Colonoscopy, please advise

PS - you are VERY unlikely to get bad news from the endoscopist, they'll leave that to your consultant if there is any, as if they take some biopsies then they have to be sent away.

I have to have mine through my colostomy and through the usual way, so it's always a double whammy! I had sedation AND gas and air last time, that one I couldn't have managed without, but I take a lot of medication anyway so takes a lot to sedate me.

Ref the prep, I couldn't tolerate the first stuff they gave me, I had to drink so much fluid it all came back, about 1.5L of it, so fast I couldn't get out of the way of it! The second lot was different & much easier to take, but didn't quite clear me out fully. They could still see diverticular pouches though, and generally they'll tell you about those as they are doing it and tell you if they take a biopsy. I find it quite fascinating looking at the screen!

I had one recently under sedation, slight discomfort. I wasn't allowed to drive myself home.
The prep beforehand is the worse bit.

Oldmutton

I have to have a colonoscopy following screening and I am worried about the whole thing. I don't know whether or not to have anaesthetic. I know I cannot drive myself if I do. I know I need to have someone with me in case I get bad news, but if I don't drive my options are limited as to who I take.
Has anyone had this procedure without anaesthetic?
Thank you.

You don't get an anaesthetic, you have 'sedation'.

I would definitely recommend it if you can find someone who can be with you. They do say you need to have that person with you for 24 hours, but it's generally not necessary, I never do, I just lie about it!

I know of several folk who have done it without though, it is very uncomfortable, but not exactly painful .. good luck!

I had it done without sedation. For a second I felt the tube being inserted but after that next to nothing. I felt more discomfort from my rear end which was on fire!

I had 2 polyps removed and a friend took me home after the coffee and biscuits afterwards.

The prep is the worst and I had problems for a couple of days afterwards so did not leave the house.

DD had hers under full GA, because of a spinal injury. Woke up to tea and biscuits and a pain under her rib cage!

I’ve had two of these, both with sedation. A little uncomfortable the first time but nothing hideous. The second was done by a student who was closely supervised. I hardly felt a thing. The preparation is definitely the worst but! Don’t leave the house and be very near the loo. The first time OH drove me and waited. The second time the village taxi took me and OH collected me. He can’t manage early mornings. I was told I had polyps which they removed and diverticulitis. I had a letter a couple of weeks later to say all was well. The very worst thing was the ladies waiting room tv being tuned to a dreadful afternoon quiz programme!

I can see why you are concerned oldmutton. I am not an expert but have had more than my fair share and in my experience, having had a few biopsies, I don’t see how they would be in a position to have that sort of conversation immediately after the procedure.

If they havnt taken biopsies, they do usually say that all looked ok. All being well you will be ok but if the news isn’t good, you will be able to discuss what treatment you need to deal with it. Good luck 🤞

I have had several colonoscopies with sedation plus gas and air. If its at an NHS hospital, could the hospital arrange a car service for you (plus the person you would need with you) I wasn't allowed to leave the centre without someone with me and had to have someone with me for 24 hours in case of problems arising.

Thank you for all this helpful advice. I think I will get in touch with them again to double check, I don't think I have got the right message.

i have had 8 over the last 10 years, only once did the sedative work, i found them uncomfortable more than painful, the clear out part is the bit i don't like, be prepared as you don't always get the results on the same day as they may have to send something to be tested.

Hi yes I had one last year. I was very worried about it, but also worried about the sedation as I’ve never had an operation before, so decided to try without.
Thankfully I was fine, I had 2 small polyps removed, it was very uncomfortable in places but the worst bits were over in a few seconds. They still make you wait for a while after, and the coffee and biscuits were very welcome as I hadn’t had anything eat for 28 hours. My DH drove home but I’d have been fine to drive. Good luck.

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

I have had about 8 of these, have never had bad news thank goodness. There is really nothing to worry about. I have always had sedation and my most recent one I drove home. I was awake all the time, and felt nothing but it’s certainly an Interesting watch on the tv screen.
They do tell you if it looks clear but also they may take a small biopsy which has to be sent off, so bad news would be unlikely to be given because it takes a week or two fir any biopsy to be read,
You are not knocked out with sedation, you can talk walk hear, see, and you are awake, but sedated. If you don’t want that then don’t have it. It’s not obligatory.
I think the worst thing about it is the preparation process beforehand where you need to be very close to a toilet if you get my drift.

I had a sigmoidoscopy, which is a partial colonoscopy, without sedation. They offered gas and air but I find that useless anyway. It was uncomfortable but I didn’t find it actually painful and though my husband drove home, I’m sure I would have been fine driving had I needed to.

Yes I have, I was OK to drive afterwards. I have had four colonoscopys and the three I had sedation for were much more comfortable.
The above us my experience only bit others will be different. I wish you well whatever yiu choose.