Coloscopy coming up. What's it like?

[AllTheThingsHeSaid]

Just that really. I've had an abnormal smear result and some dodgy symptoms and am going in for a coloscopy. Obviously I've looked it up online, but can anyone share what it's like, and did you get the result straight away?
Thanks.

I had one several years ago for some abnormal cells detected after a smear. They had a closer look and gave me laser treatment there to get rid of cells, it didn’t take too long about 30 minutes, had to lie down with legs up in stirrups and I had local anaesthetic. I was told to rest that day and the following day, but as I had a desk job I was fine to go in. Apart from having to have yearly smears for 5 years after, it wasn’t anything to worry about.

I had one 2 weeks ago.You put a hospital gown on and lay on a bed with styrupps.If they see something that needs a biopsy on it will feel a bit painful but nothing unmanageable.You will feel cramp for a couple of days afterwards.Ive had 2 of them now just got normal results back for this one.

Crampy not cramp

I had one years ago. Bit uncomfortable like a smear and they took a sample for testing. Bit achy after and bled a little and got the all clear a few days later.
I was a bit upset and nervous at the time but staff were lovely and reassuring.
Good luck

I had one a few years back when I was bleeding after sex (cervical erosion) and had an abnormal smear. Undignified getting into the stirrups, I can't remember wearing a gown, think I just removed bottom half, got into them and was then covered by the nurse.

Had a local anaesthetic, it felt a bit like a dentist needle going into your gum. Biopsy felt like a little click/nick, it wasn't painful. They froze the abnormal cells to destroy them, again not painful. Got to see the whole procedure and my cervix on the TV.

Bit of cramping afterwards once local wore off, but painkillers dulled it down and no worse than period pains. It was gone by the next day.

Results were sent later and they and all future smears have been clear.

Colposcopy or colonoscopy? I don't think a coloscopy is a thing...

Ah - colposcopy.

I found it very straightforward. They are not opening your cervix, so it's less invasive than a smear. What was unpleasant was a tiny biopsy they took, which felt like being pinched up there! But it was over in a second.

I was also treated with silver nitrate which was very interesting to see on the camera!

It was very sore, plus they didn't tell me beforehand but no sex for two weeks after.

It's a smart test with a few more bells and whistles. You can watch it on a screen and I found it helped to focus on that rather than what I could feel. It was also interesting to see what they were looking at. The only bit I found uncomfortable was when they numbed my cervix to do the lletz thing. Afterwards it felt like I had mild period pains. It took about a week or possibly two for the clear liquid to stop and then it was fine. My results came back within a week because they found some cells were cancerous but I think otherwise it's up to 8 weeks?

smart smear test...

@rookiemere

It was very sore, plus they didn't tell me beforehand but no sex for two weeks after.

I was told/leaflet said 6 weeks! But mine was a good few years back so guidance might have changed since then.

CovidNightmare

rookiemere

"It was very sore, plus they didn't tell me beforehand but no sex for two weeks after."

I was told/leaflet said 6 weeks! But mine was a good few years back so guidance might have changed since then.

Mine was back in 2009 and iirc I could go swimming when the clear discharge had stopped and have piv sex after 2 weeks as well (if I was comfortable doing so). I had to wait 6 weeks after my cone biopsy though but that was a bigger wound and had stitches in.

When I had mine they asked if I minded a male student doctor attending. Not a problem says I. Guess who I bumped into in the pub the next weekend....?!

Thanks for these replies! I feel like forewarned is forearmed, and I do find smear tests very unpleasant so it's good to know what's ahead of me.