Severely scared of colonoscopy

[ALxo]

I’m due to get a colonoscopy 3rd Feb, I had a flexi sigmoidoscopy 11th of December and found it horrendous, she stopped halfway up the descending colon and said for your colonoscopy you’ll need sedation, I’ve opted for sedation this time but absolutely terrified of the sedation! I’ve got a history of health anxiety and the biopsies from my sigmoidoscopy came back normal but still panicking about the sedation making me unwell! Someone pls help and tell me their positive experiences!

It isn’t anyone’s favourite thing to do but with sedation it is manageable. Not completely painless but once you’re sedated you’ll feel removed from it all. It doesn’t take long and it’s worth it to know everything is ok. Good luck. X

Sedation is fine, @ALxo . You barely know they've done it. I had it and said 'Have you done it' as I drifted off. No after effects but I needed someone with me to drive me home.
Good luck.

I had one last August. I actually found the prep to be the worse part of it. I had sedation for the colonoscopy and found that there where one or two brief instances of pain (not agony) and it all seemed to be over quite quickly. I was able to go home about an hour after the test and I felt fine. I hope yours goes well.

I really enjoy the sedation 🤣 it’s like being drunk and I’m sober so that’s very enjoyable

My DH fell asleep with the sedation (mind boggles me sleeping with that going on!).

I didn't find it painful at all, probably because of the sedation, and it was over pretty quickly. I could see what was happening on a tv screen - never seen my own insides before! Very interesting!

I fell asleep too. Aren't you meant to?

Just depends how the sedation affects you. Some do, some don't.

Have the sedation - i didnt know it was happening.

I totally conked out on the sedation. Woke up afterwards in recovery. Hate the prep at home though, find it very difficult to drink it all.

Got to agree that the prep is far far worse than the procedure!

Sedation doesn't touch me due to EDS unfortunately but my Mum died of bowel cancer and I have to have a colonoscopy annually so I just get on with the pain, polyps removed etc. and treat myself to a nice tea afterwards

It was fine as I was only 25 so I was more embarrassed than anything. And I found the lack of food on the lead up the worst part .

Thanks everyone! I am only 28 had a nasty stomach bug out the blue which GP said I needed a FIT for, FIT came back positive with a reading of 24, gastro team at the hospital couldn’t believe GP had asked me to do a FIT test as said it would obviously come back positive if I’d had a stomach bug that resulted in blood passing but said due to me now having the positive FIT the colonoscopy will have to be done, had raised calprotectin too so suspicious of UC but the biopsies from the sigmoidoscopy came back fine so will see how this one goes, just want it over and done with now. All your responses have been hugely helpful and reassuring x

Can I please ask with the sedation does it seem to go more quickly? The whole 30-45 minutes think seems like a long time to feel so anxious!

It just felt like being asleep to me, so yes, but it seems to vary from the replies on here?

I had one recently, I certainly couldn't feel very much with the sedation, bit uncomfortable at times but not really.
I wasn't knocked out or anything, I just felt really relaxed, I wouldn't be worried if i had to do it again. It doesn't take very long.
As other have said, the prep the worst bit but even that wasn't as bad as I expected.
You will be fine, honestly x

@ALxo , it will be far less bad than the worrying about it.

I’ve had one with sedation and I barely felt a thing. In fact the prep was the worst of the two by far. Tip get some Vaseline and apply liberally after every bowel movement after taking the prep medication.. You will be fine!

It was a bit uncomfortable in places but was absolutely fascinating, as you say. To see the inside of your own body on a 40 inch screen is amazing. Not sure I'd queue up for another but was more to do with getting the prep down.

The sedation my mum had was a fast acting benzo where you're knocked out (or it feels near enough like you are) and don't remember anything at all when you 'wake up.' Almost like an anesthetic but it only lasts a few minutes and obviously it's not as strong. But your memory is wiped.

So hopefully it'll be similar for you. Good luck and hope they find nothing badly wrong x

They give me a “double” sedation, I’ll try to remember which drugs they were. But I don’t remember anything about the procedures and it’s actually quite a pleasant experience!

Thanks everyone, so terrified but needs must x

I had the sedation which was quite enjoyable. You won't feel anxious while you are sedated, just woozy and sort of not caring. A couple of slightly painful bits, which lasted about a second- I think when the camera went round the bends. The worst bit is definitely the preparation. Audiobooks in the bathroom helped pass the time on the loo!

The operator told me my tubes were easy to navigate, do it didn't take long. I was scared, but needs must.