Colonoscopy, please advise

I have and it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. I got some good advice about the prep as that is the worst part.

5 days before the procedure, move to a very light diet. Soup, fruit, white fish. Avoid fibre, bread and cereals. I know that some patients have to come back for a second op if they have not done enough bowl prep.

The mild sedation did nothing for me. Found procedure uncomfortable, but I’m a big baby with anything medical. Went home on the bus alone. Felt fine.
Hope it goes well for you.

I have had two, the last one a couple of months ago, both with GA quick and comfortable but I am in France so there was no choice that I know of.

I had a sigmoidoscopy without sedation and was fine, slightly uncomfortable and actually watched it on the monitor.
Felt very pleased with myself as I has been dreading it.

I've had two gastroscopies without sedation, found them quite comfortable, and was able to drive myself home.However when I had a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy both at the same time, I opted for sedation. I was aware of what they were doing and could hear their comments. The sedation wore off quickly but a friend drove me home.

I have had loads of colonoscopies, but just one without sedation. On that one occasion the endoscopist was rough and it hurt. On all other occasions I had sedation; felt nothing and afterwards remembered nothing. Hospital ask for someone to accompany you not in case there’s bad news, but because you’ll feel a little fuzzy for a while.

I had that camera put down my throat, gave me horrible banana liquid first to numb my throat & midazolam, woke up to Billy Corkhill ( from brookside) in the next bed asking if “I had the full Monty”, only time I didn’t complain being on a mixed recovery bay 😊

I'd definitely go for sedation

1st one without sedition was awful, 2nd one was brilliant with sedation, amazing watching the monitor, what goes on inside and then the doctor trying to remove a fiddly little polyp, seemed like he was playing a computer game, he wasn’t
giving up til he got it 😂 and nice cup of tea after. I could of drove but they recommended someone drive me home.

Mt61

I had that camera put down my throat, gave me horrible banana liquid first to numb my throat & midazolam, woke up to Billy Corkhill ( from brookside) in the next bed asking if “I had the full Monty”, only time I didn’t complain being on a mixed recovery bay 😊

That’s an endoscopy. I’ve had both plus a gastroscopy.
The colonoscopy is by far the most comfortable.

That’s right, lisangel10 endoscopy.
Apart from the throat spray, I was knocked out, so I didn’t find that to bad.
The rear end camera I found to be so uncomfortable even with fentanyl & gas & air, we are so lucky to have these tests, so I am not grumbling 😊

Thank you, all, for your very helpful comments and advice. Much appreciated!

I was given so much sedation, I couldn't tell the medics I was in pain. It really hurt. Apparently I have a very twisty colon. I had back to back labour, but the colonoscopy was worse. If I have it again, I'll ask for lots of pain killer but no sedation.

Had to have screening every three years due to bowl cancer, mother and sister. I just had sedation not too uncomfortable even though I had loop in colon. I was able to watch procedure on screen.

As everyone has said it’s the preparation before that is the worse. The sedation is just to relax you.

They found a large polyp which was too big to remove there and then so I had to go back to have it removed. A follow up this year found another small polyp which they removed and a follow up letter said it was harmless.

I chose sedation and found the procedure easy with it. I found the prep beforehand the worst part of it.