Painful colonoscopy

I agree Chessman but I was planning on responding about my experience either way, I really really wanted to report a good experience but clearly that wasn't the case. I am still quite annoyed by it and dreading having to deal with everything all over again.

Chessman -- the thread is titled 'Painful colonsopy' about the experiences of those who have had pain during this procedure. As you will see, a large number have, including myself. Incidentally, I have just received a letter from my insurer (I have private cover) saying that they had not paid the Dr for the £65 billed for 'anaesthetics' as it is not routinely expected with this procedure...though they say the cost is not my responsibility and the Dr is aware and I should take no further action. Anaesthetics is not the same as sedation. I certainly had sedation, i/v, but that of course does not work as an analgesic or anaesthetic. I've asked the Dr to tell me exactly what I was given as it was probably the most painful experience of my life and should I ever need another one, I would only do so with a full understanding about why I had such pain, whether the procedure is safe for me, and what would be done to make it less painful.

I'd delighted that you didn't have a bad experience, but please don't make out that those who had extreme pain are in some way whining about nothing. I was in agony.

Thanks for your comments Tom, Jimsie and any others that I may have missed; what I was trying to say was that the site is causing some people to become not only nervous but in a couple of cases' scared to death' and 'terrified'. This cannot be good for the patient who will undergo several days of nervousness or fright or be helpful to the medical staff who try to make the procedure as stress free as possible.If the subject heading was just 'Colonoscopy' then more people would come to one site to see a balanced list of comments from all points of view.

Lastly I had no intention of giving the impressiom that anybody on this site was just 'whining about nothing' as Tom said and if anybody had that feeling then I apologise and will try to be more careful in the choise of my words in future.

Sorry about the mistakes, can't get bact to correct them for some reason....

Your point is a good one Chessman.

How to know at what point people access the forum is the problem. I accessed it post-colonoscopy to reassure myself I was not just being a wimp or uncooperative. I had felt guilty about my "non compliance" as my bowel went into spasm.

Others are clearly accessing it beforehand, and I'm very glad I didn't. Although perhaps one would be more empowered to manage it.

There's no easy answer.

Your point is a good one Chessman.

How to know at what point people access the forum is the problem. I accessed it post-colonoscopy to reassure myself I was not just being a wimp or uncooperative. I had felt guilty about my "non compliance" as my bowel went into spasm.

Others are clearly accessing it beforehand, and I'm very glad I didn't. Although perhaps one would be more empowered to manage it.

There's no easy answer.

Chessman -- I don't follow where you're coming from on this. A thread 'Colonoscopy' would cover all manner of things, bowel prep, reason for procedure, any biopsy + result, or any other action taken. The discussion is about 'Painful colonoscopy' which is what the thread title says!

As an update, the Dr's sec has just phoned me back about the underpayment by the insurer; after we'd dealt with that matter I raised the pain issue. According to my file I'd had pethidine as well as midazolam and she suggested that if there is a next time I highlight the pain I experienced and ask for a larger dose. Maybe that's the difference --- maybe some Drs give less than others?

It would be very interesting to hear from a Dr with first hand experience to explain to us what causes the pain, whether it is suggestive of a risk, and what can be done to prevent it happening again.

By the way, the previous colonoscopy I had in 2010 by a different Dr was far less painful but the bowel prep was entirely different. They told me that the Dr had a different method of prep to most that was more patient-friendly. I think I was on low-residue food the day before but was not given any Picolax, etc. for use at home. I went to the hospital early in the morning for a mid-afternoon procedure and they gave me several flasks of stuff, so I had no messing about at home. It was much better and I recall that the liquid was much clearer on that occasion to this time, despite it having been a much shorter time.

I've had 2 Colonoscopies. My first was in Australia and under general anesthetic. The following day I was fine and fit for work. I had another in Southampton performed by Care UK and it was a truly horrific experience. I was in agony every-time they pumped air in to inflate my bowel, but I was covered in tubes and slightly sedated, with an oxygen mask and I couldn't call out for help. The nurse who was there to look after me was sat behind me chatting about the x-factor. I told the doctor afterwards about the pain and I complained - only to be told that they were sorry that the experience I had was not the one I expected!! Sine then I've had two gastroscopies. The first was OK, the second was a nightmare. I've made inquiries and the first one I hadn't closed my eyes so they gave me extra Medazolam. After each sedation I've felt anxious and aggressive for 3 or 4 days. I think the Dr's give as little sedative as possible and if you don't metabolise it as well as most you are stuffed. I've asked if there's any alternative drug I could use in future.

I have had several colonoscopies and have found them most painful but I do have diverticular disease which for those that don't know is pockets in the bowel and I wonder if that is part of the reason!

Has anyone tried a virtual colonoscopy instead? I now have to have a virtual colonoscopy since the normal colonoscopy was incomplete due to pain. But I am wondering if the virtual colonoscopy will be any easier since they still have to blow up the colon with the same amount of air?

I was due a virtual test but idnt get details. Wonder if medication is given by weight of patient, for pain and sedation. if so that is why its a bit unlucky for some. Pity having to do bowel prep again for virtual jimsie, well I think you have. How long before due for virtual, hope all goes well for you.

Yeah, I have to do the bowel prep again, but although it is unpleasant, I find it tolerable unlike the colonoscopy itself. I have the virtual colonoscopy in 2 weeks time, but I really don't want to risk taking time off work and doing all the prep just for it to be incomplete due to pain again.

It's an MRI scan Jimsie so should be totally painless. Wish we could all have it, but I guess it must be less accurate.

Unfortunately they still have to pump the air in to expand the colon in the same way they do in a normal colonoscopy. It is less accurate but it would still detect most serious things.

I had a colonoscopy this week I must admit after reading these reviews I was in a cold sweat going in, but to my frank amazement it was absolutely fine! There was the occasional twinge of discomfort but nothing I could really describe as pain. I spent days dreading it and all for nothing. I've had worse trips to the dentist by a long shot! I has midazolam 5 mg and a pain killer Fentanyl. I dont know if it is relevant but the consultant was the guy who did the procedure-absolutely brilliant.And a polyp was removed as well, again no pain.I am posting this as a reassurance to others who may have read this thread and think theyre in for a rough ride-well mine wasn't. I wouldn't loose a wink of sleep over it next time.