Anyone had a sigmoidoscopy? I am soooooo not looking forward to mine tomorrow...

[MrsFawlty]

And apparently because I'm breastfeeding they've said not to have the sedation. I was really looking forward to that part, as am curling up and dying inside thinking about having it done.

And, to be honest, it's because I've got piles - does it not seem a bit extreme to have a rummage right up there when they could probably just see them with their eyes?

Sigh. Can anyone tell me roughly how horrendous I shoudl expect it to be? Does it hurt?

bump...

Not the same but similar, I've had a colonoscopy
I think it would be okay without the sedation
Good luck

I have had loads of simoidoscopies { and a couple of colonoscopies }. The sigmoidoscopies were all rigid rather than flexible - do you know which type you are having ?

If it is the rigid type { I don't think they go as far up with the rigid ones } then I wouldn't worry at all about it. I have never had sedation - it was always done at a consultants appt and is over very quickly. No pain, slight discomfort as they wiggle the tube about and blow in some air to inflate things to see better.

The thought is far worse than the actuality - was a bit embarrassing the first couple of times but it is all very matter of fact to the doctor.

I had a sigmoidcolonoscopy (is that the same thing?)

I didn't have any sedation. Although it was a bit uncomfortable, it wasn't unbearable. I took paracetemol before I went which may have helped. I did lots of deep breathing while it was being done and I coped fine.

Good luck.

Thank you - that makes me feel slightly better, I have been building it up in my mind and worrying about it. It all seems so humiliating.

To be honest, one of the main things I'm stressing about is that if they need to do something so invasive, do they think it's something more serious? (I am a terrible hypochondriac and everything's always cancer!)

Actually having now Googled different types of sigmoidoscopy to check I had posted the details correctly , I read that rigid sigmiodoscopies aren't done much any more, so I may well have had flexible ones too. I was just guessing they were rigid after seeing the thing they used.

Anyway, whichever it was they weren't bad at all.

I think that you can get piles internally so they are probably just checking that out.

Message withdrawn

I haven't dared google it! I didn't realise that they might treat the piles there and then, any idea how they even do that?

Would be well impressed if they offer me gas and air, I really like it...

I had flexible sigmoidoscopy in my GP's surgery. It wasn't hideous. It's well within the totally bearable. I had no sedation as it was a quicky.

it is uncomfortable

i have had both a sigmoidpscopy and a flexible sigmoidoscopy and the latter was more uncomfortable

i had no sedation with either - the person doing it was excellent and very gentle

they did find some evidence of ulceration on my bowel which turned out to be mild ulcerative colitis ...

you WILL be windy afterwards

Old thread I'd like to bump.

Just been told I need one of these.

Question I can't seem to find the answer for - how far up do they actually go with the probe?! Do they keep pushing the tube into you (sorry tmi!)

Had some procedures today with a probe up the backside, like an ultrasound, and it wasn't too bad.

Anyone?!