Colonoscopy, please advise

I too had a relative who was told of cancer at the time of endoscopy (I was accompanying him). This is rare though, it's more often a biopsy and a wait to find out if the polyp's benign or in many cases, there's nothing to see & you're told that. And my relative was successfully treated, had no chemo & the cancer never recurred despite being obvious at endoscopy.

I had one ladt week ...I didnt have the sedation ( midazolam).....but used the gas and Air the whole way thru .....at one point I felt a bit of pain so the put some buscopan into my cannula ( to stop the bowel spasming) ...I was fine after that .....the midazalam can affect you for up to 24 hrs the nurse said ......they told me they had only seen piles ....then when they took me to recovery for a cup of tea....a nurse brought my report which had just been typed up....biopsies taken which is routine ... .no areas of concern noted .....the staff were lovely and it was a very slick process
Hope it goes well 🍀

N4nna

I had one, supposedly under sedation…It wasn’t though as I felt everything and told them to get it out.

I don’t know what they use now…I had one a couple of decades ago…I was given something that was supposed to help with the ‘discomfort’. It was uncomfortable having the tube inserted but I drifted off after that, but woke up fully alert and in pain as they dragged the tube through…apart from childbirth it was the most excruciating pain…at the point I woke they swivelled the tv screen round and insisted I watch! I swore never again …or if essential I would insist on double sedation! I remember the ‘emptying out’ part less vividly as I have suffered from IBS /
Diarrhoea all my life and was used to it…tho what I took sounds milder than what others describe? Good luck…take the sedation and have some transport home. If nothing else you are likely to be shakey with relief!

I've had several and managed with gas and air each time. The prep is the worst part in my experience. I settle in, enjoy the gas and air and kinda disassociate from what's going on 'back there'.

My first colonoscopy was without sedation and was fine, just a little uncomfortable. the last one I had was with sedation but still had to have gas and air because the pain was so intense I kept waking up. I think my intestines are so shot now that the slightest thing is very painful.

I had one, supposedly under sedation…It wasn’t though as I felt everything and told them to get it out.

Yes I have,I had gas and air....not easy but I defo did not want the anesthetic as I hate cannula's. I am the biggest woose but managed....staff were brilliant. No discomfort afterwards. My daughter dropped me off and picked me up but I would have been fine to drive. To me the bowel prep is worse..Been through it twice both no anesthetic because they found a polyp, had to go back and get it removed. They normally would do it at the time but because of my other medical issues they couldn't. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I would definitely have sedation. It depends on the person who is performing the op I think. But you come around virtually immediately. I had Colonoscop under sedation was told directly afterwards they had found cancer. Please dont worry as the op is no problem just relax and let them do their stuff. As you see from the responses to your posting we all have had differing experiences.
Best wishes hope it goes well

Just a thought re driving yourself home.
It sounds as though you might be able to do so, but I wonder if you have any charitable organization in your area that transports people to and from hospital appointments when needed.

I live in Berkshire, and have been very grateful for an organization which consists of volunteer drivers who have taken me to and from many eye clinic appointments, and I Ihave been happy to pay towards the petrol.
( To be honest its only in the past few years I have used them. Before that, I used to drive myself, have drops administered before examination etc then sit in the hospital cafe for half an hour afterwards , until one time I got found out, and knew that I would be questioned each time I had an appointment after that !

Replying to Oldmutton: I had a colonoscopy last year The worst part was the medicines that emptied everything from my intestines beforehand, so expect to be up all night- I was sick and galloping to the loo all the time. The actual colonoscopy was done without any kind of anaesthetic - it didn't hurt, and I found it really interesting watching the device go around my inside. Hope you are OK, and have a good night's sleep afterwards!

Quite agree about the horrible drink on the day before - the actual procedure was OK and I found it interesting!! I had Fentanyl sedation as I had an endoscopy first ( much worse than a colonoscopy- being told to swallow a tube as if it was the easiest thing in the world) so probably still had effects of Fentanyl in my system - you’ll be fine - all the best x

It is sometimes very obvious there is cancer present and l was told.

You can decide on the day. I was sedated but it knocked me out.I had a sore hip after this and always wondered whether they manhandled me on the table.

I am the biggest wuss ever but I had one without sedation and it was fine! the tube going round your bowel gives you the sensation of having a wriggly worm going round but no pain whatsoever. They found a polyp in mine and I watched on screen it being removed but did not feel a thing! If its a polyp they won't be able to tell you 100% that its not cancerous until its been sent off to the lab, but the consultant who did mine told me then and there that he didn't think it was cancerous at all. I think if I were to have bad news I would also prefer not to be sedated so I could completely understand what was being said to me after?

Hi I’ve just had two Colonoscopy’s .
The first one had to be stopped after ten minutes due to adhesions from two previous surgery’s .
First one was due to Caesarian section. And second Hysterectomy,
The second was a colonoscopy scan.
The first one l asked for the
Entonox (gas &air)
The second for the scan they just injected a dye to show any polyps ,
I didn’t feel anything .
Try not to worry , they don’t tell you anything as the results have to go to the consultant to check.
They removed two polyps from mine and sent them to the lab,
I waited an anxious three weeks for results thank goodness they were clear,
The only thing l will say the laxative drink you have to take the day before isn’t very nice tasting .
Hope all goes well for you.
Take care 🤗

I have had several colonoscopies and wouldn't dream of doing it without the sedative.

Oldmutton

They told me I might get bad news. I wondered how they would know so quickly.

They know because they’re watching the procedure as it happens. I opted for sedation and no regrets about that. The doctor held my hand and said using my first name, I’m pleased to tell you there is no cancer’. I hope you get the same message. Use a cab if you don’t have anyone to drive you

I’ve had several with sedation. Nothing at all to worry about. They always tell you at the time if everything looks normal or if you have a polyp or two and they will offer to remove them there and then.

I had a colonoscopy a couple of weeks ago, it was a check up from 2 years ago when I had pre cancerous polyps removed.
In my opinion the preparation is worse than the sedation and procedure, I did have a lift home but a lady I sat with didn’t have sedation and she said it was absolutely fine.
The staff at the hospital were lovely and very caring, I was given the all clear on the day and also later with a follow up letter.

I was told I had cancer during/after the colonoscopy. I had specifically said l wanted to know if possible. Greatest shock of my life. Anyway, 17 years on and I'm fine. Best you know asap xxx

I have had 7 in total. The first one was following the bowel screening test, and that lead to surgery x 2.

The colonoscopy is a little uncomfortable, but you can ask for sedation and analgesia. I was given a small dose of Midazolam, some fentanyl and entonox too - this made my mouth very dry. The sedation dose helps reduce anxiety and fear, and makes the procedure more comfortable, and you can watch the camera as it winds it's way along your bowel!

I had a very tortuous bowel, and the camera trying to get along the very windy tube was painful. A lot of air/gas is pushed into your bowel too, but you pass that normally very quickly.
The nurses and staff in the endoscopy suite are key to your comfort, mine were excellent.

I think the worse bit is drinking the prep and the very frequent trips to the loo the day before. This has to be done I'm afraid, otherwise the camera cannot see clearly, no biopsies can be taken and the whole thing has to be repeated!!
I did not mind the prep, the taste was not too bad, just a matter of getting the first litre done as quickly as possible (30 mins or so), then a rest before the second litre. I like water anyway, so no problem drinking that in between, and I like mint tea, so I could enjoy that too - because coffee and tea with milk is not allowed.

If you have sedation, you will need someone to collect you and stay with you afterwards.

In the event of you having the misfortune to be involved in a driving accident on the way home from hospital and in the event of the insurance company being informed that you had been advised to not drive, you may then be in some financial difficulty.

I have recently had a colonoscopy to check for cancer and I had gas and air as no one could take me and pick up. The gas and air was amazing much better than sedation and you can drive home.

I have had bad news from an endoscopist who spotted cancer in my oesophagus( a different visit) who put me straight on to the 2 week wait cancer pathway. It was very reassuring that he acted so fast and did not wait for the results to go back and forth.

I have had a few of these & found it uncomfortable with fentanyl & muscle relaxant, I wouldn’t want one without sedation.
Can you not ask friend/ neighbor/ taxi?

I think it's a good idea to have someone with you even if you decide not to have sedation. OH had one last year without sedation, he said it was uncomfortable but I still took him and brought him home fwiw he was told before he left that he was clear. I had one 10 years ago and tbh I did find it very uncomfortable so they gave me some sedation which really helped but OH was there to bring me home. I was also told that nothing bad was found on the day. Good luck I hope it goes well for you.