Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

106 replies

sharonau · 01/02/2025 16:09

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.

OP posts:
AyrnotAir · 02/02/2025 22:33

I've had one as I had an anal fissure. I was sedated absolutely no issues. I know lots of people who have had them and heard of no issues.

ImDoneOnceAndForAll · 02/02/2025 22:34

Jellycats4life · 01/02/2025 16:17

Please have the colonoscopy. My mum “passed” her FIT test but still had bowel cancer.

Thats concerning

theduchessofspork · 02/02/2025 22:36

No, I’ve had 3 - no negative effects

The prep is a bit grim but it passes

Have the sedation. At the last one the nurse said oh you’re the first person to request it today, which I am sure is bullshit designed to get you out quicker - it can be uncomfortable and no point putting yourself through that more than necessary.

PotaytoPotahhto · 02/02/2025 22:37

I’ve had around 17 and never had any issues with any of them.

Lemsipper · 02/02/2025 22:39

Kindly, the risk of having colon cancer is higher than the risk of the rare colonscopy side effects. So it doesn’t make sense not having it for this reason.

BSky · 03/02/2025 03:14

Honestly as others say, you'll be fine. It's not fun but it's not awful or really painful - a bit uncomfortable but worth it. It's routine to tell you all the possible outcomes but those will be really rare effects.

I ate a bland diet for 2-3 days before the prep. Expect to be near a loo as you clear your bowels - it's not nice but wasn't as bad as expected. I think eating a bland diet helped. Also drinking the prep formula through a straw helped. I had some soft toilet wipes which were a bit more gentle than toilet paper.
I had sedation which really helped and it was over quickly. I felt tired and my stomach felt a bit sore/sensitive the day after so maybe plan a quiet duvet day. Not painful just a bit tender, hot water bottle and watching a box set helped!

It's really worth doing it. Hopefully all is well - tests results so far are clear and hopefully this will rule out any further nasties. But if you do have something wrong the diagnosis will help you get the treatment you need promptly.

Do a bland diet, take the sedation and give yourself a day to recover from the tiredness. Good luck.

Cushioncut · 03/02/2025 04:01

I've had a colonography which is a bit like a colonosopy but with just the camera. I think the muscle relaxant/sedative is meant to make it more comfortable rather than just making you feel happy. They told me that I couldn't have it though because I have a minor heart irregularity. The prep was truly the worst part.

hazelnutvanillalatte · 03/02/2025 04:09

Hi, wishing you good luck and hope it all goes well. A family member did have one and had complications but is now ok - but didn’t have the option not to have it, iyswim

UnderThePressure · 03/02/2025 04:19

I have had 3 colonoscopies (with gastroscopies at the same time), the first was without sedation which I don't recommend if you're nervous as it can make it harder for the Dr to carry out the procedure. The last two I had with sedation I can't remember at all and were fine.
My first test showed up some polyps which were removed immediately and sent for testing, thankfully they were not cancerous but I do have to have regular colonoscopies now. They helped to diagnose my chronic bowel conditions so please get it done even if your other tests were clear.

steff13 · 03/02/2025 04:58

I don't know how it works there but here in the US if something bad happened to one person that had the procedure they have to list it as a side effect and give a warning about it. So there could have been millions of people that had it with no problem and one person that had a problem, and they have to warn you about it. I think it's more important to make sure that there's nothing wrong.

HereBeWormholes · 03/02/2025 05:21

My 80 year old Mum had one without sedation so she could go shopping after, but she is a NUTTER! 🤪 And she was fine.

I've had two with sedation just for the chance to relax, as someone said above, but after the first, I really didn't fear the second at all.

Don't give it a second thought - go and get it, you'll be glad you did!

XWKD · 03/02/2025 05:26

I've had quite a few of them. I know some people who had them under anaesthesia. I just had sedation, as I needed to be conscious to move around. I was out of my tree. It was great! 🤣

knitnerd90 · 03/02/2025 05:57

Yes as it is standard screening here (USA). Sedation here is standard unless you request otherwise. Depending on where you go it's either fentanyl + versed or propofol. I was supposed to get conscious sedation, which is the former, but either the anesthaetist decided otherwise or I was super easy to sedate because I felt it go in, said "oohhh" and didn't remember a thing till I woke up in recovery. I was just fine afterwards aside from needing a nap later, which may only have been from the prep keeping me from a good night's sleep beforehand!

The prep was unpleasant. There are a few ways they do it here, one is a prescription solution (that I hear is dreadful), the next is PEG3350 powder aka Miralax mixed with sports drink, and the final is tablets + plain water (the newest method). I did the Miralax. It's not easy to drink that much liquid in the time allotted, though this method involves a lower volume than some of the other preps. If you keep it cold and glug some every 10-15 minutes it's not so bad. But truly the prep was worse than the procedure itself.

The gastroenterologist also sent me home with photos of my colon. I'm not sure what I should have done with that.

Zanatdy · 03/02/2025 06:01

My mum has had a few, and good job she didn’t
cancel as 10yrs ago the colonoscopy found had breast cancer. Thankfully surgery removed it, and she has remained cancer free for over a decade now. Don’t cancel. They are not pleasant but soon over.

Katkincake · 03/02/2025 06:11

I’ve had one, husband has had 2, though did have to prep 3 times - his appointment was cancelled the next morning so did it all for nothing 😆

Found it fascinating watching the screen as they explored and enjoyed the Fentanyl.

Endoscopy was far worse, hope I never have another of those.

Smashandflab · 03/02/2025 06:14

The drinking of the prep is worse than the effects for me. It is so hard to force myself to drink it, huge volumes and I gagged through all of it.

Procedure fine bar once I had a bit of aching where turning a corner was obviously a bit difficult it was uncomfortable but not painful for a couple of weeks after. They discovered something which probably saved my life.. now I have to drink the prep annually!

dynamiccactus · 03/02/2025 07:58

ImDoneOnceAndForAll · 02/02/2025 22:34

Thats concerning

Show quote history

It's not unusual though because a tumour may not bleed all the time. It's still a really good screening test (and is also why the threshold for investigation is much lower if you have symptoms).

Sharptonguedwoman · 03/02/2025 09:44

sharonau · 01/02/2025 16:15

Thanks, that is reassuring.
Is it worth having the sedation?

Absolutely have the sedation. I had mine on gas and air and an endoscopy on sedation. Having the sedation (it's very light) was infinitely preferable.

Original poster
sharonau · 03/02/2025 10:19

So I have the mango flavoured drink at 6pm and another at 6am tomorrow (mine is an afternoon appointment).

Dreading it to be honest.

My husband has booked the day of work tomorrow to look after the kids but will be back at work the day after.

I understand if you have the sedation you cannot look after children for 24 hours so I will to have the gas and air.

OP posts:
knitnerd90 · 03/02/2025 10:34

I'm not a doctor, but I would ask again, because I was only told 12 hours. I've also had sedation for other things in both US and UK and never been told a full 24 hours for looking after a baby.

WeightLoss2025 · 03/02/2025 12:38

sharonau · 03/02/2025 10:19

So I have the mango flavoured drink at 6pm and another at 6am tomorrow (mine is an afternoon appointment).

Dreading it to be honest.

My husband has booked the day of work tomorrow to look after the kids but will be back at work the day after.

I understand if you have the sedation you cannot look after children for 24 hours so I will to have the gas and air.

Just a little tip for drinking the prep... make it super super cold with iced water and def use the straw. I also had to drink an equal amount of water with the prep drink which helped 👍

I had sedation and felt completely fine after about 2 hours, so I wouldn't be concerned you won't be able to look after your kids the next day.

Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen · 03/02/2025 12:45

I had one last year - absolutely no ill effects at all. I opted for no sedation and no gas & air - ie no pain relief at all. It wasnt fun but it wasnt awful either. And all over in 20 minutes (unlike the diet etc which was a very boring couple of days food wise!)
If you've been told you need to have it, not having it is far worse a risk than having it I think.

I think........ dont be dreading it - giving birth was far more painful and took waaaay longer. If you've given birth a colonoscopy is a much less urgh experience. xxx

dynamiccactus · 03/02/2025 19:09

You'll be able to look after your children after sedation. I basically went to bed and had a sleep after mine, but I don't have small children and my appointment was in the morning so I hadn't had much sleep the night before.

ItssssAMeMariooo92 · 03/02/2025 19:17

Ive had multiple. Prep is horrific but the rest is a breeze. Yes to sedation

Original poster
sharonau · 03/02/2025 19:50

I had the drink at 6pm and it was so disgusting yuk just like drinking pure sugar lol. The separate water drink helped though.
.
Thank you to the PP who recommended a straw, that defo helped.

I'm just waiting now to go to the loo, feel very crampy and gassy.

I can't wait for it to be over and done with tomorrow.

OP posts: