Do cameras hurt?

[Imsuchamess]

I been having a lot of stomach aches and lose bowel movements for the last six months so doctor says she will refer to the hospital to stick a camera in and see what's going on. How does this procedure work?

[Angelto5]

Sorry to ask a silly question but is the camera going down ur throat to check ur stomach or the other end?

[mousmous]

depends what you are having.
stomach = a bit uncomfortable but not really painful
flexi sig (looking into the last 10cm or so of the gut) = a bit uncomfortable, sedatives can be offered to help
colonoscopy (looking at a larger part of the intestine) = a bit more uncomfortable but sedatives will be offered.

preparation in both cases is worse than the procedure itself.

[helensburgh]

I had a down the y one last week, oesophagus etc. I didn't chose sedation however I'd recommend it. I found it too painful and they had to stop.

It wasn't pleasant at all,

[IHeartKingThistle]

If it's through the mouth take the sedation!

[Longdistance]

My mum had a colonoscopy, or was it endoscopy. She was sedated and didn't remember much.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

My dh had both last week - for both at once they definitely recommend sedation. As said above, the preparation was the worst bit. The actual procedure was pretty much ok, even though he'd been very nervous beforehand. Afterwards he had a sore throat and a very gurgly tummy for a day.

[PitchSlapped]

I had a colonoscopy and was sedated I dont remember much but it didnt hurt at the time was a bit uncomfortable. Also had the option of gas and air. I had to take moviprep to clear my bowel which was by far the hardest bit. If you have to take that, put a straw as far back in your throat as you can and drink it down. Took me 2 hours to drink each dose

[Imsuchamess]

Thanks all I asked on chat as my mother mentioned it might be a colonoscopy I don't know which it is I didn't think to ask and I have a phobia about people going near my bum because I was anally raped at 15. So either way I'll be asking to be heavily sedated.

[EverythingCounts]

Given what you've just said, I would be asking for other routes of investigation. If you have something like ulcerative colitis (which it sounds reasonably like) then it would probably be treated with steroids. I was given them before the diagnosis was confirmed because I was so poorly. Might be worth going back to the doctor and asking about that, as you have had this for 6 months now.

I've had a sigmoidoscopy without sedation, and it was actually fine. I wanted to be awake as I am a bit fixated about being able to know what's going on and ask questions. But in your position I would want to be able to ask for something different. Good luck.

[Imsuchamess]

Thanks everythingcounts I'm going to go through with the test though. I know it will be hard for me. But I'm going to ask to be heavily sedated. Who knows maybe this will be therapeutic for me.

[PitchSlapped]

When I had mine done (in a private hospital) I wore a gown with some paper shorts underneath which have a flap which it sounds like might really help you be more comfortable. I was awake but I wasnt at all aware of the camera going in. You have no nerve endings in your bowel so if you have a biopsy taken during the procedure (pretty standard I certainly had one) you wont feel it. The only uncomfortable bit was them putting air in (so they can see better) and slightly when the camera was taken out but it wasnt pain, just slightly uncomfortable

[PitchSlapped]

Comfortable as in you're not exposing your lower half. I thought it was standard to have these shorts but apparently not

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

OP. I'm sorry that you were raped. Is your GP aware? It may be worth asking if a capsule endoscopy test is available. You basically swallow a giant pill and catch it when you poo it out. It records pictures as it travels through you. You may need a colonoscopy anyway, but it might be an easier first step if it's available.

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

OP. I'm sorry that you were raped. Is your GP aware? It may be worth asking if a capsule endoscopy test is available. You basically swallow a giant pill and catch it when you poo it out. It records pictures as it travels through you. You may need a colonoscopy anyway, but it might be an easier first step if it's available.

[Imsuchamess]

Thank you no my gp is not aware. I thought I would bring it up to the consultant but the capsule endoscopy does sound a lot less stressful thank you I'll ask about that.