painful sigmoidoscopy

 I went through a Sigmoidoscopy as a follow up to a colonoscopy where some polyps were nipped off and one large one in my anus removed.

The colonoscopy wasn't too bad except when they went around the bends or pumped too much air in.  I had no gas etc due to my COPD, but am sure they used some local cream.  The worse part was the previous evenings preparation, having to drink 2 litres of a wallpaper paste type preparation that tasted of orange.  After first mouthful I said this ain't so bad but was gagging after half a glass.

With the Sigmoidoscopy, a month and a half later, the preparation was just an enema an hour before one set off.  WARNING, give yourself a couple of hours.  I was in the middle of changing into surgery gown when my bowels opened out of the blue (and into the brown).  A very humbling and humiliating feeling but the guy who helped me clean up was a champion.  I even needed to dash into the loo as I was entering the procedure room.  Cut a long story short, the investigation only hurt a bit and then when the camera initially entered. They only had a butcher about 12 inches in and declared me clear and free of polyps.

Thank you HGH and our fantastic NHS.

Those of us living in the UK are so fortunate.

Hi internet friend - I too had a flexi sig today at an NHS Hospital, I won't lie the pain was bad, sweat was pouring off me and my pulse was 140+, they offered entonox but I wanted to stay in full control to say no, I asked him to pause twice - which he did, but it is certainly the worst pain I have ever experienced and I take pain well, he found a polyp and described my abdominal pain as "probable IBS" I think the pure truth here is it's CHEAPER for a known excruciating procedure to go without proper pain relief, it goes against the patient charter - I would advise anyone to demand proper analgesia minimal - sedation purely makes you drowsy enough to give consent and not care - this is NOT proper decent, or right, I am angry that in 2014 this barbaric behaviour exists - every consultant should go through one of these to realise - this is not to scare anyone - you will get through it but unless we try to change things - they won't change - childbirth much less painful 

Hi internet friend - I too had a flexi sig today at an NHS Hospital, I won't lie the pain was bad, sweat was pouring off me and my pulse was 140+, they offered entonox but I wanted to stay in full control to say no, I asked him to pause twice - which he did, but it is certainly the worst pain I have ever experienced and I take pain well, he found a polyp and described my abdominal pain as "probable IBS" I think the pure truth here is it's CHEAPER for a known excruciating procedure to go without proper pain relief, it goes against the patient charter - I would advise anyone to demand proper analgesia minimal - sedation purely makes you drowsy enough to give consent and not care - this is NOT proper decent, or right, I am angry that in 2014 this barbaric behaviour exists - every consultant should go through one of these to realise - this is not to scare anyone - you will get through it but unless we try to change things - they won't change - childbirth much less painful 

I suffered with a lot of pain too. I was told 'slight discomfort' which is a complete understatement!! They said it may be more painful for me because I have a small build. I was told before that I would be able to have gas and air, yet when I requested some form of pain killers the doctor refused. Luckily, when the pain became physically unbarable, he said he had seen all that he needed to see as I have proctitis (Only inflammation of the first six inches of the colon).

I would definitely agree and say that they should sedate people for this procedure. Does it differ in different hospitals? A relative of mine said she had the option of a general. Unfair!!

Have you had a sigmoidoscopy Benny?  I have, and it was excruciating to the point where I was on the verge of passing out.  The experience is different for everybody, so what might not be painful to you is extremely painful for someone else.

Really sympathetic to all who have had a bad experience. Just had flexi sigmoidoscopy 2 days ago and really traumatised by it. The Moviprep was so disgusting and distressing to try to force it down.Cramps and horribly painful bloating so bad I couldn't sit down because I couldn't bend in the middle! the instructions are total rubbish and it was obvious that if you follow their timing you will be on the loo half the night. I started 2 hours earlier ,3pm, and still not able to go to bed until nearly 1.00am. On the day the nurses were lovely but I insisted on sedation and really glad i did. Wouldn't let them start until I felt OK. Even so very uncomfortable and painful. Have not felt comfortable since. Abdomen is tender, eating sets off crampy griping pains so have only eaten very small meals since. Whenever I eat i feel as if I need the loo only for it to be little tiny watery bits or just wind. Doesn't seem to be improving. I feel much worse than before I had it.Never having anything like this again. The only thing I can say to everyone who has had a really horrific experience is that you should PLEASE COMPLAIN. No one should be "persuaded" not to have sedation and then suffer dreadfully. No one should have to be screaming in pain and having to abandon a test that they need. Staff should do better than this. If no one complains nothing will change. Go to the Patient Advisory and Liason service ( PALS). Every hospital has one or just write to the Chief Executive. If enough patients complain then the way theydo things will have to change.

I had a sigmoidoscopy today and had a couple of polyps removed.  Yesterday, I read this dicussion which put the fear of god into me until I got down to Guest (in UPPERCASE)!  I stopped reading after that.

Actually, it wans't that bad.  There were a couple of agonising moments when we had to get around a bed, but a tug on the gas and air and gritting of the teeth were all it took.  The doctor seemed to know exactly when I was going to feel the pain so that helped.

Anyway, it's an old thread and I'm not sure if anyone is still reading this, but if you are, don't worry, it may be not so bad for you!

At least you had gas and air,  I didnt get either and I repeat it was the worst pain I have experienced.

I had to have a colonoscopy a month ago and this time they did a CT one,  injecting dye,  it was 100% better than the invasive camera up the bum job. I was very scared, told the doctor of my experiences with sigmoidoscopy and he told me this wouldnt be as bad.   When finished I was elated.   Its true no machinery is inserted therefore any polyps needing removal could not be done then and there as CT is non invasive.

I will NEVER put myself thorugh a standard sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy ever again,    the pain was too bad.   Its a shame the doctors that do this to patients, never experience it themselves, then they wouldnt describe it as just UNCOMFORTABLE.   It is excruciating pain.

Hi Guest, yes the gas and air helped...it let me concentrate on something else at least.  (I just noticed that my post said it was painful getting around a "bed", I meant BEND!).

Because of the polypes found, I've got to have a colonoscopy next, to get to the "otherside" of my bowel.  Not yet sure what that means, but no doubt google will help once I've plucked up the courage.

BTW, I'm not saying that the pain is the same for everyone.  I'm sure it varies depending on the layout of your insides.  I had a couple of kinks that were excrutiating to get past, I don't think I could have taken much more.

I'll go for gas and air again for the colonoscopy though and see what happens.

I was just reading some American posts, seems they routinely use general anaesthetic over there.  Why not here too?