A colonoscopy question

[Nivealove]

Hello all,

I am preparing for my colonoscopy in two days time. I am pretty clued up on what I should expect. However, I've decided not to take sedation and just use gas and air. I wanted to ask, as it wasn't mentioned on past threads about other peoples experiences about getting a colonoscopy, but what does it feel like when the camera goes inside your bum. This is the part I'm dreading! I'm worried that it will be painful.

Having the scope inserted isn’t at all painful, it can feel a bit weird, like you’re doing a poo, but shouldn’t hurt. The rest of it can be a bit painful especially as they negotiate loops in the bowel but most people manage with the gas and air fine.

Have you got those sachet drinks to have beforehand? Those were the worst bit for me

@mylovelydd

Have you got those sachet drinks to have beforehand? Those were the worst bit for me

I took a taste of the bowel prep powder and it tastes nice!!!!

It is quite uncomfortable and made me gasp a few times as the camera went around corners but it's not painful as such. When I have one in the future I will opt for just gas and air again.

The scope itself is really thin, about a finger width or so. So shouldn’t be painful unless you’ve got any anal fissures or tears. The gas that is put into the colon causes it to stretch and that can cause pain, the best thing to do is fart as much as you can.
Ex endoscopy nurse.

Oh and they use tonnes of lube on the scope and your bum hole, sometimes people ask for more if they can feel it’s got a bit dry.

I took a taste of the bowel prep powder and it tastes nice

I've never ever heard anyone say that before 😲

That was definitely the worst part for me

@Redglitter

I took a taste of the bowel prep powder and it tastes nice

I've never ever heard anyone say that before 😲

That was definitely the worst part for me

In my hospital, they give us about 4-5 laxatives in tablet form and then we only drink 150ml of the bowel prep solution and another in the morning. I don't think it's that bad. I just had a bit of a taste of the powder and it taste very sweet/orangy. But I have a sugar addiction!!!

@MonkeyPuddle

The scope itself is really thin, about a finger width or so. So shouldn’t be painful unless you’ve got any anal fissures or tears. The gas that is put into the colon causes it to stretch and that can cause pain, the best thing to do is fart as much as you can. Ex endoscopy nurse.

Thank you all,

Looking on YouTube, the camera looks the same width as a pole!

In all honesty the camera doesn't hurt at all, what feels uncomfortable is when the blow air up there to open everything up.

I've done a colonoscopy without proper sedative before but had to have gas and air half way through. It gets more painful when they go round the corners.

Nah it’s finger width honestly.

As an aside I was the nurse assisting the endoscopist and as he pulled the scope out after finishing the exam he turned round to pass it to me but he sort of whirled round and whipped me across the face with it luckily the bowel prep was good so there wasn’t any poo slapped across my face!

The camera is so small you'll feel virtually nothing. What is a pain is the air they pump in to inflate the gut. It's like the worst case of wind you have ever had.

I would take the sedation, most people do. People's experiences vary from uncomfortable to very painful. The camera itself isn't painful but the air they pump in can be! Also, depending on what problems you have, any inflammation, biopsies and polyp removal can be painful too.

@Blossomandbee

I would take the sedation, most people do. People's experiences vary from uncomfortable to very painful. The camera itself isn't painful but the air they pump in can be! Also, depending on what problems you have, any inflammation, biopsies and polyp removal can be painful too.

But polyps have no nerves, I don't think those will hurt at all.

Take the the sedation.

lemondade falvoured lollies through out the prep day.

drink the prep through a straw, cold

@Nivealove correct, you won’t feel polyp removals.

I've never been sedated for a colonoscopy. Only been offered gas and air a couple of times. It must depend on the hospital. You don't feel biopsy/polyp removal. The scope is really small. The video magnifies. They won't let you have the DVD though

I had a bit of cramping at one point but that was it. It certainly didn't warrant any pain relief. Perhaps I'm a freak.

The worst bit was the enema - thank God I was home for that!

so called sedation is like half a valium btw

When I had my colonoscopy I didn’t have gas and air or the sedation and it was perfectly ok , not pleasant but definitely not painful . I was undecided about it before I arrived for the appointment but the only sedation they were offering makes me really sick for about 48 hours and I never felt the need to ask for gas once they had started .

Going in doesn't really hurt, feels weird and a bit uncomfortable but I wouldn't call it painful, but the going round the bends in your bowels and the gas is painful. They don't offer gas and air where I am, and the sedation they supposedly gave me was a bit of valium that did sod all so it was a very unpleasant experience but I reckon gas and air would make it much more bearable, fucking love gas and air. I'd go through a colonoscopy for some gas and air for sure.

@sadperson16

so called sedation is like half a valium btw

What do you mean? Is this bad?

I wanted to ask if I could eat the fruit pastels ice lollies on the day before my procedure?

I had one at 21 and didn’t even get gas and air!! It was ok, not the best thing ever but not the worst. A bit uncomfortable at times.

No they have blackcurrant in them. It might make it look like you have bleeding. Your prep letter should have explained that.