Frightened to death of having a colonoscopy

The prep is definitely the worst part but manageable with the toilet nearby. I am a curious type and bit of a control freak so opted out of having the sedation so could be aware what was happening and have a good look myself. They gave me the gas and air machine and I only used it when they were going around the corners. It was more uncomfortable then than anything but I’ve felt worse. I was more fascinated watching the screen myself and chatting with the staff. I would happily do it again without sedation but for those who are worried at all, I believe you are barely aware what’s happening and feel no discomfort at all with the meds. Hope all goes well x

Thanks Galton. One of my babies was 10lb 6oz!

I don't mind the pain killer/gas and air. I just don't want the sedative as I had a bad reaction in the past.

If it makes you feel any easier about having the pain relief, I can withstand anything , also having had 2 babies in the 50s when you got no relief whatsoever, well not in my case. One of my babies was over 10lb in weight. I do have diverticulosis and found it very painful and it had to be stopped BUT I feel and am convinced that I never had the pain killer at all as I was not drowsy , got dressed came home was just fine , while everyone else was out for the count. I would personally take the pain killer if I had to do it again. I ended up as said previously having a colonography which was a doddle.

Good luck.

Thank you for replying.

I am not going to have sedation. I might have gas and air though. Please could anyone tell me what kind of pain it is - cramp, wind, sharp etc? Is it constant or just the odd time.

Do you think the level of pain also depends on whether you have a pre-existing bowel issue such as Crohn's or diverticulitis. Or does it depend on the skill of the person doing it and also your own tolerance to pain?

I think I have quite a high tolerance to pain. I had two babies with no pain relief other than gas and air but they were quick deliveries - hence no time for other pain relief!

Thanks in advance

PinkCosmos

I had just posted this, not realising that this post was on the forum. It is related to me having sedation for a colonoscopy.
www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1344553-Propofol-sedation-bad-reaction-in-past

Based on what everyone has said, I think I will do without sedation or just possibly have gas and air.

The sedation is worrying more than the procedure itself. In the past had a bad reaction to Propofol and am worried about having it again.

I can't have sedation due to the meds I'm on so only have gas and air .
I'm a wuss with things like this but I concentrate on my breathing and ask them to stop if it gets too painful.

Whilst the NHS uses propofol for sedation with colonoscopy there are alternatives. Maybe you could contact the department to discuss? I did find the colonoscopy very uncomfortable and a bit painful without sedation and have had sedation ever since. It's never knocked me out just made me relaxed.

I had just posted this, not realising that this post was on the forum. It is related to me having sedation for a colonoscopy.
www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1344553-Propofol-sedation-bad-reaction-in-past

Based on what everyone has said, I think I will do without sedation or just possibly have gas and air.

The sedation is worrying more than the procedure itself. In the past had a bad reaction to Propofol and am worried about having it again.

You will be fine you know.As others have said the prep is the worst
I've had several over the years and found the gas and air really helpful if you need anything.I didn't want sedative as I was going on my own. It is interesting watching the screen and seeing you from a different angle.
All the best.

Always go with sedation. You are still awake and able to watch the process on the screen if you want, but feel nothing. I have had about 8 so far ….

I had one about 15 years ago with sedation. Don’t remember a thing about it! The last one 3 years ago I had without as I had to get myself home. Yes, I was somewhat worried but it was fine apart from when the consultant told me he was ‘going round a bend’ & it might be uncomfortable. It was. If there’s a third time I’d go for the sedation. The preparation is far worse than the actual procedure. You’ll be fine. Good luck!

Thank you all for your kind replies and reassurances. I have had my tooth out this morning which wasn’t as bad as I was dreading. Hope that’s a positive for Sunday as well.

It doesn’t appear that they are going to do anything about the banding during the procedure which I was hoping for. Thank you for the tip, Nanato3, I will do that whilst drinking the prep. I will be thinking of you all when I swallow the damn stuff. I will need to get something colourless to put in water to wash it down and something pleasant to suck on.

I am such a wuss and a nervous patient but once I get clearance I hope my anxiety dies down. Thank you again.

I had one during Covid. The staff were fantastic - kind, helpful, reassuring and, above all, they explained every stage and gave me options for dealing with my trepidation. I opted not to have sedation which, on reflection, would probably have made it slightly more comfortable. But it really wasn't too bad (I'd rather have a coloscopy than a tooth filling!). They're not trying to disembowel you, it doesn't last for very long, and I got the opportunity to see inside my own body if I wanted to (very interesting!). Good luck with yours and do make the most of the helpful nurses.

How apt this thread is. I am due to have a colonoscopy tomorrow and will start my prep this evening. I am anxious but your comments are very helpful My main worry is that I have to leave home at 6:30 as the hospital is a good distance away. I take my second dose at 4:30. Will I be clear by then?

Dollymixtures

I’ve had one thing after another wrong with me for months and fell when in A&E so was prescribed codeine. This blocked me up completely so back into A&E again. They found a total obstruction in my colon which obviously worried me a lot. I was sent home with various laxatives, powders which I’m still using but my haemorrhoids bleed constantly (sorry, TMI).

I’ve got a colonoscopy this Sunday which is terrifying me. I think I’ll probably go for sedation so if anyone has any advice I’d be grateful. I have to do 5 days of low fibre diet which is hard work alone. I know the prep isn’t pleasant. I’ll be relieved if they can reassure me that the blockage isn’t cancer but I also hope they’ll tie off the haemorrhoids and rid me of them. Can anyone calm me down at all? On top of all this, I have to have a broken off wisdom tooth out this Thursday as well!

I had one earlier this year. The prep is fine. Works really well and you feel very light after it. It actually tastes ok. The actual procedure is brilliant. You are made to feel lightly drowsy, next thing you know they have finished and you are saying, I did not feel a thing. Apparently everyone says that says the doctor. They told me I had hemorrhoids but didn't do anything abut them, they are not bothersome. They do remove the odd polyp if necessary but you don't feel a thing. You will be pleasantly surprised, there really is nothing to it. Good luck.

Good post Galton.

Dolly mixtures, you can at least be easily reassured about the prep. As long as you have a comfortable lavatory pan close by you, the thorough cleaning-out the prep gives you is a nice thought.

As for your anxiety about the actual colonoscopy you need to speak to your doctor and /or the specialist . I think you do have choices one of which may suit you best.

I too have had a colonoscopy but some time ago now and was also scared. It's the thought of poking about that frightened me - until it actually took place. I could watch the screen and see what they were looking at and it wasn't so bad after all. The tea and toast afterwards was very welcome

I was given this tip on taking the prep . Drink a 1/4 of the dose then wait until you've been to the loo .
Then drink another 1/4 prep and wait till you've been to the loo again and repeat until all liquid gone.
You don't get all the wind pain and you'll feel better . Good Luck .

I know exactly like others how you are feeling. I was unfortunately not one of the successes but I feel in telling you my tale it may help. I went for a colonoscopy at our local hospital. Was supposedly given sedation which to this day I dispute. I have a difficult bowl and the pain was so bad that I could not continue. So I was told to go home. I got off the bed not drowsy at all not sleepy, everyone else was out for the count and I got dressed and came home feeling so disappointed in myself. However, I was offered immediately in a week a colonography. This turned out to be the best thing ever . You do have prep but not half as bad. You lay on a bed and are taken I think it 4 or 5 times through what can be described as a large polo mint. You are given Buscopan which I chose to have the injection , they do pop something into your bottom, not uncomfortable in anyway. You are told to hold your breath while it takes it photos, then relax and after they are happy you go home. I had a lovely letter telling me what they had found and not found. So all ended well in the end. So please unlike me if it all goes t.ts up dont beat yourself up like I did, there is other ways.
Will be thinking of you. You will be just fine. I promise.

I guess the pants are to give you a little dignity. They are probably incinerated, not put in landfill.

I had one in August. I was naturally frightened and, as others have said, the prep is not pleasant. I opted to have no sedation although they advised I have a cannula fitted in case I changed my mind. I didn't find the procedure painful at all. At one point I felt very, very slight discomfort for about a minute but otherwise it was honestly fine. They removed 2 polyps and I didn't feel a thing. The whole procedure was also very dignified.

the worried well yes I had the knickers. I still can’t think why they were needed though. How much would the hospitals save if they didn’t bother with them? All that landfill!
Re. The sedation, most of you seemed to have opted for it. I didn’t and didn’t regret it. They do put a cannula in so that they can give you some if you do decide later that you need it. I don’t remember if I was asked about pain relief, I don’t think I had it if I was.
As has been mentioned you can’t eat or drink anything with colour in it the day before. I drank a lot of white wine!
They gave me a form afterwards with the results and the Dr.(?) had commented that I had done my bowel preparation very well!! Good to know I’m good at something.

Halo 😇ot to say, I had sedation for my first colonoscopy and opted for gas and air for the other 10 or 12 over the years. I didn't like how the sedation made me feel, personal preference. I felt more in control with the gas and air and the doctors said it was a good indicator of whether it was hurting (if it hurt I gulped it down) so they would ease back a bit for me. I've also farted when sitting back up and apologised profusely. I don't think they even noticed and last time in December 2024 I got a gold star for excellent prep.

I have had 7 colonoscopies over the last 3 years, resulting in 2 bowel surgeries for colon cancer. Removing haemorrhoids will not be done at that time.

I did not find the prep awful; it is just having to drink so much volume over an hour or so, and repeated once more over another hour or so. You will feel the urge to get to the loo by the end of having drunk the first sachet of prep, and it will continue for a few hours after you have finished the second sachet. You need to drink extra water with the prep. You will find that towards the end of the prep you are passing less urine - hence the need to drink more water/clear fluids throughout the prep.

In my area, for 24 hours before the camera, I was told not to drink milk or blackcurrant/ribena juices. Water, black coffee, black tea, herbal teas are ok. I liked mint tea, so I had that, and I like drinking water. Your diet for a few days before is important, it needs to be low residue, and the leaflet provides lots of ideas for meals.

Of all my cameras, my preference is for an afternoon appointment. This means that the previous afternoon is taken up with the prep, and I finish going to the loo by 11pm or so.
Wake up in the morning, loo again, and I just drink water or mint tea. Morning appts are very rushed I find.

I request sedation; Midazolam is used where I live, it is a small amount and it reduces any anxiety about the procedure. Mine were painful and I was given a small dose of Fentanyl. I did not have sedation or analgesia the first 2 times and they were very painful, however not everyone has pain.
My bowel was very twisty/tortuous and that probably explained the amount of pain I had. But I could not forget the pain, so I have had analgesia each time afterwards. Neither sends you to sleep, just comfortably carefree. They also may give you some Buscopan through your IV access, it relaxes the bowel, and helps the endoscopist perform the procedure.

Staff at my unit are mixed sex, and once were all women. All were extremely caring. I watched all on the big monitor, and everything was explained.

I was given a printed result the same day, excluding any biopsies of course. There were pictures taken of areas of interest or where biopsies were taken from. Follow up was also mentioned, along with any other plans/referrals.

Cup of tea and sandwich, then home. Someone to take me home if I had sedation and analgesia. Generally I slept for a couple of hours and fine later on. If you don't have any meds you can drive yourself home.

I hope not too much information, but this was my experience.

I was terrified too when I had a colonoscopy two years ago, but the procedure was fine. I was offered heavy sedation, light sedation or none and opted for the light. Didnt feel a thing, nor did I have any side effects from the medication. The prep was fairly unpleasant. I had to drink two very large doses of pretty vile tasting liquid. Its good to be a bit thirsty to help with getting it all down. I used plenty of Vaseline to stop any soreness and camped out in the downstairs loo with a comfy chair and my iPad! Its really worth taking the low residue diet seriously. I thought I had done it really well, but the doctor said I was borderline satisfactory and if he cant get a good enough view he insists on patients doing the whole prep all over again.