Painful Colonoscopy
Posted , 44 users are following.
I am trying to collate information on this. I had one done yesterday and I have never known pain like it. I even shouted for them to stop but all they kept giving me is gas and air and telling me to breath deeply with it. It did not help. I know this is not always the case but after reading lots of messages from people where this has happened to I am trying to get as much information together - trying to see if there is a pattern i.e same doctors, same hospitals. If anyone is willing to put there experience on here for me to be able to put together some kind of proof that this does happen I will be very grateful. I feel so traumatised by this that I want to take this further but I cannot do this without any back up info. So please, I know this is not always the norm to feel as much pain as I did but I am going to try my best to get this recognised and hopefully even if I manage to stop 1 other person going through this I will be happy.
13 likes, 200 replies
njs276 Vonney63
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My partner had a colonscopy some time ago and told me I'd enjoy the ' floating' feeling and that he remembered nothing except that he talked rubbish.
My result was a good one so I left feeling relieved but it is iniquitous that patients should have to tolerate high levels of pain in this procedure.
Vonney63 njs276
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annie255 Vonney63
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It did not begin well when there was a problem trying to insert the canula as I have very tiny veins, and because of previous surgery, my right arm cannot be used for any medical proceedures, even bp testing. It eventually took 4 attempts before they were successful. The doctor did ask at one point if I would be willing to go ahead without sedation, telling me that most of his patients said it was not a painful proceedure, more just uncomfortable. I said no, but despite being given the drugs, I was completely conscious throughout, not even a slight 'wooziness'. I was given Midazolam 1.5mg and Fentanyl 100mg (couldn't have Buscopan because of Glaucoma) and can only assume they did not work!
It then began wel with me watching the screen, but then the pain and cramping became excrutiating and I began yelling. I was given some 'more' pain killers, but it made no difference. They then suggested I try lying on my front. I had them trying to pull me over, and I was made to lay with my arms out in front of me, and told to try and relax. I felt totally vulnerable in this position and when the colonoscopist began again, I started to grip the top of the bed and began to scream again. To give him his due he did ask if I wanted him to stop and I said yes. He then took some random bioposies and I was then taken back to the recovery area. At no time did I feel 'out of it'.
Evidently he only was able to exam the descending colon and so have been told I will be sent for a CT Colonography.
I must admit I find no fault with the doctor (apart from the agony of the proceedure) but the attitude of the nurse was bad. She never spoke to me once whilst wheeling me back out and I heard her say to someone that ' we took some biopsies but it had to be abandoned', in a tone of voice that made me feel a total failure.
However having gone into this thread today, I realise I am not in the minority at all. If I ever have to have a repeat I will insist on being put out, or I wont have it done.
Vonney63 annie255
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Vonney63
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jackie_52126 Vonney63
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raggyper123 Vonney63
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bencooper raggyper123
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raggyper123 bencooper
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Vonney63
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bencooper Vonney63
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bencooper
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Vonney63 bencooper
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bencooper Vonney63
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bencooper
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bencooper Vonney63
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It is 'Quality Assurance Guidelines for Colonoscopy'
Note point 2.7 ie safe sedation and comfort.
DID ANYONE ASK ANYONE ON HERE TO RATE THEIR LEVEL OF COMFORT/DISCOMFORT?
(And also, in point 2.6 it states 'the right of the patient to withdraw consent at any stage of the process should be understood by all members of the team' )
Perhaps some endoscopists need some retraining.
Here is the link:
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/publications/nhsbcsp06.html
bencooper Vonney63
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bencooper
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http://www.esge.com/assets/downloads/pdfs/guidelines/2012_quality_in_screening_colonoscopy_position_statement.pdf
jackie_52126 Vonney63
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When the pain was unbearable I cried out and they repositioned me on my back and put pressure on my stomach which helped.
When I couldn't take it any more they stopped.
I still stand by my posts that this procedure is barbaric but that in my case it was certainly not the fault of the doctor or nurse.
If they had done that to me I would have jumped off the table.