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

[sharonau]

I have a colonoscopy booked in for Wednesday due to some rectal bleeding, my bloods tests and FIT test were all normal which is reassuring.

I am just reading the preparation booklet and I am abit worried about the risks stated.
The main ones are infection, hole in bowel, heart attack or stroke and of course death.

Has anyone had a bad a bad experience with a colonoscopy?
I am having second thoughts after reading the leaflet, I have young children and can't imagine the thought of something happening to me.

My partner and my DD has had one. My partner is currently in hospital with one third of his bowel removed, which has saved his life thanks to the test picking up something going on. The wards that he's been on has had people who have had bowel/gallbladder etc surgery. It's best to catch things early and have a planned procedure. My Uncle died of bowel cancer before testing came in. The prep is horrible, but it could save much more intensive treatments or death.

Do it!
The prep is horrible so make sure you stay at home for that.
Also your bum can hurt for a few hours after. The colonoscopy is absolutely fine, if anything it can be interesting to see inside yourself. The doc who did mine was really nice and showed me the screen.
take the sedative!

I've had several, starting when I was 6 years old. They have to warn you about the risks, but they are incredibly unlikely. More likely to come to harm from an undiagnosed significant illness, if turning down a clinically indicated scan.

I have a regular one. It's unpleasant but better than the alternative......

Risks are minimal and rare.

My one big hint is to put a barrier cream (sudocrem or Vaseline) on your bum or you will get nappy rash.

Take as much sedative as you can / they offer.

Good luck.

Aww thanks for the lovely reassuring replies.

My last pregnancy was very scary and I required emergency surgery and this is the first time I will be going back to hospital so I am extremely nervous.

@Jellycats4life I'm so sorry to hear that, hope your mum is OK now.

I just can't wait for it to be over with, I guess at least I will know the cause of the rectal bleeding and put my mind at rest once and for all x

I've had a few. My pro tip for drinking the prep is follow each gulp with a chaser of apple juice! You have to drink loads anyway. Kill two birds with one stone.

@Ponoka7 Sorry to hear about your uncle, I hope your partner makes a full recovery.

@ooooohnoooooo Thank you for the tip do you mean before the procedure?

@WarrenPearce - Thank you

Have had a few,.never an issue

I've had 3. None of them with sedation and all were fine. Found it fascinating as I could see my insides on the screen and the staff were lovely.

Not at all sore, but uncomfortable with the gas they use to expand your bowel so that they can see clearly. It's such a relief when they tell you, you can have a fart!!! 😁

@Silvers11 you waited for permission 🧐

Yes. Slather it on as you will poo a lot (and explosively 🤓) so you need to protect your bum hole. 😬

Oh, and you'll need a loo brush too !!!

I advised a nervous relative recently who was really worried about his first. I relaxed him by explaining that the post-procedure farts are a thing of wonder. 😂😂😂😂😂

I’ve had 2 and an endoscopy and they were fine, worst bit is the prep, make it cold and use a straw. take the sedation, I was fully aware but just relaxed and a bit fuzzy

Not always no! But getting rid of a huge amount at one go at the end was fantastic 😂Got a laugh from the medical staff on one occasion

Had three. No issues. Cancerous polyp removed and no further treatment needed. You're more likely to win Euromillions than have anything go wrong.

Yes! But you’ll need someone to take you home afterwards

From my perspective I would say 'no' as it really isn't a problem to not have sedation. However, if you are very nervous, you might feel it is worth having it.

I asked the nurse if it was really a good idea to take the sedation (like it is for e.g. an endoscopy ) and she said not at all necessary in her opinion, but obviously it was up to me.

My father wanted to skip his colonoscopy for rectal bleeding because he didn't think it would be necessary. He had stage 3B cancer and is lucky to be alive.

I've had 10 colonoscopies, 3 flexible sigmoidpscopies, 5 gastroscopies, and both small bowel and colon capsule endoscopies.

I've only ever had one bad experience, which was the first. Had it without sedation and it was too painful and they couldn't finish. Took an hour and a half. Generally awful.

Since then all have been fine. Always have sedation!!! Much less painful, over faster. I'm still conscious and talking and remember most of it afterwards, but it just makes the whole procedure so much easier. Because mine are for Crohn's and I have inflammation they are probably more painful than I someone without, but I'd still recommend the sedation. Get no side effects from it at all.

I've never had any complications. Just a little bit of bleeding afterwards if they take biopsies and everything can be a bit sore and sensitive.

The prep is horrible. Recommend taking it ice cold, through a straw and with a chaser of apple juice after every mouthful. I have to take it slower than they say to avoid being sick. You only feel sick if you drink it too quickly. Definitely recommend vaseline as a barrier cream and starting to use it before you even begin taking prep, don't wait until things get sore. Also recommend baby wipes. It does start to feel like the prep will never stop, but it always has done by the time I need to travel to the hospital.

OP, I had the same reservations as you but for different reasons. I'm the sole carer for my middle aged, diabled son. I am all he has. That's why I was terrified of the colonoscopy - or rather what could go wrong. But then I thought that, if I had cancer, it was my best chance to catch it early. I am so glad I had it done. I didn't have any sedation as I had to drive myself there and back. The whole process was painless (maybe very, very slightly uncomfortable for a few seconds) and over in about 30 minutes. The healthcare team were kind and gentle and it was not the terrifying ordeal I imagined at all. The worst part was the stuff you've got to drink beforehand! Get it done OP and set your mind at rest.

Edited to say I had two benign polys which they removed there and then - and I still didn't feel anything.

@sharonau people are split on sedation.
I hate being sedated so went without and it was fine. At it’s very worst, it was a little crampy but meant I could move around to give them easier access, was able to leave swiftly afterwards and had a lovely clear view of my innards!

I had one a couple of years ago and had no complications, it was uncomfortable but fine. Worst part was the prep

I have had quite a few, no side effects or problems. I would recommend gas and air for pain relief. In my experience the sedation just makes you woozy but does not do a lot for the pain (many people don't have pain with it but I do).

I kept reading how awful the prep drink was but I didn't find it bad. Just like an electrolyte drink really. I bought some fiery ginger beer in case it tasted awful! The only thing is I found it made me really cold having to drink so much cold liquid so I would recommend wrapping up and having some blankets prepared.

I had sedation and it was amazing! I felt so relaxed. I don't remember any of it except waking up once in the middle and they gave me more sedation to make me sleep again. Apparently I have a "long and tortuous bowel" and the consultant said I was clearly in pain but I was not aware of it so I would definitely recommend the sedation as you don't know if you will be one of the ones who find it painful or not. I would never have one without sedation.

Just to add I had mine done privately so I suspect they gave me stronger sedation than the NHS do from what it sounds. For me it was just like having a general anaesthetic.