Hi Frankie51,

Hopefully a member with some experience could share their thoughts. We have some information here, which explains some of the risks after the test, but it might be good to speak to a nurse in case there are ways you can prepare beforehand.

Try not to worry and I hope your nurse will make things as comfortable as possible. 

Best wishes,

Moderator Anastasia

I had one and I’m here to tell the tale. 

Thank you riley roo. You did set my mind at rest! 

It was painful as they discovered I had diverticulitis, only found 1 polyp so I feel I can cope with the diverticulitis. But so glad I had  the procedure as I can change my diet. Thank you for your response

Hope you’re OK. Diverticulitis can be pretty unpleasant, my boss at work has it and he has spells of being very unwell altho I doubt his alcohol intake helps. 

Hi, I had a total hysterectomy 3 years ago and recently had to have a colonoscopy. The consultant anticipated that I would find it uncomfortable so opted for a sigmoidoscopy instead to be followed by a ct colonoscopy.

i had also previously had abdominal surgery when they used fat from my stomach for a breast reconstruction so I had scar tissue from that too.

I am so glad he went for the sigmoidoscopy as I found it very uncomfortable. I wouldnt say it was painful but I did find it horribly uncomfortable when they reached the scar tissue as it made me feel sick and faint as well as feeling that I was going to have a bowel movement.

they did discover diverticulosis (thankfully not diverticulitis) and also took a couple of biopsies of an inflamed colon - I felt nothing when they did those.

Thankfully the CT scan is far less intrusive than the sigmoidoscopy as I still have that to look forward to.

my experience seems to be far worse than my husband’s who had the full colonoscopy and a female relative who hadn’t had a hysterectomy. The consultant explained that it would be the scar tissue and the fact that I had had the hysterectomy that accounted for the uncomfortable experience.

My wife had a hysterectomy many years ago, and a couple of years ago she had a colonoscopy.  No one raised any concerns about the prior hysterectormy during discussions about the colonscopy.  As it turns out, the colonoscopy went without a hitch. 

I have had a hysterectomy 10 years ago.. I had to have a colonoscopy yesterday and had opted for sedation and if needed gas.. it was so painful I almost had to stop it totally.. I have a high pain threshold and have run races with broken ankles etc but this was ridiculous. The sedation didn't work and the gas I swear wasn't turned on.. diverticulosis was the diagnosis, the only way this would ever be repeated is if I was anaesthetised fully. 

Hi this was my experience yesterday cris6166 are you ok now? I'm terribly worried about internal perforations or other damage as I have alot of adhesions xx

Hi. I  had a very painful experience today having a colonoscopy. I  had a hysterectomy 22 years ago. I too was given gas and air and sedation, neither of which seemed to give any relief whatsoever. I also feel I have a high pain threshold. Afterwards I was told how adhesions from the hysterectomy could make the procedure painful. Like you, I wouldn't go through this again without being anethetised.