Colonoscopy nerves

[TommyLeeRoyceslycra]

Having a colonoscopy in just over a week. I'm so nervous I'm tempted to cancel. I'm not nervous about the findings, but I'm petrified about the procedure itself.

I have bloating, severe constipation and bleeding, just from piles, I think. Having them banded too. I'm so embarrassed 😳

Please can you tell me about your experiences? I think I'll have to have sedation, to calm my nerves at the least.

Any reassurance will be greatly received. It's not like I can talk to anyone in real life about this.

Definitely choose the sedation, it makes it much easier and you might even sleep. I've been having them since childhood and yes, they're unpleasant, but the fearful anticipation is always worse. You'll be ok - and the first meal afterwards tastes amazing:)

Also remember, it feels like a massive looming thing in your head but the procedure will probably take no more than 20 minutes.

With sedation it’s a piece of cake, you probably won’t even know it’s happening. For me, the not eating beforehand was the worst bit!

I had one, it was fine. Doctor gave me half the usual dose of sedative so I was awake but relaxed. The bowel prep was worse than the actual procedure.
My Mum and Sister had them too and they don’t remember much about it as they were well sedated!

I had one very recently, having not had one for years. I was quite worked about it, but it was fine - the prep really not that bad, and the procedure quick and hardly uncomfortable at all. I did have sedation (and you should) but TBH I could easily not have bothered.

Bowel prep was pretty awful for my DH, I would suggest a liquid diet upto 3 days beforehand, soup, jelly and ice cream. My DH had sedative, he couldn’t have gas and air due to ear perforation. He was found to have diverticulitis which was suspected beforehand.

I just got a letter in this morning and mine is on Monday 😩 I’m so scared! I’m pregnant so I don’t think they’ll be able to do anything other than take a look but I’m petrified of them having to take a biopsy or something. I also don’t know whether to get someone to come with me to sit outside or if I’d be as well just going on my own

Thank you all. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm not normally nervous about medical matters but this is giving me sleepless nights.

I was nervous wreck and had to have double camera inspection. I had everything going, throat spray, gas and air and sedation.

The team were lovely and really helped put me at ease and with all the medication the procedure itself was actually fine in the end (although like you i have painful piles and similar issues so I had got myself in a right state beforehand).

Just do the prep thoroughly and take all the drugs they offer you and it will be fine!

I've had one and it genuinely wasn't that bad ( and I'm petrified of all medical procedures and had to have valium before a 10 minute MRI scan). The bowel prep was obviously unpleasant but nothing unbearable, and the actual procedure was not unpleasant at all, I had the sedation and I didn't feel a thing, or remember a thing tbh! If you can get someone to go with you, do, as it'll be nicer beforehand. Tell the nurses your nervous. It's so incredibly routine and mundane for the medics. Don't cancel, you'll be so relieved when it's over!

The prep is far worse than the actual procedure.

I had one without sedation ( as I had no one to accompany me). I'd say have the sedation if you can but it wasn't even that bad without it. I got the bus home after, felt fine.

I had the sedation and weirdly I thought the whole thing was great fun. Chatted away to the staff. I’m sure I made no sense at all.

DH had the sedation and slept through the whole thing.

@TommyLeeRoyceslycra - I was extremely nervous about mine. Yes the drinking the things before hand ( so eg movi prep or the like ) isn't great . But a straw and a clear drink on hand gets you through it ( & nearby loo )

Honestly , honestly , I had a mild sedative & I cannot tell you how much less worse ( if that is even a phrase ) than I thought it would be. Lovely doctor talked me through it & then said - I'm going round a corner here - you might be able to feel that - could not feel a thing. I had the option to watch the camera which I took & that was rather fascinating. My mother had one without the sedative but said it was not painful.

So my experience is the anticipation is so much worse than the event. I promise you I felt no pain & also I had some paper shorts with a flap & a gown on. My modesty was preserved at all times if that is any of your worry.

I can't tell you not to worry because I did . But One thing I can promise you if I ever had to have another one - I would not lose a wink of sleep.

Best wishes . Really really @TommyLeeRoyceslycra it is a walk in the park

I had a general anaesthetic so I don't remember anything at all. The recovery was a bit grim though.

Like pps found the prep beforehand was worse. Had mild sedative and was able to watch procedure on screen and ask questions.

@BCxx that’s not much notice? Have they sent the prep and have you started the low residue diet already?

I have them every 5 years, the prep needs to be done meticulously otherwise there’s no point having the procedure. I always ask for a bit of sedation. It doesn’t knock me out but does relax me enough that I can cope easily with the procedure.

be prepared for the paper pants with a flap at the bum for easy access!!

@KeziaOAP - I did the same and told the Dr it was a bit like watching Dr Who ( I suspect that was the sedative speaking ) 😀Not a jot of pain and recovery was nil - perfectly OK the moment it had finished

My experience may have been unusual but I had sedation and still found it very painful, so they gave me gas and air too. So I’d say definitely go for sedation.

The bowel prep drink was unpleasant but not as dreadful as I was expecting, but if possible make it up in advance so you can chill it before drinking. I had swigs of another drink straight after to take away the taste.

I got really detailed paperwork but overlooked that the person accompanying me had to stay at the hospital the whole time if I had sedation. Luckily my DH noticed it in time for us to make alternative child care plans.

Good luck - I was there around 3 hours.

The actual procedure is fine. In fact, I quite like the dreaminess of the sedation. The hard bit is the prep, but get yourself some broth and jelly and you will be fine.

I had my first last week and for various reasons had no sedation or gas, considering I have chronic pain issues and the three day prep did not allow me to take my painkillers or anti-inflammatory meds I made it through with some meditative breathing. Hope this reassures you that the procedure is more uncomfortable than painful.
Of course if you can - take sedation! But the whole procedure is not terrible and if you need it don't put it off! Good luck.

The prep is worse than the procedure! I was lightly sedated but I was awake, unlike for the endoscopy, and it was slightly uncomfortable. Wasn’t embarrassed at all - the doctors who perform it do it constantly.
if I had to have another I wouldn’t be fazed at all, but I’d start the prep earlier as I was still going just before they called me down!