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About CancerI hope none of this debate has put anyone off having either an endoscopy or a colonoscopy.
I've had both several times over the past 20 years during which time the thckness of the endoscopes has reduced considerably. Not the most pleasant of experiences but luckily I've never experienced the sort of pain some people have described here. -
So far I've not had sedation, usually because I drove myself to the hospital..
Cheers
Dave
DaveK
I'm so pleased to have seen your post as I too want to drive to the hospital and home again after the procedure. The Doctor I saw for the initial consultation insisted that I would have to have sedation and unless I was accompanied the procedure would not go ahead. I argued the toss & explained that I did not wish any friend or family member to know about it as we are all very concerned about a close one who has pancreatic cancer. He eventually relented and agreed that it could be done without sedation. I hope I made the right decision.
Can anybody spell out the dangers of having sedation & being alone afterwards. I asked if I could have the procedure earlier in the day as I should be fully recovered by the time I go to bed after midnight. He said the danger was me being alone & not being able to seek help if I had a problem. Apart from my bowel problem, I am pretty healthy. I do not have any heart or breathing problems and I have quite a good bearing of pain so I hope I'm not taking a stupid risk.
PS. If I'm not sedated, will I hear interesting comments and will I be told the result at the end of the procedure.
You're not taking a stupid risk - it is only in recent years that people in the UK have been offered sedation for a colonoscopy.
There is a very low risk of perforation during the procedure (I was told about 1 in 1,000) and there may be minor bleeding if they take a biopsy. There's a useful article on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonoscopy
Also this US article makes interesting reading http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2013/02/sedation-free-colonoscopy
Cheers
Dave
DaveK, you have made my mind up and I am no longer worried about the procedure. However, I'm not looking forward to drinking the purging liquid and the subsequent clearout but I'm sure I wll get iver it.
Cheers
Hello everyone,
I thought I'd share with you this useful little colonoscopy animation we have on our site.
I hope this helps!
Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator
I had my colonoscopy, without sedation, ten days ago. I barely noticed the scope until the two bends in the colon. Then I experienced about 3 - 5 seconds of pain as the consultant manouvred the scope around each of the two bends. It was similar to a bad period pain but as it did't last long it was soon forgotten. I would happily repeat the excersise, if required. As I was awake during the procedure, I was able to follow the journey on the screen and found it very interesting. Luckily, nothing of concern was found.
What I would not repeat is the drinking of 2 litres of Moviprep. I prepared the first litre at 5pm and at first it was acceptable but by the time I got halfway down the last glass I really did not want to finish it. I did eventually finish after downing a couple of glasses of water. A couple of hours passed and I made up the second litre of Moviprep. I swallowed the first glass but was retching and when I started to drink the second glass I threw up and had to take a break before I finally finished the remainder. All sips followed by lots of water.
After the event I found out I could have asked for a preparation called Picolax and would only have had to drink 2 glasses of the mixture instead of 2 litres. This would have made a big difference to my experience. I wish I knew of the option beforehand and that is why I am naming the preparations so others are aware of the choice. Other preparations may be available.
Hi I had a colonoscopy . And asked to be sedated. They gave me 2 mg midazolam and 50mcg fentanyl. Didn't feel any different . Nurse said its like a couple of glasses of wine , I laughed and said couldn't you give me the equivalent of a cpl of bottles. Anyways I had it done and I have a high pain threshold . But it was very painful. They said it was twisted and I had a long colon with a long floppy sigmoid . They were very nice and the nurse was reassuring me and holding my hand. But I cried nurse asked me if I was ok and I said no. Maybe was more painful because of what they had said. But I wasn't offed anymore sedation and to be honest I don't think it would of helped. They had me on my side then back then side then back then back on my side..They removed a Polyp, had results back. All ok. On the letter it says routine check up every 5 years.well I won't be having another unless I can be put to sleep. Was more than just uncomfortable for me..
Elaine ..
Elaine
I'm glad the end result was OK and sorry the procedure was so painful. I found drinking the 2 litres of Moviprep the absolutaly most awful part of the whole process. What did you have to drink and was it OK.
Mabel,
Thanks for the update and the info about the purgatives.
Picolax sounds familiar, I'm pretty sure that's the one I was given. I certainly didn't need to drink several litres, just a couple of glasses.
Best wishes
Dave
Dave
Thank you for sharing your experience of a colonoscopy without sedation. That reassured me before I had the unsedated procedure. I was not a bit nervous and that may have made the procedure easier and virtually pain free.
Mabel
Hi I have to go for this and get put to sleep did u go through the same? X
Hi everyone. I am new to this site so please forgive me if I take a little while in getting used to everyone. I have Crohns and am 64 yrs old. I have had 4 colonoscopies in total over the years. The first one was a doddle ( apart from the unpleasant prep but that is just a means to an end) I used to sit in the waiting room listening to other people talking about how they felt. i.e. scared. Not worried at alll etc etc. I must confess that I did consider some of them as being a little soft at first. Simply because my prior experience was so straightforward. After my first lot of surgery plus a different gastro man (believe me this can make a big difference) This is a very delicate job and requires a certain amount of skill. I felt slightly more uncomfy on my second one but got on with it. Breathed deeply. Was relieved to get through it and went home after a short rest. Now then,,, the point I make is this. Since having surgery it would seem I have scarring or adhesions. My consultant told me that this what was causing the pain the second and third time around.The procedure took at leats 40mins. The gastro young guy wrote down that it was challenging. ( this can mean any number of things but my goodness I would agree with him there. The point I am making is this. I am due another colonoscopy and I am honestly scared. I am scared mostly because I will be unable to carry it through. I almost felt the need to stay stop the last time. I never complained after surgery and resection( I am trying to justify that I am not just a softy) Really I should not have to. We are all so very different. What one person can sail through easily, can become a nightmare to someone who really wants to see it through but is literally climbing higher and higher up the bed. The failure again is yet another part of it.It is not good feeling that you are a failure and much more cowardly than anyone else. This is simply not the case. I am pleased for all of you who had a good experience, I really and genuinely hope that you continue to do so. Please try to remember though as I say. We are not all the same. As in anything in life. If I could go to sleep I would willingly do so. I literally spend most days at the moment worrying about the outcome. Yes I know this does not help but maybe I have good cause too. I have not sent this to scare anyone or for any other unpleasant reason. I just want someone to say to me. "Yes, I have had a bad time too." You really are not alone I wish you all the very best. Yes these things have to be done. Please stay safe and well all of you and thank you for allowing me to voice my fears. xxx Jane
Hi Jane,
Thanks for sharing your fears, which are well-founded if you have scarring or adhesions. Talk it over with your gastroscopy guy before your next session and don't try to be a hero. If knowing that you can be sedated next time will stop you worrying so much just ask for the drugs at the first opportunity. There's no right way or wrong way to get through this, just what works best for us at any given time.
Good luck!
Dave
Hi everyone. Am having a Colonoscopy this Thursday and I'm extremely frightened if I'm honest. Was told I'll be having sedation but am still worried, so much so that I'm thinking of cancelling Pain is my biggest worry and I'm a generally nervous person. Don't know what to do.
Hi KMM,
Try not to worry too much, I've had several endoscopies over the years and none of them have been painful, at worst it is more uncomfortable than anything.
Colonoscopies sound worse than they really are, the tube that the camera sits inside is narrower than your little finger, certainly far smaller in diameter than the colon or poo. Ironically, the more relaxed you are the easier it will be.
Don't be afraid to tell the doctor that it is your first time and that you are nervous.
Best wishes
Dave
