilst the needle was still inserted in first arm. They did not tell me if or when it should take affect. They proceeded immediately with the endoscopy.I felt NO effects of the sedation whatsoever.I was fully aware that it would not put me to sleep but would just relax me but this did not have ANY effect whatsoever.I also don't think the monitoring of the sedation or pain relief was adequate and the nurses only knew how much pain and discomfort I was in from my groans.

+I had asked for the throat spray to be used for endoscopy & it wasn't given. This left me 'gagging' throughout my endoscopy. Something I desperately wanted to avoid.

+No one communicated to me throughout the colonoscopy procedure about me being 'looped' inside therefore making it difficult for them

+No one noticed the sponge had fallen out my nose ( for oxygen)until it had been out a little while

+I couldn't tell them to stop the procedure as stated in the information letter, as I was in too much pain.

+ I was groaning so was told to use gas and air which again made no difference and then someone just kept saying "big breaths" "big breaths" every time I groaned. It might be said that It wasn't taking affect because I wasn't taking big enough breaths. Again I think this form of pain relief should have been talked through beforehand when I entered the room and how to use it to my best advantage. Not just handed to me whilst I was in so much pain and discomfort

+Not once was I asked through the procedure how I was or how was I coping. Or even a reassuring hand on mine.

+The staff in the room were having a conversation amongst themselves about ' becoming a grandparent and the joys of it etc' and were joking and laughing.I didn't feel their attention was on what was important and felt they were ' removed' from me and what I was experiencing.

+I eventually managed to tell them quickly that my hands had gone numb . I could only do this whilst changing position when pain wasn't as bad.

+Someone said towards end of procedure that I had gone 'grey' in colour as if they had just noticed

I felt like a piece of meat on the slab. My concern never was what they may find in this exam but rather the procedure itself .I told lady doing procedure that I was really nervous. She told me "there would be something wrong with me if I wasn't" and that was it. No reassurance , and no "we will monitor you carefully" & no telling her team.She also said that "this wasn't an operation , just a procedure"

I totally understand that it is a procedure but its still an invasive procedure that needs thoughtfulness, care and attention .I expected there to be discomfort and even pain at times but this was no where near. I suffered great pain and it was very traumatic.

I feel overall that the care given was very inadequate. Health care professionals need to remember that their patients are not just a body but a SOMEBODY

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you suffer write a an official letter of complaint to the hospital. The above is just part of a letter I sent to complain and inform. I never want anyone to go through what seemed like a barbaric torture, like I did.

If everyone writes maybe just maybe things will be changed. I never ever want to go through that again.

I'm horrified but not entirely surprised to hear reports such as Maggiee's and Angela151's are still being posted here. My procedure was also nothing short of barbaric and something Vlad the impaler might have been proud of, but come on medical profession! Please take note now that your cost cutting so called safe option for such investigative procedures isn't working in so much as it isn't providing adequate pain relief for many patients. It's no good just giving us some drug that clouds our memory so we don't remember to who's face to smash in before leaving the hospital. We can always get you at the follow up appointment. I recommend everyone take a bloody sharp stick smeared in vaseline to theirs and don't be afraid to use it ;-)

Now they've ruined any chances of me ever having any further colonoscopy procedures again they are now trying to get me to go for the endoscopy down the throat. No chance!

Angela----You have just described what happened to me and exactly how I felt afterwards---abused---the same with you Maggiee. I had a colonoscopy in January and the scoping doctor failed to take out a polyp because "it was lost"and was told I'd have to go back in 6 months(July) for a sigmoidoscopy'.I managed to see my consultant in clinic and told him how traumatised I'd been with the colonoscopy and that no one spoke to me or cared for me and how I'd been in severe pain.He promised to do the next procedure himself and advised me to write to the sister of the scoping unit which I did and she is going to talk things over with me when I go for pre assessment and also be in the treatment room with me,however only sedation has been mentioned and I will insist on pain relief too.The trouble is when they give you sedation they think your not aware of what is going on to you or that you wont notice you've not been topped up or given pain relief.My next procedure is in 2 weeks it's been brought forward by 2 months and I'm dreading it,you feel so vulnerable when they've got you on that trolley.Please write your experience to Patient opinion and any other NHS site.

envcityjc -- The oesophageal endoscopy is different by an order of magnitude. I've had many and know many others who have had many. The two slightly unpleasant parts *can* be discomfort as the endoscope goes through the throat and a natural gagging sensation that passes as soon as the head is well into the oesophagus. I have always been offered a local anaesthetic throat spray and intravenous midazolam (a sedative and amnesia inducing drug of short duration). Technically you're conscious but with that procedure I have seldom remembered anything too bad. I now ask if they would kindly give me the throat spray earlier than usual so that it has time to work and to wait until the midazolam has really started to work (I make a conscious effort to stay alert focusing on their faces, etc, moving my fingers,....). Unless someone else here knows different, you should be fine with the oesophageal endoscopy which can be a vital diagnostic and surgical procedure.

Thank you for that Tom. I was getting a little worried as I should be getting the appointment any day now and was almost certainly going to cancel it. The great thing about his forum isn't just finding out you're the only one who's had a bad experience with one medical procedure but also finding some good information on other procedures and getting good knowledge to be prepared. More often than not even when the medics/nurses do tell you what's likely to happen it can be too much info to absorb and it's easy to come away forgetting half of what they have said.

I'll certainly be asking about all the possible throat sprays and time to work etc, and taking note of your advice. I am relieved to hear your reports on the procedure and that it's not as bad as the colonoscopy. I didn't think anything could be! Don't know if I'll be able to stand the gag reflex though. My dentist tried to shove what felt like a pound and a half of lead shield in my mouth yesterday to take an Xray and eventually after much retching I had to tell him not to bother.

I'm no wuss but according to both my dentist, my neurosurgeon and Vlad the Impaler my anatomy is different to the norm. Yeah, I'm a freaking monster of science!! lol. I don't believe that either.

Thanks again. Great post as usual from you.