Colonoscopy.

I've recently had this procedure and was actually advised by the nurse to have sedation during a telephone 'consultation' prior.
In all honesty, the staff present during it all, were absolutely wonderful and everything was explained as it was happening.
It wasn't the most pleasant experience and I still felt a slight discomfort but it was over pretty quickly.
Even though I had sedation, I was still aware of everything and felt fine afterwards, not even sleepy!
In fact the worst part for me was the Movieprep...made me feel really nauseous.

Franbern that sounds totally horrendous! Must have been awful knowing you were going for one.
Definitely nothing like that now.

Hi Lucca I’ve just spoken to DH, and he had etanox.
He said that it was absolutely fine and that he almost didn’t feel a thing, just a tiny bit of discomfort.

Just a comment to say how much colonoscopies have improved with regard to patient care.
Back in 1979, when I had my first one - it was quite a horrific procedure throughout. Yes, we were given some medicine to clear us out in advance and told not to eat for the previous 24 hours. But when I got to the hospital (drove myself there), I was given an enema by a nurse, told to go into the nearby loo, and had to call in that nurse to check what I had passed - then a further enema and repeated that three times. Then, in gown - was sent to room for the procedure, no suggestion of any assistance or pain relief. At the end of that was just sent home (no drink or biccie, etc). I can remember sitting in my car feeling so unwell and just wanting to go home and to bed - which I was not able to do as at home there were pre-school children needing looking after.
Over the next ten years I was to have this procedure carried out on many occasions - slowly improving in how it was done.
My last time was just over ten years later, before I had a total Proctectomy. Much improved - none of that horrible getting nurse to check what was in toilet bowl, but still very unpleasant and still no tea and biscuits.

Difficult to advise. We are all different. I cope without anything. A male friend always has sedation. But most people manage with just entonox which makes you feel more relaxed.
Hope all goes well.

Just pm’d you Lucca

Me again. I just have an enema to do at home. I can have entonox and drive myself home, which I’d prefer or sedation which means no driving fir 24 hours. I’m hoping to be brave and opt for just entonox.

Thank you for the replies !

Because my brother died of bowel cancer,in the last few years I have had three colonoscopies, thank goodness nothing was found and procedure was quite straightforward…

Sigmoidoscopy is fine. Not a problem.
Colonoscopy for vast majority is uncomfortable but not painful. Here in NI I don't think anyone is offered valium. You can have sedation and or gas. I luckily managed with mindful breathing which calmed me and relaxed the bowel. I didn't experience any wind after. Strange that everyone on here did.
For me the bowelbprep and not eating was horrible. But no getting round it. My guess is you will be fine. I've had three. Don't worry. ?

Lucca

Can I ask if anyone has had a sigmoidoscopy ? If so how soon afterwards did you feel up to running around doing normal stuff ?

Had one three months ago. If you have done your prep at home, it will be fairly easy at the hospital. I signed the paperwork (consent form) had the procedure explained then was ready. The sigmoidoscopy doesn’t go as far as a colonoscopy so I didn’t find it uncomfortable at all and had no pain medication, though gas and air was on standby.
Procedure took about 5-6 minutes and was over.
Cup of tea in rest room, dressed and home.
Felt fine, but bloated for the rest of the day.

I've never been given shorts to wear for my colonoscopies, just a hospital gown with an open back. Had sedation for them all but still aware of the whole procedure. The best part was the sandwich and cuppa afterwards because you don't eat for 24 hours or so before the colonoscopy.

I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago in Oxford. As it’s a teaching hospital there must have been half a dozen people in the room, all staring at my rear end. I didn’t have paper shorts. You get rubber shorts with a hole in. As I said to the other ladies in the waiting rooom, I felt I should be off to a Gay Club. I opted for sedation and local anaesthetic. It was slightly uncomfortable rather than painful. After a cup of tea and a biscuit I was told they had found nothing sinister. OH had to drive me there and back. Oh, I found the worst part the incredibly strong laxatives which had to be taken beforehand!

That’s just reminded me of when a friend had one. It was years ago.
He told me that on leaving the hospital he had to sneak into a phone box and vigorously jump up an down to rid himself of all of the wind! ?

Peasblossom

Ive had two and drove myself home, but I didn’t have sedation. Once it was over it was over. No recovery time needed.

Glad I was alone in the car with all that farting?

I remember feeling jet propelled on the way home!,

The bowel clearing jollop is completely pain free too! I thought there would be griping but nothing at all-just a good old empty out!

Well, all the best Lucca and Agnieszka.

Ive had two and drove myself home, but I didn’t have sedation. Once it was over it was over. No recovery time needed.

Glad I was alone in the car with all that farting?

Bear in mind too that with a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, you need to be prepared to have lots of wind afterwards! The nurses usually laugh because you will hear it in the recovery ward. They pump your innards full of air to get a clearer picture - and of course, that air has to come out sometime!

Ah, that sounds a bit different then ! I have a lot of preparation to do ! Plus of course Covid swab and isolation first

Lucca, I had a sigmoidoscopy about ten years ago. It was just done then and there by the consultant I was referred to, with no special preparation. I don’t remember it being anything unduly unpleasant, probably all the better for no advance warning. Always, always I find there seems is a wonderful sympathetic, caring nurse on hand to provide reassurance in these situations.

Can I ask if anyone has had a sigmoidoscopy ? If so how soon afterwards did you feel up to running around doing normal stuff ?

Hello everyone.
Thank you so much for the feedback.
I am greatly reassured and less stressed, after reading about your personal experiences.
Yes I am Polish InnocentBystander, and my name is often admired by Scottish ladies.......but actually not so much in my native country, where it is very popular and maybe a bit overused!!!!!!
Anyway, many thanks to you all, and hopefully I will have this test soon and receive a good outcome.
Kind regards.

Agnieszka. x

Saturn V rocket that will be your rear

a perfect summation of the enema process!

Another recommendation for Vaseline from me. I wasn’t offered a sedative and didn’t find the procedure painful or particularly embarrassing. It was actually interesting, I could see the screen and was given a commentary. Please don’t worry agnieszka, it will all be explained to you and you’ll find the staff are thoughtful and supportive.