Colonoscopy - are they painful?

[colonoscopyhelp]

GP has referred me for a colonoscopy under 2ww due to heavy bleeding/positive FIT test . She said I’ll be heavily sedated throughout, won’t be fully aware of what’s happening and it will mean they can treat whatever’s wrong on the day .

She said she thinks I’ve probably got polyps, or colitis but not sure . Have had ++++ upset stomach, bleeding, incontinence and cramping for a while .

I was sexually assaulted a few years ago and I find smears etc absolutely terrifying, my last smear the GP took 25 minutes to get it done - and that was with someone I 100% trust - and I’m scared of what this will be like .

Are you lying on your side, do they cover you up etc?

You will lay on your left side, legs closed and covered. The camera will go in and you’ll be covered again. It is nothing like a smear test at all.
Take all the sedation they offer and you’ll be fine. I’ve had about 20 in my life so a seasoned pro

I was coming on here to say don’t bother with the drugs, but given your history you really should. They are g painful. I had mine without sedation or pain relief and was fine. The clear out the night before is much more unpleasant!

*aren’t painful

I've had two (I have ulcerative colitis). It's not what I'd call a fun day out but it's not as bad as you might fear. You'll be on your side and they will keep you as covered-up as possible, and in my experience they will be very, very sensitive and try their best to protect your dignity. I had mine without sedation and I genuinely didn't find them painful - slightly uncomfortable when the camera went round an inflamed bend, but other than that, I didn't really feel much. I chatted to the doctor and watched what was going on on the screen, and actually found it all quite fascinating.

I hope it goes OK for you

It was slightly uncomfortable but not painful.
I wasn't sedated, I opted for gas and air. I won't bother you with the why but I didn't want anything done to me while I was unconscious.

I watched the screen while huffing on g&a. It was quite interesting.

I had one last year and it was honestly worse than childbirth, I did not have sedation as I have a really high pain threshold.
It was awful, honestly have everything they offer

They said as I have strong stomach muscles it may have made it worse but I couldn't cope, passed out.

I have a smear, coil and have had 2 kids naturally at over 8lb and nothing comes close.

Also read up on the preparation and limit your fibre early

Take the sedation, it will feel like a dream honestly.

You will have a nurse right next to you and you can stop at any time. You will have a feeling of pressure, but shouldn't feel any pain.

I've had atleast 2 a year and I'm in and out in 15 minutes now (I'm a pro haha!).

Thanks so much

That’s what worries me re pain, I’ve got chronic pelvic pain/adhesions anyway, endometriosis with bladder/bowel involvement so the thought of anything going up there is absolutely dreadful

GP did say there would be female nurses in the room . I’ve had two cystoscopies, coil, etc too and found all of that agony .

Hopefully the appointment comes through fairly quickly !

I've had many and always take the sedation. You're not unconscious, just dreamy and relaxed. The staff are always highly professional and kind. The part I found hard was the food limitations the couple of days prior. I made hot water with marmite a lot which helped.

The bit I found funny bc I'm very childish, was the recovery room, where everyone is drifting and dreaming and farting!

I had one, and was completely out for the count on the sedative, didn't feel a thing.

@SpangledShambles

I've had many and always take the sedation. You're not unconscious, just dreamy and relaxed. The staff are always highly professional and kind. The part I found hard was the food limitations the couple of days prior. I made hot water with marmite a lot which helped.

The bit I found funny bc I'm very childish, was the recovery room, where everyone is drifting and dreaming and farting!

Haha this made me giggle! And everyone devouring their biscuits and tea 🤣

I have had a few and even with sedation, found them painful. First one I was begging for more sedative during the procedure. And the second one, I won’t go into it but don’t expect all staff to be wonderful and for it to be pain free. I would rather know of the potential for something not going smoothly (in advance) than be shocked by it being difficult. Everyone has different experiences, just get as much sedation as you can.

Also, the booking nurse may know the most experienced Consultants and can try to get you on their list if you tell them you are a reluctant patient. skill & lots of experience does matter in procedures such as this one.

It looks like it might vary from hospital to hospital, but in mine they give you what they call “modesty pants”, which is basically disposable shorts with a passage on the back. They also ask you to bring a dressing gown, so basically you’re never really exposed. Hopefully you can ask if you’re not offered one?

As for sedation, my rule of thumb is: when in doubt, always take sedation. I had one with and one without and I don’t think I’d have sedation again (had gas and air) but you can see from this thread everyone has a different experience.

The worst part is the awful stuff you have to drink beforehand and the sitting on the loo for ages.

I have had quite a few now as I have colitis. I find the sedation doesn't do much for me, but others it seems to work brilliantly.

Always have a female nurse in there, usually there are two nurses and a doctor- you lay on your left side and then halfway through you roll on to your back.
They give you a gown and some paper crotchless shorts and you're covered with a blanket too.
Not generally painful, just uncomfortable, and be prepared for the wind afterwards as they pump air in so they can see.

I didn't find them painful. The sigmoidoscopy with a ridged metal one was painful. Dr kept telling me it was just uncomfortable, asked if he'd had one. But pain is subjective, same as having a baby, which I found agony.my youngest DD had 7 pounders,she's a size 4,no sutures nothing,3 hour labours

I had one, with the sedation, and can honestly say it was absolutely fine - and I was dreading it.
The whole team was lovely, from the consultant who came to fetch me from the waiting room (he told me it wouldn't be nearly as bad I was expecting and I didn't believe him - but he was right. ) to the nurses who giggled with me when i was very chatty and happy during the procedure.

This was at Addenbrookes - it's a centre of excellence for this and they truly were excellent.
But Take The Sedation!

If I so much as shifted a bit while it was going on, they asked if i wanted any more meds and immediately upped the dosage. I was very relaxed!
Best of luck and hope it goes well for you.

Thought I would try gas and air –it was awful. Had the hardcore sedative and was so relaxed I nearly fell asleep in recovery afterwards. They said I had a long, twisty colon, hence the pain. Trouble is, you don't know until it's in. The drink beforehand is as grim AF. Take sedation, it will be fine.

@colonoscopyhelp I'm a crohns /colitis veteran and have had many, many colonoscopies. Read on if you want a practical guide, and skim over if you don't want to know the details.

You wear a surgical gown and they now issue you with 'modesty pants' that are large paper knickers with a Velcro flap they take down right at the last second to get access to your bum. All your other undercarriage is safely tucked away out of sight, which is somewhat reassuring. You lie on your side with knees drawn up and the nurse and anaesthetist are in front of you, and hold your hand and talk you through it. They usually put a cannula in your hand as well to put the drugs in and sometimes fluids too. You also have a heart rate monitor on your finger. You remain pretty covered up with your gown and blankets throughout, except for the initial insertion. They all look at the screens, not you (except the hand hold nurse who chats and looks after you).

With any anxiety I'd make sure they know beforehand (they will come into your cubicle, explain the procedure, risks and get consent so that is your chance to ask for sedation and pain relief). There is usually gas and air as well.

The 2-3 days before requires 'bowel preparation', which is essentially a clear out of all poo in your intestines. You eat a low residue diet and take lots of super power laxatives to expel everything. Be warned they can act fast, so be near a loo . I'd also recommend putting a barrier cream like sudocrem around you bumhole before taking the laxatives to protect your delicate skin. Drink lots of water to help everything on its way.

Be prepared to fart a lot after the procedure too - everyone does. You can't control that so be prepared to brazen it out as you can't hold it in . It's quite a comical trumpet serenade on the ward from all of your fellow colonoscopy friends 😂

Best part of it is the tea and biscuits afterwards as you are nil by mouth in the hours up to the procedure and it is the best tea you will ever drink.

Oh, and do take them seriously re the guidance of being picked up by someone and not working next day if you have sedation.

I hope that you have a good experience and that the results go the way you need. if you do end up with a colitis diagnosis, please go to to www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/ for more information. It's a brilliant charity with lost of information and support.

Best of luck and focus on that cup of tea as your goal. I hope this helps.

Mine was about 10 years ago. I'm a complete wimp when it comes to medical matters and was terrified so did have the sedation.
The worst part was the prep beforehand (the laxative) - stay very close to a loo.
The actual procedure, insofar as I remember it, was far easier than I'd imagined. It was painful at one point but I said ouch and they stopped, increased the pethidine and decreased the air pressure(?) which stopped the pain.
And yes, there's a lot of lying down and farting afterwards!

Also don't forget that the large intestine has no nerve endings. It can detect distention but not pain
You really don't need to worry though, you'll be lovely and relaxed (although if you're heavily sedated you'll probably be out for the count). The worst part is the prep at home so once that's done just remember that the worst is over.

In all honesty a lot depends on what you're having it for, I've had a few and when I was at my most poorly (with bowel problems) it was so painful it was abandoned, other times it was ok. I'm not sure about there being no nerve endings up there, I also felt it at the very top! Not just going in.

Good luck, I've had annual endoscopies too and always had maximum sedation. Explain beforehand and make sure they know.

I did it with gas and air and was fine apart from a couple of the turnings where it got suddenly painful for 5-10 seconds. The prep though, is the most awful thing, the pain from the constant wiping, the disgusting taste, being scared to move about a metre away from the toilet, get yourself some hardboiled sweets (not red or black ones) to suck on during the no eatting pre prep. Urgh. I got modesty pants with a huge gap at the back.

They worst part (apart from the stuff you drink before) is that they inflate to gut to get the probe in. It's uncomfortable like very, very bad wind. But that's it. Discomfort, but not what you would call pain. Plus, the sedation is wonderful. I now see why DW raves about the gas and air she had when she had our DCs.

I had one when I was 21 (now 41) and being honest it was very painful. I had lots of sedation as well. I think if I ever had to have one now I’d literally beg for them to send me to sleep. However - I have terrible ibs, (that’s what the diagnosis came back as) and suffer acutely painful cramps and spasms so it was like having an ibs spasm x 200000. Maybe other people just don’t experience it like that.

Bagelsandbrie I think your experience is not the norm. I've had multi scopes for crohns disease and ulcerative colitis (yep I've been blessed with both!) . I've had scopes pre bowel surgery and at times when my whole colon was terribly inflamed to the point I was bleeding heavily multiple times a day. Its thankfully never been painful as you've described.