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.

I have had a number, no side effects at all, just remember they are not talking about common side effects but they have to tell you what may happen to the 1 in a hundred thousand, etc.

If you don’t go through with it then you could find yourself not getting better.

Hint for the prep, make it and put it on the fridge to be cold. I also had some squash handy( orange or lemon) slug the prep in two or three gulps then a sip of the squash, and put ice in the squash

DO NOT do it without the sedation.

It can hurt.

I had a fentanyl based concoction for mine and woke feeling I had had a really pleasant and refreshing nap afterwards. Also completely clear headed (though they don't allow you to operate machinery until the next day).

I had a nurse anesthetist. He was great.

Your vital signs, weight, and height will be assessed before the procedure so that the anesthetist can calibrate your anesthesia properly.

Your heart rate and blood pressure and blood oxygen levels will be constantly monitored by the anesthetist throughout the procedure.

My friends and I are at the age where we all have routine tests like this done. Even women with obesity, asthma, heart murmurs, and blood pressure issues have come through with no problems.
The chance of any issue arising is very, very slim.

Please try not to be too anxious.

The worst part is actually the prep the night before. Yeuuuuugh.

Just to mention - the fentanyl blocks all consciousness and erases all memory of the procedure. I felt nothing and was not aware of being wheeled out of the surgery suite and back to the recovery/ pre op area. But I woke fully once it quickly wore off.

I did mine in the US, but you may find midazolam or propofol are more commonly used by your anesthetist in the UK, though fentanyl is also used.

They have to state the risks, but they are very low. I've had one, the prep is the most grim part but but if you're sedated the actual thing is not that bad.

I've had 3, and being totally honest, WITH sedation, the procedure is totally and utterly fine. The only crap bit, pun entirely intended, is the bowel emptying drinks, which are really horrid. I've had picolax (better and works) and the other one (can't remember it but for me, barely worked and made we want to vomit). Again though, the actual procedure is fine. Good luck OP x

I had one many years ago with no sedation (long story, NHS mess up) and it couldnt proceed too far because of the discomfort and pain as they moved around and blew more air in, I just couldnt take it

Second one was sedated, slightly uncomfortable but over quickly ish.

The prep is horrific

Get it done and over with.

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.

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

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".

Yes, sedation is great!

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 .

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’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.

Thank you to everyone for sharing their experiences.

I guess it's in my best interest to go and get this sorted once and for all.

Really not looking forward to taking the drink tomorrow, it is mango flavour which I will take with a straw, I didn't realise you had to drink 500ml at once.

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 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'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.

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

@Over40Overdating - I will try that tip, thank you.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.