Any had experienced with a colonoscopy? Having second thoughts about mine

Honestly as others say, you'll be fine. It's not fun but it's not awful or really painful - a bit uncomfortable but worth it. It's routine to tell you all the possible outcomes but those will be really rare effects.

I ate a bland diet for 2-3 days before the prep. Expect to be near a loo as you clear your bowels - it's not nice but wasn't as bad as expected. I think eating a bland diet helped. Also drinking the prep formula through a straw helped. I had some soft toilet wipes which were a bit more gentle than toilet paper.
I had sedation which really helped and it was over quickly. I felt tired and my stomach felt a bit sore/sensitive the day after so maybe plan a quiet duvet day. Not painful just a bit tender, hot water bottle and watching a box set helped!

It's really worth doing it. Hopefully all is well - tests results so far are clear and hopefully this will rule out any further nasties. But if you do have something wrong the diagnosis will help you get the treatment you need promptly.

Do a bland diet, take the sedation and give yourself a day to recover from the tiredness. Good luck.

Kindly, the risk of having colon cancer is higher than the risk of the rare colonscopy side effects. So it doesn’t make sense not having it for this reason.

I’ve had around 17 and never had any issues with any of them.

No, I’ve had 3 - no negative effects

The prep is a bit grim but it passes

Have the sedation. At the last one the nurse said oh you’re the first person to request it today, which I am sure is bullshit designed to get you out quicker - it can be uncomfortable and no point putting yourself through that more than necessary.

Thats concerning

I've had one as I had an anal fissure. I was sedated absolutely no issues. I know lots of people who have had them and heard of no issues.

I have had one, I agree with others that the prep is the worst bit. The drink that clears you out is not pleasant, a bit like drinking wallpaper paste. The actual procedure is not painful, you can watch the images from the camera on a screen. They hospital give you paper knickers with a hole in the appropriate place.

I've had two and been told I should have another in 5 years.

I do not enjoy the prep. It work very well/ aggressively on my system. But it's honestly fine. I had gas and air rather than sedation. No other affects beyond being a bit farty afterwards. Very professional staff doing the procedure.

Oh gosh those sound dreadful but presumably extremely low risk? Probably a lot lower risk than many other routine activities.

I've had one with sedation and it was absolutely fine. The bowel prep not pleasant but the actual procedure totally fine and painless. Pretty interesting watching the screen though I was pretty out of it so don't remember now.
I really don't think you need to worry.

The prep is definitely the worst bit. But it’s over and done with quick enough. The risk of having undiagnosed bowel cancer is far greater than the risk of the colonoscopy.

I had one a few years back, with sedation. The prep was probably worse than the procedure, though when I was on my way to leave, I had to dash to the nearest loo, and omg, what an explosion!!!

Definitely don't wimp out!

Look I'm not being funny but how will your kids feel if you don't go, have bowel cancer and die within 2 years because you didn't want a colonoscopy?

Your body your choice obviously but that's the worst case scenario

@sharonau try to match the prep with the sand amount of water. It helps the cleanse effect!

I've had 2, no sedation so I could go as soon as I could and agree with everyone else who's mentioned the prep, it is the worst thing about the whole procedure.

I had one a few months ago. I actually didn't find the prep that bad but it didn't work very quickly and I did get a bit worried that it had somehow blocked me up instead :) . I had sedation. They found a small polyp which was benign, otherwise all fine.

Edited: it took me about an hour to drink the whole 500ml. I had a sip through a straw and then an apple juice "chaser" each time. I also made it up in advance and put it in the fridge with ice cubes.

I had mine with gas and air because I had a small baby at the time. Turns out I have low B12 and was quite ill afterwards. Pre prep was fine, the nurse said drink an extra litre if water per dose.

I’ve had many, always with sedation and had no issues. The risks in having one and irrespective as you have rectal bleeding- that should be your main concern.

I've had about 5. No ill effects. The prep is hard but you'll get through it. I always have sedation, otherwise it's extremely painful.

I was fine without the sedation but the only reason I didn’t have it was because all they were offering was Midazolam and that makes me feel very ill for about 3 days after having it .

Yes, sedation is great!

I've had inflexible sigmoidoscopies they were painful..I was trying to do "labour breathing" to relax, ended up light headed and dizzy. Dr told me "it was slightly uncomfortable", asked if he had ever had one! I didn't have oral prep before my colonoscopy, I had an enema, I asked how long I needed to hold it. Nurse said "oh,you won't be able to hold it".

Not the most comfortable procedure and the prep isn’t wonderful but no real problems

I have them every 18 months to 2 years. Honestly it's fine. The prep is by far the worst part of the whole thing. Take the sedation and you'll be done before you know it.