Painful colonoscopy

My colonoscopy was painless actually i was on sedation and i even don't know when it started and when finished but when i awake i had great pain in my tummy because of air and it long last for 2 hours.

Hi

I've got one tomorrow. Not looking forward to it, but can't be as bad as the prep (Moviprep)!

Good luck. You must be encouraged by the two previous posts.

Reading these comments really makes me nervous...

I am due to have my colonoscopy this Friday (19th October 2012) and am starting on my low residue diet today, followed by only liquids tomorrow with the meds starting at 2.30pm in the afternoon to clear everything in preparation for the procedure.

I am needle phobic and discussed with my specialist what options were available because of this. Gas and air was the only alternative, so I decided I'd just grin and bear it and have the twilight sedation and pain relief. But not i've heard it's pretty much ineffective i'm doubting if i've made the right choice.

I had sigmoidology earlier in the year with no sedation or pain relief and this was awful so they had to stop...dreading this Friday now.

I have been reading the replies on here and I have come to the conclusion that if you are a man or have not had children you enjoy a relatively painfree time. If you have had children, a hysterectomy or other surgery in that region then it can be painful. In fact the nurse at the time of mine gave me a dark look when I mentioned I had had a hysterectomy and said quietly that it could make it more painful.

We are all different and I hope that the negative comments on here (mine among them) do not in any way upset or worry anyone that is due to have this procedure.

That is an extremely interesting observation JoHutchings. I wonder if any medical members of this forum are able to comment.

I was reading all of these comments before my colonoscopy and it scared me to death. I made sure both the nurse and doctor knew that if it was too painful they had to stop.

Unfortunately that is exactly what happened. They only got 20 cm in before i was grabbing the scope out myself because it was unbearable. As others have said the anesthetic had no effect on me at all and the fact that I had a trainee doctor doing the work probably didn't help.

Not a big deal though, they didn't try to force me to do anything I didn't want to do and I will now be arranging to have it done under a GA. I really think everyone should have the choice of conscious or deep sedation before they go.

Some of the comments above make it sound like a torture session. I think my fear before hand made me really tense and was waiting to stop it at any sign of pain. I'm sure most people are fine with it, but anyone concerned should just make sure they let the doctor know to stop if its too bad and don't let the comments above turn you into a nervous wreck like it did with me, it really shouldn't be this much of a big deal.

Hello everyone,

Bit of an update...hopefully this will help anyone having to also go through a colonoscopy.

Yesterday I started taking the pre meds in preparation for today's colonoscopy and I can confirm it was HORRENDOUS! One of the medicine side effects states "may cause mild intestinal cramping"...well that was the understatement of the year. Never again do I want to have to go through that.

Anyway, this morning at 6am i took the last half sachet of medicine and then at 7.45am set off for East Surrey Hospital.

I met with a very kind nice who I talked to about my concerns over feeling the procedure and more importantly for me...getting the CANULA in my hand (i'm needle phobic you see). I had pre-prepared my hand with Emla cream which helps to numb the area and so I think that helped somewhat.

Dr Hillman was my specialist today and knowing my anxiety about the procedure called me straight into the operating room. A kind nurse quickly and almost painlessly inserted my canula into my hand. After this, I stressed my concerns again over the pain relief and sedation and reluctantly Dr Hillman said he couldn't guarantee I wouldn't be in pain but would do what he could to limit the pain.

I was given 4 vials of medicine into my hand, my mouth went dry and in all honesty I remember very little else. All I do remember is being moved onto my front for the most of the procedure and feeling a sensation of moderate discomfort twice, but that really was it!

Before I knew it I was done and when I saw the clock 30 minutes had passed.

They managed to reach their intended destination of the Caecum with no troubles.

After the procedure I felt great discomfort from the amount of air pumped into my intestines and on going to the toilet found a lot of bright red blood passing. However, after reading my colonoscopy report found this to be because they had taken 15 biopsies from my insides!

I can also see from the report they gave me the following medicines for pain relief and sedation:

20mg Buscopan

3mg Midazolam

Pethidine 50mg

I spent 30 minutes in a recovery room and was then told I could go home.

I've spent the day resting and sleeping and although have mild discomfort in my left side and a funny tummy I really cannot complain.

As far as I can see as long as you stress you MUST be given the maximum sedation/pain relief possible there should be no reason why this should be an awful procedure.

JoHutchings - For your research, I am a 29 year old female who has had no children or surgery before.

I'm glad to hear that the procedure went well for you Luli. Its good that the doctors took your anxiety into consideration, I find that medical professionals tend to be dismissive when I tell them I am anxious.

I found the laxative and cramping afterwards to be nothing compared to the pain of the colonoscopy itself. I had 20 mg Buscopan, 100 micrograms Fentanyl and 2 mg Midazolam and as far as i could tell there was no effects from any of these. I am a 25 year old male and there is no reason that it should have been so painful for me.

I have done a lot of research into why some people find it unbearable and others don't but I can't find any good reasoning behind it. The experience of the endoscopist does seem to make a difference but surely not to this extent? I guess some people are luckier than others.

I hope that there will be a better solution to this in the future. I don't understand why some people have to suffer just to diagnose something so important.

First colonoscopy injection put in and I never felt a thing then or after. ( 2 children both section op ) Extra painful colonoscopy another hospital July 4th 2011 Nurse advised dr to stop twice, so incomplete. I was very relaxed as wasnt worried due to no pain 1st time. Was ok when camera not moved, but slightest movement was extra sore and painful. Was very good and ddnt roll about but nurse saw I was in great pain and advised extra relief but doctor said he dare not give more. (quietish to nurse) Medication wasFentalyn 100mg Midazolon 2 mg. NEVER AGAIN Rekon if given eztra Fentalyn it wouldnt have helped from what Ive read About the prep luckily I was advised by a patient to ave old panties and even old slacks to thow away in case of bowel open by accident, Very kind of her to say. Her furniture was ruined due to not making it to bathroom. Wish I had been told about possible pain as would not have gone ahead without more advice.....failed anyway

First colonoscopy injection put in and I never felt a thing then or after. ( 2 children both section op ) Extra painful colonoscopy another hospital July 4th 2011 Nurse advised dr to stop twice, so incomplete. I was very relaxed as wasnt worried due to no pain 1st time. Was ok when camera not moved, but slightest movement was extra sore and painful. Was very good and ddnt roll about but nurse saw I was in great pain and advised extra relief but doctor said he dare not give more. (quietish to nurse) Medication wasFentalyn 100mg Midazolon 2 mg. NEVER AGAIN Rekon if given eztra Fentalyn it wouldnt have helped from what Ive read About the prep luckily I was advised by a patient to ave old panties and even old slacks to thow away in case of bowel open by accident, Very kind of her to say. Her furniture was ruined due to not making it to bathroom. Wish I had been told about possible pain as would not have gone ahead without more advice.....failed anyway

I had a colonoscopy last week and it was painfree, but looking at this site it seems that there are only those who have pain commenting.

Perhaps the subject should be renamed just 'Colonoscopy' to bring all comments under one heading as there are different areas on Patient .co.uk where there are more reassuring messages.